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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced on October 21, 2025, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal possession of a machine gun, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents, Dominique Thompson, 30, was sentenced to 8 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a Ruger, Model AR-556, 5.56 caliber pistol, a Glock, Model 17 Gen5, 9-millimeter pistol, ammunition, a machine gun, and for possessing the Ruger in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Thompson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. 

On May 23, 2023, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Thompson was convicted of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, illegal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree Schedule I heroin, and illegal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree Schedule II fentanyl (two counts).

On March 18, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Thompson was convicted of receiving stolen property and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Thompson has related and pending charges in Jefferson Circuit Court alleging criminal attempt murder of a police officer and wanton endangerment in the first degree. 

Mr. Bumgarner stated, “This an extremely important case for our office and demonstrates our responsibility and commitment to protecting our law enforcement officers that courageously serve our community. This case also demonstrates our commitment to working with the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Louisville Metro Police Department and ATF to aggressively prosecute firearms crimes.”

“Violent crime targeting members of our community, including law enforcement officers, will not be tolerated. ATF remains committed to eradicating Machinegun Conversion Devices (MCD) from our streets because of the increased threats they pose.  This case and the resulting sentence reflect the strength of the partnership between federal and local law enforcement,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the Louisville Field Division.

“This man’s long criminal history, including charges of attempting to kill an LMPD officer, underscores the serious threat he poses to our community,” said LMPD Police Chief Paul Humphrey. “We remain committed to working with our federal partners to keep dangerous criminals off our streets so families can feel safe.”

There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was investigated by the ATF and LMPD.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez prosecuted the case.

This conviction is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).     

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 21, 2025, Markita Barnes, the owner and operator of a now-defunct Prenatal Care Coordination Company called Here for You, was convicted of twenty federal charges, including Healthcare Fraud, False Statements related to Healthcare Matters, Anti-Kickback Statute violations, Aggravated Identity Theft, Obstruction of a Healthcare Fraud Investigation, and Money Laundering.

The evidence presented at trial established that Barnes and her employees exploited vulnerable pregnant women and young mothers by luring them into the company’s prenatal care coordination program with kickbacks in the form of cash enrollment bonuses and free baby items such as car seats, pack ‘n plays, diapers, and wipes. Once enrolled, Barnes’s company unlawfully used the women’s personal information to submit claims to Medicaid for services that were never provided, often backdating the claims to months before anyone at the company had met or enrolled the client. In reality, participants often received only occasional deliveries of diapers and wipes, and in some cases, nothing at all. The evidence also demonstrated that Barnes used her fraud proceeds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including luxury travel, designer clothing, and even a $75,000 Mercedes.

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on March 17, 2026, by United States District Court Chief Judge Pamela Pepper. Markita Barnes faces a mandatory minimum 2-year sentence on the aggravated identity theft charges, and a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment for each of the healthcare fraud charges.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kate M. Biebel prosecuted the case.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment, charging Philip Andrew Turner, 46, of Linthicum Heights, Maryland, with sexual exploitation of a minor, online coercion and enticement, receipt of child sexual abuse material, and possession of child sexual abuse. Turner, who is currently detained, is slated for his initial appearance on Wednesday, December 3, in U.S. District Court in Baltimore before Judge Chelsea J. Crawford. 

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Acting Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Baltimore; Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Acting Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MDSP); and Anne Colt Leitess, State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County.

According to the 15-count indictment, Turner used an online account to connect with known child traffickers in the Philippines.  Turner submitted payment after negotiating a price and then selected children that he wanted to watch, and the sex acts he wanted to see.  He also received child sexual abuse material images from the traffickers that he saved to an online account.  Additionally, Turner possessed commercially available child sexual abuse material images on his laptop computer.

If convicted, Turner faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each count of sexual exploitation of a child.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

Know2Protect is a national public awareness campaign from the Department of Homeland Security. Know2Protect’s aim is to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent, combat and report online child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information, please visit Know2Protect’s YouTube playlists at Know2Protect Campaign PSA Playlist and Know2Protect Digital Safety Series Playlist on DHS’ main channel. Additional resources are available at Know2Protect.gov, Instagram, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, the MDSP, and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen E. McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

TUCSON, Ariz. – Kevin Lamorris McKenzie, 49, of Tucson, was sentenced on October 16, 2025, by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 14 years in prison, to be served concurrently with an additional 5-year prison sentence. McKenzie previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Embezzlement from an Indian Tribal Organization.

From 2015 through 2023, McKenzie, first as Chief Operating Officer and then as CEO of Apache Behavioral Health Services (ABHS), engaged in a scheme to defraud millions of dollars from ABHS and the White Mountain Apache Tribe. McKenzie used two contracts as a front to funnel money from ABHS to himself. Under the first contract, ABHS paid over $35 million to Helping Everyday Youth (HEDY). Thereafter, based on a secret agreement with McKenzie, HEDY funneled approximately $16 million in fraudulent proceeds to a shell company McKenzie controlled. McKenzie concealed this backdoor financial arrangement from ABHS. McKenzie conducted significant efforts to hide his scheme through financial transactions conducted through his shell company. He also attempted to corruptly persuade a witness to lie to investigators.  

From 2018 through 2023, McKenzie, also as CEO for ABHS, entered phony referral contracts with his co-defendant Corina Martinez. These contracts were used to fraudulently funnel ABHS money through Evolved Health Care Inc. (EHI), a company controlled by Martinez. Under the contracts, EHI would refer qualified employees to ABHS in exchange for compensation. However, EHI never referred any employees to ABHS. Using the phony agreements, McKenzie caused ABHS to pay approximately $16.5 million to EHI. Portions of the fraudulent proceeds were split amongst McKenzie and Martinez. Martinez gave McKenzie large sums of cash, paid $800,000 of his personal credit card bills, and purchased other luxury items: including a $128,000 Rolls Royce Ghost and a $928,000 home for McKenzie’s family. EHI did not perform any services for ABHS.

As part of his sentence, McKenzie was ordered to pay $33,155,701 in restitution to ABHS. He was also ordered to forfeit various real estate properties; 2013 Rolls Royce; 1966 Ford Galaxie; 2018 Land Rover Range Rover; 2018 Utility Trailer; a 2021 Cadillac Escalade and $55,000 in U.S. currency. McKenzie also agreed to apply over $364,447 that had been seized in a related case toward the restitution judgment.    

The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office conducted the investigation in this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Unit, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:          CR-23-02258-SHR-MAA
RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-164_McKenzie

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment today charging two Toa Alta municipal police officers with drug trafficking.

According to court documents, Xavier Oropeza-Rosado, 42, and Julio Ángel Berdecía-Rodríguez, 46, of Toa Alta, knowingly and intentionally attempted to possess with intent to distribute cocaine on several occasions since April 2023. Oropeza-Rosado is facing two counts of drug trafficking and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Berdecía-Rodríguez is facing three counts of drug trafficking and three counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

“The vast majority of police officers bravely serve and protect our communities with honor. When law enforcement officers break that trust, it is our responsibility to bring them to justice,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

“Public trust is the foundation of every badge in this country. When those sworn to protect their communities choose instead to betray that oath, they undermine the integrity of the entire justice system,” said Claudia Dubravetz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Today’s arrests make one thing clear: no position, no uniform, and no authority exempts anyone from accountability. The FBI will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to confront corruption wherever it surfaces and ensure the people of Puerto Rico are served with honesty, fairness, and the rule of law.”

The defendants made their initial court appearances on November 20, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. If convicted, the defendants face a statutory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life for the drug trafficking counts and a consecutive statutory minimum sentence of 5 years per firearm count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney César E. Rivera Díaz is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Florida returned an indictment Wednesday charging a U.K. citizen for his role in a conspiracy to submit fraudulent claims for telehealth services associated with prescriptions for genetic testing and for causing the submission of false Medicare enrollment documents.

According to the indictment, Marek Rex Vernon Harrison, 61, a U.K. citizen living in Plant City, Florida, was the true beneficial owner and manager of purported telemedicine company CTD Network LLC (CTD). As alleged, CTD employed medical providers to authorize prescriptions for genetic tests, including tests designed to assess cancer risk. The providers conducted purported telehealth consultations in which they approved genetic-testing orders for Medicare beneficiaries referred by marketing companies or laboratories, even though the providers had no prior relationship with the beneficiaries and did not treat them or use the test results for treatment. At Harrison’s direction, CTD allegedly billed Medicare for these telehealth services, which were medically unnecessary and/or not provided as billed. In total, CTD submitted more than $2.7 million in false and fraudulent claims for telehealth services to Medicare, and Medicare paid over $600,000 on those claims.

As further alleged, part of the scheme involved falsifying Medicare enrollment documents submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to conceal Harrison’s role in CTD. CMS requires submitting entities to disclose all persons with a 5% or greater ownership interest or managing control, and to identify whether such individuals have been the subject of a final adverse legal action. At Harrison’s direction, CTD allegedly submitted Medicare enrollment forms falsely listing other individuals as owners and/or managers and concealing Harrison’s 2019 bank fraud conviction.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.

FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.

Acting Assistant Chief Catherine Wagner and Trial Attorney Miriam Glaser Dauermann of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Mayovanet Fermin, age 26, and Frnsheska Fermin, age 25, of Yonkers, New York, were indicted on August 19, 2025, by a federal grand jury on 68 counts of fraud, including conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. The case was unsealed following defendants’ arraignment on October 3, 2025.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that from January of 2020 through July of 2021, the Fermins obtained and shared lists of victims’ personal identifying information (PII) to create and submit fraudulent federal income tax returns, economic impact payment applications, and pandemic unemployment assistance benefits.  The indictment alleges over $400,000 in fraudulently obtained payments as a result of the scheme.

The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the most serious offense charged is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

This matter occurred on date indicated but not issued at that time due to the government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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