Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Pensacola, Florida – Aubrey Darnell Joseph, Sr., 35, of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Three illegal aliens from Mexico pleaded guilty today to being part of an international alien smuggling organization (ASO) that illegally brought aliens from Mexico and Central and South America across the northern border with Canada into the United States for profit.
According to court documents, Ignacio Diaz-Perez, 37, Samuel Diaz-Perez, 27, and Salvador Diaz-Diaz, 34, all of whom are illegal aliens from Mexico, were part of an ASO that brought hundreds of illegal aliens into the United States. Once the illegal aliens were inside the U.S., the ASO employed drivers to pick them up and drive them further into the country. The defendants personally participated in and coordinated smuggling events with other leaders of the ASO. During one smuggling event in May 2023, a van carrying illegal aliens led border patrol agents on a high-speed chase. Border Patrol had to stop their pursuit due to the risk to the public. Ultimately the local sheriff’s department used a tire deflation device to stop the vehicle after it failed to yield.
“Human smuggling threatens our national security in multiple ways, including the risks to public safety that take place when alien smugglers further ignore our laws and lead agents on dangerous high-speed pursuits,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These defendants undermined the integrity of our border, disobeyed our traffic and public safety laws, and put ordinary citizens at risk. In short, for their own greed, they jeopardized the safety of the public and the illegal aliens they were smuggling. They will now answer for these offenses.”
“These defendants attempted to exploit our nation’s laws by unlawfully smuggling aliens into the United States through the northern border,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York. “Through the outstanding efforts of the United States Border Patrol and their partners at Homeland Security Investigations, these smugglers have been brought to justice. They will no longer profit from exploiting vulnerable individuals or undermining the security of the American people.”
“I have seen firsthand the dangers and tragedies that result from human smuggling operations”, said Deputy Executive Associate Director Matthew Millhollin of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “Smugglers routinely put lives at risk, exposing vulnerable individuals to dangerous conditions, exploitation, and even death. This case sends a clear message that those who profit from smuggling human beings across our border will be held accountable. HSI remains committed to working with our partners to disrupt these criminal networks and protect the safety and dignity of every person.”
“Alien smuggling organizations prey on the most vulnerable without regard for human safety,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Richard J. Fortunato of Border Patrol Swanton Sector. “Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the dedicated men and women of U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector will continue to investigate these human smuggling rings and hold them accountable for their actions. The message is clear, if you attempt to break immigration law, you will be arrested, and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Ignacio Diaz-Perez and Samuel Diaz-Perez each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and six counts of aliens smuggling for financial gain. Salvador Diaz-Diaz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and five counts of aliens smuggling for financial gain. They are scheduled to be sentenced on November 23. They face a minimum penalty of five years in prison and maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Co-defendant Edgar Sanchez-Solis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and five counts of alien smuggling for private financial gain on May 7. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10.
HSI Rouses Point and U.S. Border Patrol (BP) Burke Station investigated the case, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.
The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 465 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 419 U.S. convictions; more than 363 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carling Dunham for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John W. Burns, 42, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to arson of a building used in interstate commerce before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Phillip Brad Curtis, 52, of Republic, Mo., who has prior felony convictions for robbery, domestic assault, possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a firearm, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 110 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
A Saginaw man has been sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation into a fentanyl overdose death in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MICHAEL O’NELL CARPENTER, age 42, a resident of Harvey, Louisiana, pled guilty on July 15, 2026, to mail theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1708, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. His sentencing is set for October 28, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
A former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputy was sentenced today to 12 months in federal prison for submitting a false search warrant application to a state court judge, lying that he needed GPS tracking information for a robbery suspect’s cell phone when in fact it was for a private client’s estranged husband during the client’s contentious divorce proceedings.
Source: United States Department of Justice
A former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputy was sentenced today to 12 months in federal prison for submitting a false search warrant application to a state court judge, lying that he needed GPS tracking information for a robbery suspect’s cell phone when in fact it was for a private client’s estranged husband during the client’s contentious divorce proceedings.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
A Brooklyn man surrendered to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons today to begin serving 57 months in prison in connection with his leadership of a $3.2 million Medicaid fraud and illegal kickback scheme at his social adult daycare (SADC) center. The defendant was also ordered to pay almost $3.2 million in restitution and to forfeit $1.5 million in fraud proceeds.
According to court documents, Eric Zhu, 29, of Brooklyn, New York, owned Prime Life Adult Day Care LLC (Prime Life). From approximately 2020 through 2025, Medicaid recipients were paid illegal cash kickbacks and bribes in exchange for enrolling with Prime Life. Between 2020 and 2025, Prime Life fraudulently billed Medicaid approximately $3.2 million for SADC services that these Medicaid recipients never received. Medicaid paid approximately $3.2 million based on these false and fraudulent claims. Zhu used multiple business entities to launder the fraud proceeds and generate the cash used to pay kickbacks and bribes to the Medicaid recipients, some of which was recovered during a search of Prime Life, as shown below.
“Eric Zhu exploited vulnerable Medicaid recipients by paying them illegal cash bribes to enroll in his adult day care program, then fraudulently billed Medicaid $3.2 million for services that were never actually provided,” said Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This scheme stole millions from American taxpayers and undermined a program meant to help those in need. Today’s surrender to federal authorities shows we are holding Zhu and other fraudsters like him accountable. The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously prosecute individuals who defraud public health programs.”
Cash kickbacks paid in exchange for SADC services not provided.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. for the Eastern District of New York; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York; and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), made the announcement.
HHS-OIG, HSI New York, and NYPD investigated the case.
Acting Assistant Chief Patrick J. Campbell and Trial Attorney Leonid Sandlar of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. 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.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced the conviction of DALE SANDERS, age 56, of Kenner, Louisiana after a five-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long. On Friday, July 17, 2026, a jury convicted the defendant on 25 counts of the superseding indictment pending against him for wire fraud, access device fraud, and obstruction of a federal investigation related to a years-long investigation.