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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A New York woman was sentenced today to two years in prison for her involvement in a Chinese money laundering scheme. 

According to court documents, Rui Fang Yu, 40, of New York City, laundered over $20 million in proceeds from drug trafficking. Yu accepted large amounts of cash from co-conspirators involved in the laundering of drug proceeds, including from the sale of heroin and cocaine by a drug trafficking organization in the United States linked to a Mexican cartel. Yu used her position as an accountant at an airline ticket consolidator in Flushing, Queens, to launder these proceeds through her employer’s bank accounts. This complex scheme used trade-based money laundering to conceal drug proceeds through business transactions ostensibly made to purchase airline tickets. Ultimately, Yu and the co-conspirators facilitated the laundering of these funds to accounts controlled by co-conspirators in the United States and China.

In August 2025, Yu pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Chelsea Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Wang and Robert Pollack for the Eastern District of New York prosecuted the case.

The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who conceal profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees who violate money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act, and sanctions laws; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Luis Velez was sentenced by United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen to 12 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor. Velez has no legal status in the United States and will be deported after serving his term of imprisonment.  Velez pleaded guilty in July 2024.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Today, the Department of Justice filed a Statement of Interest arguing that a proposed class action settlement involving an apparel company’s website would afford little value to consumers with vision disabilities while generously compensating attorneys.

Plaintiffs in the case, Alcazar v. Fashion Nova Inc., alleged that Fashion Nova Inc., a California-based apparel retailer, operated an online clothing website that was not accessible and denied blind users full and equal access to its goods and services in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Under a proposed settlement reached between the parties, Fashion Nova agreed to pay approximate $2.43 million divided evenly among class members in California who timely filed a valid claim. Plaintiffs seek over $2.52 million in attorneys’ fees and costs. The settlement also provides for injunctive relief generically requiring Fashion Nova’s website to be accessible.

“A class action under the ADA should, above all else, secure greater accessibility for consumers with disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Congress intended the Department and Courts to be skeptical of settlements that instead enrich private counsel.”

The proposed agreement is unfair because the proposed injunctive relief for class members is not meaningful — it is a mere recitation of the obligation to make visually delivered materials available to individuals who are blind or low vision with no confirmation or enforcement mechanism. As proposed, the agreement does not ensure Fashion Nova takes concrete steps to make its website accessible. The case is pending in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, which must approve any settlement.

The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 provides the Attorney General and state officials an opportunity to review federal class action settlements before district courts grant final approval.

The Justice Department plays a central role in advancing the ADA’s goals of equal opportunity, and full participation for people with disabilities, including people who are incarcerated. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit ADA.gov.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Frank White Thunder, age 38, of Mission, South Dakota, was found guilty of Second Degree Murder, Commission of a Crime of Violence While Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, Robbery, Assault With a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender following a four-day federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota.  The jury issued its verdict on January 30, 2026.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

On Jan. 30, the Department of Justice filed a civil complaint to revoke the citizenship of Erwin Galindo, who committed several unlawful sexual acts with minors prior to naturalizing and, later, withheld his illegal acts throughout his naturalization process.

Galindo sexually abused an 11-year-old child, and he sexually abused and raped a 14-year-old child. After naturalizing, Galindo was convicted in California of two counts of lewd or lascivious acts upon a child and was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison. His acts and his concealment of these material facts warrant revocation of Galindo’s 2015 naturalization under 8 U.S.C. § 1451.

“This Department of Justice will continue to strip citizenship from those who commit heinous crimes and conceal them during the naturalization process,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “American citizenship is a great and sacred privilege that must be earned honestly.”

“A monster who commits horrific acts of sexual abuse against children should not ever have become a U.S. citizen,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This Administration will not hesitate to take his citizenship back.”

This case is being civilly prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, Affirmative Litigation Unit, with assistance from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Corderrius Terrelle McShane, 38, of Ocala, Florida, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

SAN DIEGO –Douglas Wiederhold, a male performer in the massive GirlsDoPorn sex-trafficking conspiracy led by Michael Pratt, was sentenced in federal court today to four years in prison. Wiederhold was paid to perform in 71 adult sex videos that exploited victims. Wiederhold is the last of seven charged defendants to be sentenced for their roles in the multimillion-dollar criminal empire that lured young women into making sex videos through lies, coercion, and manipulation, and then broadcasting their abuse to millions online.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Antoine Turner, 32, of Washington, DC, was sentenced today to 312 months (26 years) in prison for the November 29, 2020, murder of Demeitri Anderson in the BENCO Shopping Plaza in Washington DC, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

LAS VEGAS – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada observes National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and joins the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) in reaffirming the administration’s commitment to combating all forms of human trafficking and protecting victims and survivors. Human Trafficking Prevention Month presents an opportunity for DHS and DOJ, through Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) to intensify operational efforts, raise public awareness, and strengthen partnerships across federal, state, and local agencies to disrupt trafficking networks, protect vulnerable individuals, and ensure traffickers are brought to justice.