Source: United States Airforce
The Department of the Air Force has selected Jackson Barracks, Louisiana, as the preferred location for an Air National Guard cyber operations squadron
Court Approves Justice Department’s Settlement in UnitedHealth Group and Amedisys Merger
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
The settlement requires the largest divestiture of outpatient healthcare services to resolve a merger challenge (by number of facilities) and imposes a $1.1M civil penalty for false certification
The United States District Court for the District of Maryland today entered the Final Judgment proposed by the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, together with its state co-Plaintiffs, requiring broad divestitures to resolve Plaintiffs’ challenge to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated’s (UnitedHealth) $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys Inc. In addition, Amedisys must pay a $1.1 million civil penalty to the United States for falsely certifying that it had provided “true, correct, and complete” responses under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
“Under President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi, this Department of Justice has moved quickly to resolve transactions, ensuring Americans see the benefits sooner,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “This settlement preserves competition where it matters most for American families – healthcare.”
“This is a tremendous outcome for competition in the healthcare industry, where competition itself is critical to the public interest and the well-being of all Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “I commend the Antitrust Division’s Staff for prosecuting this case throughout a contentious litigation to reach this settlement on behalf of seniors, hospice patients, nurses, and their families.”
The settlement requires UnitedHealth and Amedisys to divest at least 164 home health and hospice locations (including one affiliated palliative care facility) across 19 states, accounting for approximately $528 million in annual revenue. By number of facilities, this is the largest divestiture of outpatient healthcare services to resolve a merger challenge. In addition, the proposed settlement:
- Obligates UnitedHealth to divest eight additional locations if it fails to obtain regulatory approval for the divestiture of associated facilities without the additional locations;
- Imposes a monitor to supervise UnitedHealth’s divestiture of the assets and compliance with the consent decree;
- Provides the divestiture buyers with the assets, personnel, and relationships to compete against UnitedHealth in the overlap areas;
- Incorporates robust protections to strengthen adherence to the decree and deter interference with the divestiture buyers’ ability to compete; and
- Requires Amedisys to pay a $1.1 million civil penalty and train its corporate and field leadership on antitrust compliance for falsely certifying that the company had truthfully, correctly, and completely responded to the United States’ requests for documents.
The Court has appointed William E. Berlin, of Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, to serve as monitor in this matter.
UnitedHealth is a vertically integrated insurer, healthcare provider, pharmacy benefit manager, and healthcare software and services vendor headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. UnitedHealth acquired Amedisys’s home health and hospice rival LHC Group Inc. (LHC) in 2023. Amedisys was a home health and hospice services provider headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Three Charged In Fentanyl Case Resulting In Death
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Felicia Ortiviz, 36, Joe Elijo Herrera, 51, and Alina Serena Ochoa-Luna, 33, all of Denver, were indicted by a federal grand jury. All three defendants face a charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. Ochoa-Luna faces an additional charge of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Ortiviz faces additional charges of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and distribution of fentanyl to a person under twenty-one-years of age.
According to statements made on the record in court, Herrera allegedly started dealing “blues” to the victim in September 2023, shortly after the victim’s nineteenth birthday. “Blues” are a common street name for counterfeit M/30 pills which contain illicit fentanyl. Herrera continued dealing blues to the victim until late January 2024 when Herrera’s girlfriend, Ortiviz, started dealing blues directly to the victim. On the afternoon of February 13, 2024, Ochoa-Luna delivered blues to Ortiviz at the residence where Ortiviz and Herrera lived. That night, Ortiviz distributed blues to the victim at the same residence. The victim then returned to his apartment in a student housing complex and died shortly thereafter. The victim died as a result of the toxic effects of fentanyl.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted at trial, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than 20 years’ imprisonment and up to life in prison.
The investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Denver Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by the Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
CASE NUMBER: 25-cr-00327-WJM
Local cell phone stores employee charged federally with child pornography, video voyeurism crimes
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Federal agents arrested a Grove City man today who has been charged federally with child pornography and video voyeurism crimes.
Neil Brown, 41, worked at multiple cell phone stores in Columbus and allegedly captured nude photos and videos from customers’ phones.
A cyber tipline received in January 2025 led investigators to search Brown’s digital accounts and devices.
According to charging documents, Brown was employed by Cellular Sales and would take the phones of female customers and search through them for illicit content. Brown then allegedly created videos of the content on his own phone. To date, investigators have identified three victimized customers.
Investigators also discovered more than 75 images and videos of child pornography on Brown’s cell phone. Brown allegedly paid virtual currency on an app to receive videos of child sexual abuse material.
Brown was initially arrested locally and charged with pandering obscenity involving a minor. The federal charges have superseded the local ones, and the local charges have now been dismissed.
The defendant appeared in federal court today at 2:30pm and his case was unsealed at that time.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Mexican Felon Returns to Prison for Meth Trafficking
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 155 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Cesar Sepulveda Esquivel aka Cesar Sepulveda Jimenez, 47, of Piedras Negras, was identified as a supplier for methamphetamine and cocaine in December 2022. A joint investigation resulted in multiple narcotics transactions between Jan. 11 and April 5, 2023.
Esquivel was arrested at his home on May 24, 2023, and was found to be in possession of a 45-caliber handgun, two ounces of marijuana, several grams of methamphetamine, and 10 grams of cocaine. He pleaded guilty on Aug. 13, 2025, and was sentenced Dec. 8 by U.S. District Judge David Ezra.
In 2008, Esquivel was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He served 48 months in prison before being removed to Mexico. Esquivel illegally returned to the U.S. in 2022, continuing to distribute narcotics.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The DEA and Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Spears prosecuted the case.
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Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Re-entry after Deportation
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
ANNISTON, Ala. – A native of Mexico has been sentenced for illegally re-entering the U.S. after deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
United States District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Maximiliano Pablo-Cinto, 41, a citizen of Guatemala, to 18 months in prison. Pablo-Cinto pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry after deportation.
According to the plea agreement, Pablo-Cinto was previously convicted on November 27, 2017, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama for being a felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 45 months in prison. On February 7, 2019, Pablo-Cinto was removed from the United States. He was then arrested on February 7, 2025, by the Albertville Police Department after he failed to appear in court on charges for fraud and identity theft in Albertville, Alabama. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deportation Removal Office (ICE/ERO) was notified of the arrest and Pablo-Cinto was later transferred into federal custody.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the Albertville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.
This case is 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.
Jury Finds Convicted Sex Offender Guilty of Assaulting a Federal Officer
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
ST. PAUL – Roberto Carlos Munoz-Guatemala, age 40, was found guilty today in U.S. District Court of Assault on a Federal Officer with a Dangerous and Deadly Weapon and Causing Bodily Injury, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
On June 17, 2025, law enforcement officers attempted to arrest Munoz-Guatemala, a convicted sex offender, on an immigration order. Agents made a traffic stop of Munoz-Guatemala. The defendant was uncooperative and refused to follow directions. After warning Munoz-Guatemala several times, an agent broke the back window so that he could open the vehicle from the inside. Munoz-Guatemala then accelerated his car. As he sped away, the agent’s arm became trapped between the seat and the car frame. Munoz-Guatemala dragged the federal agent for more than 100 yards, while weaving back and forth in an attempt to shake the agent from the car. The agent was eventually jarred free from the car but suffered significant injuries to his arms and hand.
Munoz-Guatemala is illegally present in the United States. In December 2022, Munoz-Guatemala was convicted in Hennepin County of repeatedly sexually abusing a minor.
The jury found Munoz-Guatemala guilty on December 10, 2025, following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan. The jury found that Munoz-Guatemala assaulted the agent with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and that in doing so Munoz-Guatemala caused the agent bodily injury.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement and Removal Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bloomington Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raphael B. Coburn and Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones Meets with Miami International Airport Leadership to Strengthen Public Safety and Federal Partnerships
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
MIAMI – United States Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones met this week with Ralph Cutié, Director and CEO of the Miami International Airport (MIA) and the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, along with senior members of his leadership team: Andria Muñiz-Amador, Chief of Staff and Senior Strategic Advisor; Mark Hatfield Jr., Director of Security; and Tony Quintero, Associate Aviation Director for Governmental Affairs. The meeting focused on strengthening coordination between MIA and federal prosecutors to ensure a secure, efficient, and resilient international gateway for the millions of passengers who travel through Miami each year.
Joining the U.S. Attorney were First Assistant U.S. Attorney Yara Klukas and Border and Immigration Crimes Enforcement (BICE) Section Chief John Grivner. BICE is the new criminal-enforcement section created to prioritize immigration offenses, border-related crime, human smuggling, passport and document fraud, and international narcotics interdictions. The section works closely with DHS, CBP, HSI, and airport law enforcement partners to safeguard the integrity of the border and protect the traveling public.
During the meeting, leadership discussed current trends in international smuggling, airport-based narcotics trafficking, passport fraud, and threats to aviation security. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and MIA committed to expanding information-sharing, improving rapid coordination for interdiction cases, and strengthening joint responses to emerging threats.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones stated:
“Miami International Airport is one of the busiest and most important international gateways in the country, and it thrives because of the leadership of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Airport Director Ralph Cutié. Their commitment to safety, efficiency, and public service sets the standard for how a world-class airport should operate. Our Office will continue to work hand in hand with MIA to protect travelers, secure our border, and ensure that anyone who threatens the safety of this airport is held accountable. Today’s meeting reflects a shared mission to keep Miami safe and to protect one of our most important national assets.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and MIA leadership will continue regular coordination to support joint enforcement efforts and airport security initiatives.
For additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, visit justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
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Mount Airy Man Facing Federal Indictment for Sexually Exploiting Minors to Produce Child Sexual Abuse Material
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today, charging Mark Travis Brigham, 36, of Mount Airy, Maryland, with seven counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.
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) – Maryland; Sheriff Charles A. Jenkins, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; and J. Charles Smith III, State’s Attorney for Frederick County.
According to the indictment, between September 2023 and December 2024, Brigham persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced two minor females to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Brigham exploited the minors for the purpose of producing visual depictions of the sexually explicit conduct. Further, the indictment alleges that Brigham possessed child sexual abuse material on four digital devices.
If convicted, Brigham faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each of the seven counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Additionally, Brigham faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.
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, 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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and State’s Attorney’s Office for Frederick County, for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandria A. Bell and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Henrico felon sentenced to over three years in prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico man was sentenced today to three years and six months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, On Oct. 16, 2024, in Whitcomb Court, a Richmond Police officer observed Barion Quinto Wright, 25, who upon seeing the officer turned in the other direction and fled. As the officer pursued him, Wright removed a firearm from the pocket of his hoodie and tossed it. After the officer detained Wright, he returned to and recovered the firearm, which was loaded with a round in the chamber and equipped with an extended, 24-round magazine. The firearm had been reported lost or missing on Feb. 23, 2024.
At the time of his arrest, Wright had been convicted previously of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (twice), possessing a firearm while possessing a controlled substance, and carrying a concealed weapon. As a previously convicted felon, Wright cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
“Rather than embrace the opportunities afforded him to peacefully return to society, Barion Wright chose once again to acquire and carry a firearm, further endangering our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan. “We will not allow convicted criminals to arm themselves and continue to menace our families and neighborhoods.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richmond Police Department investigated this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gilliland, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-33.