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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to the government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Dr. Ameet Vohra and his companies, including Vohra Wound Physicians Management LLC (Vohra), have agreed to pay $45 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly causing the submission of claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary surgical procedures, for more lucrative surgical procedures when only routine non-surgical wound management had been done, and for evaluation and management services that were not billable under Medicare coverage and coding rules.

Vohra is one of the nation’s largest providers of bedside specialty wound care for patients in nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities. In April 2025, the United States filed a lawsuit alleging that Vohra engaged in a nationwide scheme to bill Medicare for surgical excisional debridement procedures that were either not medically necessary or had not been performed. In its complaint, the United States alleged that Vohra pressured, trained, and provided financial incentives for Vohra physicians to perform debridement procedures during as many patient visits as possible regardless of the patients’ needs. Furthermore, it did not matter which kind of debridement a Vohra physician performed because Vohra allegedly programmed its electronic health record and billing software to ensure that Medicare was always billed for the higher-reimbursed surgical excisional procedure and to create false medical record documentation to support the scheme. Finally, the United States alleged that this widespread scheme was orchestrated by Dr. Vohra and implemented by his senior management team.

“Providers that manipulate electronic health records systems to drive inappropriate utilization or billing of Medicare services undermine the integrity of the Medicare program and waste taxpayer dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will hold accountable providers who prioritize their own enrichment over the medical needs of their patients.”

“When corporations design systems to inflate profits at taxpayer expense, they are stealing from the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “We will not tolerate fraud in our healthcare system and will hold those accountable who manipulate public programs for personal gain. Our Office will protect taxpayer dollars and defend the integrity of programs that serve America’s seniors.”

“When medical providers submit inflated claims, they contribute to rising healthcare costs for all consumers,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap for the Southern District of Georgia. “My office will continue to combat fraudulent billing by unravelling these schemes.”

“Billing Medicare for medically unnecessary procedures and manipulating documentation to maximize profits not only defrauds taxpayers — it puts vulnerable patients at risk,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This settlement sends a clear message: those who exploit federal healthcare programs for personal gain will face serious consequences. The Corporate Integrity Agreement ensures continued oversight and serves as a powerful deterrent against future misconduct.”

Under the settlement, Vohra will enter into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. Under the CIA, Vohra must develop and maintain a compliance program, implement a risk assessment process and hire an independent review organization (IRO) to review its claims and health information technology systems. The CIA requires monitoring of Vohra’s operations and obligates company executives and owners to certify compliance annually with the terms of the CIA.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Florida and the Southern District of Georgia, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Kirsten Mayer, David Finkelstein, Samuel Robins, Yifan Wang, and William Olson, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rosaline Chan and Matthew Feeley for the Southern District of Florida and Bradford Patrick for the Southern District of Georgia.

The claims resolved by the United States in the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A woman who possessed nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it was sentenced November 20, 2025, to two years in federal prison.  

Sylvia Rubio-Rincon, age 21, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 9, 2025, guilty plea to possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute.

Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that undercover agents communicated with a suspected methamphetamine source of supply residing in Mexico.  Agents arranged for the delivery of nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine.  As Rubio-Rincon drove to meet with an undercover officer, officers stopped and searched her car.  Officers found over 900 grams of methamphetamine.  Rubio-Rincon said she was paid to deliver the methamphetamine by a family member who lived in Mexico.

Rubio-Rincon was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Rubio-Rincon was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment.  She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Rubio-Rincon is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.  The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.  Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.  In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.  The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Iowa is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, with a satellite office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is comprised of agents and officers from Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Marshals Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.  This HSTF case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael S.A. Hudson and investigated by HSTF Iowa, with the assistance of the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement;.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The case file number is 24-CR-2046.

Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Paul Diamond Sanchez, 52, from Carroll, Iowa pled guilty on November 20, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in federal court in Sioux City.

At the plea hearing, Sanchez admitted that from July 2024 through May 2025 he and others distributed methamphetamine in the Carroll, Iowa area.  On two occasions in the summer of 2024, defendant distributed a total of over 25 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement.  During a traffic stop in October 2024, Sanchez had over 9 grams of pure methamphetamine in his pants pocket which he admitted he planned to sell to another person.  

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Sanchez remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Sanchez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, and at least four years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Manning Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.  

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The case file number is 25-3022.  Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey terminated the consent decree in United States v. City of Newark, marking the completion of a nine-year reform effort of the Newark Police Department (NPD). Through the consent decree, NPD resolved prior Department of Justice findings by implementing constitutional policing requirements for stops, searches, arrests, and use of force. Based on completion of those and other requirements, Newark moved to dismiss the decree; the Justice Department supported the City’s motion.

“We are proud to stand by the men and woman of NPD as federal oversight ends, and the court returns control of local law enforcement to the City of Newark,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We look forward to the continued, effective policing of the City — in a constitutional manner — to protect all Americans from crime.”

“Over the last decade, the Newark Police Division has made tremendous improvements to ensure constitutional policing and to increase community trust,” said Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba for the District of New Jersey. “NPD remains a valuable law enforcement partner, and we will continue to work with it to reduce gun crimes, drug trafficking, and gang violence. The men and women of NPD should be proud of what they accomplished, and we appreciate the hard work they do every day to keep the people of Newark safe.”

In 2011, the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey jointly initiated an investigation into the NPD under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Title VI of the Civil Rights act of 1964, and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. After concluding the investigation, in 2016 the United States and the City of Newark entered into a consent decree to address the investigation’s findings that NPD engaged in a pattern or practice of conducting stops and using unjustified and excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment; allegations of biased policing; retaliating against individuals who questioned police action in violation of the First Amendment; and subjecting individuals to theft by NPD officers in violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. NPD has been implementing the decree since its entry. In 2024, the Court granted the parties’ joint motion to terminate several of the consent decree’s requirements that NPD completed by that time.

The Special Litigation Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and the District of New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Division and jointly handled the investigation and litigation.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Tampa, FL — U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that two U.S. citizens and two nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC)—all residing in the United States—have been charged with a conspiracy to illegally export cutting-edge NVIDIA Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), which have artificial intelligence (AI) applications, to the PRC.

Those arrested include Hon Ning Ho, aka “Mathew Ho,” a U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong, 34, residing in Tampa, Florida; Brian Curtis Raymond, U.S. citizen, 46, Huntsville, Alabama; Cham Li, aka “Tony Li,” PRC national, 38, San Leandro, California, and Jing Chen, aka “Harry Chen,” PRC national on F-1 nonimmigrant student visa, 45, Tampa, Florida.  On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Ho and Chen were arrested and appeared in court in the Middle District of Florida, while Raymond was arrested and appeared in the Northern District of Alabama.  Li was also arrested yesterday and is scheduled to appear today in the Northern District of California. 

“As demonstrated by this indictment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida is firmly committed to safeguarding our country’s national security,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “Thanks to the dedicated investigative work by our law enforcement partners, these defendants who wrongfully exported this sensitive technology are facing justice.”

According to the indictment, the PRC seeks to become the world leader in AI by 2030 and seeks to use AI for its military modernization efforts and in connection with the design and testing of weapons of mass destruction and deployment of advanced AI surveillance tools. The PRC seeks cutting-edge U.S. technology in furtherance of that goal, including NVIDIA GPUs. To protect U.S. national security, beginning in October 2022, the Department of Commerce implemented new license requirements for the export of these technologies to the PRC.

As alleged, from September 2023 to November 2025, Ho, Raymond, Li, and Chen conspired to violate these critical U.S. export controls, by illegally exporting advanced GPUs to the PRC through Malaysia and Thailand. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the conspirators used Janford Realtor, LLC—a Tampa, Florida-based company owned and controlled by Ho and Li—as a front to purchase and then illegally export controlled GPUs to the PRC. Despite its name, Janford Realtor, LLC, was never involved in any real estate transactions. Raymond, though his Alabama-based electronics company, supplied NVIDIA GPUs to Ho and others for illegal export to the PRC as part of the conspiracy.

As further alleged in the indictment, the conspiracy encompassed four separate exports of NVIDIA GPUs to the PRC. The first and second exports resulted in 400 NVIDIA A100 GPUs being exported to the PRC between October 2024 and January 2025. The third and fourth exports to the PRC were disrupted by law enforcement and therefore not completed. These attempted exports related to ten Hewlett Packard Enterprises supercomputers containing NVIDIA H100 GPUs and 50 separate NVIDIA H200 GPUs.   

Despite knowing that licenses were required to export these items to the PRC, none of the conspirators ever sought or obtained a license for any of these exports. Instead, they lied about the intended destination of the GPUs to evade U.S. export controls. The indictment further alleges that the conspirators received over $3.89 million in wire transfers from the PRC to fund this unlawful scheme.

As set forth in the indictment, the United States will also seek forfeiture of 50 NVIDIA H200 GPUs, which are property constituting an item or technology that was intended to be exported unlawfully.

The chart below summarizes the charges against each defendant:

Name and Nationality	Age and Residence	Charges	Max. Term of Imprisonment
Hon Ning Ho, aka “Mathew Ho,” U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong	34, Tampa, FL	Conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), ECRA violations (4 counts), smuggling (3 counts), conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering (9 counts)	20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering count
Brian Curtis Raymond, U.S. citizen	46, Huntsville, AL	Conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), ECRA violations (2 counts), smuggling (1 count), conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering (7 counts)	20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering count
Cham Li, aka “Tony Li,” PRC national	38, San Leandro, CA	Conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), ECRA violations (1 count), smuggling (1 count), and conspiracy to commit money laundering	20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering count
Jing Chen, aka “Harry Chen,” PRC national on F-1 nonimmigrant student visa	45, Tampa, FL	Conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), ECRA violations (1 count), smuggling (1 count), and conspiracy to commit money laundering	20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering count

An indictment is merely an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty in a court of law.     

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Department of Commerce – Bureau of Industry and Security. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph K. Ruddy and Lindsey N. Schmidt of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

INDIANAPOLIS- Donta Allen, 28, and Lance McGee, 33, both of Indianapolis, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a string of eleven armed robberies across Marion County.

Allen pleaded guilty to 11 counts of interference with commerce by robbery and four counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. In June, he was sentenced to 38 years in federal prison, followed by three years of restitution, and ordered to pay $12,790.91 in restitution.

McGee pleaded guilty to 11 counts of interference with commerce by robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. He was sentenced to 19.5 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $12,790.91 in restitution.

According to court documents, from March 25 through April 8, 2022, Allen and McGee conspired to rob at least eleven different stores in Indianapolis and Speedway, Indiana. Wearing a ski mask and concealing his tattoos with makeup, Allen entered each store, pointed a firearm at the cashier, and demanded cash. McGee acted as the getaway driver in a Chevy Malibu and received a share of the stolen proceeds.

The firearm used in the robberies—a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol—was stolen by McGee from a client while working for a moving company.

The robberies occurred on the following dates and at these locations:

Date	Victim Business
March 25, 2022	Disc Replay; 8210 Rockville Road, Indianapolis
March 25, 2022	GameStop; 5816 Crawfordsville Road, Speedway
March 27, 2022	GameStop; 3269 West 86th Street, Indianapolis
March 27, 2022	AutoZone; 4606 East County Line Road, Indianapolis
April 2, 2022	GameStop; 4525 Lafayette Road, Indianapolis
April 2, 2022	AutoZone; 7455 Michigan Road, Indianapolis
April 3, 2022	Disc Replay; 9739 East Washington Street, Indianapolis
April 5, 2022	Disc Replay; 7317 US 31 South, Indianapolis
April 5, 2022	AutoZone; 8525 Southeastern Avenue, Indianapolis
April 5, 2022	AutoZone; 6055 East 82nd Street, Indianapolis
April 8, 2022	GameStop; 6905 South Emerson Avenue, Indianapolis

At the time of the offenses, both defendants had prior felony convictions that prohibited them from legally possessing firearms. McGee had previously been convicted of felony possession of a narcotic drug and aggravated possession of drugs. Allen had prior convictions for robbery, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.

“This case sends a clear message that repeat violent offenders who terrorize our communities will face the full force of federal justice,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Donta Allen and Lance McGee are recidivist criminals who committed a spree of armed robberies, endangering lives across Marion County. Thanks to the exceptional work of the FBI, IMPD, and the Speedway Police Department, they have received lengthy prison sentences and can no longer threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.”

“Our communities deserve to feel safe from violent criminals who think nothing of pointing a gun at innocent people,” said Timothy J. O’Malley, special agent in charge of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “These sentences reflect the strength of our partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement and send a clear message: if you use a firearm to terrorize others, you will face serious consequences.”

The FBI, IMPD, and Speedway Police Department investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker.

U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela S. Domash, who prosecuted this case.

 

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Lawrenceville, Illinois, man to 188 months’ imprisonment for distributing meth in Lawrence County.

Jeffrey S. Metz, 49, pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of meth. Following imprisonment, he will serve four years of supervised release. He was sentenced Nov. 6.

“Trafficking drugs in any county of southern Illinois will earn dealers a federal prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.

According to court documents, Metz admitted to distributing more than 25 grams of meth in Lawrence County in October and November 2024.

“The Illinois State Police is committed to stopping illegal drug trafficking and keeping dangerous drugs from flooding and hurting our communities,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly.  ” ISP is targeting drug traffickers and will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to put them behind bars.”

The Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force of the Illinois State Police, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and DEA contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

PIERRE – United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.  The sentencing took place on November 12, 2025.

John Larvie, age 35, was sentenced to ten months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Larvie was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025. He pleaded guilty on August 7, 2025.

Larvie was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court in 2019. Consequently, he is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment or student status.  On May 6, 2025, Larvie began a period of supervised release residing in Rosebud, but he did not update his sex offender registration until June 4, 2025.

This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

Larvie was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

SIOUX FALLS – United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Mountain Lake, Minnesota man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.  The sentencing took place on November 10, 2025.

William Soudap Somphanthabansouk, 29, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, fine, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Somphanthabansouk was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2025.  He pleaded guilty on August 25, 2025.

Somphanthabansouk obtained methamphetamine in California through the mail and then distributed it to others in Sioux Falls as well as in Western Minnesota.  In early 2025, investigators discovered that Somphanthabansouk had traveled to California and mailed himself a package from there.  They arranged to have him stopped on the interstate on his way to Sioux Falls and discovered approximately 228 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded pistol in his vehicle.  They then obtained a search warrant for his residence in Mountain Lake, Minnesota, and discovered approximately 850 grams of methamphetamine and multiple firearms.  Altogether, investigators believe that Somphanthabansouk was responsible for distributing approximately nine pounds of methamphetamine in this area.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Worthington Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Somphanthabansouk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).