Cazenovia Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Dean Dellas, age 42, of Cazenovia, New York, was sentenced on August 26, 2026, to 70 months’ imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone Statement on Online Safety Following Meta Settlement

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Today’s announcement that Meta has agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion and implement reforms across Facebook and Instagram is an encouraging step forward. For years, children and teens have been harmed by social media platforms that deployed deceptive, addictive, and emotionally manipulative algorithms designed to keep young users online longer, ultimately boosting corporate profits at the expense of children’s well‑being. 

Surro Connections Owner, Business Manager, And Spouse Charged With Fraud In Collapse Of Surrogacy Agency

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

OAKLAND — Megan Hall-Greenberg, 49, and Jeffrery Greenberg, 45, of Washougal, Washington, and Heather Morgan, 47, of Camas, Washington, have been charged by indictment with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, alleged to have conspired to misappropriate millions of dollars of funds from Surro Connections

Bronx Man Charged With Committing Sex Trafficking, Coercion, And Enticement Crimes Involving Three Minor Victims

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the filing of an Indictment charging JIMMY ROSARIO with coercion and enticement of a 16-year-old victim (“Minor Victim-1”), coercion and enticement of a 12-year-old victim (“Minor Victim-2”), and sex trafficking of a 17-year-old victim (“Minor Victim-3”).  

DermTech Inc. to Pay Up to $5M to Resolve Allegations It Submitted False Claims to Medicare for Unreliable Skin Cancer Tests

Source: United States Department of Justice

A skin cancer testing company formerly known as DermTech Inc. has agreed to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims for unreliable skin cancer tests to the Medicare program. DermTech is now liquidating as DTech Liquidating Inc. after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the District of Delaware in June 2024. As part of the resolution announced today, the United States received an Allowed Class Three General Unsecured Claim of $5,038,011 in the bankruptcy proceeding.

The settlement resolves allegations that DermTech submitted claims to Medicare for skin cancer tests despite knowing the tests had quality control issues. First, from October 2022 to March 2023, DermTech billed Medicare for skin cancer tests that it conducted after switching to an unvalidated positive control range for one of the test’s two key melanoma markers. Without a validated positive control range, it is impossible to confirm that the positive control is working and thus impossible to verify whether the test results are accurate. Second, from January 2020 to February 2022, DermTech billed Medicare for skin cancer tests that did not contain enough patient RNA to be tested but still generated positive or negative test results. For both categories of tests, DermTech reported results to patients. When concerns were raised about these tests, DermTech neither retracted the test results nor adequately refunded Medicare.

“The Justice Department is committed to protecting Medicare patients, especially in an area as serious as skin cancer testing,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable health care providers who put patients at risk by billing Medicare for grossly substandard services.”

“This company billed Medicare for unreliable tests that may have misled patients and their doctors,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “This settlement is a perfect example of why the Department’s focus on fraud against the taxpayer directly leads to improved health and safety for Medicare patients.”

“Patients must be able to rely on the accuracy and integrity of diagnostic testing when making critical healthcare decisions,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Submitting claims to Medicare for tests that fail to meet established clinical standards undermines patient safety and public trust. HHS-OIG remains committed to ensuring that healthcare providers deliver services that meet federal requirements and to pursuing accountability for alleged misconduct.”

“DermTech Inc. allegedly administered inadequate skin cancer tests that led to the fraudulent billing of Medicare, raising serious concerns about the company’s practices,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “FBI San Diego, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to investigating any company whose illicit actions may undermine the integrity of our healthcare system and ensure they are held accountable.”

The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by a former DermTech employee. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Luong v. DermTech, Inc. et al., No. 3:23-cv-01404 (S.D. Cal.). Ms. Luong will receive 20% of the recovery received from the bankruptcy court in connection with the settlement.

The claims resolved by the settlement pertain to DermTech Inc., a company that is now bankrupt. These claims do not pertain to DermTech LLC, a company that purchased DermTech Inc.’s assets in 2024 as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.

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, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.

The 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 (FCA). 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).

This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.

This matter was handled by Trial Attorney Clare Elizondo and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen H. Wong for the Southern District of California.

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

Security News: DermTech Inc. to Pay Up to $5M to Resolve Allegations It Submitted False Claims to Medicare for Unreliable Skin Cancer Tests

Source: United States Department of Justice

A skin cancer testing company formerly known as DermTech Inc. has agreed to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims for unreliable skin cancer tests to the Medicare program. DermTech is now liquidating as DTech Liquidating Inc. after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the District of Delaware in June 2024. As part of the resolution announced today, the United States received an Allowed Class Three General Unsecured Claim of $5,038,011 in the bankruptcy proceeding.

The settlement resolves allegations that DermTech submitted claims to Medicare for skin cancer tests despite knowing the tests had quality control issues. First, from October 2022 to March 2023, DermTech billed Medicare for skin cancer tests that it conducted after switching to an unvalidated positive control range for one of the test’s two key melanoma markers. Without a validated positive control range, it is impossible to confirm that the positive control is working and thus impossible to verify whether the test results are accurate. Second, from January 2020 to February 2022, DermTech billed Medicare for skin cancer tests that did not contain enough patient RNA to be tested but still generated positive or negative test results. For both categories of tests, DermTech reported results to patients. When concerns were raised about these tests, DermTech neither retracted the test results nor adequately refunded Medicare.

“The Justice Department is committed to protecting Medicare patients, especially in an area as serious as skin cancer testing,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable health care providers who put patients at risk by billing Medicare for grossly substandard services.”

“This company billed Medicare for unreliable tests that may have misled patients and their doctors,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “This settlement is a perfect example of why the Department’s focus on fraud against the taxpayer directly leads to improved health and safety for Medicare patients.”

“Patients must be able to rely on the accuracy and integrity of diagnostic testing when making critical healthcare decisions,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Submitting claims to Medicare for tests that fail to meet established clinical standards undermines patient safety and public trust. HHS-OIG remains committed to ensuring that healthcare providers deliver services that meet federal requirements and to pursuing accountability for alleged misconduct.”

“DermTech Inc. allegedly administered inadequate skin cancer tests that led to the fraudulent billing of Medicare, raising serious concerns about the company’s practices,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “FBI San Diego, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to investigating any company whose illicit actions may undermine the integrity of our healthcare system and ensure they are held accountable.”

The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by a former DermTech employee. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Luong v. DermTech, Inc. et al., No. 3:23-cv-01404 (S.D. Cal.). Ms. Luong will receive 20% of the recovery received from the bankruptcy court in connection with the settlement.

The claims resolved by the settlement pertain to DermTech Inc., a company that is now bankrupt. These claims do not pertain to DermTech LLC, a company that purchased DermTech Inc.’s assets in 2024 as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.

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, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.

The 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 (FCA). 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).

This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.

This matter was handled by Trial Attorney Clare Elizondo and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen H. Wong for the Southern District of California.

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

Defense News in Brief: ‘More aircraft, faster’: FRCE New River line delivers V-22s on time, every time

Source: United States Navy

At Fleet Readiness Center East’s detachment onboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, the V-22 line tasked with performing planned maintenance intervals on Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey aircraft has made an enormous impact on flight line readiness by delivering every aircraft on or ahead of schedule for more than a decade.

Aryan Brotherhood Associate Convicted of Two Murders

Source: United States Department of Justice

An associate of the prison gang Aryan Brotherhood was convicted today of executing two men in Lomita, California, on orders given by an Aryan Brotherhood member incarcerated in Kern Valley State Prison, in Kern County, California. 

“This verdict reflects the serious problem gang violence represents, even from people doing lengthy prison sentences,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department will continue to focus its resources on holding gang members accountable, even if they are already behind bars. Clement, who ordered these executions and has been sentenced to life, and now Gray, who carried them out, will pay a severe price for taking life thanks to the good work of the investigators and prosecutors as well as the careful attention of the jury.”

“These murders are a stark reminder that criminal organizations can direct violence from behind prison walls,” said Director Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “ATF and our law enforcement partners are committed to dismantling these networks and holding accountable the individuals responsible for these senseless murders.”

“This case lays bare the ruthless reach of the Aryan Brotherhood and the violence its members and associates are willing to inflict,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California. “Justin Gray executed two men at point‑blank range because an incarcerated gang member ordered it. Our office remains committed to dismantling violent prison gangs and protecting our communities from their deadly influence.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Oct. 4, 2020, Justin Gray, 40, of San Pedro, California, executed two men on the orders of Aryan Brotherhood Brother Francis Clement, who was serving a prison sentence in Kern Valley State Prison. Justin Gray lured the victims from San Diego to Lomita where, with the aid of another Aryan Brotherhood associate, he shot both victims in the head. The order to kill had been given over “disrespect” one of the victims had shown to the Aryan Brotherhood. Gray is a member of Baby Blue Wrecking Crew, a white-only gang that takes orders from and works under the Aryan Brotherhood. Gray was convicted of two counts of committing murder in aid of racketeering. 

Gray is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston for the Eastern District of California on Nov. 23. Gray faces a mandatory life sentence.

This trial was part of a larger investigation charging Gray and 20 other defendants with a variety of criminal offenses, including RICO conspiracy, VICAR murder, and narcotics offenses, all related to their criminal activities as members and associates of the Aryan Brotherhood. The following individuals charged in the investigation were convicted at trial on Feb. 18, 2025.

John Stinson, 72, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity.

Francis Clement, 60, was found guilty of conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and five counts of murder in aid of racketeering for the murders of the two victims and three other individuals he also ordered to be murdered as part of the racketeering activity of the Aryan Brotherhood. 

Kenneth Johnson, 65, was found guilty of conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering for the murders of the two victims.

Additional individuals charged in the case and still pending trial include the following:

  • Jayson Weaver, 49, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
  • Waylon Pitchford, 48, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
  • Andrew Collins, 42, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
  • Alexander Van Beusekom, 41, scheduled for trial in September 2027.
  • Evan Perkins, 41, scheduled for trial in September 2027.

This case is being investigated by the ATF, with assistance from the Office of Correctional Safety (CDCR), U.S. Marshals Service, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, Pomona Police Department, Torrance Police Department, San Diego Police Department, San Diego Sheriff’s Office, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Kern County District Attorney’s Office, the California Department of Justice and California Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit, the FBI, the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC), the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, the Clovis Police Department, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. 

Trial Attorney Amanda J. Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Conolly for the Eastern District of California are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Illegal Alien Felon and Georgia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking over 700 Pounds of Methamphetamine Hidden in Cucumber Shipment

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Andres Jasso, Jr. and Rufino Pineda-Perez, an illegal alien from Mexico and twice-convicted felon, were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in trafficking over 700 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a tractor-trailer load of cucumbers outside of a Gainesville, Georgia warehouse.