MIL Security Engine-1

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A federal jury in the Eastern District of New York convicted Joel David Forney, 42, of Kissimmee, Florida, today on two counts of sex trafficking and related charges for his conduct in trafficking two women to work in commercial sex in New York, including at an open-air sex trafficking market along a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn known as the Penn Track, as well as the defendant’s transportation of a woman from New York to multiple other states, including Connecticut and Pennsylvania, with the intent that she engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit. Forney was also found guilty of coercion and enticement of a minor for having sexual intercourse with a teenager when he was 31 years old.

“The defendant used violence and threats to force victims into commercial sex for his profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Such inhumane conduct has no place in a civilized society. The Justice Department is committed to combating human trafficking and securing justice for its victims.”

“The jury found that Forney used violence and threats to compel women to engage in commercial sex acts at the Penn Track for his own profit, and enticed a vulnerable minor into having sex with him,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Our office will relentlessly pursue those, like the defendant, who engage in sex trafficking, and I commend the survivors of Forney’s depraved conduct who bravely assisted law enforcement in bringing him to justice.”

“Joel Forney’s actions inflicted lasting harm on his victims through violence, coercion and manipulation,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting everyone in our communities, and we hope today’s sentencing brings some measure of closure to the victims.”

Evidence at trial showed that Forney used false promises to lure women into his trafficking network. The defendant then compelled these women to have sex with multiple men per day for money, while keeping the proceeds for himself. If the women refused to engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit, the defendant subjected them to physical abuse and threatened to hurt or kill them if they did not comply.

The evidence also showed that the defendant lured a third victim to his home by sending her romantic and sexual text messages. Once in his house, the defendant had sex with the victim, even though he was 31 years old at the time and she knew no more than 15. Forney then sent the victim text messages that implied he was recruiting her for commercial sex.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Forney faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison as well as mandatory restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Elbert and Antoinette N. Rangel for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Leah Branch of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A Hawaii man was sentenced today to over 33 years in prison and a lifetime term of supervised release for enticement of a minor, sex trafficking of a minor, production and receipt of child pornography, and harassment offenses. 

“The defendant was a youth basketball coach who shamelessly sexually exploited, abused, harassed, and threatened his young victims, causing incalculable harm to them,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to secure justice for victims of these atrocious crimes, especially when such acts are committed by individuals who seek and abuse the trust of their communities in order to target and exploit vulnerable children.”

“Dwayne Yuen grossly and repeatedly violated the sacred trust placed in him by his employer and the parents and families of his young female victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “He used his power and position to groom and then serially exploit and victimize the young girls entrusted to his care. While nothing can ever undo the harm he has caused these children and their families, it is our sincere hope that today’s sentence will ensure that our community and children are protected from him, and serve to deter other predators like him in the future. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our dedicated law enforcement partners at the FBI will always continue to hunt down and bring to justice all who seek to exploit Hawaii’s children.”

“Yuen held a position of trust that demanded he protect and inspire young athletes,” said FBI Criminal Investigative Division Assistant Director Jose A. Perez. “Instead, he abused his authority by preying upon and threatening his young victims. Today’s sentencing reinforces the message that the victimization of children will not be tolerated by law enforcement. The FBI will continue to meticulously investigate these crimes, which cause irreparable harm and trauma to our nation’s youth.”

According to court documents, Dwayne Yuen, 52, of Honolulu, exploited and harassed at least ten victims, who he met through youth basketball, where he served as a coach and mentor. From 2005 to 2023, Yuen engaged in extensive grooming of his victims, many of whom were especially vulnerable because of financial or family stressors, purchasing elaborate gifts for them and spending an inappropriate amount of time alone with them. Once trust was established, Yuen began engaging in sexual conversations with his victims, including sending them sexually explicit images. In the early 2000s, he engaged in coerced and forced sexual contact with victims as young as 15 years old. He used threats to harm his victims’ reputation and basketball career to stop them from disclosing or attempting to stop his abuse. He threatened at least one victim with rape and death and threatened, blackmailed, and physically assaulted another victim who tried to avoid his sexual advances. In later years, he would pay economically vulnerable players that he coached to send him sexually explicit images or engage in sexually explicit conversations. He got one minor victim, a former player that he knew was a minor, to engage in a sexually explicit video call in 2020, which he then took screenshots of and sent on at least one occasion to another victim. He also used unidentified numbers to send harassing messages to numerous former players, sometimes at the rate of a hundred times a day.

The FBI Honolulu Field Office investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Perlmutter of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

An indictment unsealed today in the District of Maryland charges an Arizona man with embezzling more than $2.4 million from an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) benefit plan and related money laundering offenses.

According to court documents, James Vincent Campbell, 47, of Scottsdale, Arizona, is CEO and founder of Axim Fringe Solutions Group, LLC (Axim), a company that processes employee benefits for employees of federal contractors. At the time of the alleged thefts, the company was headquartered in Maryland.

The indictment alleges Axim’s clients sent funds to the company to pay for health insurance premiums and 401(k) retirement contributions. Axim was responsible for forwarding those funds to insurance carriers and retirement accounts, charging clients a contractual fee of $40 per employee per month for its services.

Before forwarding the funds, Campbell allegedly pooled them in a master trust account. Between 2015 and 2024, he made 135 unauthorized withdrawals – totaling $2,486,905 – beyond the legitimate fees owed to Axim. Campbell used a significant portion of the stolen funds for personal expenses including big game hunting trips in Alaska, Africa, and other locations; taxidermy fees; jewelry; casino gambling; and direct payments to his girlfriend.

The indictment charges Campbell with a single count of theft from an ERISA plan and eleven counts of money laundering.

If convicted, Campbell faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison for each count of money laundering and up to five years for theft from an ERISA plan. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting Assistant Secretary Janet Dhillon of the Labor Department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration made the announcement.

The Employments Benefits Security Administration of the Labor Department is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Vincent Falvo and Jared Hernandez of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A federal jury in Albany, Georgia, convicted a Georgia man today for his participation in a scheme to defraud the Georgia Department of Labor (GaDOL) out of millions of dollars in benefits meant to assist unemployed individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The defendant and his co-conspirators orchestrated a scheme where they used stolen identities to submit fraudulent unemployment claims in order to steal millions of dollars of funds intended for the benefit of unemployed Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Such schemes are all too common, but the Criminal Division is resolved to bring to justice fraudsters who seek to enrich themselves from the public fisc.”

“This trial conviction underlines our dedication and steadfast commitment to holding individuals accountable who exploit federal relief programs for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPIS-OIG). “As proven in this case, our criminal investigators along with our law enforcement partners will work together and diligently pursue anyone who attempts to exploit programs created to help legitimate people and businesses affected by the global pandemic.”

“Malcom Jeffery and his co-conspirators helped themselves to money earmarked for unemployed Georgia residents already struggling during the pandemic,” said Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Atlanta Division. “Not only is he responsible for the depletion of that program’s funds, but he used stolen personal information to commit the fraud. Postal Inspectors want criminals to know, we are committed to investigating these cases and working with our partners to make sure they feel the full weight of the law. These crimes will not go unanswered.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Malcolm Jeffrey, 34, of Cordele, Georgia, and his co-conspirators, caused more than approximately 7,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims to be filed with the GaDOL, resulting in more than $16 million in stolen benefits.

To execute the scheme, Jeffrey and his co-conspirators fabricated lists of purported employees using personally identifiable information from hundreds of identity theft victims and filed fraudulent UI claims on the GaDOL website under his defunct business, Down N Dirty Transportation LLC (Down N Dirty). After Jeffrey opened an account to file UI claims through GaDOL’s website for Down N Dirty’s purported employees, thousands of claims were submitted through his employer account, which caused more than $16 million in fraudulent UI benefits to be disbursed. The stolen UI funds were then distributed to Jeffrey and his co-conspirators via prepaid debit cards mailed to various locations in the vicinity of Cordele.

The jury convicted Jeffrey of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, USPS-OIG, USPIS, USSS, HSI, and DHS-OIG investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Lyndie Freeman, Siji Moore, and Kyle Crawford of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Today, the Justice Department filed a Statement of Interest in Bernier v. Turbocam et al. (D.N.H.), informing the court that the Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act do not require employers to provide insurance coverage for gender dysphoria, and that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act protects businesses and individuals from forced coverage when it would violate their religious beliefs. Small businesses and people of faith should not be required to pay for insurance plans to employees covering cosmetic procedures and services that are not required to treat a disability under the law.

“This Civil Rights Division will consistently protect religious liberty for all Americans, including small business owners who should not be required to pay for claimed gender dysphoria,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division. “The Religious Freedom Restoration Act protects sincere religious beliefs, and neither the ADA nor the Civil Rights Act requires American businesses to pay for such elective procedures.”

“In matters like this, our responsibility is to ensure that federal statutes and regulations are applied faithfully and consistently,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan for the District of New Hampshire. “We will continue to uphold the rule of law and work to provide clarity on how these laws operate so that individuals and businesses can rely on them with confidence.”

In Bernier v. Turbocam, et al. (D. N.H.) (1:23-cv-00523), a male plaintiff sued his employer, a closely held, private small business, alleging that the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights Act require Turbocam Inc. to provide insurance plans to cover his elective treatment. The Department of Justice maintains an interest in proper interpretation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Civil Rights Division within the Department enforces provisions within the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights Act.

The Civil Rights Division enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a business owner, employer, or religious individual and feel you have been wrongfully sued or improperly required to pay for gender dysphoria or transgender surgeries or other procedures, please contact the Civil Rights Division by telephone at 1-800-253-3931, or submit a complaint through civilrights.justice.gov. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

“Today’s charges are designed to dismantle the United Cartels and bring their leaders to justice for unleashing death and destruction on American citizens,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Working closely with our partners throughout President Trump’s Administration, we will continue our historic effort to destroy foreign terror organizations and prosecute terrorists wherever they may hide.”

Good morning.

Thank you all for joining us. My name is Matthew Galeotti, and I am the Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

Today, I am pleased to announce the indictments of five top leaders of the United Cartels – a lethal association of Mexico-based cartels that have allied to poison our streets with methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, and ruthlessly rule their territories in Mexico, armed with military-grade weapons.

In February 2025, the United Cartels were one of eight groups designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, underscoring the threat that they pose to our national security.

These defendants have been charged with trafficking tonnage quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine from Mexico into the United States. And three of the defendants are also charged with firearms-related charges, including semi-automatic weapons, machine guns and destructive devices.

The charges we are announcing today represent the Department’s latest efforts to achieve the total elimination of drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The Criminal Division is on the frontlines of this fight, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and law enforcement partners to dismantle narco-terrorist networks using all available tools.

But this battle requires a whole-of-government approach. Today, I will describe three measures we are taking to curb the United Cartels and their reign of terror, violence, and poisonous drugs.

First, as I mentioned, the Department has criminally charged five top leaders of the United Cartels with crimes carrying sentences of up to life imprisonment.

Second, together with the State Department, we are expanding the awards program available to brave witnesses willing to come forward with information regarding the United Cartels and these leaders specifically.

And third, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control, is imposing economic sanctions against the United Cartels’ leadership.

Let’s start with the criminal charges.

The story of the United Cartels begins in the Mexican state of Michoacán, an area about the size of West Virginia, with mountains, beaches, and avocado farms. For years, the United Cartels have ruled most of Michoacán with terror and corruption.

In Michoacán, the United Cartels’ leaders operate large scale drug manufacturing facilities, including methamphetamine mega-labs capable of producing thousands of kilograms a month.

They control landing strips used by planes bringing cocaine from Colombia.

They run fentanyl pill labs that prepare the product for export.

The United Cartels generate extraordinary profits by manufacturing, shipping, and distributing these dangerous drugs throughout the United States, relying on particularly strong networks in Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Denver.

With their drug trafficking proceeds, United Cartel leaders purchase weapons and hire mercenaries to control their territory in Michoacán, particularly against rival cartel Cartel Jalisco Nuevo Generacion, or CJNG. And by weapons, I mean Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), fully automatic weapons, drones, .50 caliber rifles, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), armor piercing munitions, and improvised tanks.

To put it simply, these cartel leaders are narco-terrorists, operating a narco-terrorist organization.

The five indicted defendants are:

Juan Jose Farias Alvarez. Alvarez goes by the name “Abuelo” and is the alleged overall leader of the United Cartels.

Edgar Orozco Cabadas. Cabadas uses the alias “El Kamoni” and is allegedly a high-level enforcer and trafficker in the United Cartels. El Kamoni leads a group of armed fighters, known as the “Kamonis,” to enforce cartel control.

Alfonso Fernandez Magallon. Magallon goes by the alias “Poncho” and is the alleged leader of Los Reyes Cartel, a sub-cartel under the United Cartels umbrella. Poncho uses armed groups to enforce his orders, and ensure he is paid a tax on drugs produced and shipped to the United States from his territory.

Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez. Chavez goes by the name “Wicho” and is allegedly the second-in-command of Los Reyes Cartel and an enforcer for the United Cartels. Wicho leads an armed group known as the “R5s” to maintain the United Cartels territorial control over Michoacán.

Nicolas Sierra Santana. Santana goes by the name “El Gordo” and is the alleged leader of Los Viagras cartel, a sub-cartel that, until recently, operated under the United Cartels umbrella. El Gordo and his cartel are notoriously violent and prolific methamphetamine producers, who ship the methamphetamine they produce to the United States.

As outlined in their indictments, these five defendants are all alleged to have participated in conspiracies to manufacture and distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to be unlawfully imported into the United States, for over a decade.

In addition, “Abuelo,” “Poncho,” and “Wicho” are alleged to have carried, brandished, or discharged firearms during and in relation to the charged drug trafficking crimes.

Our global investigation against these men kicked off in December 2019 in Rockwood, Tennessee, a little town outside of Knoxville. Two methamphetamine distributors were involved in a car accident and fled the scene, where law enforcement found an active conversion lab, 39 kilograms of methamphetamine and seven kilograms of heroin.

Inside the stash house, law enforcement found 52 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 200 grams of fentanyl pills, and $180,000 of hidden cash.

In total, law enforcement seized approximately 950 kilos of meth from this network.

They also seized 15 phones, uncovering messages revealing the network’s connection to the United Cartels in Michoacán, Mexico.

Indeed, El Kamoni had been in touch with the network’s leader just days before agents executed the search warrants.

In messages to the network’s leader, El Kamoni spoke of sending kilos of meth and fentanyl pills to the network to be sold and distributed in the United States.

El Kamoni even encouraged the network leader to sell the meth quickly, so that El Kamoni can ship more from Mexico to Atlanta.

From a mountaintop mega lab in Michoacán to the hills of Georgia and Tennessee – this investigation illustrates the United Cartels’ deadly grip on the American heartland.

The drugs that these cartels send into our country make our communities more violent, more dangerous, and threaten the lives of everyday Americans. We are therefore committed to their total elimination.

The criminal charges that I am announcing today are the result of the hard work of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, the dedicated special agents of Homeland Security Investigations and local law enforcement. We are intent on building on their investigation to bring the defendants to justice.

Now, the second measure that we are announcing – the use of the Narcotics Rewards Program.

We are committed to using all statutory bases to safeguard the United States and bring to justice those organizations seeking to wreak havoc on us at home and abroad.

Today, the Department of Justice, in coordination with the Department of State, is announcing reward offers for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the United Cartels defendants whose indictments I discussed earlier. Those rewards are as follows:

$10 million for Juan Farias Alvarez, also known as “Abuelo”;

$5 million for Alfonso Fernandez Magallon, also known as “Poncho”;

$5 million for Nicolas Sierra Santana, also known as “El Gordo”;

$3 million for Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez, also known as “Wicho”; and

$3 million for Edgar Orozco Cabadas, also known as “El Kamoni”

For over 35 years, the State Department-led Narcotics Reward Program has helped bring more than 75 cartel leaders and drug traffickers to justice, with over $135 million paid in rewards. It remains one of the most effective tools the U.S. government has to disrupt international drug trafficking and narco-terrorist organizations with urgency in light of these extreme danger these groups pose to our country.

These five defendants are believed to be located in Mexico, and the Justice Department is working tirelessly with its law enforcement partners to bring these individuals to face justice in the United States.

We are asking the public — in the U.S. and worldwide — to step forward. If you have information about the United Cartels leaders we’ve announced today, you may be eligible for one of these multimillion-dollar rewards.

In the U.S., contact Homeland Security Investigations. If you are located abroad, reach out to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or respond directly to reward posters that will be published online. If you know where one of these United Cartels leaders is hiding, if you have information that could stop the next shipment of poison into our communities — we want to hear from you. The U.S. government will act, and we will reward your courage.

Lastly, our third measure, sanctions – I will turn it over to Brad Smith of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to announce our third critical step in eliminating the United Cartels by deploying yet another powerful tool in the U.S. Government’s arsenal against narco-terrorist organizations: economic sanctions.

Before I close, I want to also thank our foreign law enforcement counterparts, including Mexican law enforcement, for their assistance with this investigation. We will continue working together to bring these defendants to justice.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Note: View EDCA complaint here. View EDCA motion to intervene memo here.

View NDIL complaint here. View NDIL motion to intervene memo here.

The Justice Department this week filed two complaints in federal courts against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regarding the State’s enforcement of preempted emissions standards through its so-called “Clean Truck Partnership” with heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers. A parallel filing in the court of appeals addresses CARB’s rules for light-duty vehicles, which are also preempted. These actions advance President Donald J. Trump’s commitment to end the electric vehicle (EV) mandate, level the regulatory playing field, and promote consumer choice in motor vehicles.

The Clean Air Act preempts state regulation of vehicle emissions unless the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants California a preemption waiver. Under the Biden administration, EPA granted preemption waivers for two CARB regulations imposing stringent emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks. The goal of CARB’s regulations is to implement an EV mandate in California and in other states that adopt California’s rules.

In June 2025, President Trump signed into law congressional resolutions under the Congressional Review Act, invalidating EPA’s preemption waivers for CARB’s heavy-duty truck regulations. Without these waivers, the Clean Air Act prohibits CARB from attempting to enforce those regulations. Yet, in an affront to the rule of law, CARB seeks to circumvent that prohibition by enforcing the preempted emissions standards through the Clean Truck Partnership. The Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) filed the complaints with motions to intervene in pending cases in the Eastern District of California and Northern District of Illinois.

“Agreement, contract, partnership, mandate — whatever California wants to call it, this unlawful action attempts to undermine federal law,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “President Donald Trump and Congress have invalidated the Clean Air Act waivers that were the basis for California’s actions. CARB must respect the democratic process and stop enforcing unlawful standards.”

In related actions, ENRD moved to dismiss as moot two sets of cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit where industry groups had challenged EPA’s preemption waivers for cars.  Those cases are now moot because Congress’s joint resolutions nullified the controversial preemption waivers.

ENRD is responsible for bringing cases against those who violate the nation’s environmental laws, as well as defending the federal government in litigation arising under a broad range of environmental statutes. The division is the nation’s environmental lawyer, and the largest environmental law firm in the country.

Chief of Staff and Senior General Counsel John Adams and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Robert Stander of ENRD filed the complaints, and attorneys with ENRD’s Appellate section are handling the cases in the Ninth Circuit. The EPA is a co-plaintiff in the filings. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Illinois and the Eastern District of California also provided assistance.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to committing a hate crime against Jewish students at The Ohio State University.

Timur Mamatov, 20, of Tipp City, Ohio, admitted to violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act when he physically assaulted two students for their religion, causing bodily injury.

“Violence against people of faith is illegal and unacceptable,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This Department of Justice will aggressively enforce federal laws to ensure that all Americans feel safe in practicing and expressing their faith.”

“Mamatov admitted in court today that he assaulted victims because they were Jewish,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. “No American should fear being violently attacked based on their religious beliefs. This office, along with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue violence motivated by hate.”

“No one should have to live in fear because of their religion,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “These college students were targeted by Mr. Mamtov simply because they were Jewish. Hate crimes not only impact the victims but have a devastating impact on our entire community. The FBI works tirelessly with our federal, state and local partners to thoroughly investigate many types of hate crimes, hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions and bring justice to the victims.”

According to court documents, on Nov. 10, 2023, Mamatov and a friend engaged in an altercation with five students outside of a bar on North High Street in Columbus. One student was wearing a “Chai” pendant around his neck – a piece of jewelry commonly associated with Judaism. Mamatov asked the students if they were Jewish, and when they answered that they were, Mamatov punched one victim, fracturing his jaw. A second victim was injured, suffering a fractured nose, as the fight poured over into the street.

Mamatov was charged by a bill of information on July 3.

Violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Cincinnati Field Office is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Noah R. Litton for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Cameron Bell of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Today, the Justice Department and the National Economic Council announce an effort to identify State laws that significantly and adversely affect the national economy or interstate economic activity and to solicit solutions to address such effects. They invite public comments to support the Administration’s mission to address laws that hinder America’s economic growth, including those that burden industry and our small businesses.

From his first day in office, President Trump and his Administration have prioritized eliminating the “crushing regulatory burden” that has “made necessary goods and services scarce.” Deregulatory efforts will boost the American economy, relieve Americans of undue burdens, and make America affordable and energy dominant again. President Trump issued multiple Executive Orders to advance his deregulatory agenda and requiring the Executive Branch to put that policy into action. On January 31, President Trump signed Executive Order 14192 declaring “the policy of the executive branch” to be that federal agencies should “alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens placed on the American people.” Consistent with this policy, on February 19, President Trump signed Executive Order 14219 directing agencies to “initiate a process to review all regulations” and identify regulations that, among other things, “impose undue burdens on small businesses and impede private enterprise and entrepreneurship.” He also signed Executive Orders aimed at unleashing American Energy, rolling back Obama-era regulations micro-managing Americans’ showers, and tackling anti-competitive rules.

Federal regulatory burdens are only part of the story. As President Trump has also recognized, in Executive Order 14260, State-level practices can drive up nationwide costs and undermine American safety and “Federalism by projecting the regulatory preferences of a few States into all States.” Anecdotal evidence and the experience of countless Americans across the country strongly suggest that State laws and regulations can significantly burden commerce in other States, raising costs unnecessarily and harming markets nationwide. For example, last month, the Department sued the State of California, Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and other State officials over California laws that impose costly requirements on the production of eggs and poultry products, raising prices for American consumers in and outside of California.

The public is invited to provide input to aid the Administration’s efforts as set forth in the above-discussed Executive Orders and elsewhere to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens and costs imposed on the American people. This request for comments seeks information pertaining to State laws, regulations, causes of action, policies, and practices (collectively, State laws) that adversely affect interstate commerce and business activities in other States. In particular, comments are invited on:

• Which State laws significantly burden commerce in other States or between States, thus raising costs unnecessarily and harming markets nationwide.

• Whether the State laws identified may be preempted by existing federal authority and, if so, what authority.

• Whether there may be federal legislative or regulatory means for addressing the State laws or regulations identified or the burdens they cause.

• Which federal agency has the subject-matter expertise to address concerns lawfully within the federal government’s authority.

The public will have 30 days to submit comments at Regulations.gov (OLP182; Docket No. DOJ-OLP-2025-0169), no later than September 15, 2025. Once submitted, comments will be posted to Regulations.gov. All interested parties are invited to provide comments in response to this inquiry, including consumers, consumer advocates, small businesses, employers, trade groups, industry analysts, States, and other entities that are impacted by State laws that have nationwide or interstate economic effects.