MIL Security Engine-1

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

In the first prosecution of its kind, the owners of several Arizona wound graft companies were sentenced to significant terms of incarceration for causing over $1.2 billion of false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicare and other health insurance programs for medically unnecessary wound grafts that were ordered as a result of illegal kickbacks and applied to elderly and terminally ill patients. On Oct.7 Alexandra Gehrke was sentenced to 15.5 years in prison, and on Oct. 10 her husband, Jeffrey King, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. 

According to court documents, Gehrke, 39, and King, 46, both of Phoenix, orchestrated a large-scale wound-care scheme from 2022 through 2024. Gehrke solely owned and operated two companies that contracted with medically untrained “sales representatives” to find elderly Medicare beneficiaries throughout Arizona with wounds of any kind. Once the sales representatives identified these patients, many of whom were in hospice care, Gehrke directed the sales representatives to order expensive bioengineered skin substitutes — amniotic membrane allografts made from human placental tissue — to be placed on the wounds. To maximize profits, Gehrke required the sales representatives to order only the largest sizes of grafts available, even if the sizes of grafts — or the use of grafts as treatment — were not medically appropriate or reasonable.

Gehrke referred the patients identified by the sales representatives first to a company she owned, and later in the scheme to a company co-owned by King. Both of these companies were enrolled as Medicare providers and could submit claims to Medicare. Through these companies, Gehrke and King purchased the grafts from a wholesale graft distributor. They also contracted with nurse practitioners to apply the grafts and billed Medicare and other health insurers for the grafts applied. Gehrke and King instructed the nurse practitioners to suspend their medical judgment and apply whatever quantities and sizes of grafts were ordered by the medically untrained sales representatives, regardless of medical necessity.

Gehrke, through the three companies she owned, received over $279 million in illegal kickbacks from the wholesale graft distributor in exchange for ordering its grafts, over $100 million of which she diverted to her personal accounts and tens of millions of which she used to pay illegal kickbacks to the sales representatives. The company co-owned by King received an additional $130 million in illegal kickbacks from the same graft distributor.

The financial incentive for the sales representatives to order large numbers and sizes of allografts, combined with Gehrke and King’s requirement that nurse practitioners apply all grafts ordered, resulted in large grafts applied to small wounds, several grafts applied to single wounds, grafts applied to non-existent wounds and grafts applied to terminally ill patients receiving palliative care, some of whom died within days or the same day of the allograft application.

Over the course of just 18 months, from November 2022 through May 2024, Gehrke, King and their co-conspirators submitted approximately $1,212,005,778 in false and fraudulent claims to health insurance programs, including over $960 million to the federal health care programs Medicare, TRICARE (the health care program for U.S. service members and their families) and CHAMPVA (the health care program for spouses and children of permanently disabled veterans). The federal and commercial health care programs collectively paid $614,945,420 based on these claims.

The government seized substantial assets that Gehrke and King accumulated from the scheme, including $97 million from 28 bank accounts at seven financial institutions; three life insurance annuities exceeding $21 million; four luxury vehicles — a Ferrari 488 Spider convertible, a Mercedes-Benz AMG Roadster, a Mercedes-Benz 4×4 Squared G-Wagon and a Mercedes-Benz GLE — collectively purchased for over $988,000; $367,150 in cash recovered from Gehrke and King’s home and safe deposit boxes and over $348,000 worth of gold and silver bars and coins.

Gehrke and King pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud on Oct. 24, 2024, and Jan. 31, 2025, respectively. In addition to the terms of incarceration, Gehrke and King were ordered to pay restitution and to forfeit fraudulent proceeds obtained personally and through companies they owned and controlled. Gehrke was ordered to pay $614,945,420 in restitution and to forfeit $279,912,916 in fraudulent proceeds, and King was ordered to pay $605,690,110 in restitution and to forfeit $130,813,658 in fraudulent proceeds.

In addition to the criminal case, Gehrke and the wound graft marketing company she owned, Apex Medical LLC, agreed to pay $279,912,916, and King agreed to pay $30 million, related to their respective civil liability under the False Claims Act, resolving allegations that they knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare and other federal health care programs for medically unnecessary wound allografts, received illegal kickbacks from a wholesale wound allograft distributor in exchange for orders, purchases, and referrals and paid illegal kickbacks to other parties.

The Federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering or paying anything of value to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare and other federally funded programs. The statute is intended to ensure that the judgment of medical providers is not compromised by improper financial incentives.

The False Claims Act allegations resolved by the civil settlements were originally brought by whistleblowers under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private parties to bring suit on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. The matters remain under seal while the investigation of other parties continues. The amount of the whistleblower shares of the settlements has not yet been determined.

The FBI, HHS-OIG, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the criminal case.  The civil resolutions were 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 District of Arizona, with assistance from HHS-OIG.

Trial Attorney Shane Butland of the National Rapid Response Strike Force of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Williams for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Bozdech for the District of Arizona is handling asset forfeiture. The civil False Claims Act investigation was handled by Trial Attorney Vanessa Reed of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lon Leavitt for the District of Arizona.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care 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 HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ST. PAUL – Patrick Carl Timberlake, Jr., a/k/a “King,” age 29, was sentenced Wednesday in United States District Court to 204 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release for two counts of Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.

Timberlake is a drug dealer and a felon who is prohibited from possessing weapons.  In 2019 and 2020, Timberlake sold poison—heroin containing deadly fentanyl—to two drug users who took Timberlake’s poison, overdosed, and died. The U.S. Attorney’s Office extends its profound condolences to the families of the victims of Timberlake and the deadly drug epidemic.

Specifically, on December 4, 2019, Timberlake sold Victim 1 approximately 0.5 grams of heroin that contained fentanyl.  Victim 1 used the drugs Timberlake sold him.  His father later found him unconscious on the bathroom floor and called 911.  Victim 1’s father and emergency personnel attempted to revive Victim 1, but he was pronounced dead.  A medical examiner later determined his death to be the result of the toxic effects of heroin and fentanyl.

On January 20, 2020, Timberlake sold heroin that contained fentanyl to Victim 2.  The next day, emergency services received a 911 call requesting a welfare check on Victim 2 at his parent’s house for a possible overdose.  First responders arrived and found Victim 2 unresponsive on the kitchen floor and pronounced him dead.  A medical examiner later determined his death to be the result of the toxic effects of heroin and fentanyl.

A subsequent investigation determined that Timberlake had been dealing heroin containing fentanyl on a daily basis, first from his apartment in Saint Paul, then from his apartment in Plymouth, and finally from his apartment in Columbia Heights.  The investigation also revealed that another drug customer told Timberlake of Victim 1’s death the day after it happened, to which Timberlake responded: “okay.”  Despite knowing that his drugs had caused the death of Victim 1, Timberlake continued to sell drugs, including to Victim 2, causing his death.  

A search of Timberlake’s apartment in Columbia Heights revealed a Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun, a 30-round extended magazine, and ammunition—all of which Timberlake was prohibited from lawfully possessing due to his prior felony convictions.

United States District Judge Donovan W. Frank sentenced Timberlake was sentenced Wednesday on two counts of Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl to 204 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release. In sentencing Timberlake, Judge Frank spoke about the scourge of fentanyl deaths affecting our country and recognized the heartbreak to both of the victim’s families who lost their loved ones to the fentanyl epidemic.   

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Isanti County Sheriff’s Office and Drug Enforcement Administration.  

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley M. Endicott and Nathan H. Nelson prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

On October 21, a Michigan pharmacist was sentenced to 80 months in prison for defrauding health care benefit programs by billing for prescription medications that he never dispensed.

According to court documents, Isaiah Okoh, 55, of Sterling Heights, billed health care benefit programs for prescription medications that he did not actually dispense to patients at three pharmacies in Michigan. From 2019 through 2022, Okoh and his co-conspirator sent false claims to health care benefit programs for prescription drugs that were not ordered by a doctor and were not dispensed to the patient. Okoh and his co-conspirator used forged prescriptions from doctors to hide their scheme, when in fact the patient had never seen the listed doctor and the medication had never actually been prescribed. Okoh and his co-conspirator caused over $6 million of loss to Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.   

In April 2025, Okoh pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. At sentencing, Okoh was ordered to pay $3,889,760 in restitution and $3,230,147 in forfeiture, including his interest in approximately $1.2 million of fraudulent proceeds seized by law enforcement in this matter. 

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman of the FBI Detroit Field Office; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.

FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Jeffrey A. Crapko and Ahmad Huda of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. The forfeiture proceedings are being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenton Craig Welkener Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

On Oct. 23, a Missouri man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for orchestrating a scheme to defraud Medicare by unlawfully billing hundreds of millions of dollars in claims for cancer genetic testing and cardiovascular genetic testing.

According to court documents, Jamie P. McNamara, 50, of Kansas City, operated several laboratories in Louisiana and Texas, which obtained doctors’ orders for genetic testing from telemarketers and call centers that used aggressive telemarketing campaigns to induce Medicare beneficiaries to agree to receive genetic testing. Orders for genetic testing were signed by purported telemedicine doctors who were not the beneficiaries’ treating physicians, did not perform consultations with the beneficiaries and did not follow up with the beneficiaries after the testing was performed. To obtain the orders, McNamara paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, which he disguised through sham contracts. In furtherance of the scheme, he also shifted the billing between his laboratories to evade scrutiny from Medicare and law enforcement and concealed his ownership and control of the laboratories by falsely listing the names of his family members as owners and company representatives on Medicare and other documents. In approximately one and a half years, the laboratories operated by McNamara submitted over $174 million in claims to Medicare for genetic testing and received over $55 million in reimbursements. The government previously seized several luxury vehicles from McNamara and over $7 million in bank accounts.

While on pretrial release, McNamara violated his bond conditions by, among other things, fleeing from an unrelated arrest and cutting off an ankle monitor. He was subsequently detained. McNamara pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. 

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana; Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.

HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case.

Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses for the Eastern District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

An indictment was returned yesterday charging Valmir Krasniqi and Afrim Kupa with obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice for attempting to bribe a juror (Juror-1) to vote not guilty in a criminal trial in the Eastern District of New York.  As alleged in the indictment, in mid-November 2025, the defendants offered to pay a juror serving on the criminal trial of United States v. Goran Gogic, 22-CR-493 (JMA), up to $100,000 in exchange for the juror’s not guilty vote at the close of trial. 

On November 17, 2025, Krasniqi and Kupa were arrested and charged by complaint.  Both defendants were detained pending trial.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the indictment.

“The indictment sends a clear message to the public that jury tampering and other efforts to undermine and corrupt the criminal justice system will not be tolerated,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “As alleged, these defendants obstructed a federal criminal trial in Brooklyn by attempting to bribe a juror.  Our Office acted swiftly and vigorously to prosecute those involved in efforts to obstruct justice.”

Mr. Nocella extended his appreciation to Homeland Security Investigations, New York, for their work on the Gogic case.

“Valmir Krasniqi and Afrim Kupa allegedly conspired to provide a significant cash bribe to potentially alter a juror’s vote related to a separate impending federal criminal trial.  These defendants’ alleged attempt sought to influence a core principle of our criminal justice system and deprive the defendant his right to a fair trial. The FBI will never permit any individual to tip the scales in any proceedings and undermine our country’s democratic practices,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.

The Gogic Trial

As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, the trial of Goran Gogic was set to commence before the United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack on November 17, 2025.

Gogic is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act and three counts of violating the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act.  As alleged, between May 2018 and July 2019, Gogic conspired with others to distribute massive quantities of cocaine via commercial cargo ships.  Gogic coordinated with the sources of the cocaine in Colombia, the crewmembers who transported tons of cocaine on commercial cargo ships on the high seas, and the network of port workers who transported and offloaded the cocaine in Europe via the United States. United States law enforcement seized three of these shipments, totaling nearly 20,000 kilograms of cocaine.  If convicted, Gogic faces up to life in prison.

The Juror Tampering Scheme

On November 3, 2025 and November 5, 2025, a jury was selected in Gogic’s criminal trial.  Juror-1 was selected to serve as a juror at trial.  Between November 13, 2025 and November 17, 2025, Krasniqi and Kupa, along with a coconspirator (CC‑1), allegedly attempted to bribe Juror-1 with a cash payment in exchange for Juror-1 agreeing to vote not guilty at Gogic’s trial. 

As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, on November 13, 2025, Krasniqi arranged a meeting between Kupa and CC-1 in Staten Island, New York.  At the meeting, Kupa explained to CC-1 that he and other coconspirators wanted CC-1 to offer Juror-1 money to vote not guilty at trial.  In a meeting on November 15, 2025, CC-1 informed Juror-1 that he/she would be paid up to $100,000 to vote not guilty at trial.

On November 16, 2025, Kupa, Krasniqi and CC-1 met at Krasniqi’s home in Staten Island.  There, the three discussed the plan to pay Juror-1 to vote not guilty at Gogic’s trial. During the meeting, Kupa indicated that Juror-1 would receive $100,000 in cash as payment. 

On November 17, 2025, Kupa and Krasniqi were arrested at their homes in Staten Island.  At that time, Kupa was in possession of a document containing Juror-1’s name, home address, and place of employment.  Krasniqi was in possession of a digital photograph of Juror-1 that he had sent via text message to CC-1 in furtherance of the criminal scheme. 

The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.  Assistant United States Attorney Emily J. Dean is in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Erin Payne and Jack Schneider

The Defendants:

VALMIR KRASNIQI
Age:  35
Staten Island, New York

AFRIM KUPA
Age:  52
Staten Island, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-385 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Defendant allegedly used fraudulently obtained proceeds to purchase home on Long Island

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ABERDEEN – United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.  The sentencing took place on December 4, 2025.

Brady James Claymore, 38, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Claymore was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in May 2025.  He pleaded guilty on September 16, 2025.

On the evening of December 26, 2024, Claymore was drinking alcohol at his mother’s home in McLaughlin, South Dakota, in the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.  When his mother reproved him, Claymore became upset, placed his hands around her neck and squeezed.  After Claymore’s brother punched him several times in the head, Claymore let go of his mother and lost his balance.  Both Claymore and his mother then tumbled down a short flight of steps.  Claymore’s mother incurred a broken nose and fractured three teeth in the fall.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.

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

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lawrence has been sentenced in federal court in Boston on drug distribution charges.

Hector Santana Guzman, a/k/a “DJ Black,” 34, was sentenced on Dec. 10, 2025 by United States District Judge Patti B. Saris to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of the imposed sentence. In September 2025, Santana Guzman pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.

During an investigation of the transnational criminal organization 18th Street Gang, Santana Guzman met with a cooperating witness on two dates in June 2024 to sell fentanyl. On June 6, 2024, Santana Guzman sold approximately 50 grams of powder fentanyl to a cooperating witness. Later, on June 25, 2024, Santana Guzman again sold approximately 70 grams of powder fentanyl.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; Suffolk County and Middlesex County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Falmouth, Lynn, Medford, Nantucket and Revere Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

This case 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 Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

DAYTON, Ohio – A Dayton man who allegedly kidnapped two individuals at gunpoint in two different carjacking incidents in the greater Dayton area on Tuesday now faces federal charges.

Colby Smith, 32, has been in local law enforcement custody since the day of the alleged crimes. He is now charged federally with kidnapping, carjacking and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to charging documents, on Tuesday morning, Smith brandished a firearm at a victim who was inflating his vehicle’s tires at the Speedway gas station on N. Dixie Drive in Harrison Township. Smith allegedly forced the victim into his car and stole the vehicle. The victim pleaded for his release, and Smith eventually let the victim out of the car. Smith left in the car before abandoning it at a tire shop on W. Third St.

Shortly thereafter, Smith allegedly brandished his firearm at a City of Dayton employee who was working leaf collection on Home Avenue. Smith allegedly entered the victim’s city truck on the passenger side and pointed the gun at the victim. Court documents detail that Smith then kidnapped the second victim, forcing him to withdraw money at both an ATM and at a local bank branch. Smith then allegedly instructed the victim to exit the vehicle and stole the city truck.

Smith made his initial appearance in federal court on the afternoon of December 11, 2025, and is scheduled for a detention hearing on December 16, 2025.

Kidnapping is a federal crime punishable by up to life in prison. Carjacking carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Displaying a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence requires a mandatory minimum of at least 7 years in prison in addition to any other sentence imposed.

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; Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal and Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck announced the charges filed on Dec. 11. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi and Assistant United States Attorney Kelly K. Rossi are representing the United States in this 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.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Gloucester man was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The federal district court ordered the three-year sentence to run consecutively to the five-year sentenced imposed by the Commonwealth of Virginia earlier this year for offenses related to the federal conviction.

According to court documents, following the arrest of his adult son in August 2023 by the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO), Allen Dowell, 59, posted videos on social media threatening deputies and their families with violence if they were involved in his son’s arrest.

An investigation into Dowell’s threats revealed several videos posted to social media in which Dowell possessed a firearm and described his marijuana cultivation practices at his residence. As a previously convicted felon, Dowell is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. On Sept. 1, 2023, GCSO and the Virginia State Police arrested Dowell at his residence. From the residence, investigators recovered 20 firearms, approximately 1,000 cartridges of ammunition, an assortment of firearm parts and accessories, suspected silencers/suppressors, and over 400 marijuana plants.

“This case demonstrates how the convergence of multiple criminal acts heightens the danger to our communities,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “A convicted felon cultivating a Schedule I narcotic while stockpiling firearms and ammunition felt emboldened to threaten deputies and their families in retaliation for doing their jobs. This conduct is precisely why we remain committed to holding individuals like Allen Dowell accountable when they choose to disregard the law.”

“Today’s sentence sends a clear message: those who endanger our communities with illegal firearms and narcotics, and who attempt to intimidate law enforcement through threats, will be held fully accountable” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood. “We are committed to keeping our neighborhoods safe, and we will not tolerate violence, criminal activity, or efforts to undermine the safety of law enforcement.”

In January 2025, the Circuit Court of the County of Gloucester sentenced Dowell to five years for multiple convictions of obstruction and resisting arrest by threat/force after Dowell barricaded himself in his home while armed during the Sept. 1, 2023, standoff with GCSO and the Virginia State Police. Dowell’s three-year federal sentence will begin once his Virginia sentence is served.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter G. Osyf and Alyson C. Yates prosecuted the case.

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. 4:24-cr-62.