August Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments Announced

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the August Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

Elijah Lee Chandler, Jr. Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (superseding). Chandler, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to possess more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. He is additionally charged with possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute. Lastly, Chandler is charged with maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tulsa Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-231

Nicholas Donell Cotton. Second Degree Burglary in Indian Country (Count 1); Theft in Indian Country – Over $1,000 (Counts 2 & 3); Wire Fraud (Counts 4 & 5). Cotton, 37, of Inola and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with breaking into a fenced-in structure with the intent to steal any property and to commit a felony. He is charged with stealing a vehicle, assorted equipment, and tools valued at over $1,000. Cotton is further charged with fraudulently using two stolen credit cards. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-280

Aldo De Leon Mendoza. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Leon Mendoza, 38, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Apr. 2016. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Regan Reininger is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-284

Alexander Douglas Goins. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Goins, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to entice an individual he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexually explicit activity. The Homeland Security Investigations and the Owasso Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Scaife is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-274

Chad Allen Haeberle. Threat to Assault, Kidnap, and Murder a Member of Congress; Cyberstalking. Haeberle, 34, of Jay, is charged with threatening to assault, kidnap, and murder a Member of Congress. Further, Haeberle is charged with causing reasonable fear or substantial emotional distress by using an electronic communication service with intent to harass and intimidate a Member of Congress and their spouse. The U.S. Capitol Police, the U.S. Marshal Service, and the Jay Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel and Tara T. Heign are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-273

Mynor Antonio Hernandez-Aguilar. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Hernandez-Aguilar, 34, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Jan. 2020. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-281

Ramsey Nathaniel Hogan. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Hogan, 58, transient, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Probation and Parole Office, and the U.S. Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wright and Mike Flesher are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-282

Juan Manuel Joaquin-Francisco. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Joaquin-Francisco, 51, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Mar. 2019. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Luster is prosecuting the case. 
25-CR-283

Roberto Montel Madden. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Madden, 38, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-275

Simon Martinez-Gonzalez. Kidnapping of a Child (superseding). Martinez-Gonzalez, 44, a Mexican National, is charged with kidnapping a minor child in Dec. 2024. The Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, Webb County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Richard and Stacey Todd are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-029

Jesus Medina Acevedo. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Medina Acevedo, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in July 2017. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 
25-CR-285

Anibal Valentin Rivas Gabino. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rivas Gabino, 35, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Mar. 2019. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 
25-CR-286

Jose Luis Rodriguez Cornejo. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien (superseding). Rodriguez Cornejo, 43, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of cocaine and methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He is further charged with maintaining a residence to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. Additionally, he is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Feb. 2001. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-187

Odell Carl Stokes; Arthur Lee Hudgens, Jr.; Roderick Dale Favors; Cornelius James Artis. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 2 and 3); Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 4 and 5) (superseding). Stokes, 49, Hudgens, 46, Favors, 43, and Artis, 44, of Tulsa, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from Oct. 2024 through May 2025. They are additionally charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-188

Mark Joseph Vossler. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Vossler, 53, transient, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from March through July 2025. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-276

Beaumont felon charged with federal firearms violations

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont convicted felon has been charged with federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Charles Terrance Leaven, 39, was named in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime.

The indictment alleges that on March 11, 2024, Leaven was found in possession of a firearm in Beaumont.  Further investigation revealed Leaven had been previously convicted of a felony and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.   

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).

If convicted, Leaven faces up to life in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Beaumont Police Department; and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.

A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Alleged Perpetrator of Shooting in Washington, D.C. Charged with Hate Crimes

Source: United States Attorneys General 1

A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. returned an indictment yesterday charging Elias Rodriguez with murder of a foreign official, hate crimes, firearms offenses, first-degree murder, and assault with intent to kill, for the shooting of Israeli Embassy staffers leaving a reception hosted at the Capital Jewish Museum (CJM). Rodriguez had previously been charged by complaint with murder of a foreign official, firearm offenses, and first-degree murder on May 22.

According to the indictment, on May 21, Rodriguez purchased a ticket to the American Jewish Committee (AJC)’s Young Diplomats Reception being hosted at CJM. Yaron Lischinsky, Sarah Milgrim, C.S., and A.T. were employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. who attended the reception. After purchasing the ticket, Rodriguez reviewed information about AJC, which indicated AJC’s support for Israel. After Lischinsky, Milgrim, C.S., and A.T. walked out of the reception, Rodriguez approached them and fired approximately 20 shots. Rodriguez shot Lischinsky and Milgrim multiple times, killing them. C.S. and A.T. escaped uninjured. Rodriguez approached a police officer, said “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” and was arrested. Rodriguez’s previously scheduled “explication” was then posted to his X account; in it, Rodriguez advocated for violence against Israelis.

“This Justice Department will not tolerate violence motivated by hatred of faith or national origin, and we will enforce our federal civil rights laws accordingly,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

“This office will leave no stone unturned in its effort to bring justice to the innocent victims of Elias Rodriguez,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “The hate charges shed further light on his evil intent in the killing of innocent victims.”

The Metropolitan Police Department and the Washington Field Office of the FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Joint Task Force October 7.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

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

Justice Department Requires Broad Divestitures to Resolve Challenge to UnitedHealth’s Acquisition of Amedisys

Source: United States Attorneys General

Decree Would Require Divestiture of at Least 164 Home Health and Hospice Facilities; Impose $1.1M Civil Penalty for False Certification

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, together with its state co-Plaintiffs, filed a proposed settlement today requiring broad divestitures to resolve Plaintiffs’ challenge to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated’s (UnitedHealth) $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys Inc. In addition, Amedisys would pay a $1.1 million civil penalty to the United States for falsely certifying that it had provided “true, correct, and complete” responses under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

“In no sector of our economy is competition more important to Americans’ well-being than healthcare. This settlement protects quality and price competition for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable patients and wage competition for thousands of nurses,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “I commend the Antitrust Division’s Staff for doggedly investigating and prosecuting this case on behalf of seniors, hospice patients, nurses, and their families.”

The proposed settlement would require UnitedHealth and Amedisys to divest 164 home health and hospice locations (including one affiliated palliative care facility) across 19 states, accounting for approximately $528 million in annual revenue. By number of facilities, the settlement would secure the largest divestiture of outpatient healthcare services to resolve a merger challenge. In addition, the proposed settlement would:

  • Obligate UnitedHealth to divest eight additional locations if it fails to obtain regulatory approval for the divestiture of associated facilities without the additional locations;
  • Impose a monitor to supervise UnitedHealth’s divestiture of the assets and compliance with the consent decree;
  • Provide the divestiture buyers with the assets, personnel, and relationships to compete against UnitedHealth in the overlap areas;
  • Incorporate robust protections to strengthen adherence to the decree and deter interference with the divestiture buyers’ ability to compete; and
  • Require Amedisys to pay a $1.1 million civil penalty and train its corporate and field leadership on antitrust compliance for falsely certifying that the company had truthfully, correctly, and completely responded to the United States’ requests for documents.

The map below shows the locations of the divested home health and hospice locations under the decree:

As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any interested person should submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Jill Maguire, Acting Chief, Healthcare and Consumer Products Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 4100, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.

UnitedHealth is a vertically integrated insurer, healthcare provider, pharmacy benefit manager, and healthcare software and services vendor headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.  UnitedHealth acquired Amedisys’s home health and hospice rival LHC Group Inc. (LHC) in 2023. Amedisys is a home health and hospice services provider headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Homewood Felon Charged with Possession of Firearms

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Homewood, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal firearms law, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

The one-count Indictment named Chaz Mitchell, 35, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, on or about July 5, 2025, Mitchell had three firearms and ammunition in his possession after having been convicted of two prior felonies, including on state firearm charges. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.

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 Department 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.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Former Augusta State Medical Prison Correctional Officers Charged in Connection with Inmate’s Death

Source: United States Attorneys General

On Aug. 5, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia returned a two-count indictment charging former Augusta State Medical Prison Correctional Officers Robert Roberson and Marcus Phillips with violating the constitutional rights of an inmate by showing deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of harm to an inmate, resulting in his death.  The indictment further charges Roberson with falsifying a logbook to cover up his misconduct.  

The indictment alleges that on Oct. 28, 2020, Roberson and Phillips became aware of a smoldering fire in an inmate’s cell, and, rather than extinguish the smoldering fire, evacuate the inmate from his cell, remediate the smoke from the cell, or call a fire emergency over the radio, they willfully disregarded the substantial risk of serious harm to the inmate by leaving him in his locked cell for several hours while he slowly died from smoke inhalation.  

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons for the Southern District of Georgia, and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Augusta Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Augusta Resident Agency is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kirkland for the Southern District of Georgia and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras and Trial Attorney Briana M. Clark of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The Justice Department Files Complaint Challenging Oklahoma Law Providing In-State Tuition for Illegal Aliens

Source: United States Attorneys General

The United States is challenging an Oklahoma law providing in-state tuition for illegal aliens. This law unconstitutionally discriminates against U.S. citizens, who are not afforded the same privileges, in direct conflict with federal law. On Tuesday, Aug. 5, the Department of Justice filed a complaint in the Eastern District of Oklahoma against the State of Oklahoma seeking to enjoin the State from enforcing the Oklahoma law and bring them into compliance with federal requirements.

In the complaint, the United States seeks to enjoin enforcement of an Oklahoma law that requires colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition rates for all aliens who maintain Oklahoma residency, regardless of whether those aliens are lawfully present in the United States. Federal law prohibits institutions of higher education from providing benefits to aliens that are not offered to U.S. citizens. The Oklahoma law blatantly conflicts with federal law and is thus in conflict with the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

This lawsuit follows two executive orders signed by President Trump that seek to ensure illegal aliens are not obtaining taxpayer benefits or preferential treatment. The first, “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders” orders all agencies to “ensure, to the maximum extent permitted by law, that no taxpayer-funded benefits go to unqualified aliens.” The second, “Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens,” directs relevant officials to “take appropriate action to stop the enforcement of State and local laws, regulations, policies, and practices favoring aliens over any groups of American citizens that are unlawful, preempted by Federal law, or otherwise unenforceable, including State laws that provide in-State higher education tuition to aliens but not to out-of-State American citizens.”

APRN and Medical Practice to Pay Over $600k and Cease Connecticut Medicaid Participation to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ARMAND NTCHANA and his various entities have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and agreed to pay more than $600,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal and state False Claims Acts by causing false claims to be submitted to Medicare and Connecticut Medicaid.  Ntchana currently resides in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Ntchana, who is licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Connecticut, is the principal member and owner of INTEGRATED PROCARE SERVICES, LLC (“IPS”), a psychiatric medication management practice located in Wethersfield.  He is also the principal member and owner of BROOKSIDE RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME, LLC (“Brookside”) and 134 FRANKLIN STREET EXTENSION, LLC (“Brookside Property”), which formerly operated a state-funded residential care home in Danbury, and the principal member and owner of RIVERVIEW RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME, LLC (“Riverview”) and 92 LEXINGTON AVENUE, LLC (“Riverview Property”), which formerly operated a state-funded residential care home in New Haven.  Ntchana ceased control of the operations of Brookside and Riverview in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and sold the Brookside Property and the Riverview Property in August 2023. 

The federal and state governments allege that from January 2016 through October 2020, Ntchana and IPS violated the federal and state False Claims Acts by improperly billing Medicare and Connecticut Medicaid for services not rendered, the services of an unlicensed provider, and for upcoded or duplicative claims.

Ntchana and IPS caused false claims to be submitted that listed Ntchana as the rendering provider when, in fact, those services were not actually provided.  This included claims billed by Ntchana for impossible numbers of hours per day; when Ntchana was not physically present, including when he was out of the country, on vacation, or not in the office; for patients who were hospitalized or deceased; and for having a staff member call in a medication refill without Ntchana’s interacting directly with the patient or the patient’s medical record.  Ntchana and IPS created false medical records or had no medical records for such visits.

In addition, Ntchana and IPS caused false claims to be submitted that listed Ntchana as the rendering provider when, in fact, the patients were seen by an individual with no qualified health professional license or medical qualifications.  Ntchana and IPS also caused false claims to be submitted for both evaluation and management visits and psychotherapy during the same visit when, in fact, Ntchana had only provided evaluation and management services during that visit.

To resolve their liability, Ntchana and his related entities agreed to pay $614,427.51, plus interest, which was based on their ability to pay.  Ntchana and IPS have also entered into a Suspension Agreement and Consent Order with the Connecticut Department of Social Services (“DSS”) to be suspended from participating in all programs administered by DSS for two years, and to not reapply for reinstatement in Connecticut Medicaid or any state-funded program thereafter.

This matter was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, and the Connecticut Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Gruber, and by Assistant Attorney General Rick Porter of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.

The allegations resolved by today’s settlement stem from an investigation based on a critical analysis of Medicare claims data.  People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

Bloomfield Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearm Offenses

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, announced that BRANDON C. TYSON, 29, of Bloomfield, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to drug and firearm offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Tyson’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for drug and assault offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

An ATF investigation revealed that, in May 2021, Tyson unlawfully possessed a Glock 20, 9mm pistol.  Also, between May 2023 and March 2024, Tyson conspired to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.  Tyson was arrested on state charges on March 27, 2024, after a search of his residence revealed approximately 1.7 kilograms of cocaine and $16,700 in cash.

Tyson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29.

Tyson has been detained since his federal arrest on September 19, 2024.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Dearington and Sean P. Mahard, and Trial Attorney Brian P. Leaming from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.

This prosecution is a part of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) in Hartford, and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) programs.