Investigative Press Releases
Monday, January 31, 2022
Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg highlights efforts by federal, state, and local partners to prevent and combat human trafficking in the Middle District of Florida (MDFL) during National Slavery and Human Trafficking Month. The United States Attorney’s Human Trafficking Task Force leads law enforcement’s combined efforts to inform and protect communities across the district throughout the year.
Monday, January 31, 2022
BOSTON – A Lynn woman was arrested today for allegedly stealing over $50,000 in Social Security benefits.
Teresa M. Carrington, 64, was charged with one count of theft of public funds. Carrington was released on conditions following an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein in federal court in Boston this afternoon.
According to the indictment, from June 2016 through January 2020, Carrington stole at least $50,210 in Social Security benefits.
Monday, January 31, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has pleaded guilty to fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft in connection to a more than $840,000 covid-relief fraud scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats.
Friday, January 28, 2022
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad sentenced Joseph Ransome, 51, of Indian Trail, N.C., to 30 months in prison for wire fraud yesterday, for defrauding the COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit program, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Conrad also ordered Ransome to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $44,172 in restitution.
Friday, January 28, 2022
SAN FRANCISCO – A criminal complaint unsealed today in federal court charges Idowu Hashim Shittu for fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain pandemic-related unemployment benefits from numerous state agencies, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) Special Agent in Charge Quentin Heiden, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair.
Friday, January 28, 2022
The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Paul Hendler, 49, of Burlington, pleaded not guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to federal forgery and false statement charges. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle released Hendler on conditions pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
Friday, January 28, 2022
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James Moody has sentenced Eric Liebman (34, Tampa) to 15 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud. Liebman had pleaded guilty on September 24, 2019.
Friday, January 28, 2022
PADUCAH, Ky – A Paducah man was sentenced on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, to 12 months in prison and an ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,500 for fraud related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Thursday, January 27, 2022
ABINGDON, Va. – A Marion, Virginia man was sentenced this week to 48 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute the deadly drug fentanyl.
Dakota Shadoe Tunnell, 21, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Jacksonville, Florida – Wayne Bowen (64, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. He faces a mandatory penalty of two years in federal prison. As part of his plea agreement, Bowen has agreed to reimburse various federal agencies a total of $63,773 for the government benefits he received in connection with his identity theft scheme.