September 2026 Criminal Investigation press releases

Sept. 30

• Lowell man sentenced to prison for hiding more than $6 million in payroll
• Mark Hanf and the COO of Novato-based Pacific Private Money agree they are responsible for at least $71 million in restitution to victims
• Homeland Security Task Force investigation results in prison sentence for drug trafficker
• Illegal alien from Honduras and Kansas woman plead guilty to fraudulently seeking to obtain custody of an unaccompanied alien child
• Miami real estate developer sentenced for $89 million investor fraud and tax scheme
• Former St. Louis tax preparer sentenced to 56 months in prison for preparing false tax returns
• Illegal alien from Mexico and Utah business owner admits to laundering over $17m in drug proceeds, an HSTF investigation
• Former State official sentenced to 7 years in federal prison for school construction extortion and bribery scheme
• New York man sentenced for mortgage fraud and maintaining an illegal marijuana grow house following Homeland Security Task Force investigation

Sept. 29

• Treasury sanctions Sinaloa Cartel leadership and corruption networks
• Three Oregon men charged with bank fraud
• Two Indian nationals found guilty of participating in cargo theft scheme in which freight was stolen from shippers
• Delaware pastor sentenced to 18 months in prison for committing over $500,000 in pandemic relief fraud and tax fraud
• Nineteen defendants charged in sweeping federal drug trafficking indictment following Homeland Security Task Force investigation
• Twin brothers plead guilty to tax crimes from their MRI technician jobs and their golf tee-time brokering side hustle
• Dual US-Peruvian national extradited to Houston to face $40 million bank fraud and money laundering charges

Sept. 28

• Houston tax preparer admits to multiple tax fraud schemes
• Columbus man pleads guilty to conspiring to launder $1M in business email scam proceeds
• Central Valley man sentenced to more than 7 years in prison for a $10 million real estate fraud scheme 
• Irving couple convicted of federal conspiracy charges related to a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme targeting investors in the Eastern District of Texas
• West Haven man who attempted to travel to the Middle East to join and fight for ISIS sentenced to prison
• Beverly Hills man sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for executing scheme to defraud $2.3 million from taxpayer funded pandemic assistance program
• Former L.A. County Sheriff’s deputy sentenced to nearly 2 years in prison for violating rights on crypto-criminal’s behalf, cheating on taxes
• Cabell County man pleads guilty to money laundering after embezzling $624,599.86 from nonprofit veterinary clinic

Sept. 25

• Cuban national convicted for international alien smuggling and money laundering conspiracy
• Lindsay man pleads guilty to bank fraud and money laundering charges related to failed bank
• Former Jackson Hole bookkeeper sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for $1.48 million embezzlement and tax fraud scheme
• HSTF investigation leads to 17 years in prison for Tucson's "Queen of the South," bringing her reign to a close 

Sept. 24

• Six members of local criminal organization sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and firearm offenses
• Roanoke woman indicted for COVID fraud scheme – Case Advances Fraud Division crackdown
• Four Massachusetts men arrested and charged for fraud, money laundering schemes
• Chief Operating Officer pleads guilty for role in $500m COVID-19 test billing fraud
• Two accused of using homeless persons to cash checks stolen from the mail
• Grand Prairie bookkeeper indicted for allegedly embezzling $1.2 million from elderly couple
• El Paso woman pleads guilty to defrauding paycheck protection program of more than $2 million

Sept. 23

• Greenville tax preparer sentenced to over 2 years in fraud case
• Gregg County tax preparers guilty of federal violations related to falsified tax returns
• Two illegal aliens from Mexico indicted after Homeland Security Task Force investigation leads to seizure of nearly 60 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl
• Convictions through guilty pleas and sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) prosecutions (Sept. 14 through Sept. 18, 2026)
• Columbus drug dealer sentenced to 20 years in prison

Sept. 22

• Sioux Falls man sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for conducting a large-scale federal income tax fraud scheme
• Former IRS employee indicted for filing false tax returns for drug dealers
• Providence attorney pleads guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion

Sept. 21

• Chicago felon sentenced to more than decade in federal prison in “massive” U.S. Treasury check scheme
• Irvine woman sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for not reporting $2.6 million in income she obtained via crypto criminal
• Former bank CEO sentenced to over 9 years in prison for multimillion-dollar wire fraud conspiracy and Venezuela sanctions evasion scheme
• Nigerian man sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment for investment fraud scheme

Sept. 18

• Plainfield man with prior federal conviction pleads guilty to tax evasion 
• Shelton man charged with stealing government funds through altered U.S. Treasury tax refund checks
• Baytown man sent to prison following Homeland Security Task Force cocaine investigation
• Two men admit roles in success village apartments embezzlement conspiracy

Sept. 17

• District of Massachusetts joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA and SBA-OIG in nationwide COVID-era fraud enforcement surge
• West Dallas man pleads guilty to $15 million bank fraud
• Arizona woman, Dallas man receive lengthy federal prison sentences as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation into deadly fentanyl overdose in the Eastern District of Texas

Sept. 16

• U.S. Attorney’s Office joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA-OIG in surge takedown exceeding $245m in COVID-era loan fraud
• President of environmental company sentenced to more than six and a half years in prison for leaving asbestos at suburban Chicago demolition site
• Two defendants employed at L.A.-area homeless nonprofits arrested on federal charges alleging misuse of millions of taxpayer dollars
• Former East Bay financial advisor sentenced to nine years in federal prison for Ponzi scheme that defrauded at least 93 victims
• Maryland man sentenced for leading multimillion-dollar money laundering conspiracy in connection with HSTF case
• Convictions through guilty pleas and sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) prosecutions (Sept. 8 through Sept. 11, 2026)
• District of Connecticut joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in surge takedown exceeding $245 million in COVID-era loan fraud offenses

Sept. 15

• The Northern District of West Virginia joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in surge takedown exceeding $245 million in COVID-era loan fraud; two Morgantown business owners part of national fraud takedown
• Western District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office joins DOJ Fraud Division in surge takedown exceeding $245 million in COVID-era loan fraud
• Southern District of Ohio joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA & SBA OIG in surge takedown exceeding $245 million in COVID-era loan fraud
• Twelve individuals charged in $10m home daycare fraud schemes 
• Organizer in $36 million transnational scheme to defraud more than 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans pleads guilty to money laundering conspiracy
• Mozambican receives lengthy federal prison sentence for money laundering conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation
• U.S. Attorney’s Office joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in surge takedown exceeding $245 million in COVID-era loan fraud
• OnlyFans content creator pleads guilty to tax evasion
• Peoria man charged with defrauding AHCCCS

Sept. 14

• Attorney who failed to file tax returns and pay more than $3.1 million owed sentenced to prison
• WDKY joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in surge takedown exceeding $245 million in COVID-era loan fraud
• U.S. Attorney’s Office for Western District of Pennsylvania joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in surge takedown exceeding $245 million in COVID-era loan fraud
• U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in surge takedown exceeding $245 million in COVID-era loan fraud
• Eastern District of Louisiana joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in law enforcement surge takedown exceeding $245 million in COVID-19 related loan fraud
• District of New Mexico joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in surge takedown exceeding $245 million in COVID-era loan fraud
• United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in surge takedown exceeding $245 million in COVID-era loan fraud
• WDNY joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in surge takedown exceeding $245 million in COVID-era loan fraud 
• Man extradited from Peru pleads guilty to laundering more than $72 million in drug proceeds
• U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in surge takedown exceeding $245 million in COVID-era loan fraud
• New Jersey woman sentenced to 24 months in prison for role in $9.1 million COVID-19 relief fraud scheme 
• Winter Garden woman sentenced to 30 months for COVID relief fraud and failure to file tax returns
• Warren County fraudster sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment 
• Former L.A. County Sheriff's Deputy sentenced to nearly 2 years in prison for violating civil rights while providing off-duty security for crypto criminal

Sept. 11

• Dothan tax preparer sentenced to nearly five years in prison for filing false tax returns
• Arrested at airport, man voluntarily returns to Minnesota to face charges of defrauding $1.3 million in Housing Stabilization Services funds
• Texas man sentenced to prison for promoting abusive tax shelter
• Illinois woman sentenced to prison for role in wire fraud conspiracy

Sept. 10

• Nationwide alcohol distributor agrees to pay over $12 million to resolve federal investigation into bribery and false invoicing practices
• Jamaican national sentenced to eight years for role in sweepstakes fraud targeting older Americans
• Hawaii couple sentenced to prison for roles in nationwide tax refund fraud conspiracy
• Seven, including El Salvadoran national, sentenced to federal prison for armed drug trafficking ring crossing state lines
• RAD Diversified REIT co-founders indicted for stealing funds from their employees’ benefit plans
• Two men, including a Mexican national, indicted for drug trafficking conspiracy

Sept. 9

• Homeland Security Task Force investigation leads to eight-year sentence for leader of trafficking organization
• Gregg County tax preparer charged with federal violations related to falsified tax returns
• Couple in Feeding Our Future fraud scheme sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment 
• Second cocaine trafficker receives prison sentence in Homeland Security Task Force investigation
• HSTF investigation leads to Rio Rico man being sentenced to 60 months in prison for drug and money laundering conspiracies
• Florida enforcement leaders hold inaugural meeting of the Florida Anti-fraud Task Force to enhance federal-state cooperation to detect, investigate, and prosecute fraud
• Columbia business owner sentenced for fraud scheme
• Convictions through guilty pleas and sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) prosecutions (Aug. 31 through Sept. 4, 2026)
• Las Vegas man sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in South Dakota
• Former Navy civilian employee sentenced to 72 months for bribery and tax fraud schemes

Sept. 8

• Restaurant owner pleads guilty to employment tax scheme 
• Camden County business owner admits to employment tax fraud
• Husband and wife fraudsters extradited from Jamaica after wife’s failed attempt to flee justice 
• New Jersey man pleads guilty to bank fraud conspiracy involving more than $1 million in fraudulent pandemic relief loans
• Singaporean ringleader of $245 million cryptocurrency racketeering enterprise pleads guilty in Washington D.C. 
• Oregon man sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for abusing his role at mobile phone store to give customers’ info to criminals

Sept. 4

• Husband and wife sentenced in international property theft scheme
• Owner of tax prep business found guilty of conspiring to defraud the IRS 
• Mexican national pleads guilty to laundering more than $4m in drug trafficking proceeds
• Illegal alien from Georgia charged for conspiracy to launder proceeds of $1.3b health care fraud scheme
• Federal fraud charges filed against former Indianapolis daycare operator
• Homeland Security Task Force arrests owner of Southwest Detroit business, “La Posada,” on charges of international money laundering conspiracy
• Raleigh drug ringleader convicted at federal guns and drugs trial

Sept. 3

• Wausau man sentenced to 8 years for wire fraud and money laundering
• Roseville man charged with defrauding employer of over $2.3 million 
• U.S. and UK launch first-of-its-kind joint alliance to dismantle global scam centers 
• Additional defendant pleads guilty to role in illegal gambling ring
• Jury convicts Omaha man for distributing methamphetamine 
• Fayette County man previously convicted of violating clean water act sentenced to prison for filing false tax return
• Seven charged in $57m tax refund fraud scheme 
• Chichester man indicted for operating a $25 million hawala 
• Washington County man sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for wire fraud 
• Tampa man sentenced to 46 months in federal prison and ordered to pay over $700,000 to the Internal Revenue Service 
• California man indicted and detained for multi-million-dollar COVID-19 loan and commercial loan fraud scheme
• Former SBA and IRS employee sentenced to federal prison for taking bribes in $3.5 million COVID fraud scheme

Sept. 2

• Homeland Security Task Force secures sentences for ten illegal aliens
• Bookkeeper pleads guilty to taking clients’ money but failing to pay taxes on their behalf
• Nevada man sentenced to prison for false tax return schemes
• Beaumont man receives 40-year federal prison sentence as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas
• Dallas man receives lengthy federal prison sentence as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking cocaine in the Eastern District of Texas
• Convictions through guilty pleas and sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) prosecutions (Aug. 24 through Aug. 28, 2026)
• Eastern District of Texas prosecutes multiple defendants as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigations in August 2026

Sept. 1

• Hampden man pleads guilty to tax evasion
• New Gloucester man sentenced for presenting counterfeit Treasury checks and wire fraud 
• Maryland man sentenced for disability benefits scam 
• Mexican national sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine
• Connecticut man going to prison for bank fraud conspiracy
• Founder and CEO of Bay Area real estate investment fund charged in multi-year fraud scheme
• Ellington woman pleads guilty to fraud and tax offenses
• Delco attorney pleads guilty to submitting over $400,000 in sham checks to evade taxes and purchase an electric truck