News

Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, a federal jury convicted Demetrius Johnson on all counts of an indictment charging him with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, and firing a gun in connection with those crimes.  The defendant was an associate of a Brooklyn-based gang known as the “Bully Gang,” a violent street gang that operated in and around Bedford Stuyvesant. Today’s verdict followed a two-week trial before United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan.  When sentenced, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of twenty years in prison and a maximum sentence of life.

Earlier today, at the federal court in Central Islip, an indictment was unsealed charging five members and associates of a Long Island-based drug trafficking organization known as “No Budget” with conspiring to distribute cocaine and fentanyl since 2017.  Nicholas Andrade, Julian Hutchins, Prince Jones, Jose Lopez, and Ryan O’Malley engaged in a years’ long drug trafficking operation transporting fentanyl and 137 kilograms of cocaine across the country for distribution primarily in Long Island and Queens, New York.  

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a superseding indictment was unsealed charging Artem Stryzhak with conspiracy to commit fraud and related activity, including extortion, in connection with computers, for his role in a series of international attacks using the Nefilim ransomware.  Stryzhak, a Ukrainian citizen, was arrested in Spain in June 2024 and extradited to the United States on April 30, 2025.  

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Yanki Misael Cruz-Mateo, a member of the 18^th Street gang, a transnational criminal organization, was sentenced by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall to 45 years’ imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy in connection with his participation in two murders: the October 25, 2017 murder of 20-year-old Jonathan Figueroa in Saugerties, New York, and the February 2, 2018 murder of 20-year-old Oscar Antonio Blanco-Hernandez in Queens.

Earlier today in federal court in Central Islip, Jason Liriano, the founder and leader of the Route Boys gang, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gary R. Brown to 22 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and use of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking activity.  Liriano pleaded guilty to the charges in September 2023.  Liriano is the last of 10 defendants affiliated with the Route Boys gang to be sentenced in connection with charges in a third superseding indictment involving drug distribution, use of firearms, pharmacy burglaries, and ATM

“Today, George Santos was finally held accountable for the mountain of lies, theft, and fraud he perpetrated.  For the defendant, it was judgment day, and for his many victims including campaign donors, political parties, government agencies, elected bodies, his own family members, and his constituents, it is justice,” stated U.S. Attorney Durham.  “To Mr. Santos and other dishonest individuals of that ilk, who lie, steal identities and commit frauds to get elected to public office, this prosecution speaks to the truth that my Office is committed to aggressively rooting out public corruption

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, an indictment was unsealed charging Faustin Nsabumukunzi with visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud for lying on his applications for a green card and for United States citizenship by concealing his role as a local leader and perpetrator of violence during the Rwandan genocide in 1994.  

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Roberto Gustavo Cortes Ripalda (Cortes), the co-founder, co-owner, and former Chief Executive Officer of the international investment advisory firm Biscayne Capital, was sentenced by United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. 

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Fatjon Shytani, an Albanian national and resident of the Bronx, New York, with a scheme to smuggle illegal aliens from Canada into the United States for financial gain.  Shytani was arrested yesterday morning and was arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom.

A federal jury today convicted Tony Clanton, also known as “Tone,” on all counts of a superseding indictment charging him with Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy, two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and use of firearms during crimes of violence.  The charges arose from a string of robberies and attempted robberies committed at gunpoint by the defendant and co-conspirators.  The verdict followed a six-day trial before United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto.  When sentenced, Clanton faces a mandatory minimum term of 25 years in prison and up to life in prison.

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department, together with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, today announced a $300 million settlement with Walgreens Boots Alliance, Walgreen Co. and various subsidiaries to resolve allegations that the national chain pharmacy illegally filled millions of invalid prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act and then sought payment for many of those invalid prescriptions by Medicare and other federal healthcare programs in violation of

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Pushpesh Kumar Baid, also known as “PK Jain,” pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud investors in Tradepay Capital LLC (Tradepay), a purported factoring company.  The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom.  When sentenced, Baid faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, as well as restitution of over $35 million and forfeiture of over $2.6 million.