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Criminal Division

Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Criminal Division have a diverse caseload that includes cases dealing with narcotics trafficking, drug crimes, firearms, gang prosecutions, violent crimes, child pornography, white collar crimes, public corruption, identity theft/financial crimes, corporate fraud, wire fraud, false claims cases and securities fraud, among others.
Among recent notable cases:

  • First in the nation charges brought against individuals fraudulently seeking forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
     
  • Five investigated and convicted in massive drug trafficking conspiracy that resulted in the seizure of 28 kilograms of fentanyl, 3.5 kilograms of heroin, 24 kilograms of cocaine, $91,000 in cash
     
  • Well-known local businesswoman convicted and imprisoned for defrauding friends and family members in multimillion dollar property rehabilitation investment scheme 
     
  • Rhode Island doctor convicted and sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to solicit and accept kickbacks in return for prescribing a powerful, highly addictive version of the opioid drug Fentanyl
     
  • Six individuals prosecuted for laundering millions of dollars gained through multi-faceted fraud schemes run out of Nigeria, primarily targeting elderly U.S. citizens
     
  • Three convicted in schemes to have mass quantities of counterfeit goods manufactured in China and Pakistan to be imported and distributed in the United States, to include U.S. military clothing and equipment
     
  • Successful prosecution of a group home counselor who recruited a male resident of the group home to work with him to sex traffic two 16-year-old females in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York
     
  • Truck company owner prosecuted for falsifying drivers' driving logs in violation of DOT safety regulations
     
  • Five convicted in oxycodone prescription ring that fraudulently obtained over 21,000 30mg oxycodone pills
     
  • Self-proclaimed “world’s greatest counterfeiter” and "mobster" convicted and imprisoned for producing more than $29,000 in counterfeit $100 bills
     
  • Several individuals for contacting or attempting to contact and entice minors to engage in illicit sexual conduct, many who also possessed and/or distributed child pornography
     
  • Conviction at trial of a member of the Liberian community for marriage fraud and making false statements on an application for legal permanent residency
     
  • Five individuals prosecuted with participating in online romance scams that bilked more than two dozen people, most of them elderly, out of millions of dollars
Updated January 19, 2021