Former CDC Supervisor Pleads Guilty to Stealing More than $190,000 of Agency Funds

ATLANTA - Gwendolyn Brandon, a former supervisor at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has pleaded guilty to theft of government funds in connection with fake invoices she submitted to the CDC.

“This defendant embezzled taxpayer money and brazenly exploited her position of public trust by fabricating invoices,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “When she is sentenced later this year, she will pay the price for her greed and deception.”

“This federal employee-turn-fraudster exploited her government position to steal taxpayer money to enrich herself,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus L. Sykes of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “HHS-OIG is committed to protecting the integrity of the federal workforce and to help ensure that HHS funding is spent appropriately to serve the American public.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From approximately August 2023 to February 2025, while employed as a CDC administrative professional, Brandon created fraudulent invoices that appeared to be from vendors requesting payment for goods or services provided to the CDC. The invoices triggered payments to an account she controlled. She used her role as a supervisor and her knowledge of CDC’s invoice and credit card processing system to perpetuate the fraud by causing employees under her supervision, who were unaware of the fraud, to make the payments. Through her scheme, she caused the CDC to pay at least 46 fraudulent invoices in amounts ranging from $2,230 to $9,970, resulting in the theft of $190,461.50 in government funds.

Gwendolyn Brandon, 43, of Cumming, Georgia, pleaded guilty to theft of government funds yesterday. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. As part of her plea agreement, Brandon agreed to resign from the CDC and never apply for employment with the federal government again, nor will she seek to do business with the federal government as a contractor or vendor.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/former-cdc-supervisor-pleads-guilty-stealing-more-190000-agency-funds

12 Members of Violent “Crown Hill Enterprise” Indicted on Federal RICO Charges, Including Murder

INDIANAPOLIS- A federal grand jury returned a 28‑count indictment charging 12 alleged members of a racketeering enterprise accused of orchestrating widespread criminal activity in Indianapolis, including murder, kidnapping, assault, arson, drug trafficking, and illegal firearms crimes. The first of these defendants made their initial appearance today in the Southern District of Indiana.

“The superseding indictment in this case alleges, among other things, that these defendants shot and killed a man for slamming the door of a drug house, shot another man in the leg for a $40 drug debt, pistol-whipped at least two other people, and dealt all manner of drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This type of alleged drug dealing and violence ruins communities, people, and their families. Drugs and gang violence are a scourge. These groups will be dismantled and prosecuted.”

“The allegations in this indictment describe a criminal organization that maintained a grip on Indianapolis neighborhoods for years through fear, violence, and devastation,” aid U.S. Attorney Tom Wheeler for the Southern District of Indiana. “We will not allow groups that traffic deadly drugs, terrorize residents, and retaliate against witnesses to operate with impunity. We are grateful for the outstanding work of our federal, state, and local partners whose collaboration made today’s charges possible.”

“Violent criminal organizations that use fear, intimidation, and physical violence to further their operations have no place in our communities,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “This case reflects the FBI’s commitment to working alongside our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those responsible for fueling violence and organized criminal activity. We will continue using every available resource to protect the public and pursue those who believe they can operate above the law.”

“The level of violence carried out by this criminal enterprise is both incomprehensible and deeply disturbing. Taking human lives over matters so trivial offends the basic sensibilities of any civilized society. The team of United States Attorneys, Special Agents, and police officers involved in this investigation worked tirelessly to dismantle this organization and bring those responsible to justice. We could not be prouder of, or grateful for, their extraordinary efforts. Residents of Indianapolis can sleep a little easier tonight knowing these defendants are in custody and no longer able to inflict violence on the community," said ATF Columbus Special Agent in Charge Jorge A. Rosendo.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/12-members-violent-crown-hill-enterprise-indicted-federal-rico-charges-including

Former Senior Vice President of Atlanta Housing Authority Sentenced to Prison for Housing Assistance Fraud and Pandemic Relief Fraud

ATLANTA - Tracy Jones, a former Senior Vice President at the Atlanta Housing Authority, has been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution for a scheme to fraudulently collect Section 8 housing assistance payments for her own rental property and family members, making fraudulent applications to collect pandemic relief funds, and committing mortgage fraud when refinancing her rental property.

“Jones violated the trust of the community, the taxpayers, and the needy families she was supposed to assist, using her senior position at one of the largest housing authorities to steal limited public funds,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Her theft of that money meant other members of the community went without much-needed relief. Our office will continue to vigorously act to hold people like Jones, who violate the public trust and pilfer from the treasury, accountable.”

“Tracy Jones abused a position of trust by diverting funds from multiple federal programs, undermining assistance intended for vulnerable communities and struggling businesses during the pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Jerome Winkle with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who exploit HUD-funded programs for personal gain.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From April 2017 to the time of her guilty plea in this case, Jones served as Senior Vice President over the Housing Choice Voucher Program at the Atlanta Housing Authority, overseeing one of the largest Section 8 programs in the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds Section 8 programs, including rental assistance payments to landlords on behalf of low-income families and individuals. Section 8 funds are limited, and there is often a long waiting list of low-income families seeking acceptance into the program. Housing authority staff are generally prohibited from receiving Section 8 payments for their own properties, and Section 8 landlords are typically prohibited from leasing to their own family members.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/former-senior-vice-president-atlanta-housing-authority-sentenced-prison-housing

Former Cooper County R-IV School Board Vice-President Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for Role in Misuse of School District Funds

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Cooper County R-IV School District board member pleaded guilty in federal court today for her role in a wire fraud scheme that defrauded the school district out of $385,000.

Ashley Benny, 41, of Bunceton, Mo., waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps to an information charging her with one count of wire fraud. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.

Cooper County R-IV is a school district in Bunceton, Mo., with approximately 100 students. While serving as the school board treasurer in 2019, Benny was asked to research alternative investment options for the school district’s unallocated savings. Benny learned through a friend of a supposedly lucrative overseas “standby letter of credit” investment that carried no risk of loss. The school district agreed to Benny’s suggestion and voted to transfer $385,000 to a company called “AgFluent.” Prior to the board vote, Benny failed to disclose that she opened and controlled the AgFluent bank account and hoped to personally profit from the investment.

The investment was a scam, and the school district was defrauded out of $233,000 wired overseas by AgFluent. Contrary to AgFluent’s agreement with the school board, Benny then helped transfer the remaining school district investment funds to pay various other entities and expenses owed by a co-conspirator, including nearly $60,000 for the purchase of two semi-trucks and a $10,000 escrow payment on a failed land purchase deal. The school district never received any return on its $385,000 investment.

By pleading guilty today, Benny admitted that she is directly responsible for $146,518 in loss to Cooper County R-IV. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Benny must pay full restitution to the school district in this amount.

Under federal statute, Benny is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/cooper-county-r-iv-school-board-vice-president-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud-role-misuse

Europol's Project A.S.S.E.T. identifies millions in criminal assets

Global asset seizure operation between law enforcement and private sector partners demonstrates the power of international cooperation

Europol, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from 31 countries and leading private sector partners, has concluded its third and most successful operational week of Project A.S.S.E.T. (Asset Search & Seize Enforcement Taskforce). This initiative, organised by the Europol's European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC), has become a crucial component in the global fight against serious and organised crime and the seizure of criminal assets.

From 19 to 22 May 2026, Europol's headquarters in The Hague hosted over 40 law enforcement agencies, including Asset Recovery Offices (AROs), Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), and specialised units focusing on money laundering and organised crime. The operation was supported by Eurojust, INTERPOL's Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC), and key private sector partners from the financial services and cryptocurrency industries. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) and AMLA (Anti-Money Laundering Authority) also participated in the event.

Global cooperation and advanced investigative techniques

The operational week yielded remarkable results, demonstrating the power of global cooperation and advanced investigative techniques. Combining the efforts and expertise of both law enforcement and private sector partners, it led to the identification and tracing of a significant number of criminal assets:

884 bank accounts;

80 companies;

55 crypto wallets;

74 vehicles and one vessel;

44 items of real estate (six of which are worth EUR 5.64 million combined);

two suspected criminals were located, with one arrested via ENFAST.

The exact value of the identified assets will be determined in the follow-up investigations and analysis of the findings, but can already be estimated in millions of euros. These figures represent a significant leap forward in the global effort to disrupt criminal networks and seize their illicit proceeds. The operation also highlighted several new trends and modi operandi in money laundering and financial crime, providing valuable insight for future investigations.

Magnus Brunner

European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration

“53% of adults in the EU have already been exposed to online and crypto-asset fraud. It has become a major source of revenue for organised crime. In our proposal to update Europol’s mandate, we will strengthen financial investigations through its cooperation with other key players, ensuring that we can stop fraud more effectively, quickly seize any form of currency, and increase recovery rates.”

Jürgen Ebner

Acting Executive Director of Europol

“Project A.S.S.E.T. has become an important operational platform in the fight against organised crime and criminal finances. During my visit to the taskforce at Europol Headquarters, I witnessed first-hand the extraordinary commitment and professionalism of investigators and partners working side by side across borders. Their efforts demonstrate how international cooperation and financial intelligence can strike directly at the financial foundations of organised crime.”

The attacker claimed “racism.”

Henry Nowak told police officers he had been stabbed.

One officer replied, “I don’t think you have, mate.”

“I CAN’T BREATHE” were Henry Nowak’s last words.

He died handcuffed in the street as he bled out.

Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old Sikh man, was openly carrying a 21cm (9-inch) kirpan/shastar.

Note: no one else can legally carry a knife specifically for "defense" (self-defense) in the UK.

Digwa allegedly tried to rob Nowak.

Nowak suffered four stab wounds, including a fatal deep puncture to the chest and two wounds to the back of his legs — inflicted as he tried to flee and climb over a fence.

The killing happened on December 3, 2025.

But it barely made the news at the time.

Detailed public awareness only exploded in mid-May 2026 when the murder trial began at Southampton Crown Court — six months later.

The attacker’s mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, is also charged with assisting the offender by removing the knife from the scene.

https://x.com/ScarletReeds/status/2057521814763442460

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