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Crime Watch Global case update · Ghana / Netherlands

Update added 23 September 2026 · 10 September 2026 date provided for this report; original publication on that date not verified

Media-reported detention of MP Frimpong Kwame Ohene remains unverified by official sources

Africa News reported on 13 May 2026 that Ghanaian MP Frimpong Kwame Ohene had been detained in the Netherlands. The Parliament of Ghana directory lists Ohene Kwame Frimpong as the MP for Asante Akim North, but that directory does not confirm an arrest or criminal allegation. No official source reviewed here verifies the reported detention or an FBI role.

No official source reviewed here verifies the reported $32 million amount or diplomatic negotiations. No official statement or court record supplied with this update confirms a detention, charge, or court ruling.

This report does not announce a new arrest, court decision or change in legal status. Mr. Frimpong is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Any allegation and evidence must be tested through the applicable legal process.

Parliament of Ghana MP directory Africa News report

Read earlier Crime Watch Global coverage

Supplied portrait; it does not verify identity, detention or case status.

CHARGEDSEXUAL-OFFENCE ALLEGATIONSshadrack-sibiya-charges

22 September 2026Randburg Magistrate’s Court · South AfricaSouth African National Prosecuting Authority

Suspended Deputy Police Commissioner Sibiya Appears in Court on Sexual-Offence Charges

Grooming, rape and trafficking allegations · Bail hearing set for 29 September

Suspended deputy police commissioner Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya appeared in Randburg Magistrate’s Court on 22 September after being detained the previous day. Prosecutors allege he groomed a 16-year-old girl and raped an 18-year-old woman; he also faces a trafficking charge. The names and identifying details of the complainants are withheld.

The case was postponed to 29 September for a bail hearing. He remains in custody pending that hearing, and prosecutors intend to oppose bail. Reporting on the court proceedings says the state raised concerns about possible escape and witness interference; those concerns are submissions, not findings of guilt.

The case comes amid separate public scrutiny of police corruption allegations before the Madlanga Commission. Sibiya has denied the commission-related allegations. They are distinct from the sexual-offence charges and neither proceeding establishes guilt in the other.

Crime Watch Global thanks people who share credible information. Nothing supplied with this report establishes that its readers’ tips led to Sibiya’s detention. The charges remain allegations; Sibiya is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Photograph supplied with this report. The image alone does not establish identity or any allegation.

South AfricaCourtSexual OffencesTraffickingPresumption of Innocence Mail & Guardian court report · 22 September 2026

RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGEAVIATION FITNESS CONCERN · CLOSED WITHOUT CHARGEmanchester-cabin-crew-released

2 May 2026 · Earlier reportManchester Airport, EnglandGreater Manchester Police

Two Manchester Airport Cabin Crew Released Without Charge After Further Tests

Initial breath tests led to arrests · Custody tests found both within the legal limit

Greater Manchester Police said officers attended an inbound flight at Gate 49 at Manchester Airport on 2 May 2026 following concerns about whether two cabin crew members were fit to perform their duties. Initial breath tests indicated readings above the aviation-duty limit and both were arrested.

Further tests in custody found both crew members within the legal limit. Police released both without charge and said any further action would be for the airline. The report must not be read as saying either person was convicted, charged or found to have been over the legal limit in the subsequent tests.

Crime Watch Global thanks airport workers and the public who share safety concerns. The available police statement does not establish that a Crime Watch Global tip prompted the response or arrests. No identifying details of the crew members are published here.

United KingdomManchester AirportAviationReleased Without Charge Greater Manchester Police statement quoted in The Mirror

ARRESTEDFRAUD / CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONgauteng-fraud-property-arrests

September 21, 2026Multiple locations across Gauteng, South AfricaSouth African Police Service

Four Arrested Over Alleged Fraudulent Property Deals in Gauteng

Suspects expected in Pretoria Magistrates’ Court · Fraudulent documents allegedly used to acquire properties and Eswatini citizenship

Four people were arrested at different locations across Gauteng in connection with an ongoing fraud and corruption investigation. Police said the suspects were expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the investigation involves several charges and cases. Authorities allege that properties across Gauteng were acquired using fraudulent documents.

Police also allege that one suspect obtained citizenship of the Kingdom of Eswatini using false documents. The precise charges, identities of the suspects and full case records were not included in the material supplied to Crime Watch Global.

The investigation remains ongoing. Arrests and police allegations are not convictions, and all four suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

"We can confirm that they will appear before the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court tomorrow. It relates to a number of charges and cases."

— Athlenda Mathe, police spokesperson

SABC News graphic supplied with the report. It is a news graphic and does not identify or depict the arrested suspects.

Persons Arrested / In Custody

Age	Gender	Description	Status
Not released	Not released	Four suspects arrested at different locations across Gauteng	ARRESTED

South AfricaGautengFraudCorruptionPropertyFalse DocumentsEswatini South African Police Service statement / SABC News graphic supplied with report

CHARGEDKIDNAPPING / FORCIBLE CONFINEMENTflin-flon-kidnapping-arrests

Saturday · September 2026Flin Flon, Manitoba, CanadaRoyal Canadian Mounted Police · Manitoba

Flin Flon Traffic Stop Leads to Three Arrests in Alleged Kidnapping

Two men allegedly threatened with a machete and driven toward a bank · Knife recovered from vehicle

Manitoba RCMP say a traffic stop in Flin Flon led to the arrests of three people in connection with an alleged kidnapping and forcible-confinement incident.

At approximately 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, officers stopped a vehicle carrying five people. Police recognized the 48-year-old driver as a person prohibited from driving and placed him under arrest. Two women and a front-seat passenger were initially released without charges.

RCMP said a man seated in the back then told officers that he and the front-seat passenger had been threatened with a machete and taken against their will by the driver and two women. Police allege the group was travelling to a bank so the two men could withdraw money. A search of the vehicle reportedly recovered a knife.

One alleged victim was treated in hospital for a minor injury, while the other was not physically hurt. A 48-year-old man, a 47-year-old woman and a 26-year-old woman face charges including kidnapping without a firearm and forcible confinement. They remain in custody while the investigation continues.

Crime Watch Global thanks readers who submit credible information and says tips are referred to appropriate authorities. The available material does not independently establish that a Crime Watch Global reader tip caused the traffic stop or arrests. The charges have not been proven in court, and all accused persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Illustrative RCMP image supplied with the report. It does not depict the traffic stop, victims or accused people.

Persons Arrested / In Custody

Age	Gender	Description	Status
48	Male	Driver arrested and charged in connection with the alleged kidnapping	IN CUSTODY
47	Female	Charged with offences including kidnapping without a firearm and forcible confinement	IN CUSTODY
26	Female	Charged with offences including kidnapping without a firearm and forcible confinement	IN CUSTODY

CanadaManitobaFlin FlonKidnappingForcible ConfinementTraffic Stop Manitoba RCMP report

INDICTEDWIRE FRAUD / MONEY LAUNDERINGINC-USA-2026-NDOH-ROMANCE-001

May 14, 2026Cleveland, Ohio — Northern District of OhioU.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio / FBI Cleveland

Ghanaian Nationals Indicted in Alleged Romance Fraud Schemes Targeting Older Americans

Jamal and Kamal Abubakari and Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie charged · DOJ says defendants were arrested in Virginia

Two brothers from Ghana and a woman from the United States have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Cleveland for allegedly conspiring to run romance fraud schemes designed to steal money from elderly victims across America. The indictment, unsealed in United States v. Jamal Abubakari et al., charges three individuals with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering.

According to allegations, from approximately July 2024 to April 2026, the defendants used fake personas on dating websites and social media platforms to establish close personal relationships with victims — often romantic in nature. After earning their trust through fabricated stories, victims were induced to send money via wire transfer to financial accounts controlled by members of the conspiracy.

The DOJ release says all three defendants were arrested in Virginia and remain in custody pending further court proceedings. The release does not identify which office made the arrests. It also notes that nine defendants in related matters have pleaded guilty and been collectively sentenced to approximately 50 years of imprisonment.

A related indictment — United States v. Frederick Kumi — was filed in December 2025 against Kumi, 31, of Swedru, Ghana, and Daniel Yussif, 31, of Accra, Ghana, also for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering. The investigation was led by the FBI Cleveland Division, with significant assistance from the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and Ghanaian partner agencies including EOCO, the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, the Cyber Security Authority, and NACOC.

"This case is one of several, highlighting criminal patterns targeting older Americans. We will continue working with our Ghanaian partners to dismantle these networks."

— U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer, Northern District of Ohio

Frederick Kumi, aka Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, aka Abu Trica, 31 — separately charged in December 2025. (FBI Cleveland / NDOH)

Persons Arrested / In Custody

Age	Gender	Description	Status
22	Male	Jamal Abubakari, aka 'Arrangement' — arrested Virginia, in custody	IN CUSTODY
22	Male	Kamal Abubakari, aka 'Lancaster' — arrested Virginia, in custody	IN CUSTODY
53	Female	Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, aka Amanda Glum — arrested Virginia, in custody	IN CUSTODY
31	Male	Frederick Kumi, aka Abu Trica — charged separately, December 2025	CHARGED
31	Male	Daniel Yussif, aka Denteni / Slab — charged separately, December 2025	CHARGED

FraudGhanaFBIWire FraudMoney LaunderingRomance ScamUSAInternational U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio · 14 May 2026; FBI Cleveland led the investigation

EXTRADITEDCYBER FRAUD / $100M SCHEMEINC-USA-2025-SDNY-CYBER100M-001

August 2025Southern District of New York — Ghana → United StatesFBI / U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York

$100 Million Cyber Fraud Syndicate Dismantled — Three Ghanaian Ringleaders Extradited to USA

Isaac Oduro Boateng · Inusah Ahmed · Derrick Van Yeboah arrested in Ghana · Patrick Kwame Asare still at large

An international fraud ring responsible for stealing more than $100 million from businesses and individuals worldwide through romance scams, business email compromise, and cyber-enabled fraud was dismantled in August 2025 by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). Three ringleaders were arrested in Ghana and extradited to the United States.

The three extradited defendants are Isaac Oduro Boateng (known as 'Kofi Boat'), age 36; Inusah Ahmed (known as 'Pascal'), age 40; and Derrick Van Yeboah (known as 'Van'), age 40. The syndicate operated a sophisticated operation spanning multiple continents, using romance fraud, advance-fee scams, and BEC attacks to defraud victims across the United States and beyond.

A fourth co-conspirator — Patrick Kwame Asare — was charged alongside the others but remains a fugitive and is believed to be at large. The FBI and Ghanaian authorities are actively pursuing Asare. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact their nearest FBI field office or the FBI tip line.

The operation represents one of the largest cyber fraud dismantlements targeting Ghanaian criminal networks operating internationally. The case followed extensive cooperation between the FBI, the Justice Department, and Ghanaian law enforcement authorities.

Derrick Van Yeboah, aka 'Van', 40 — one of three ringleaders extradited to the USA from Ghana in connection with the $100M cyber fraud ring. (FBI / SDNY)

Persons Arrested / In Custody

Age	Gender	Description	Status
36	Male	Isaac Oduro Boateng, aka 'Kofi Boat' — extradited from Ghana to USA	EXTRADITED
40	Male	Inusah Ahmed, aka 'Pascal' — extradited from Ghana to USA	EXTRADITED
40	Male	Derrick Van Yeboah, aka 'Van' — extradited from Ghana to USA	EXTRADITED
—	Male	Patrick Kwame Asare — STILL AT LARGE, active fugitive	WANTED

FraudCyber CrimeGhanaFBIExtraditionMoney LaunderingInternationalSDNY U.S. Attorney's Office, SDNY / FBI

ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONHOMICIDEINC-UK-2026-CHELMSFORD-001

June 2026Central Park, Chelmsford, EssexEssex Police

Fatal Stabbing in Chelmsford's Central Park — Three Teenagers Arrested

21-year-old man dies at scene · Suspects aged 14, 17 and 18 in custody

Essex Police received a call reporting an assault in Central Park at approximately 19:00 BST on a Friday. Officers arrived to find a 21-year-old man with severe injuries. Despite emergency efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. It is understood the man died following a stabbing.

Following the attack, three teenagers were taken into custody. The arrested individuals are a 14-year-old boy, a 17-year-old boy, and an 18-year-old man, all residents of Chelmsford. All three remain in police custody as investigations continue.

The incident led to the cancellation of the Chelmsford Central Parkrun event on Saturday, as advised by law enforcement. An Essex and Herts Air Ambulance attended the scene on Friday night but departed after the victim's death was confirmed.

Essex Police vehicles respond to the fatal stabbing in Central Park, Chelmsford

Persons Arrested / In Custody

Age	Gender	Description	Status
14	Male	Boy, Chelmsford resident, in police custody	IN CUSTODY
17	Male	Boy, Chelmsford resident, in police custody	IN CUSTODY
18	Male	Young man, Chelmsford resident, in police custody	IN CUSTODY

HomicideKnife CrimeEssexYouth OffendingUK Essex Police

CHARGEDHOMICIDEINC-UK-2026-HACKNEY-001

June 2026Poplar Close, Mabley Green, Homerton, Hackney, East LondonMetropolitan Police

Teenager Charged with Murder After 15-Year-Old Fatally Stabbed in Hackney

Victim found with stab wounds in Poplar Close · 16-year-old arrested and charged

Police were called to the Mabley Green area of Homerton, Hackney, east London, just after 7pm on a Monday after a fight broke out. When officers arrived, they found a 15-year-old boy with stab wounds in Poplar Close.

Paramedics treated him at the scene but he was pronounced dead. A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the fatal stabbing near the park. He has since been charged with murder.

The Metropolitan Police launched a full murder investigation. The incident is the latest in a series of fatal stabbings affecting young people in London, prompting renewed calls for action on knife crime.

The 15-year-old victim who was fatally stabbed near Mabley Green park in Hackney

Persons Arrested / In Custody

Age	Gender	Description	Status
16	Male	Boy, arrested on suspicion of murder — charged with murder	CHARGED

HomicideKnife CrimeLondonHackneyYouth ViolenceUK Metropolitan Police

EXTRADITEDFRAUD / EXTRADITIONINC-NG-2026-IGWILO-001

June 16, 2026Kuje Custodial Centre, Abuja → United StatesFBI / EFCC Nigeria / U.S. Department of Justice

FBI-Wanted Nigerian Fraud Kingpin 'Ezeego King of the Boys' Extradited to USA Over Alleged $100 Million Fraud

Osondu Victor Igwilo, 52, extradited from Nigeria · Wire fraud, money laundering & aggravated identity theft charges

Osondu Victor Igwilo — known as 'Ezeego King of the Boys' — has been extradited from Nigeria to the United States to face charges linked to an alleged $100 million international fraud scheme. Igwilo was transferred from the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja on a Monday afternoon, according to sources close to the situation.

Igwilo first gained public attention in March 2022 following his arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a raid in Lagos State. At the time, he was already on the FBI's watch list. He was arrested alongside three associates: Okafor Nnamdi Chris, Nwodu Uchenna Emmanuel, and John Anazo Achukwu. The EFCC accused the group of fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.

According to investigators, Igwilo and his associates operated an advance-fee fraud scheme, impersonating officials from U.S. financial institutions — including BB&T Corporation — to deceive victims with false investment promises. Recruits posed as bank representatives, meeting victims and using forged documents to add legitimacy to the scheme. Funds obtained from victims were transferred through U.S. bank accounts and laundered via a network before reaching Nigeria, where proceeds were used to purchase luxury vehicles including Mercedes-Benz and Range Rover models shipped back to Nigeria.

U.S. authorities had described Igwilo as a fugitive since charges were announced. Sources also allege that while held at the Kuje facility, Igwilo exercised control over the prison environment and that another inmate collected over ₦200 million from him under the guise of preventing the extradition.

Osondu Victor Igwilo (2nd from left) and associates Okafor Nnamdi Chris, Nwodu Uchenna Emmanuel, and John Anazo Achukwu at the time of their EFCC arrest in Lagos, March 2022. (EFCC Nigeria)

Persons Arrested / In Custody

Age	Gender	Description	Status
52	Male	Osondu Victor Igwilo aka 'Ezeego King of the Boys' — extradited to USA	EXTRADITED
—	Male	Okafor Nnamdi Chris — arrested by EFCC Lagos, March 2022	ARRESTED
—	Male	Nwodu Uchenna Emmanuel — arrested by EFCC Lagos, March 2022	ARRESTED
—	Male	John Anazo Achukwu — arrested by EFCC Lagos, March 2022	ARRESTED

FraudExtraditionFBINigeriaMoney LaunderingInternational EFCC Nigeria / FBI / DOJ

SENTENCEDCHILD ABUSE / HOMICIDEINC-USA-2026-GEORGIA-001

2026Loganville, Gwinnett County, Georgia, USAGwinnett County District Attorney's Office / Georgia

Georgia Couple Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Severe Child Abuse and Exploitation

William McCue: life without parole + 120 years · Carina McCue: 90 years · 10-year-old daughter died in house fire

A Georgia couple has been sentenced to decades in prison for the severe abuse and exploitation of their children, which came to light following a fatal house fire in 2022. William McCue was convicted of felony murder, rape, aggravated child molestation and incest. He was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, followed by a fourth life sentence and an additional 120 years in prison.

The mother, Carina McCue, pleaded guilty to multiple charges including child cruelty, false imprisonment and aggravated assault, receiving a 90-year prison sentence. The investigation began on April 17, 2022, when emergency crews responded to a fire at the McCue family home in Loganville. While Carina McCue escaped with the couple's 8-year-old and 12-year-old sons, their 10-year-old daughter died from smoke inhalation. Prosecutors stated that the couple's 15-year-old son intentionally set the fire in an attempt to escape the severe abuse he and his siblings had experienced.

Evidence and testimony presented in court revealed that the children were regularly beaten, forced to wear shock collars and made to stand naked on cinder blocks for days at a time. The District Attorney's Office said the children were denied access to toilets and were forced to use buckets instead. The 10-year-old girl who died had been forced to sleep on a piece of plywood placed over a bathtub inside a locked bathroom with no windows.

Following the fire, a warrant was issued for William McCue's arrest. The couple fled and were located and arrested months later on the Appalachian Trail. As part of a plea agreement, Carina McCue testified against her husband. She told the court that William McCue had raped their oldest daughter, who was 17 at the time of the fire. The older daughter also testified that her father had repeatedly sexually assaulted both her and her younger sister since childhood. After deliberating for less than four hours, a Gwinnett County jury found William McCue guilty on all counts.

Persons Arrested / In Custody

Age	Gender	Description	Status
Adult	Male	William McCue — convicted of felony murder, rape, aggravated child molestation and incest	SENTENCED
Adult	Female	Carina McCue — pleaded guilty to child cruelty, false imprisonment, aggravated assault	SENTENCED

Child AbuseHomicideSentencedGeorgiaUSADomestic Violence Gwinnett County District Attorney

APPREHENDEDFUGITIVE CAPTUREDINC-USA-2026-LAOS-001

June 2026Laos → Los Angeles International Airport, USAFBI Los Angeles / Orange County DA / Laotian Authorities

California Fugitive Wanted for Two Killings Found in Laos After 8 Years on the Run

Myung Jin Kim, 31, detained in Laos — extradited to face double murder charges in California

Myung Jin Kim, 31, a South Korean national, was wanted in connection with two killings in California — including a botched murder-for-hire plot in San Jose in 2016, and the killing of Kim's friend in the parking lot of a CVS pharmacy in Westminster two years later.

Prosecutors filed an arrest warrant for Kim in November 2018, but he is believed to have fled the United States and eluded authorities for eight years. Kim was taken into custody by Laotian authorities in late May 2026 for immigration violations and flown back to Los Angeles International Airport.

Kim is believed to have hired a hitman for the ambush and killing of a man in San Jose on June 27, 2016. Police investigations determined the hitman had killed the wrong person — a case of mistaken identity. Kim was also wanted in connection with the killing of a friend in a CVS car park in Westminster.

Kim was flown back to LAX where he was taken into federal custody to face murder charges in both San Jose and Orange County.

"Mr. Kim's cowardly acts of violence finally caught up with him, despite being halfway across the globe."

— Patrick Grandy, Assistant Director in Charge, FBI Los Angeles Field Office

Myung Jin Kim, 31 — booking photograph. Wanted for two killings in California. Taken into custody by Laotian authorities in late May 2026. (Orange County District Attorney)

Persons Arrested / In Custody

Age	Gender	Description	Status
31	Male	Myung Jin Kim — South Korean national, detained in Laos, returned to USA	EXTRADITED

FugitiveHomicideMurder-for-HireInternationalCaliforniaFBILaos FBI Los Angeles / Orange County DA

SENTENCEDCOVID LOAN FRAUDINC-UK-2026-BROOKES-001

June 18, 2026Southwark Crown Court, London, UKInsolvency Service / UK Crown Prosecution Service

Steven Brookes Jailed for £300,000 Covid Loan Fraud — Spent Funds on Disneyland, School Fees and an Audi

40-year-old banned director used wife's identity across 6 fraudulent Bounce Back Loan applications · Less than £7,500 repaid

Steven Brookes has been jailed for three years and banned as a company director for 10 years after fraudulently claiming six Covid business loans worth £300,000 by making applications in his wife's name and inflating turnover figures. The 40-year-old from Victoria Road, Bude, Cornwall, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on June 18, 2026, where the judge described his actions as 'calculated and greedy'.

Brookes spent significant sums on a Disneyland trip, private school fees (£7,000 for his daughter to attend an independent day and boarding school in Devon), an Audi worth £7,800 with personalised number plates costing over £4,700, and a holiday rental in Tenerife. He had been banned as a company director since 2010 — following a conviction for stealing mobile phones — and used his wife's name on all applications without her knowledge to conceal his involvement.

The fraud covered six Bounce Back Loan applications across five companies between May and October 2020. For his first application, Brookes inflated Blind Pig Media Limited's turnover from £119,215 to £218,865 to secure the maximum £50,000. He then applied for a second £50,000 loan for the same company — businesses were only entitled to one. Three further companies — BPG Management Limited, Brookes Consultancy Limited, and The Pig Box Limited — had never traded and had no accounts, yet Brookes declared turnovers of £450,000, £350,000, and £750,000 respectively to secure £50,000 for each.

Only £7,494 of the £300,000 has been repaid. The Insolvency Service is seeking to recover the fraudulently obtained funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Brookes had pleaded guilty to 11 charges of fraud and acting as a director while disqualified at Southwark Crown Court last November.

"Steven Brookes cynically hid behind his wife's identity to steal £300,000 in Covid support funds. Bounce Back Loans were not a personal bank account for company directors to use on paying for holidays, school fees and other luxury items."

— David Snasdell, Chief Investigator, Insolvency Service

Steven Brookes, 40, pictured outside Southwark Crown Court. He was jailed for three years and banned as a director for 10 years on June 18, 2026.

Persons Arrested / In Custody

Age	Gender	Description	Status
40	Male	Steven Brookes — 3 years prison + 10-year director ban · Southwark Crown Court	SENTENCED

FraudSentencedUKCovid FraudFinancial Crime UK Insolvency Service

CHARGEDBENEFIT FRAUDINC-USA-2026-MASS-FRAUD-001

June 2026Massachusetts, USA (Framingham, Salem, Worcester, Somerville, Lynn, Quincy, Allston, Haverhill, Mattapan)DOJ National Fraud Enforcement Division / HSI New England / U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

DOJ Charges 15 in $1.4 Million Massachusetts Benefit Fraud Crackdown — 11 Illegal Aliens Among Defendants

SNAP fraud · MassHealth fraud · Social Security fraud · HUD fraud · Identity theft · Visa fraud

The U.S. Department of Justice announced charges against fifteen individuals — 11 illegal aliens and four U.S. citizens — for benefit fraud in Massachusetts. The defendants are charged with more than $1.4 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit fraud, MassHealth benefit fraud, Social Security disability and unemployment benefit fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

The largest single case involves Heriberto Rodriguez of Framingham, charged with passport fraud, SNAP fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with $546,463 in total benefit fraud loss — including $175,182 in MassHealth fraud, $146,944 in Social Security fraud, $185,194 in HUD fraud, and $39,000 in SNAP fraud. U.S. citizen Mirian Chalas, 33, of Salem, N.H., faces charges of making false statements in connection with $266,000 in MassHealth fraud, $25,000 in Social Security Disability fraud, and $12,000 in SNAP fraud.

Other defendants include Santo Escolastico Cuello, 56, a Dominican national in Worcester ($162,180 in MassHealth fraud); Mario Baez Romero, 45, a Dominican national in Somerville ($26,942 in SNAP fraud and $48,785 in MassHealth fraud — encountered aboard a recreational vessel near Key Biscayne, Miami in May 2026); and Mitul Patel, 40, an Indian national in Worcester charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud after staging a false armed robbery to obtain U Visas for 'victims'. Several defendants operated under stolen identities.

The arrests stem from the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team established by U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley on March 26, 2026, in response to rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The National Fraud Enforcement Division was created on April 7, 2026. Members of the public may report suspected benefit fraud by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).

U.S. Department of Justice — National Fraud Enforcement Division, District of Massachusetts

Persons Arrested / In Custody

Age	Gender	Description	Status
—	Male	Heriberto Rodriguez, Framingham MA — $546,463 total fraud (SNAP, MassHealth, Social Security, HUD)	CHARGED
33	Female	Mirian Chalas, U.S. citizen, Salem NH — $303,000 (MassHealth, SSDI, SNAP)	CHARGED
56	Male	Santo Escolastico Cuello, Dominican national, Worcester MA — $162,180 MassHealth	CHARGED
45	Male	Mario Baez Romero, Dominican national, Somerville MA — $75,727 (SNAP, MassHealth)	CHARGED
35	Male	Richard Odelis Vallegas Nunez, Dominican national, Allston MA — $48,865 MassHealth	CHARGED
54	Male	Miguel Diaz Matos, Dominican national, Lynn MA — $63,925 (SNAP, MassHealth)	CHARGED
40	Male	Mitul Patel, Indian national, Worcester MA — visa fraud conspiracy	CHARGED
48	Male	Santo Tejada Sanchez, Dominican national, Haverhill MA — $4,054 SNAP fraud	CHARGED
48	Female	Jennifer Ferran, U.S. citizen, Haverhill MA — $29,000+ Social Security fraud	CHARGED
24	Male	Owen Landry aka 'Oski', U.S. citizen, Haverhill MA — $29,000+ Social Security fraud	CHARGED
45	Female	Yahaira Diaz Gomez, Dominican national, Mattapan MA — $48,694 MassHealth fraud	CHARGED

FraudUSAImmigrationIdentity TheftDOJBenefit Fraud U.S. DOJ / U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

CONVICTEDINSURANCE FRAUD / POLICE CORRUPTIONINC-USA-2026-PERCY-001

June 16, 2026Marlow Heights, Maryland → U.S. District Court, Greenbelt, MarylandFBI Baltimore Field Office / U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maryland / Prince George's County Police

Former Police Chief Convicted of Federal Insurance Fraud Conspiracy — Staged Jaguar Theft to Defraud Liberty Mutual

Davion Percy, 40, guilty of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud · Co-conspirators included two serving police officers

A federal jury convicted Davion Percy, 40, of Suitland, Maryland, for his role in conspiring to commit an insurance fraud scam. Percy, then the Chief of the Marlow Heights Special Police Department, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with an auto-insurance fraud scheme involving Liberty Mutual Insurance.

Between December 2019 and February 2020, Percy conspired with Prince George's County Police Department (PGPD) officer Michael Anthony Owen, Jr., 37, of Accokeek, Maryland, and Maryland National Capital Park Police officer Conrad D'Haiti, 56, of La Plata, Maryland, to defraud Liberty Mutual. The scheme was designed to help D'Haiti avoid paying the loan balance on a 2007 Jaguar XKR that had developed significant mechanical issues.

The co-conspirators fabricated the vehicle's theft to create a total insurance loss. Percy arranged for another co-conspirator to stage the theft, and D'Haiti paid Percy $350 at National Harbor, Maryland, to assist with staging. On January 4, 2020, D'Haiti parked the Jaguar at the rear of Marlow Heights Shopping Center. On January 23, a Liberty Mutual special investigator found the vandalized vehicle. D'Haiti and Owen subsequently made a false theft report, which D'Haiti used to file an insurance claim. In February 2020, Liberty Mutual paid the Jaguar's lienholder, Navy Federal Credit Union, $17,585 on the fraudulent claim.

U.S. Department of Justice — U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maryland. Announced June 16, 2026.

Persons Arrested / In Custody

Age	Gender	Description	Status
40	Male	Davion Percy — former Chief, Marlow Heights Special Police · guilty verdict; faces up to 20 years	CONVICTED
37	Male	Michael Anthony Owen Jr. — PGPD officer, Accokeek MD · co-conspirator	CHARGED
56	Male	Conrad D'Haiti — MD National Capital Park Police, La Plata MD · co-conspirator	CHARGED

FraudUSAPolice CorruptionConvictedMarylandDOJ U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maryland / FBI Baltimore

Merseyside Police — Wanted Persons

merseyside.police.uk · Live wanted persons bulletin

View All Wanted

Merseyside Police publishes its wanted persons list covering Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley. The force actively seeks public assistance in locating individuals wanted for serious offences including robbery, serious assault, sexual offences, fraud and other serious crimes across Merseyside.

Members of the public who recognise any wanted individual are urged not to approach them but to contact Merseyside Police immediately. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers.

Emergency

999

Non-Emergency

101

Anonymous Tips

0800 555 111

Crimestoppers

Live Wanted List

The Merseyside Police wanted persons database is updated continuously. Visit the official news page to see the latest individuals being sought across Merseyside.

Merseyside Wanted Persons

Sources: Essex Police · Metropolitan Police · FBI Los Angeles · Orange County District Attorney · Merseyside Police. All incident reports sourced from official law enforcement agencies. Information for public awareness only.