Attorney General
Here's a look at documents from state attorneys general
Featured Stories
Okla. A.G. Drummond: Baseless ClassWallet Lawsuit Continues to Waste Tax Dollars
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Dec. 13 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
* * *
Drummond: Baseless ClassWallet lawsuit continues to waste tax dollars
Attorney General Gentner Drummond late yesterday filed a motion to withdraw from the ongoing ClassWallet litigation, a step prompted by ClassWallet's decision to move for dismissal. Drummond said the development underscores what he has argued from the beginning: the lawsuit is frivolous, destined for dismissal and unsupported by any credible evidence.
"This lawsuit was baseless from the
... Show Full Article
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Dec. 13 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
* * *
Drummond: Baseless ClassWallet lawsuit continues to waste tax dollars
Attorney General Gentner Drummond late yesterday filed a motion to withdraw from the ongoing ClassWallet litigation, a step prompted by ClassWallet's decision to move for dismissal. Drummond said the development underscores what he has argued from the beginning: the lawsuit is frivolous, destined for dismissal and unsupported by any credible evidence.
"This lawsuit was baseless from theoutset," Drummond said. "ClassWallet has been incorrectly blamed for the failures of the Stitt administration, whose irresponsible appointments and lack of oversight led to questionable expenditures and processes surrounding $31 million in funds intended to help families with their educational expenses during the pandemic. Every credible review of this matter has made that clear. The only question now is why hardworking Oklahomans should have to continue funding these pointless and expensive lawsuits -- tax dollars that could instead be invested in our schools and infrastructure."
The ClassWallet litigation reaffirmed the findings of both federal and state auditors, which determined that state officials were responsible for the misuse of hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal relief funding, not the vendor. The results of these comprehensive audits clearly and unequivocally attributed these failures to Stitt's administration.
Despite the clarity and repetition of these findings, Stitt's office has continued to pour exorbitant sums into multiple failed lawsuits on the matter, Drummond said.
"If the Governor were truly concerned about recovering misused dollars, he would hold accountable those actually responsible for the oversight, starting with his own office and his hand-picked Secretary of Education," he stated. "Instead, he insists on spending excessive amounts of state dollars on lawsuits he has already been told he cannot win."
Drummond said the likely outcome is the same now as it has been since the litigation began. "No one will be shocked when this case is dismissed," he stated. "But unfortunately, the state of Oklahoma and its hardworking taxpayers will have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars on this charade of a lawsuit."
Read the Motion (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2025/december/Motion%20to%20Withdraw%20-%20Classwallet.pdf)
* * *
Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2025/december/drummond-baseless-classwallet-lawsuit-continues-to-waste-tax-dollars.html
N.J. A.G. Platkin Sues to Block Trump Administration's Unlawful H-1B Fees
TRENTON, New Jersey, Dec. 13 -- New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
* * *
AG Platkin Sues to Block Trump Administration's Unlawful H-1B Fees
New Jersey's Hospitals and Schools Would be Harmed by Illegal $100,000 Fee for New H-1B Visa Petitions
*
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today joined a coalition of 20 states in suing the Trump Administration over its unlawful policy imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. H-1B visas allow U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign national workers in roles that require
... Show Full Article
TRENTON, New Jersey, Dec. 13 -- New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
* * *
AG Platkin Sues to Block Trump Administration's Unlawful H-1B Fees
New Jersey's Hospitals and Schools Would be Harmed by Illegal $100,000 Fee for New H-1B Visa Petitions
*
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today joined a coalition of 20 states in suing the Trump Administration over its unlawful policy imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. H-1B visas allow U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign national workers in roles that requirespecialized skills, including as physicians, researchers, nurses, teachers, and other vital workers, to alleviate nationwide labor shortages.
"The Trump Administration's illegal imposition of an exorbitant $100,000 fee on those seeking H-1B visas would cause significant pain for New Jerseyans, hurting our best-in-the-nation education system, reducing access to critical health care, and setting back cutting-edge medical and scientific research," said Attorney General Platkin. "Because of this senseless and unlawful policy, our residents would see longer wait times in emergency rooms, lengthy delays for medical appointments, and more crowded classrooms. There is no rational or legal basis for this unlawful change, and we look forward to blocking this unlawful policy in court."
On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation ordering an unprecedented $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions, undermining the very purpose of the H-1B visa by making it harder to address severe labor shortages in critical fields such as education and health care and ultimately worsening the staffing crisis. As implemented by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through a series of written documents, the policy affects any application filed after September 21, 2025.
The complaint filed today alleges that the $100,000 fee is a clear violation of the law because the massive fee is outside of the bounds of what is authorized by Congress and contrary to Congress's intent in establishing the H-1B program, bypasses required rulemaking procedures, and exceeds the authority granted to the executive branch under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
The H-1B visa program allows employers to petition for high-skilled foreign workers to temporarily fill positions in specialty occupations that require at least a bachelor's degree. In petitioning for an H-1B worker, the employer must submit an application, certified by the U.S. Department of Labor, that employment of the H-1B worker will not negatively affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. Congress limits the number of H-1B visas available each year for most private employers, with the current cap set at 65,000, with an exemption of 20,000 for individuals with a master's degree or higher.
Since its inception, the H-1B visa program has been continually tailored by Congress to carry out its purpose of meeting employers' labor needs, while protecting the interests of American workers to ensure that they are not wrongfully displaced. Congress has repeatedly enhanced enforcement, increased penalties, and legislated on fees for H-1B petitions to prevent misuse of the program. Congress has also adapted the program to ensure that it is especially beneficial to many government and non-profit organizations in fulfilling their public service missions, exempting them from the 65,000-person cap.
Fees associated with H-1B visas have long been established by DHS following the APA's notice-and-comment process pursuant to congressional authority, which limits fees to the amount necessary to sustain the agency's work. Typically, an employer filing an initial H-1B petition would expect to pay between $960 and $7,595 in regulatory and statutory fees--a far cry from the new $100,000 fee imposed by the Trump Administration.
The Trump Administration's $100,000 fee far exceeds the actual cost of processing H-1B petitions. By imposing this fee, the Administration is exceeding the fee-setting authority granted by Congress, which requires that fees be set based on the agency's costs. Additionally, the Trump Administration issued the fee without going through the notice-and-comment process required by the APA and without considering the full range of impacts of this fee--especially on the provision of critical services by government and non-profit entities.
Nationwide, immigrants on H-1B visas play a critical role in addressing labor shortages. That is especially true in New Jersey. The Garden State had the fourth-highest number of approvals for H-1B petitions for initial employment in the country in FY25 (7,729).
In New Jersey, H-1B visas have played an important role in addressing teacher shortages in K-12 schools and shortages of primary care doctors and nurses. For example, New Jersey has faced a years-long K-12 teacher shortage, resulting in increased class sizes and overburdened teachers. New Jersey has relied on H-1B visas to help address this shortage, with 20 K-12 school systems securing an H-1B approval in 2025 alone.
H-1B visas also play a critical role in addressing shortages of primary care doctors and nurses. New Jersey has nine medical residency programs that sponsor H-1B visas. And nearly one-third of New Jersey's health care workers are immigrants, and many of them are H-1B workers.
Today's lawsuit was led by California and Massachusetts. In addition to New Jersey, other states joining the lawsuit are Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
* * *
Orignial text here: https://www.njoag.gov/ag-platkin-sues-to-block-trump-administrations-unlawful-h-1b-fees/
N.H. A.G. Formella: Dismissal of Challenge to Absentee Ballot Identification Law
CONCORD, New Hampshire, Dec. 13 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release:
* * *
Dismissal of Challenge to Absentee Ballot Identification Law
Attorney General John M. Formella announces that the Rockingham County Superior Court has dismissed Robertson et al. v. Scanlan et al., a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of RSA 657:17-c, the State's absentee ballot identification verification law. The court's order notes that the identification requirement for absentee voters "aligns the requirements to obtain an absentee ballot with the requirements to
... Show Full Article
CONCORD, New Hampshire, Dec. 13 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release:
* * *
Dismissal of Challenge to Absentee Ballot Identification Law
Attorney General John M. Formella announces that the Rockingham County Superior Court has dismissed Robertson et al. v. Scanlan et al., a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of RSA 657:17-c, the State's absentee ballot identification verification law. The court's order notes that the identification requirement for absentee voters "aligns the requirements to obtain an absentee ballot with the requirements toobtain an in-person ballot."
The plaintiffs argued that the statute imposed unconstitutional burdens on absentee voters and created unequal treatment compared to in-person voters. The Court rejected those claims and upheld the law in its entirety.
"We appreciate the Court's recognition that the identification requirements for absentee voters are reasonable, constitutional, and consistent with New Hampshire's long-standing election practices," said Attorney General Formella. "This decision confirms that the Legislature acted within its authority to strengthen the integrity and consistency of our election system. I also want to acknowledge the excellent work of our Civil Litigation Unit in defending the statute."
In a detailed written order, the Court also determined that:
* RSA 657:17-c imposes only "reasonable, nondiscriminatory" obligations on absentee voters.
* The law "does not unreasonably burden the right to vote."
* The Legislature acted within its constitutional authority in establishing uniform identification standards to support secure and consistent election administration.
The Court also rejected the plaintiffs' arguments related to alleged disparate impacts, concluding that the requirements apply uniformly to all absentee voters and reflect existing, longstanding identification procedures used at the polls.
"New Hampshire's election system has always been grounded in secure processes and equal treatment for all voters," said Secretary of State David M. Scanlan. "The Court's ruling confirms that applying the same identification expectations across absentee and in-person voting is both reasonable and necessary for maintaining public confidence."
RSA 657:17-c, enacted earlier this year as Senate Bill 287 and signed into law by Governor Ayotte on August 1, requires absentee voters to provide a photocopy or digital image of a valid form of identification--or to complete a voter identity affidavit--when returning their absentee ballot application. This is the same standard required for in-person voters, who must present an acceptable form of photo identification or execute a voter affidavit at the polling place.
The Court noted that this framework maintains accessibility by offering multiple options for compliance and reinforces uniformity across voting methods.
* order-dismissing-complaint.pdf (https://www.doj.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt721/files/inline-documents/sonh/order-dismissing-complaint.pdf)
* * *
Original text here: https://www.doj.nh.gov/news-and-media/dismissal-challenge-absentee-ballot-identification-law
Md. A.G. Brown Sues Over Trump Administration's Unlawful New $100K Fee for H-1B Visas
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Dec. 13 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
* * *
Attorney General Brown Sues Over Trump Administration's Unlawful New $100K Fee for H-1B Visas
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 19 states in suing the Trump administration over its unlawful policy imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. H-1B visas allow U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign national workers in roles that require specialized skills, including as teachers, physicians, researchers, nurses, and other
... Show Full Article
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Dec. 13 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
* * *
Attorney General Brown Sues Over Trump Administration's Unlawful New $100K Fee for H-1B Visas
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 19 states in suing the Trump administration over its unlawful policy imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. H-1B visas allow U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign national workers in roles that require specialized skills, including as teachers, physicians, researchers, nurses, and othervital workers, to alleviate nationwide labor shortages. The new fee would create a costly barrier for employers, especially public sector, and government employers, trying to fill these positions.
In the lawsuit, Attorney General Brown and the coalition allege that the policy, which has been implemented by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is a clear violation of the law because it imposes a massive fee outside of the bounds of what is authorized by Congress and contrary to Congress's intent in establishing the H-1B program, bypasses required rulemaking procedures, and exceeds the authority granted to the executive branch under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
"With over 1,600 teacher vacancies statewide and a shortage of researchers in our public universities, Maryland's schools and universities depend on H-1B workers to educate our children and advance medical and scientific breakthroughs. Our institutions can't afford this outrageous new fee, but Maryland families will pay the price through overcrowded classrooms, stalled research, and lost opportunities," said Attorney General Brown. "We're filing this lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from making Marylanders bear the cost of this unlawful policy."
The H-1B visa program allows employers to petition for high-skilled foreign workers to temporarily fill positions in specialty occupations that require at least a bachelor's degree. In petitioning for an H-1B worker, the employer must submit an application, certified by the U.S. Department of Labor, that employment of the H-1B worker will not negatively affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. Congress limits the number of H-1B visas available each year for most private employers, with the current cap set at 65,000, with an exemption of 20,000 for individuals with a master's degree or higher. Since its inception, the H-1B visa program has been continually tailored by Congress to carry out its purpose of meeting employers' labor needs, while protecting the interests of American workers to ensure that they are not wrongfully displaced. Congress has repeatedly enhanced enforcement, increased penalties, and legislated on fees for H-1B petitions to prevent misuse of the program. Congress has also adapted the program to ensure that it is especially beneficial to many government and non-profit organizations in fulfilling their public service missions, exempting them from the 65,000-person cap.
On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation ordering an unprecedented $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions, undermining the very purpose of the H-1B visa by making it harder to address severe labor shortages in critical fields such as education and healthcare and ultimately worsening the staffing crisis. As implemented by DHS through a series of written documents, the policy affects any application filed after September 21, 2025, and grants the Secretary of Homeland Security broad discretion to determine which petitions are subject to the fee or for an exemption, raising concerns that the enforcement could be applied selectively against employers disfavored by the Trump administration.
The $100,000 visa fee is devastating for all states, including Maryland, and threatens the quality of education, healthcare, and other core services available to our residents. For example, the United States faced a nationwide teacher shortage and in the 2024-2025 school year, in which 74% of school districts in the U.S. reported having trouble filling open positions, particularly in special education, physical sciences, ESL or bilingual education, and foreign languages. Educators are the third-largest occupation for H-1B visa holders, with nearly 30,000 educators on the visas, and nearly a thousand colleges and universities employ hundreds of H-1B personnel to support their research and education missions. Because K-12 schools, colleges, and universities are generally government or non-profit entities, they are incapable of absorbing an additional $100,000 for each H-1B hire.
Maryland faced more than 1,600 teacher vacancies at the start of the 2024-2025 school year. Even as statewide teacher vacancies have improved this school year, it remains challenging to recruit and retain teachers. For example, Baltimore City Public Schools currently sponsors 80 H-1B visa holders, including 78 teachers filling positions in hard-to-staff areas like math, science, and special education. The school system has already begun recruiting approximately 58 new educators for the 2026-2027 school year through the H-1B program but cannot afford the new fee, which means that classrooms would go unstaffed and students would lose access to qualified teachers if the new fee remains in place.
The policy also jeopardizes Maryland's public universities, where the University System of Maryland currently sponsors more than 530 H-1B faculty, staff, and researchers in engineering, computer science, biomedical research, and other STEM fields. Losing access to workers in these fields would force universities to abandon active research projects, reduce course offerings, and weaken Maryland's innovation economy and STEM workforce development.
Hospitals and other healthcare centers also rely on the H-1B visa program to hire physicians, surgeons and nurses, often in low-income and working-class neighborhoods. Across the country, nearly 17,000 H-1B visas went to workers in medicine and health occupations in the 2024 fiscal year, and half of those were physicians and surgeons. Without foreign-trained physicians, the United States is projecting a shortfall of 86,000 physicians by 2036. There will not be enough doctors to care for older adults, many of whom suffer increased rates of chronic disease and have other complex medical needs.
In today's lawsuit, Attorney General Brown and the coalition allege that the Trump administration's H-1B visa fee violates the APA and the U.S. Constitution. Fees associated with H-1B visas have long been established by DHS following the APA's notice-and-comment process pursuant to congressional authority, which limits fees to the amount necessary to sustain the agency's work. Typically, an employer filing an initial H-1B petition would expect to pay between $960 to $7,595 in regulatory and statutory fees. The Trump administration's $100,000 fee far exceeds the actual cost of processing H-1B petitions. By imposing this fee, the administration is exceeding the fee-setting authority granted by Congress, which requires that fees be set based on the agency's costs, rather than arbitrarily. Additionally, the Trump administration issued the fee without going through the notice-and-comment process required by the APA and without considering the full range of impacts, especially on critical services provided by government and nonprofit entities.
In filing the lawsuit, Attorney General Brown is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
A copy of the complaint will be made available on our website.
* * *
Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Sues-Over-Trump-Administration%e2%80%99s-Unlawful-New-$100K-Fee-for-H-1B-Visas-.aspx
HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SECURES INDICTMENT AGAINST WOMAN ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLING MONEY FROM BANK CUSTOMERS
HONOLULU, Hawaii, Dec. 13 -- The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General issued the following news release:
* * *
DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SECURES INDICTMENT AGAINST WOMAN ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLING MONEY FROM BANK CUSTOMERS
A Hawaii County Grand Jury indicted Alohi Kaupu-Grace, 24, for using her position as bank teller to embezzle more than $40,000 from the financial accounts of bank customers, including two elderly customers. The indictment was issued December 1, 2025, and her arraignment is scheduled for today at 1:30 p.m.
Kaupu-Grace is charged with three counts of Computer Fraud
... Show Full Article
HONOLULU, Hawaii, Dec. 13 -- The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General issued the following news release:
* * *
DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SECURES INDICTMENT AGAINST WOMAN ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLING MONEY FROM BANK CUSTOMERS
A Hawaii County Grand Jury indicted Alohi Kaupu-Grace, 24, for using her position as bank teller to embezzle more than $40,000 from the financial accounts of bank customers, including two elderly customers. The indictment was issued December 1, 2025, and her arraignment is scheduled for today at 1:30 p.m.
Kaupu-Grace is charged with three counts of Computer Fraudin the First Degree, three counts of Theft in the First Degree, one count of Computer Fraud in the Second Degree, and one count of Theft in the Second Degree.
Computer Fraud in the First Degree is a class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Theft in the First Degree and Computer Fraud in the Second Degree are class B felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Theft in the Second Degree is a class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
"As alleged, Kaupu-Grace stole money from residents who were simply trying to conduct financial transactions at their bank. This indictment reflects the department's continued commitment to protecting Hawaii residents and maintaining the integrity of our financial institutions," said Attorney General Anne Lopez. "I am proud of the diligent efforts of our special agents and prosecutors, who work every day to go after those who abuse positions of trust. We remain steadfast in our mission to safeguard the public from corruption and financial exploitation."
The investigation was conducted by the Department of the Attorney General's Special Investigation and Prosecution Division (SIPD). SIPD is the state of Hawaii's primary law enforcement unit responsible for investigating and prosecuting corruption, fraud and economic crimes.
The case, State v. Alohi Kaupu-Grace, 3CPC-25-0000956 is being prosecuted by SIPD Deputy Attorney General Thomas Michener.
Kaupu-Grace is currently pending trial in two other cases involving thefts in Hawai'i County under Case Nos. 3CPC-25-0000352 and 3CPC-25-0000429.
Criminal charges are only allegations; Kaupu-Grace is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The public can report corruption, fraud, and economic crime using the Submit a Tip to SIPD website, located at https://ag.hawaii.gov/sipd/tips/. If there is an emergency or immediate threat to life, please call 911.
* * *
Original text here: https://ag.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/News-Release-2025-101.pdf
Ga. A.G. Carr: 15 Members of Outcast Motorcycle Gang Convicted in Bryan County
ATLANTA, Georgia, Dec. 13 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release:
* * *
Carr: 15 Members of Outcast Motorcycle Gang Convicted in Bryan County
Operation "Patronus" leads to recovery of over 100 firearms
*
RICHMOND HILL, GA - Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Atlantic Judicial Circuit District Attorney Billy J. Nelson, Jr., Richmond Hill Police Chief Mitch Shores, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Savannah Field Office II Resident Agent in Charge Joe Waller, Bryan County Sheriff Mark Crowe, and Georgia Gang Investigators Association
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Dec. 13 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release:
* * *
Carr: 15 Members of Outcast Motorcycle Gang Convicted in Bryan County
Operation "Patronus" leads to recovery of over 100 firearms
*
RICHMOND HILL, GA - Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Atlantic Judicial Circuit District Attorney Billy J. Nelson, Jr., Richmond Hill Police Chief Mitch Shores, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Savannah Field Office II Resident Agent in Charge Joe Waller, Bryan County Sheriff Mark Crowe, and Georgia Gang Investigators Association(GGIA) President Jose Ramirez today announced the conviction of 15 members of the Southeast Georgia Chapter of the Outcast Motorcycle Gang in Bryan County.
This case marks the largest motorcycle gang prosecution in state history, and it follows a successful multi-agency investigation that resulted in the recovery of more than 100 firearms.
All 15 defendants have pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation, and Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. The charges stem from an attempted armed robbery and shootout that occurred on June 17, 2022, at Flacos House Bar & Grill and the Red Roof Inn on Highway 17 in Richmond Hill. The victims include several innocent bystanders who were caught in the crossfire as well as six members of a rival gang that were the targets of the robbery.
This indictment also brought down the gang's top leaders, including "President" Melaun Aiken, "Vice-President" Eddie Latson, "Secretary" Lee Alan Mole, and "Road Captain" Joseph Leeks. Aiken was sentenced earlier this month, with all other defendants entering guilty pleas over the past year.
"This historic case is a testament to the results we're able to achieve when all levels of law enforcement work together to do one thing - keep the people of our state safe," said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. "By leveraging our knowledge and resources, we were able to take down a dangerous network that was terrorizing the community and putting innocent people in harm's way. We won't rest when it comes to protecting Georgia families, and we'll continue to go after all those engaged in violent gang activity in this state."
"The Office of the District Attorney for the Atlantic Judicial Circuit would like to thank Attorney General Chris Carr, Assistant Attorney General Michael Tabarrok, and the many members of the AG's Office Gang Prosecution Unit for the work they put into this case," said Atlantic Judicial Circuit District Attorney Billy J. Nelson, Jr. "We would also like to thank our law enforcement partners on the local, state and national level that worked so diligently on this investigation. Without the teamwork and partnerships involved, the outcomes achieved would not have been possible. As we stated at the beginning of this case, criminal street gang activity will not be tolerated in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold these types of individuals accountable for their criminal conduct."
This case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Michael Tabarrok, Brooklyn Franklin, and McKenzie Gray. It was investigated by Investigator Pete Delatorre and the Richmond Hill Police Department, Special Agent Lee Hoover and the ATF, the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), and GGIA, with the help of the Attorney General's Gang Prosecution Unit and the Atlantic Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office.
"The excellent outcome of this case demonstrates the significant impact law enforcement can have when various agencies come together as one team," said Richmond Hill Police Chief Mitch Shores. "The Richmond Hill Police Department is very proud of the tremendous success of this historical case and of our partnerships with these outstanding law enforcement agencies."
"These sentences demonstrate what effective law enforcement partnerships can achieve, and ATF will continue pursuing violent gangs to keep our communities safe," said ATF Savannah Field Office II Resident Agent in Charge Joe Waller.
"We are committed to protecting the safety and security of all Bryan County citizens," said Bryan County Sheriff Mark Crowe. "Violent gangs will not be tolerated and when they try to operate here, they will be held accountable. We are grateful for the partnership with Attorney General Chris Carr's office and are grateful for this outcome."
"Here in Georgia, we are committed to keeping our citizens safe," said GGIA President Jose Ramirez. "Those who live in our state or come to our state with the intent of participating in violent criminal gang activity will be stopped. I am appreciative for the partnership and shared commitment with Attorney General Chris Carr and his team for fighting these criminals."
Outcast Motorcycle Gang
The Outcast Motorcycle Gang is considered an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang or a "One-Percenter" Motorcycle Gang. Other Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs include the Hell's Angels, the Pagans, the Vandals, Sin City Disciples and Chosen Few.
The Outcast Motorcycle Gang is known to engage in a range of criminal activity, including murder, assault, and drug and weapons trafficking.
The Outcast Motorcycle Gang has 67 chapters across the country, including four in Georgia. Founded in 1969 in Detroit, Michigan, the second Outcast chapter was formed in Atlanta. Additional chapters are located in Augusta, Hawkinsville, Savannah and Valdosta.
The Outcast Motorcycle Gang is a highly organized structure with hierarchical leadership. Its national and local chapters are led by elected officers.
Case Summary
During the course of the investigation of the shooting incident, evidence was obtained indicating the existence of a conspiracy to violently assault members of the rival motorcycle club and to forcibly rob them of their motorcycle vests. This conspiracy lasted from Aug. 24, 2021, through July 16, 2022, and resulted in the July 17, 2022, shooting in Richmond Hill.
Additional evidence shows that the defendants, as members of the Southeast Georgia Chapter of the Outcast Motorcycle Gang, engaged in criminal activity that spans the following jurisdictions: Bryan County, Chatham County, Crisp County, Douglas County, Glynn County, Liberty County, McIntosh County, Richmond County, Colleton County (South Carolina), and Fort Bragg (North Carolina).
Operation "Patronus"
Over the course of 13 months, local, state, and federal law enforcement obtained and executed more than 40 total search warrants, including 17 residential search warrants in the following jurisdictions: Bryan County, Bulloch County, Chatham County, Effingham County, Liberty County, Fort Stewart, and Wakulla County (Florida).
As a result, law enforcement seized more than 100 weapons, two motorcycles, and two cars.
In addition to the Attorney General's Gang Prosecution Unit, the Atlantic Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office, the Richmond Hill Police Department, the ATF, Army CID and GGIA, the following law enforcement entities also assisted in the operation: the Bryan County Sheriff's Office, the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office, the McIntosh County Sheriff's Office, the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office, the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (Florida), the Glynn County Police Department, the Hinesville Police Department, the Rincon Police Department, the Savannah Police Department, the Annapolis Police Department (Maryland), the Fort Worth Police Department, the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, the Georgia Department of Public Safety, the Georgia Ports Authority Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the International Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Investigators Association.
Convictions and Sentencing
All defendants were convicted of every single indicted charge. Meaning, no charge was dismissed. A full list of convictions and sentences is included below.
Melaun Arturi Aiken (aka "Do Wurk"), age 48
Aiken entered a non-negotiated plea to the following charges. On Dec. 3, 2025, he was sentenced to 25 years, with the first seven years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation.
* 11 counts of Aggravated Assault
* 7 counts of Attempted Armed Robbery
* 21 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
* 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
As part of this plea, Aiken is also required to pay $17,345 in fines, which includes $7,500 for Gang Leadership charges and five separate fines equating to $1,969 each.
Lee Alan Mole (aka "Trench"), age 61
Mole pleaded guilty to the following charges. On Oct. 8, 2025, he was sentenced to 20 years, with the first two years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation.
* 11 counts of Aggravated Assault
* 7 counts of Attempted Armed Robbery
* 14 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
* 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
Taurus Marquis Simmons (aka "Repeat"), age 44
Simmons entered a non-negotiated plea to the following charges. On July 23, 2025, he was sentenced to 20 years, with the first four years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation.
* 11 counts of Aggravated Assault
* 7 counts of Attempted Armed Robbery
* 14 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
* 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
Terrance Donita Potter (aka "Chatter Box"), age 47
Potter entered a non-negotiated plea to the following charges. On Aug. 22, 2025, he was sentenced to 20 years of strict probation and banishment from the State of Georgia except for one county.
* 11 counts of Aggravated Assault
* 7 counts of Attempted Armed Robbery
* 14 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
* 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
Eddie Latson (aka "Stash"), age 45
Latson pleaded guilty to the following charges. On Dec. 4, 2024, he was sentenced to 20 years, with the first four years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation.
* 11 counts of Aggravated Assault
* 7 counts of Attempted Armed Robbery
* 14 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
* 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
As part of this plea, Latson is also required to pay $5,655 in fines.
Joseph Leeks (aka "Axel"), age 46
Leeks pleaded guilty to the following charges. On Feb. 6, 2025, he was sentenced to 20 years, with the first four years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation.
* 8 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
As part of this plea, Leeks is also required to pay $3,000 in fines.
Marquis Jones (aka "Grudge"), age 41
Jones pleaded guilty to the following charges. On Sept. 22, 2025, he was sentenced to 20 years, with the first 180 days to be served in a Probation Detention Center and the remainder on strict probation.
* 8 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
As part of this plea, Jones is also required to pay $4,255 in fines.
Donovan Scott (aka "Sockit"), age 38
Scott entered a non-negotiated plea to the following charges. On July 23, 2025, he was sentenced to 20 years, with the first two years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation.
* 8 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
Shron Gilbert (aka "Hard Left"), age 54
Gilbert pleaded guilty to the following charges. On March 17, 2025, he was sentenced to 20 years, with the first four years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation.
* 11 counts of Aggravated Assault
* 7 counts of Attempted Armed Robbery
* 14 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
* 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
As part of this plea, Gilbert is also required to pay $4,155 in fines.
Demon Thompson (aka "9 Ball"), age 46
Thompson pleaded guilty to the following charges. On July 3, 2024, he was sentenced to five years of strict probation.
* 4 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
As part of this plea, Thompson is also required to pay $2,905 in fines and perform 80 hours of community service.
Paul Gosden (aka "White Collar"), age 54
Gosden pleaded guilty to the following charges. On Aug. 22, 2025, he was sentenced to five years of strict probation.
* 4 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
As part of this plea, Gosden is also required to pay $2,905 in fines.
Theron Singleton (aka "DMB" and "Do My Best"), age 60
Singleton pleaded guilty to the following charges. On March 17, 2025, he was sentenced to 10 years of strict probation.
* 4 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
As part of this plea, Singleton is also required to pay $4,255 in fines.
Labarron Pollock (aka "Bootleg"), age 50
Pollock pleaded guilty to the following charges. On May 1, 2024, he was sentenced to 10 years of strict probation.
* 4 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
As part of this plea, Pollock is also required to pay $2,180 in fines and perform 80 hours of community service.
Jemar Mack (aka "Ghost" and "Ghost Ryder"), age 45
Mack pleaded guilty to the following charges. On Feb. 6, 2025, he was sentenced to 20 years, with the first four years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation.
* 4 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
As part of this plea, Mack is also required to pay $3,000 in fines.
Whitney Lenore Hooks (aka "Secrets"), age 39
Hooks pleaded guilty to the following charges. On July 3, 2024, she was sentenced to five years of strict probation.
* 4 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
* 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault
* 1 count of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery by Intimidation
As part of this plea, Hooks is also required to pay $2,905 in fines and perform 80 hours of community service.
The State's case against one final defendant has been put on indefinite hold due to a medical diagnosis of incompetence stemming from physical injury. Once the defendant is deemed competent, the prosecution may resume.
About the Attorney General's Gang Prosecution Unit
In 2022, with the support of Governor Brian Kemp and members of the General Assembly, Attorney General Chris Carr created Georgia's first statewide Gang Prosecution Unit.
Since it began its historic work on July 1, 2022, the Gang Prosecution Unit has investigated and prosecuted cases in Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Bibb, Bryan, Chatham, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Dougherty, Fulton, Gwinnett, Laurens, Lowndes, Muscogee, Richmond, Spalding, Thomas, Upson and Washington counties, with more than 120 convictions secured across the state.
Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit is based in Atlanta, with regional, satellite prosecutors and investigators in Albany, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah and Southeast Georgia.
The Gang Prosecution Unit is housed in the Attorney General's Prosecution Division, which also includes Carr's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, his White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit, and his Organized Retail Crime Unit.
* * *
Original text here: https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2025-12-12/carr-15-members-outcast-motorcycle-gang-convicted-bryan-county
Del. A.G. Jennings Sues Trump to Block Exorbitant H-1B Visa Fees
DOVER, Delaware, Dec. 13 -- Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
* * *
AG Jennings sues Trump to block exorbitant H-1B visa fees
Attorney General Kathy Jennings today joined a coalition of 19 states suing the Trump Administration over an unlawful policy imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. The H-1B visa program, created by bipartisan Congressional majorities and signed into law by George H.W. Bush, alleviates nationwide labor shortages by allowing employers to hire highly skilled immigrants into highly specialized jobs --
... Show Full Article
DOVER, Delaware, Dec. 13 -- Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
* * *
AG Jennings sues Trump to block exorbitant H-1B visa fees
Attorney General Kathy Jennings today joined a coalition of 19 states suing the Trump Administration over an unlawful policy imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. The H-1B visa program, created by bipartisan Congressional majorities and signed into law by George H.W. Bush, alleviates nationwide labor shortages by allowing employers to hire highly skilled immigrants into highly specialized jobs --including teachers, physicians, nurses, and researchers.
The new fee, implemented by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), would create a costly barrier for employers, especially public sector and government employers, trying to fill these positions. Jennings and the coalition argue that the massive fee illegally exceeds Congressional authorization and intent, ignores mandatory rulemaking procedures, and exceeds the authority granted to the executive branch under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
"This is an unserious idea that threatens a deeply serious crisis," said AG Jennings. "Policies like these are why the Trump Administration has lost the public's confidence on immigration policy. Their blind crusade to demonize any and every immigrant is undermining America's economy, deepening the affordability crisis, and now further jeopardizing health care access. It's wrong, and it's illegal."
The H-1B visa program allows employers to petition for high-skilled foreign workers to temporarily fill positions in specialty occupations that require at least a bachelor's degree. Since its inception, the H-1B visa program has been continually finetuned to address critical national labor shortages without displacing American workers. In petitioning for an H-1B worker, employers must submit an application, certified by the U.S. Department of Labor, that employment of the H-1B worker will not negatively affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. Congress limits the aggregate number of H-1B visas available each year for most private employers; the current cap is set at 65,000, with an exemption of 20,000 for individuals with a master's degree or higher.
Congressional authority limits fees to the amount necessary to sustain the agency's work. On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation arbitrarily ordering an unprecedented $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions-- as much as a 10,000% increase over previous H-1B petition fees, which typically fell between roughly $1,000 and $7,600 in regulatory and statutory fees. The massive increase undermines the very purpose of the visa by making it harder to address severe labor shortages in critical fields such as education and healthcare and ultimately worsening the staffing crisis. The decree also grants the Secretary of Homeland Security broad discretion to decide which petitions are charged the fee or exempted, raising further concerns that Trump Administration could use the policy to selectively reward or punish employers based on political favor.
The $100,000 visa fee would imperil Delaware's economy by exacerbating labor shortages in core services like health care and education. For example, the United States faces a nationwide teacher shortage and in the 2024-2025 school year, 74% of school districts in the U.S. reported having trouble filling open positions, particularly in special education, physical sciences, ESL or bilingual education, and foreign languages. Educators are the third-largest occupation for H-1B visa holders, with nearly 30,000 educators on the visas, and nearly a thousand colleges and universities employ hundreds of H-1B personnel to support their research and education missions. Because K-12 schools, colleges, and universities are generally government or non-profit entities, they are incapable of absorbing an additional $100,000 for each H-1B hire.
Hospitals and other health care facilities also rely on the H-1B visa program to hire physicians, surgeons and nurses, often in low-income and working-class neighborhoods. Nearly 17,000 H-1B visas went to workers in medicine and health occupations in FY 2024, half of whom were physicians and surgeons. Without H-1B physicians, the United States faces a projected shortfall of 86,000 physicians by 2036 and will be unable to meet health care demand for older adults.
AG Jennings joins the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin in filing the lawsuit.
* * *
Original text here: https://news.delaware.gov/2025/12/12/ag-jennings-sues-trump-to-block-exorbitant-h-1b-visa-fees/
