Northern District of Alabama
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Cartel Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A member of the Jalisco New Generacion Cartel (“CJNG”) has been sentenced to life in federal prison for fentanyl trafficking and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Juan Francisco Castaneda, also known as “Pariente,” 44, to life in prison. In October 2025, after two days of trial testimony, Castaneda pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and distribution of fentanyl. These crimes occurred in the Birmingham and Homewood area.
According to the evidence presented at trial and Castenada’s guilty plea, Castaneda ran his drug trafficking and money laundering organization with the use of contraband phones while he was serving multiple life sentences for murder at the Alabama Department of Corrections’ Bullock Correctional facility. Castaneda used a network of couriers and local businesses as “fronts,” from which he arranged fentanyl distribution and collected drug proceeds. Undercover operations revealed that Castaneda was laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars to CJNG sources in Mexico through these couriers and businesses.
According to Court documents, Castaneda previously pleaded guilty to a 2008 multi-victim homicide in Shelby County, in which five individuals were murdered over a cartel debt. Evidence at sentencing revealed that Castaneda also threatened to kill co-defendants during the course of the investigation and “feed them to the dogs,” and that he was responsible for the movement of over 19 kilograms of fentanyl throughout the District during the time period of the investigation. As part of sentencing, Castaneda also had a $700,000 money judgment entered against him.
The DEA and HSI investigated the case, along with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service, United States Marshals Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Hoover Police Department, Birmingham Police Department, Bessemer Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Department of Corrections, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Garnett and Carson Gilbert are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Alabama HSTF comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the Internal Revenue Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.
Birmingham Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Carjacking and KidnappingRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has been sentenced for carjacking and kidnapping, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Dearrius Dontrell Pace, 31, to 240 months in prison. In September 2025, Pace pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of kidnapping.
According to the plea agreement, on July 16, 2024, Pace followed the victim out of a gas station on Lloyd Nolan Parkway. Pace confronted the victim at gunpoint as he entered his vehicle, ordered him to move into the passenger seat and Pace got in the driver’s seat. During the drive, Pace demanded the victim’s wallet and cash. The victim handed over approximately $16.00 and told Pace that he did not have a wallet with him. Pace then struck the victim in the face with a hard object before ordering him out of the vehicle. On July 24, 2024, Jefferson County Sherriff’s deputies arrested Pace.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Jefferson County man has been sentenced for committing child sexual exploitation crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Benjamin Ross Norris, 44, of Pinson, Alabama, to 240 months in prison, followed by a life term of supervised release. Norris was also ordered to pay $30,500 in restitution to the child victims of his crimes. Norris previously pleaded guilty to transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, on May 28, 2022, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency received four CyberTipline Reports (CyberTips) from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding two internet accounts that were being used to transmit child sexual abuse material. Both accounts were associated with Norris. On July 22, 2022, state search warrants were obtained for Norris’s residence in Pinson, Alabama, and another location associated with Norris in Trussville, Alabama. Multiple electronic devices were seized from the properties. The two internet accounts listed in the CyberTips were found on Norris’s cell phone. The forensic examination of his electronic devices revealed a total of 179 files of child pornography. At the time of this investigation, Norris had a prior conviction for possession of child pornography.
FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Homewood Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys R. Leann White and Lee Gilmer prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Convicted Felon Charged with Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted a convicted felon for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Marty Dwayne Beasley, 48, of Hackleburg, Alabama, with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the indictment, on March 12, 2024, Beasley illegally possessed a Jennings .22 caliber pistol. Beasley is prohibited from possessing a firearm following prior felony convictions, including convictions on November 29, 2018, of the offense of Sexual Abuse First Degree; on August 4, 2010 of Attempted Unlawful Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance and Attempted Possession of a Controlled Substance; and on February 1, 2006, of the offense of Theft of Property, all in the Circuit Court of Franklin County, Alabama; and on August 6, 2010, of the offense of Unlawful Manufacturing a Controlled Substance, in the Circuit Court of Lauderdale County, Alabama.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara M. Judah is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Re-entry after DeportationRead the Press Release
ANNISTON, Ala. – A native of Mexico has been sentenced for illegally re-entering the U.S. after deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
United States District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Maximiliano Pablo-Cinto, 41, a citizen of Guatemala, to 18 months in prison. Pablo-Cinto pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry after deportation.
According to the plea agreement, Pablo-Cinto was previously convicted on November 27, 2017, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama for being a felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 45 months in prison. On February 7, 2019, Pablo-Cinto was removed from the United States. He was then arrested on February 7, 2025, by the Albertville Police Department after he failed to appear in court on charges for fraud and identity theft in Albertville, Alabama. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deportation Removal Office (ICE/ERO) was notified of the arrest and Pablo-Cinto was later transferred into federal custody.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the Albertville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Chinese National Charged with Illegally Possessing Counterfeit Gift CardsRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury in Birmingham has charged a Chinese national with possessing counterfeit gift cards, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Xiebin Xue, 40, with possession of fifteen or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices.
According to the indictment, on January 10, 2024, Xue was found in possession of at least 33 gift cards that had been re-encoded with card numbers different from the card numbers printed on the cards and at least two gift cards that bore fake bar code labels that did not match the printed and encoded numbers on the cards.
The United States Secret Service investigated the case along with the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brett A. Janich is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty for the charged offense is 10 years imprisonment.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Tennessee Man Indicted for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Tennessee man has been indicted on sex trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A three-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Carey O’Neal Walker, also known as “Rampage,” 29, of Memphis, Tennessee, with one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, one count of interstate transportation for commercial sex, and one count of coercion and enticement.
According to the indictment, Walker used force, fraud, and coercion to cause the victim to engage in commercial sex acts in Jefferson County, Alabama, between December 2024 and February 2025. The indictment also alleges that Walker transported the victim from Tennessee to Alabama for the purpose of engaging in prostitution on two separate occasions.
FBI Birmingham Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White is prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to for Illegal Re-entry after DeportationRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A native of Mexico has been sentenced for illegally re-entering the U.S. after deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
United States District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Eberardo Yovany Peralta-Cazales, 34, a citizen of Mexico, to 18 months in prison. Peralta-Cazales pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry after deportation.
According to the court documents, Peralta-Cazales was originally removed from the United States on November 11, 2015. On September 21, 2023, Peralta-Cazales was found in the United States and removed again on September 29, 2023. Less than a year after his second removal, Peralta-Cazales was arrested in Dekalb County, Alabama, for five counts of Rape Second Degree and four counts of Sodomy Second Degree, all involving a 12-year-old girl. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deportation Removal Office (ICE/ERO) was notified of the arrest and Peralta-Cazales was later transferred into federal custody.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the Dekalb County Sherrif’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara M. Judah prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Failure to RegisterRead the Press Release
ANNISTON, Ala. – A Colbert County man was sentenced on a felony charge for violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Michael Shane McDaniel, 57, of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to 24 months in prison followed by eight years of supervised release. In June, McDaniel pleaded guilty to failing to register or update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to court documents, McDaniel was convicted in 2011 of child molestation in Marion Superior Court in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is required to register as a sex offender under SORNA. Following his conviction, McDaniel registered as a sex offender in Indiana where he resided. In June 2024, and continuing through December 2024, McDaniel moved from Indiana to Alabama and failed to register as a sex offender in Alabama.
The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 implemented SORNA and established a comprehensive national system for the registration of sex offenders to protect the public. The Act requires anyone convicted of specified crimes to register with the national sex offender registry.
The U.S. Marshals Service for the Northern District of Alabama investigated the case along with the U.S. Marshals Service for the Southern District of Indiana, the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office (Indiana), and the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office (Alabama). Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Two Individuals Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted two individuals on child exploitation charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
The following defendants were indicted:
- A nine-count indictment charges Victor Adear Vanderslice, 44, of Columbiana, Alabama, with transportation of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, attempted transfer of obscene material to minors, and penalties for registered sex offenders. The incidents occurred between October 3, 2024, and December 19, 2024, in Shelby County, Alabama.
- A one-count indictment charges Victor Arturo Angeles-Garcia, 36, Huntsville, Alabama, with possession of child pornography. The incident occurred in June 2025 in Jefferson County, Alabama.
If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. Reports can be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
These cases were investigated by federal law enforcement partners from FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant US Attorney Dan McBrayer is prosecuting the case against Defendant Vanderslice. Assistant US Attorney W. Lee Gilmer is prosecuting the case against Defendant Angeles-Garcia.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Convicted Felon Charged with Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted a convicted felon for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Michael Lee Kelton, 44, of Gadsden, Alabama, with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the indictment, on July 29, 2025, Kelton illegally possessed a Glock .45 semi-automatic pistol. Kelton is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of eight prior felony convictions that span from 2009 to 2024 for various drug offenses and theft.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Etowah County Drug Task Force, Etowah County Sheriff’s Office, and the Atalla Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis A. Barlow is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
Jefferson County Woman Charged with ArsonRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted a Jefferson County woman for setting fire to an apartment unit, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Shun’derrika Kimberly Peoples, 20, of Birmingham, Alabama, with arson. The incident occurred at The Union at Cooper Hill apartment complex on August 25, 2025.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney W. Lee Gilmer is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting Multiple ChildrenRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Jefferson County man has pleaded guilty to charges related to the sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of multiple children, announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona.
Graham Daniel Ash, 42, of Pinson, Alabama, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Annemarie Axon to an 11-count superseding indictment that included three counts of sexual exploitation of children, two counts of transportation of child pornography, three counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of possession of child pornography, one count of aggravated sexual abuse with a child, and one count related to penalties for registered sex offenders. Ash was previously convicted of electronic solicitation of a child in Jefferson County, Alabama, in 2022.
According to court documents, beginning in August 2023, Ash shared images and videos of child sexual abuse material in his online correspondence with an undercover FBI agent with the District of Columbia Field Office. A federal search warrant was subsequently executed on Ash’s residence in Pinson, Alabama. Agents recovered a laptop and two smashed cell phones from Ash’s residence.
Following the search warrant, FBI Agents in the District of Columbia and Northern District of Alabama continued their investigation into Ash. Search warrants for Ash’s online accounts and the forensic examination of his seized devices revealed evidence of other crimes that Ash committed in the Northern District of Alabama between March and October 2023 that involved minor victims located throughout the United States. In his communications with these children, Ash repeatedly asked for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), received CSAM, and used and directed children to perform sexually explicit acts for him. Ash also traveled out of state for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with one of the children. Ash was charged with crimes in the superseding indictment filed in the Northern District of Alabama.
Ash was also charged in an indictment in the District of Columbia with distribution of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor. Ash pleaded guilty to these charges and was sentenced in April 2025, to 216 months in federal prison.
If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The FBI Birmingham Field Office, Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) Unit, and FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. Other federal and state law enforcement agencies in Missouri, Texas, California, Connecticut, West Virginia, Kentucky, Kansas, Florida, Indiana, New York, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Colorado, and Maryland were instrumental in identifying and locating minor victims. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $10.5 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Northern District of Alabama collected $10,559,853.82 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. Of this amount, $5,051,988.20 was collected in criminal actions and $5,507,865.62 was collected in civil actions.
“I am tremendously proud of the work done by my office’s Financial Litigation Program,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “The Financial Litigation Program works tirelessly to collect debts owed to the United States, as well as those owed to crime victims.”
The Financial Litigation Program’s work is far-reaching. For example, in April 2025, Robert Winston Burgett was sentenced for embezzling almost $950,000 from the City of Homewood. Within days, the Financial Litigation Program identified Burgett’s retirement accounts and issued collection papers on them. To date, $195,000 has been collected.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Office, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Alabama, working with partner agencies and divisions, initiated the forfeiture of 314 separate criminal assets in 134 cases in Fiscal Year 2025, almost doubling case numbers from recent prior years. These forfeitures included a large number of firearms involved in drug trafficking or violent crimes. While forfeited firearms are destroyed, funds generated from other forfeited assets may be used for victim restitution, shared with state and local law enforcement partners, or deposited into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund for additional law enforcement uses and victim support. For Fiscal Year 2025, the Asset Forfeiture Unit in the Northern District of Alabama secured $13,227,075 in forfeiture money judgments owed to the United States.
Two Individuals Charged with Arson Inside a Local BusinessRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted two individuals for starting a fire inside a business, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Lillian Jayne Colburn, 26, and Mercutio Terrell Southall, 41, both of Birmingham, Alabama, with arson and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists in connection with the arson. The arson occurred at the Walmart Supercenter located on Lakeshore Parkway in Homewood, Alabama on August 25, 2025.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Homewood Police Department and the Irondale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney W. Lee Gilmer is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Two Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A native of Mexico has been sentenced for illegally re-entering the U.S. after deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
United States District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Cristofer Ruben Pecero-Ramirez, 27, a citizen of Mexico, to 24 months in prison. Pecero-Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry after deportation.
According to the court documents, Pecero-Ramirez was originally removed from the United States on August 12, 2024. Just 11 days after removal, Pecero-Ramirez was found in the United States and removed again on August 26, 2024. Just over a month after his second removal, Pecero-Ramirez was arrested in Columbiana, Alabama, by an officer with the Alabaster Police Department for two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deportation Removal Office (ICE/ERO) in Birmingham was notified of the arrest through the Alien Criminal Response Information Management System (ACRIME), and Pecero-Ramirez was later transferred into federal custody.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the Alabaster Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Brame prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
ICYMI: Significant Federal Prosecutions in the Northern District of Alabama During the 2025 Government ShutdownRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – During the recent federal government shutdown, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama continued its mission to protect public safety and hold criminals accountable, prosecuting cases involving immigration violations, violent crime, drug trafficking, and other federal offenses.
“During the shutdown, the mission of my office remained the same: to pursue justice for the citizens of the Northern District of Alabama,” said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona. “Our prosecutors’ efforts never stopped. Every day, they were in the office, in the courtroom, and working with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice and keep our communities safe.”
The following cases highlight just a portion of the important work carried out during the shutdown:
- Juan Francisco Castaneda, also known as “Pariente,” 44, pleaded guilty to all counts charged in the superseding indictment, including conspiring to traffic fentanyl, conspiring to commit money laundering, and distribution of fentanyl.
- Juan Martin Sanchez-Suarez, 24, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for production of child pornography.
- Wayne Carnell Brown, 74, of Birmingham, Alabama, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Michael Kilgore, 40, of Centre, Alabama, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine.
- Raymone Eugene Tabb, 33, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was sentenced to 22 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Joel Wesley Dillard, 47, of Morris, Alabama, was sentenced to 189 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release for possession of child pornography.
- Addison Lee Cook, also known as “Adihsun,” 34, of Nashville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release for production of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor.
- Elmer David Hernandez-Garcia, 29, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
- Jamarion Carmaine Walker, 23, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for illegal possession of a machine gun. Walker advertised and sold machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), commonly referred to as “Glock switches.” Walker marketed himself as the “Switch God.”
- Gary Forrest Edwards, 65, of Maylene, Alabama, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for tax evasion and interfering with the administration of federal tax laws. Edwards, a chiropractor, pleaded guilty during his trial.
- Daymon Maurice Collins, 52, of Birmingham, Alabama, was sentenced to 160 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.
- Jacob Edward Daugherty, 34, of Steele, Alabama, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
These cases were investigated by federal law enforcement partners from ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS-CI and Homeland Security Investigations.
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to over Thirteen Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has been sentenced for drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
United States District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Daymon Maurice Collins, 52, of Birmingham, Alabama, to 160 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.
According to the plea agreement, during four separate controlled drug transactions in 2023, Collins sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to a confidential source. After Homeland Security Investigations and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency discovered that Collins was working with others to threaten the person that he supplied narcotics to and that person’s family, law enforcement immediately prepared to arrest Collins. Shortly after, agents conducted a traffic stop and took Collins into custody. In connection with the investigation, agents also searched several residences where Collins was known to reside. At these residences, agents seized over 6,000 grams of methamphetamine, 302 grams of fentanyl, 33 grams of amphetamine, and 436 counterfeit fentanyl pills.
Other individuals involved with Collins were also prosecuted in the investigation. Kimberly Jackson, 51, of Thorsby, Alabama, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 120 months for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Collins was the source of supply for Jackson, who was engaged in selling methamphetamine.
Melvin Demarcus Jordan, 39, of Huntsville, Alabama, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2025. Jordan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Collins was the source of supply for Jordan, who was engaged in selling fentanyl.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany T. Byrd prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Alabama HSTF comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the Internal Revenue Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.
Tennessee Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Tennessee man has been sentenced on charges related to the sexual exploitation of children, announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Addison Lee Cook, also known as “Adihsun,” 34, of Nashville, Tennessee, to 360 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release. In May, Cook pleaded guilty to production of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor. This conviction requires Cook to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
“There is no place in our communities for those who prey on vulnerable children,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “These cases are successful because of strong partnerships with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. We have one common goal: to pursue justice for child victims. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners in Alabama and Tennessee, this predator has been held accountable for his actions.”
“The FBI, together with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, will stop at nothing to protect the most vulnerable members of our society,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Birmingham Division. “Together, we have ensured one less predator is victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community.”
According to the plea agreement, on April 12, 2024, an investigator with the University of Alabama Police Department responded to a report regarding sexual abuse allegations involving a minor victim. The online report was made by the victim’s mother to the FBI National Threat Operations Center and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency hotline and noted that Cook used Snapchat to communicate with the minor victim who resided in Alabama. Based on this report, a federal search warrant was obtained and executed at Cook’s residence in Tennessee. While, no images or videos of the minor victim were located on devices seized during the search warrant, agents located child sexual abuse material on every device seized—a total of 16 images and four videos.
If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
FBI Birmingham investigated the case along with the University of Alabama Police Department, Homewood Police Department, and FBI Nashville. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.
Tuscaloosa Man Sentenced for Possessing Gun as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Tuscaloosa man has been sentenced for illegal possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Raymone Eugene Tabb, 33, to 22 months in prison. In April, Tabb pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, in June 2024, officers with the Tuscaloosa Police Department were dispatched to an apartment complex in Tuscaloosa for a trespass call. Officers arrived and observed Tabb walking away from the apartment complex. As officers approached Tabb, he fled on foot. Tabb was apprehended after a short pursuit, and officers recovered a loaded firearm from Tabb’s waistband.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples prosecuted the case.
Sex Offender Sentenced for Possessing More than 13,000 Images of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A repeat sex offender has been sentenced for possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Joel Wesley Dillard, 47, of Morris, Alabama, to 189 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release. In June, Dillard pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, on June 24, 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) sent a tip to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s (GBI) cyber tip line. On June 15, 2022, Snapchat reported to NCMEC that Dillard had uploaded videos of child pornography to his account. During the investigation, the GBI determined that the IP address used to access Dillard’s accounts originated in Morris, Alabama, and subsequently transferred the case to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). ALEA executed a search warrant at Dillard’s residence, where agents seized 17 electronic devices. A forensic examination of the devices revealed more than 13,000 images of child pornography. Agents also discovered Telegram messages on Dillard’s cell phone, including a conversation in which he agreed to trade child pornography with other users.
If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Cartel Member Pleads Guilty Mid-Trial to Fentanyl Trafficking and Money Laundering OffensesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A member of the Jalisco New Generacion Cartel (“CJNG”) pleaded guilty on October 28, 2025, to fentanyl trafficking and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
After two days of trial testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala, Juan Francisco Castaneda, also known as “Pariente,” 44, pleaded guilty to all counts charged in the superseding indictment, including conspiring to traffic fentanyl, conspiring to commit money laundering, and distribution of fentanyl. The charged crimes occurred in the Birmingham and Homewood area.
According to the evidence presented at trial and in support of Castenada’s guilty plea, Castaneda ran his drug trafficking and money laundering organization with the use of contraband phones while he was serving multiple life sentences for murder at the Alabama Department of Corrections’ Bullock Correctional facility. Castaneda used a network of couriers and local businesses as “fronts,” from which he arranged fentanyl distribution and collected drug proceeds. Undercover operations revealed that Castaneda was laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars to CJNG sources in Mexico through these couriers and businesses.
According to Court documents, Castaneda previously pleaded guilty to a 2008 multi-homicide in Shelby County, in which five individuals were murdered over a cartel debt.
“Cartel activity has no place in Alabama. Those who traffic dangerous drugs in our communities will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that endanger our communities. I commend our federal, state and local law enforcement partners for their hard work and dedication in bringing this defendant to justice.”
“This case delivers a decisive blow against the Jalisco New Generacion Cartel (CJNG) and their ruthless network operating in Alabama,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Hofer, New Orleans Division. “CJNG is responsible for flooding our communities with deadly amounts of fentanyl and using criminal schemes, like money laundering from within prison, to fuel their enterprise. This guilty plea is a clear victory for public safety and a testament to the fact we will use every resource available to neutralize these transnational criminal organizations and hold every one of their operators, from the streets to the cartel leadership, fully accountable.”
“This case underscores the devastating impact of transnational criminal organizations like the Jalisco New Generacion Cartel have on our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama Steven N. Schrank. “Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantling these dangerous networks, disrupting their operations, and bringing their members to justice. Through collaboration with our federal, state, and local partners, we will continue to leverage every resource to protect the American people from the scourge of fentanyl trafficking and the criminal enterprises that fuel it.”
As part of his plea, Castaneda has agreed to forfeiture of a money judgment in the amount of $700,000.
Castaneda is scheduled to be sentenced on January 8, 2026.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance is life in prison. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit money laundering is 20 years in prison.
The DEA and HSI investigated the case, along with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service, United States Marshals Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Hoover Police Department, Birmingham Police Department, Bessemer Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Department of Corrections, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Garnett and Carson Gilbert are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Alabama HSTF comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the Internal Revenue Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.
Alabama Chiropractor Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An Alabama chiropractor has been sentenced on charges of tax evasion and interfering with the administration of the internal revenue laws, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona
U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Gary Forrest Edwards, 65, of Maylene, Alabama, to 78 months in prison. Edwards pleaded guilty during his trial in Birmingham after the United States presented two witnesses and several exhibits.
According to court documents and evidence admitted during trial, from 2015 to 2023, Edwards attempted to evade payment of more than $2.5 million in income taxes and obstructed the IRS’s efforts to collect those taxes.
Edwards owned and operated the chiropractic practice Hoover Health & Wellness Center. In 2015, he agreed to and did file delinquent income tax returns with the IRS for tax years 2009 through 2013. He later filed an income tax return for 2017. Despite filing the returns and reporting millions of dollars in taxable income, Edwards never paid the more than $2.5 million in taxes he admitted he owed—or the near $1.9 million in penalties and interested assessed by the IRS.
Court documents also reflected Edwards’s admission to several of the ways by which he evaded payment of his taxes and obstructed collection of them: concealing financial accounts he owned from the IRS, transferring funds from accounts he owned to accounts in only his spouse’s name, filing false court documents to terminate federal tax liens against his property, lying to IRS criminal investigators, and more.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Tax Division Trial Attorney Isaiah Boyd and Assistant United States Attorney Allison Garnett prosecuted the case.
Former Centre Police Department Officer Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Drug-Planting SchemeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A former Centre Police Department officer has been sentenced for his role in a scheme to falsify drug arrests by planting narcotics on innocent motorists, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
Chief U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Michael Kilgore, 40, of Centre, Alabama, to 48 months in prison. In November 2024, Kilgore pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine.
According to the information and plea agreement, Kilgore’s scheme began in January 2023, when he stopped a car and found various drugs. Kilgore offered the driver the chance to avoid drug charges by working for Kilgore. The driver accepted and became a co-conspirator in Kilgore’s drug-planting scheme.
Kilgore and his co-conspirator then arranged for a package containing methamphetamine, oxycodone, and marijuana to be attached to the undercarriage of a certain vehicle. On January 31, 2023, Kilgore performed a fraudulent traffic stop of that vehicle and “discovered” the drug package where he knew it had been planted. The vehicle’s driver and passenger were detained for drug possession.
Kilgore and his co-conspirator planned to repeat the scheme on another vehicle. But, after buying the drugs to be planted, Kilgore’s co-conspirator discarded the drugs and reported the scheme to law enforcement.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Janich prosecuted the case.
Jefferson County Man Sentenced to More than 10 Years in Prison on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Jefferson County man has been sentenced on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Wayne Carnell Brown, 74, of Birmingham, to 130 months in prison. In February, Brown pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the plea agreement, on July 1, 2024, the Birmingham Police Department Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on Brown’s residence. Detectives recovered multiple firearms, bulk cash, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and digital scales during the search.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Garnett prosecuted the case.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An illegal alien has been sentenced for producing child pornography involving a minor victim, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Juan Martin Sanchez-Suarez, 24, a citizen of Mexico, to 360 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. This conviction will require Sanchez-Suarez to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). As part of his sentence, Sanchez-Suarez was ordered to pay a $3,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Act. In November, Sanchez-Suarez pleaded guilty to production of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, Sanchez-Suarez filmed himself engaging in a sex act with a 12-year-old female child. Sanchez-Suarez created the video without the child’s knowledge. He later sent the video to the child. Sanchez-Suarez was aware of the child’s age and told her that as long as neither of them told anyone, they would not get in trouble.
The Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Lipscomb Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
If you believe someone is the victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact the Know2Protect tip line at 1-833-591-KNOW. All information received via the tipline will be reviewed by appropriate personnel and referred to HSI field offices for potential investigation. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
ICE takes very seriously its obligation to enforce our nation’s immigration and customs laws, and employs practices that are intended to accomplish this in a fair, efficient, and professional manner. If you have information, you may call our public tip line at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (866-347-2423). For further information related to ICE, please visit our website at www.ice.gov.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit
www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Four Illegal Aliens Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Four illegal aliens have been sentenced on drug trafficking and firearms charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco sentenced the following defendants:
Ismael Castillo De La Cruz, also known as “Pepe,” 31, a native and citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 130 months in prison. In May, Cruz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, to being an alien in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.
Isidro Santiago Rodriguez-Diaz, 51, a native and citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 130 months in prison. In May, Diaz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, and use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.
Yovany Isidro Rodriguez-Ochoa, 33, a native and citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 57 months in prison. In May, Ochoa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.
In August, Rutilo Medina Hernandez, a native and citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 156 months in prison. Hernandez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, to being an alien in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.
According to the plea agreement, in October 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization distributing cocaine in North Birmingham in which Diaz and Ochoa were the sources of supply. During the investigation, law enforcement identified De La Cruz, Hernandez, and other co-conspirators as drug traffickers. Ochoa and Diaz were primarily distributing cocaine in the Northern District of Alabama and De La Cruz and Hernandez distributed cocaine and methamphetamine.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany T. Byrd and W. Lee Gilmer prosecuted the case.
Former Alabama Department of Corrections Officer Sentenced to Prison for BriberyRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A former Alabama Department of Corrections Officer has been sentenced for bribery, announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona.
U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced John Paul Ketteman, 28, of Huntsville, to 15 months in prison for receipt of a bribe by an agent of an organization receiving federal funds.
According to the plea agreement, Ketteman was employed as a corrections officer at the Alabama Department of Correction’s Limestone Correctional Facility in Harvest, Alabama. Ketteman’s job duties included inspecting prison cells for contraband and supervising inmates. In the Fall of 2022, ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division began an investigation into contraband being smuggled into the Limestone Facility by corrections officers. As part of the investigation, Cash App records were obtained for Ketteman’s account. These records revealed that in less than three months in 2022, Ketteman was paid more than $10,000 to smuggle contraband into the Limestone Facility and to act as a lookout.
The FBI and the United States Secret Service investigated the case. ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division provided valuable assistance during the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the case.
Birmingham Man Pleads Guilty to Murder for HireRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has pleaded guilty to murder for hire as charged, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
Mohammad Mohammad, 64, of Hoover, Alabama, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala to seven counts of murder for hire.
According to court documents, in September 2024, Mohammad met with an undercover (UC) law enforcement officer who he thought was a hitman. Mohammad discussed with the UC the cost of killing his wife and six adult children.
Mohammad faces a statutory maximum sentence of ten years for each count.
The FBI investigated the case along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan S. Cross and William R. McComb.
Jefferson County Man Convicted on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal jury has convicted a Jefferson County man on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
The jury returned a guilty verdict against Jaylin Artez Patton, 29, of Birmingham, Alabama, after three days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie C. Axon. Patton was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a machinegun, possession of fentanyl, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
According to evidence presented at trial, officers with the Birmingham Police Department, along with assistance from agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, attempted to make a traffic stop on Patton to execute an arrest warrant. Patton fled the scene and officers pursued him. Patton refused to stop his vehicle and drove off the interstate into a ditch and a fence. Patton exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Shortly after a foot pursuit, officers apprehended Patton. Officers recovered fentanyl and a Glock pistol that had been converted to a machinegun using a machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch.”
The ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William R. McComb and Darius Greene are prosecuting the case.
Jefferson County Man Charged with Illegally Possessing a MachinegunRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Jefferson Couty man has been charged with illegally possessing a machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges De’Corlion Keshaun Robinson, 24, of Bessemer, Alabama, with possession of a machinegun. On August 13, 2025, Robinson illegally possessed a Glock 10mm pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Machinegun and a FirearmRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced to illegally possessing two firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
Chief U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Kelvontae Rashad Wallace, 26, of Pell City, Alabama, to 79 months in prison. In June, Wallace pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a machinegun.
According to the plea agreement, between December 2023 and January 2024, Wallace illegally possessed a firearm and a machinegun on two separate occasions:
On December 15, 2023, Talladega police officers responded to a call of a person shot at the Orange #1 gas station. Officers responded to the scene and found a victim lying on the ground that had been shot in the stomach, back, and both legs. Officers collected five .45 caliber spent shell casings from the scene and there were at least three bullet holes in the glass on the store windows and door. Surveillance video from the store showed Wallace drive up to the store, exit his vehicle, and shoot the victim with a Glock pistol that had been converted to a machinegun using a machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch.”
On January 2, 2024, the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force and Pell City police officers went to Wallace’s apartment to arrest him for warrants for Assault, First Degree and Shooting into an Occupied Building arising from the December incident in Talladega. When the officers arrived, Wallace attempted to flee out the back door of the apartment, but the officers were able to apprehend and arrest him. Officers recovered a Century Arms Micro VSKA 7.62x39mm pistol with a round chambered and a loaded magazine from Wallace’s apartment.
ATF investigated the case along with the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force, Pell City Police Department, Talladega Police Department, and Anniston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples prosecuted the case.
Texas Man Sentenced to More than 17 Years in Prison for Kidnapping a ToddlerRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Texas man has been sentenced for conspiring to kidnap a toddler, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Steven Andrew Holguin, 42, of El Paso, Texas, to 210 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release. In April, Holguin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
According to the plea agreement, on November 4, 2021, a police officer with the Birmingham Police Department responded to a call at a residence in Birmingham regarding the kidnapping of a three-year-old female from the residence. Holguin and his co-conspirator, Elis Salgado-Galindo, kidnapped the toddler with the intent of taking her to her father, who lives in Honduras. With Holguin’s assistance, Salgado-Galindo grabbed the toddler and fled the residence. An Amber Alert was issued and law enforcement along the Alabama/Mississippi state line were provided the description of the vehicle, toddler, and suspects. That same evening, deputies with the Rankin County, Mississippi Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle matching the description of Holguin’s vehicle. Deputies instructed Holguin, who was the driver of the vehicle, to exit the vehicle and walk back to the officer’s vehicle. Deputies then removed the other individuals from the vehicle, including the toddler. A deputy recognized the toddler from the Amber Alert and sent a picture of her to a detective with the Birmingham Police Department. The detective showed the picture to the toddler’s mother, who confirmed that it was her daughter. Both men were immediately taken into custody, and the toddler was safely returned to her mother.
Holguin was previously convicted in 2020 in the United States District Court in the Western District of Texas for conspiracy to transport aliens. He was sentenced to six months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
In December 2023, Elis Salgado-Galindo, a citizen of Mexico, was also charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. On December 14, 2021, Salgado-Galindo was released from state custody on a bond, placed into ICE custody, and deported. A federal warrant for his arrests remains outstanding.
Homeland Security Investigations, Birmingham, investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Pearl Mississippi Police Department, and the Rankin County Mississippi Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.
Medical Device Company Exactech, Inc. Agrees to Pay $8 Million for Selling Allegedly Defective Knee Implant DevicesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Exactech Inc., a medical device company based in Gainesville, Florida, has agreed to pay $8 million to resolve allegations that the company violated the federal False Claims Act by knowingly submitting or causing the submission of false claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid, and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in connection with defective knee replacement devices.
The settlement relates to two separate components of Exactech’s total knee replacement systems. First, the settlement resolves allegations that as early as January 2008, Exactech was aware that its finned tibial tray (a metal component of its knee replacement system that fits into a patient’s tibia) failed prematurely at a higher than acceptable rate and therefore was not reasonable and necessary for use during total-knee replacement surgeries performed on Medicare, Medicaid, and VA beneficiaries. Exactech nonetheless continued to market and sell that component for surgeries between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2018. Second, the settlement also resolves allegations that, as early as January 2019, Exactech was aware that the polyethylene component in certain Logic and Truliant knee replacement systems failed prematurely at a higher than acceptable rate and therefore was not reasonable and necessary for use during total-knee replacement surgeries performed on government beneficiaries. Exactech nonetheless continued to market and sell the Logic and Truliant knee systems with these defective polyethylene components for use during total-knee replacement surgeries between January 1, 2019, and February 7, 2022.
“Today’s resolution reaffirms our commitment to protect the health and safety of patients,” said Prim F. Escalona, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. “Medical device manufacturers must ensure their medical devices, which may be implanted in patients’ bodies, meet the necessary standards of safety and effectiveness at all times.”
“Patients who need a medical device to enjoy their lives rely on device manufacturers to put patient safety first. When a manufacturer learns that its device is defective, it must promptly and transparently address the problem,” Hayes said. “We will hold companies accountable who knowingly sell defective devices.”
Under the terms of the settlement, Exactech will pay a total of $8 million, of which $7,640,000 is the federal share. The states will enter into separate agreements with Exactech relating to the $360,000 state share. The settlement is based on Exactech’s financial condition.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Brooks Wallace, Robert Farley and Dr. Manuel Fuentes in a case captioned United States ex rel. Wallace v. Exactech, Inc., No. 7:18-cv-1010 (N.D. Ala.) (the “Alabama Action”) and by Dr. Pasquale Petrera in a case captioned United States ex rel. Petrera v. Exactech, Inc., Civil No. 21-3325-SAG (D. Md.) (the “Maryland Action”). Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the Alabama whistleblowers to receive a $1,329,360 share of the settlement amount and the Maryland whistleblower to receive a $565,360 share of the settlement amount.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Alabama and the District of Maryland, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the United States’ emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Long in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Haven in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, and Senior Trial Counsel Michael Hoffman of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Exactech Agrees to Pay $8 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations for Selling Defective Knee Implant DevicesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Exactech Inc. agreed to pay $8 million to resolve allegations that the company violated the federal False Claims Act. A medical device company based in Gainesville, Florida, Exactech allegedly violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting or causing the submission of false claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid, and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in connection with defective knee-replacement devices. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved the settlement as part of the pending Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings involving Exactech.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the settlement with Prim F. Escalona, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama.
This settlement relates to two separate components of Exactech’s total-knee replacement systems. First, the settlement resolves allegations that as early as January 2008, Exactech knew that its finned tibial tray — a metal component of its knee replacement system that fits into a patient’s tibia — failed prematurely at a higher than acceptable rate. Therefore, it was not reasonable and necessary for use during total-knee replacement surgeries performed on Medicare, Medicaid, and VA beneficiaries. But Exactech continued to market and sell the component for surgeries between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2018.
Additionally, the settlement resolves allegations that as early as January 2019, Exactech knew that the polyethylene component in certain Logic and Truliant knee-replacement systems failed prematurely at a higher than acceptable rate. Therefore, it was not reasonable and necessary for use during total-knee replacement surgeries performed on government beneficiaries. But Exactech continued to market and sell the Logic and Truliant knee systems with defective polyethylene components for use during total-knee replacement surgeries between January 1, 2019, and February 7, 2022.
“Patients who need a medical device to enjoy their lives rely on device manufacturers to put patient safety first. When a manufacturer learns that its device is defective, it must promptly and transparently address the problem,” Hayes said. “We will hold companies accountable who knowingly sell defective devices.”
“Today’s resolution reaffirms our commitment to protect the health and safety of patients,” Escalona said. “Medical device manufacturers must ensure their medical devices, which may be implanted in patients’ bodies, meet the necessary standards of safety and effectiveness at all times.”
Under the terms of the settlement, Exactech will pay a total of $8 million, $7,640,000 of which is the federal share. The states are entering into separate agreements with Exactech related to the $360,000 state share. The settlement is based on Exactech’s financial condition.
This civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Brooks Wallace, Robert Farley and Dr. Manuel Fuentes in a case captioned United States ex rel. Wallace v. Exactech, Inc., No. 7:18-cv-1010 (N.D. Ala.) (the “Alabama Action”) and by Dr. Pasquale Petrera in a case captioned United States ex rel. Petrera v. Exactech, Inc., Civil No. 21-3325-SAG (D. Md.) (the “Maryland Action”). Under these provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. In this case, the settlement provides for the Alabama whistleblowers to receive a $1,329,360 share of the settlement amount and the Maryland whistleblower to receive a $565,360 share of the settlement amount. The resolution obtained in this matter is the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Maryland and Northern District of Alabama, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
This investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tarra DeShields and Michael Wilson, Office for the District of Maryland; Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Long, Office for the Northern District of Alabama; and Senior Trial Counsel Michael Hoffman, DOJ Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section who all handled this matter
The claims resolved by the settlement are only allegations. There has been no determination of liability.
Four Defendants Charged with Federal Immigration CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – A federal grand jury in Huntsville has charged four individuals with immigration crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona.
The following defendants were indicted for illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported:
- Victor Alfonso Contreras-Gonzalez, 41, a citizen of Mexico;
- Arturo Ayala-Aviles, 33, a citizen of El Salvador;
Jose Jacuinde-Gutierrez , 32, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported and distribution of cocaine.
Marco Antonio Sanchez-Avila, 47, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and an alien in possession of a firearm.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Operation Take Back America partner Homeland Security Investigations investigated these cases.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
Jefferson County Man Convicted on Charges Related to Stolen Check Cashing ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal jury has convicted a Jefferson County man for his role in a conspiracy to obtain and deposit stolen checks, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
The jury returned a guilty verdict against Deizman Deandre Ellis, 24, of McCalla, Alabama, after three days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala. Ellis was convicted of all five charges that he faced, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession of stolen mail, and fraudulent use of unauthorized access devices.
According to evidence presented at trial, Ellis was a lead participant in a large-scale stolen check cashing scheme between August 2023 and February 2024. During the scheme, business and personal checks were stolen from blue postal boxes in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama area, using stolen postal keys that were used to open the boxes. Ellis and other conspirators then deposited the stolen checks into co-conspirators’ bank accounts and withdrew cash from those accounts.
In March, co-conspirator Eric Bernard Carter, Jr., 27, of Birmingham, Alabama, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, with assistance from the Northport Police Department, Rainbow City Police Department, and Tuscaloosa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brett A. Janich and William R. McComb are prosecuting the case.
St. Clair County Man Charged with CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A St. Clair County man has been charged with cyberstalking, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Michael Ray Mullins, 44, of Trussville, Alabama, with one count of cyberstalking and one count of interstate transmission of a threat to kidnap or injure another person. These incidents occurred between September and October 2024 in St. Clair County.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Margaret Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Arizona Man Charged with Trafficking Carfentanil into AlabamaRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An indictment charging an Arizona man in a drug trafficking conspiracy has been unsealed, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Ignacio Miguel Tirado-Castillo, 19, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a fentanyl analogue and attempt to distribute a fentanyl analogue in December 2024. Castillo was arrested August 11, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona, and was ordered detained in this case late last week. Evidence at the detention hearing revealed that Tirado-Castillo is alleged to have mailed approximately 25 pounds of carfentanil to Alabama.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a fentanyl analogue and attempt to distribute a fentanyl analogue is life in prison.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Alabama Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The U.S. Postal Service investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison J. Garnett is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former First Community Bank Vice President Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Cullman woman has been sentenced for her involvement in an embezzlement scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Kellie L. Johnson, 54, of Cullman, Alabama, to 60 months in prison followed by 60 months supervised release. In May, Johnson pleaded guilty to bank embezzlement.
According to the plea agreement, Johnson was employed with First Community Bank for approximately 25 years. Between July 2013 and June 2023, Johnson embezzled money from First Community Bank’s Federal Reserve account to pay personal expenses, primarily credit card bills. To conceal her scheme, Johnson falsified transactions to reconcile the balance of the Federal Reserve account in the bank’s general ledger and deleted her ACH transactions. Johnson also altered account statements sent by the Federal Reserve that she was required to provide to the bank president, auditors, and others. The scheme ended when the bank president received a call from the Federal Reserve notifying him that the bank’s ACH account was overdrawn. When the bank president asked Johnson to provide the latest account statement, she provided a fraudulent statement showing a positive balance in the account. Over the decade that she stole money from the bank, Johnson conducted approximately 273 fraudulent ACH transactions totaling over $2.3 million. Additionally, Johnson deprived the bank of $138,185.40 in interest income to the Federal Reserve account.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Hodge prosecuted the case.
Shelby County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Attempting to Sexually Exploit a MinorRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Shelby County man has been sentenced for attempted enticement of a minor and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Justin Warren Lindstrom, 43, of Sterrett, Alabama, to 120 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release. In April, Lindstrom pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and possession of child pornography. This conviction will require Lindstrom to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
“Thanks to the collaborative efforts or our dedicated law enforcement partners and prosecutors, we have removed yet another child predator from our community,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “Today’s sentence ensures he can no longer pose a threat to our most vulnerable – our children. My office remains committed to protecting children and holding those who seek to harm them fully accountable.”
“This sentencing confirms that the FBI and our partners will stop at nothing to protect our children from predators who seek to exploit them,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Birmingham. “Together, we have ensured one less predator is victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community.”
According to the plea agreement, in November 2023, an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 15-year-old girl posted an advertisement on a social media application. On November 15, 2023, Lindstrom arrived at a park in Vestavia Hills to engage in a sexual act with a minor. Vestavia Hills police officers conducted a traffic stop and arrested Lindstrom. After obtaining a search warrant, agents later located child pornography in one of Lindstrom’s email accounts.
If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Vestavia Hills Police Department and the Homewood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Georgia Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Georgia man has been indicted on child sexual exploitation charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A three-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Adree Villanueva, 25, of Kennesaw, Georgia, with one count of coercion and enticement, one count of travelling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity, and one count of transportation of a minor. These incidents occurred between April 2025 and July 2025 in Madison County.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Huntsville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney John M. Hundscheid is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced John Henry Edmondson, 29, of Shelby, Alabama, to 75 months in prison. In April, Edmondson pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, on June 30, 2024, a deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) conducted a welfare check on a minor who was at Edmondson’s residence. Edmondson refused to let the deputy in the house. The next day, SCSO deputies and Edmondson’s parole officer returned to the house with a juvenile pick-up order for the minor. While inside the residence recovering the minor, deputies seized two pistols and drug paraphernalia. A SCSO deputy obtained a state search warrant for the residence. Deputies seized a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, 12-gauge shotgun shells, camouflage body armor, suspected narcotics, and drug paraphernalia. Edmondson is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions in the District Court of Shelby County, Alabama. Specifically, in May 2021, Edmondson pleaded guilty to Domestic Violence by Suffocation or Strangulation and Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Pistol. And in August 2022, he pleaded guilty to Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case along with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Birmingham Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison on Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has been sentenced on gun and drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco sentenced Isaiah De’Monte De’Mario Henley, 31, to 240 months in prison. In March 2025, Henley pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a machine gun, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, in July and August of 2024, Henley sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to a confidential informant (CI) on three occasions. On August 8, 2024, law enforcement attempted to arrest Henley after he sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to the CI in West Birmingham. Henley ran from the police into a residence, dropped a bag, ran out the back door, and threw a Glock 9mm pistol equipped with a machine gun-conversion device (commonly referred to as a “Glock switch”) into tall grass before being apprehended. Law enforcement officers recovered the machine gun, a fully loaded extended magazine, 465 grams of methamphetamine, and over 7 grams of fentanyl.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Vestavia Hills Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany T. Byrd prosecuted the case.
Walker County Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison on Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A Walker County man has been sentenced for illegally possessing cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Shannon Wayne Herron, 50, of Jasper, Alabama, to 108 months in prison. In February, Herron pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to the plea agreement, on November 1, 2023, detectives with the Jasper Police Department Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on a residence in Jasper. During the search, officers recovered 366 grams of pure methamphetamine, marijuana, a digital scale, a ledger containing names with dollar amounts next to the names, four cell phones, and approximately $1,800 in cash.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case along with the Jasper Police Department Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Peoples prosecuted the case.
Chinese Nationals Charged with Illegally Possessing Counterfeit and Unauthorized Gift CardsRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury in Birmingham has returned an indictment charging two Chinese nationals with possessing counterfeit devices, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Jiadong Cao, 36, and Xuejun Zheng, 48, with possession of counterfeit and unauthorized access devices.
According to court documents, the defendants engaged in a retail scheme to steal funds from gift cards purchased by consumers at various retail stores. Perpetrators stole un-activated gift cards from stores, carefully opened the gift card packages to conceal damage to the packaging, and altered the cards so the perpetrators could access funds that were later loaded onto the gift cards by consumers at checkout. The perpetrators then put altered gift cards back into the original packaging, returned to the store, and placed the altered gift cards on the shelf for sale to the public. Once the gift cards were purchased and consumers loaded funds, the perpetrators electronically drained the funds from those gift cards for their own use.
On June 20, 2025, the Hoover Police Department issued a BOLO regarding two Asian males driving a Lexus SUV who were believed to be involved in switching gift cards at local CVS stores. The next day, the Pelham Police Department conducted a traffic stop on the Lexus SUV and received consent to search the vehicle. During the search, officers found multiple boxes containing more than 5,000 gift cards. Additional investigation revealed that parts of the gift card numbers and/or PIN number on most of these gift cards had been obliterated or altered.
The maximum penalty for this offense is 10 years.
The United States Secret Service investigated the case along with the Hoover Police Department and Pelham Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan S. Rummage is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Mother-Daughter Duo Sentenced in Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A mother and daughter have been sentenced for their involvement in an elder fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Mykia L. Henderson, 32, of Moody, to 87 months in prison, and Cynthia H. Mixon, 50, of Fairfield, to 57 months in prison. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to the plea agreements, between December 2020 and February 2022, Mixon and Henderson were the in-home caretakers for the elderly victim. In their role as caretakers, Henderson and Mixon had access to the victim’s financial information, which they shared with one another and with other members of the conspiracy. The defendants devised a scheme to defraud the victim by using fake and fraudulent accounts they set up through Square, Inc. and Stripe, Inc. Through the scheme, the defendants charged the victim’s credit cards through the Square and Stripe accounts and then deposited the funds into their bank accounts or shared the proceeds with one another. The defendants hid the charges from the victim by including false “descriptions” to prevent their discovery. The defendants also wrote unauthorized checks to themselves that were drawn on the victim’s bank accounts. In total, members of the conspiracy stole nearly $500,000 from the victim.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Mountain Brook Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan S. Rummage prosecuted the case.
Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements’ efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. [ET]. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Five Years on Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Jua’Ques Antonio Mitchell, 28, of Birmingham, to 70 months in prison. In April, Mitchell pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, while conducting routine patrol on May 17, 2024, officers with the Birmingham Police Department observed several individuals sitting on top of a vehicle openly rolling what appeared to be a marijuana blunt. Mitchell was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. During the encounter, officers recovered a Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol equipped with a machine gun-conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” and a loaded Glock magazine. The firearm had been reported stolen in Bessemer, Alabama on October 15, 2023. Mitchell was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for a probation violation related to a 2021 attempted murder conviction in Jefferson County, Alabama.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Keown, Sr. prosecuted the case.
Birmingham Man Sentenced to 36 Years in Prison on Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge has sentenced a Birmingham man for possessing a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Frederick Leonard Temple, Jr., also known as “Cutt” and “Cutthroat,” 35, to 432 months in prison. In February, Temple was convicted by a jury of possession of a machine gun, two counts of distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of a machine gun in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
“This sentence sends a clear message that violent, criminal conduct like Defendant Temple’s will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “I commend our law enforcement partners and prosecutors for their unwavering commitment to ensuring Temple was brought to justice.”
“Today’s sentencing illustrates the continuous commitment that the ATF shares with our state, local, and federal law-enforcement partners to combat the illegal possession of firearms, fight violent crime, and remove narcotics from the streets,” said ATF Special Acting Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz. “We will continue to utilize all of our resources in an effort to maintain public safety in the communities that we serve.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Temple distributed fentanyl on two separate occasions. On January 26, 2022, members of the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force and officers from the Birmingham Police Department executed a search warrant at Temple’s residence. During the search, officers found drugs and firearms in a rear bedroom where an infant was located. The search of the residence resulted in the seizure of 14 firearms, including a Glock 9 mm pistol equipped with a machine gun-conversion device commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” several high-capacity firearm magazines, including 100- and 50-round drum magazines, and a large amount of various ammunition, as well as fentanyl, methamphetamine, six digital scales of various sizes, and other drug paraphernalia.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case along with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristy M. Peoples and Alan Kirk prosecuted the case.
Six Defendants Charged with Federal Immigration CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury in Huntsville has charged six individuals with immigration crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona.
The following defendants were indicted for illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported:
- Adalberto Guerrero-Alba, 63, a citizen of Mexico;
- Gustavo Bueno-Zamora, 59, a citizen of Mexico;
- Israel Islas-Martinez, 34, a citizen of Mexico;
- Benjamin Ulloa-Cabrera, 38, a citizen of Mexico;
- Roxana Silva-Tejada, 38, a citizen of Mexico;
Jose Mena-Villeda, 57, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with illegally reentering the United States after having been previously deported, for making a false statement to a federal agency, and for making false statements when submitting immigration paperwork.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Operation Take Back America partner Homeland Security Investigations investigated these cases.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.