Southern District of Alabama
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Member of Darrin Southall Drug Organization Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL –A member of Darrin Southall’s drug trafficking organization was sentenced in federal court on September 25, 2025. Henderson Pippins, 45, a resident of Mobile, was sentenced to 197 months in federal prison on the charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. According to court documents, Southall ran a continuing criminal enterprise involving the distribution of massive amounts of controlled substances in the Mobile, Alabama, area, and the laundering of drug proceeds through bank accounts and nominees. Court documents also establish that Pippins’ role in the conspiracy was as a kilogram-level distributor of the drugs in the Mobile area. On February 18, 2022, Southall was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison on his guilty plea to conducting a continuing criminal enterprise, drug distribution and conspiracy to launder drug proceeds.
United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed the 197-month sentence in Pippins’ case and further ordered that Pippins serve five years on supervised release following his imprisonment. As conditions of Pippins’ supervision, he will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Pippins pay $200 in special assessments.
The case was investigated by the Mobile Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Saraland Police Department, the St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Theodore Man Sentenced to Nine Months in Prison for Trafficking Illegal Machinegun-Conversion DevicesRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Theodore man was sentenced to nine months in prison for trafficking illegal machinegun-conversion devices.
According to court documents, Bryan Figueroa Guzman, 29, was recorded on three occasions in early 2025 selling, purchasing, and possessing illegal machinegun-conversion devices (“MCDs”), commonly referred to as “Glock switches.” On January 20, 2025, Guzman sold two MCDs to a cooperating informant for $600. Later, on March 6, 2025, sold another MCD to the informant for $300. Finally, on March 14, 2025, Guzman purchased 20 MCDs from an informant and an undercover federal agent. When agents arrested Guzman, he was beginning to install one of the 20 MCDs on a Glock firearm that he had brought with him to the transaction.
In addition to the nine-month prison term, Senior United States District Judge William H. Steele ordered Guzman to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Steele ordered Guzman to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Jessica Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Oklahoma Man Sentenced for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Joshua Kahanek, age 44, was sentenced today after entering a guilty plea to one count of Failing to Register as a Sex Offender. Kahanek entered his guilty plea on May 21, 2025.
According to court documents, Kahanek was convicted of Rape in the First Degree in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2008. Kahanek was sentenced to 20 years in prison and was released from prison on April 11, 2022. Kahanek’s conviction required him to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Kahanek executed multiple forms with his SORNA officer in Oklahoma throughout 2022-2024 in which he acknowledged his duties and responsibilities to register as a sex offender. Those forms included his duty to register in any jurisdiction in which he was employed. On June 7, 2024, the Foley PD and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office received a report about Kahanek being in the Southern District of Alabama. Mobile Police Department located Kahanek working on the premises of a Target store in Mobile. Kahanek was working with a company that would install fiber optic cables at Target stores. Kahanek had not registered as a sex offender in Alabama.
At sentencing, Chief United States District Judge Beaverstock imposed a time-served and a 5-year term of supervised release. Kahanek had been in custody since his arrest on March 6, 2025. During his term of supervised release, Kahanek will be subject to sex offender treatment, substance abuse testing and treatment, and mental health treatment. Kahanek will be required to register as a sex offender. Kahanek was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
The United States Marshals Service, Foley Police Department, Mobile Police Department, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources
Marengo County Man Sentenced to Thirteen Years for Armed Robbery of Chevron in Dixon MillsRead the Press Release
United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Yancy Xavier Dumas to 157 months’ imprisonment for armed robbery of a business and discharging a firearm during the crime.
Court documents show that on January 9, 2024, Dumas robbed the Chevron Gas Station located on Highway 43 in Dixon Mills, Alabama. During the robbery Dumas wore a mask, pointed a handgun at the cashier, and demanded money. Dumas kept the gun pointed at the cashier during the robbery and repeatedly stated “give me that bag,” and “I’m going to bust you up.” During the robbery Dumas also discharged a round from the handgun to get the victim to speed up the process in turning over the money. The victim placed approximately $5,000.00 on the counter and Dumas fled the store with the money using a car which belonged to his girlfriend.
The Marengo County Sheriff’s Office immediately investigated the case and that evening they arrested Dumas at another gas station owned by the same store owner. Approximately $3,700 of the stolen money was recovered from a shed at Dumas’ mother’s house and the handgun was recovered Dumas’ girlfriend’s trailer.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marengo County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Ecuadorian Drug Smuggler Caught on the High Seas with 1,092 Kilograms of Cocaine Sentenced to 108 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Tanyl Damian Anchundia-Rezebala, an Ecuadorian national, to 108 months’ imprisonment for smuggling 1,092 kilograms of cocaine in the Pacific Ocean following his prior guilty plea on the charges.
Court documents show that on September 24, 2024, while on routine patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter MUNRO located a drug smuggling vessel operating in international waters, approximately 160 nautical miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico. The vessel displayed no indicia of nationality, was operating northbound at a high rate of speed in a known drug trafficking area and had visible suspect packages on deck. The USCG helicopter fired warning shots which were ineffective in stopping the vessel. The helicopter then used disabling fire and shot out the engines to stop the smuggling boat. The MUNRO helicopter then observed, and recorded a video, of the drugs smugglers jettisoning packages in the ocean while the boat was disabled.
USCG personnel boarded the vessel from a Zodiac-style boat launched from the Cutter. USCG personnel recovered 24 bales from the water surrounding the vessel, which yielded an at-sea weight of approximately 1,092 kilograms of cocaine.
Anchundia-Rezebala and four other smugglers were taken into custody from the vessel and transferred to USCG Cutter MUNRO with the cocaine and brought to the United States for prosecution under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act. The vessel was deemed a danger to navigation due to no suitable tow points and its distance from land and was sunk upon completion of law enforcement activities.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorney George F. May prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Daphne man was sentenced to 90 months in prison for a methamphetamine-trafficking conspiracy and possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
According to court documents, Robert Keith Corte, Jr., 35, was caught on three occasions selling methamphetamine to confidential informants in September and October 2023 in Baldwin County, Alabama. On October 16, 2023, narcotics agents executed a search warrant at Corte’s apartment in Daphne, locating drugs and drug paraphernalia. In total, agents seized more than 185 grams of methamphetamine, which Corte admitted belonged to him. Corte admitted that he had recently gone to Pensacola, Florida, to obtain methamphetamine to sell in Baldwin County. Corte’s cell phone contained numerous text messages about his drug-dealing activities, including discussion of prices, payments, and amounts of drugs to be purchased. At the time of his arrest, Corte was on federal supervised release for a prior methamphetamine-trafficking conviction.
In addition to the 90-month prison sentence, Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock ordered Corte to serve a ten-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing and treatment and will receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Beaverstock ordered Corte to pay $200 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Foreign Nationals Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United States and Transferred to Immigration Officials for Deportation ProceedingsRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Two foreign nationals were sentenced this week for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported. These felony cases were prosecuted as 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.
According to court documents, Hermes Castillo, 44, and Miguel Alvarado-Villanueva, 36, both of Honduras, were encountered by the Elberta, Alabama Police Department during a traffic stop on May 29, 2025. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was notified of the encounter. HSI arrested Castillo and Alvarado after determining that they were illegally in the United States.
Castillo had previously been deported from the United States three times. Castillo had also been convicted of Possession of Cocaine in violation of Florida state law and illegal reentry in 2012. Alvarado had been previously deported from the United States three times. At sentencing, Castillo and Alvarado were each sentenced to time-served and a 1-year term of supervised release upon their release if not deported. Castillo and Alvarado had been in custody since their arrests on May 29, 2025. Both defendants were ordered to be transferred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings upon their release from prison.
Several other defendants were recently prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America’s ongoing collaboration between federal agencies with the assistance of state and local law enforcement and sentenced in federal court.
In July, Miguel Castro-Gonzales, 48 of Mexico, and Albert Marel Padilla-Castro, 43, of Honduras were sentenced for illegal reentry. The Summerdale Police Department arrested Castro-Gonzales for public intoxication and resisting arrest on May 18, 2025. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) was notified of the arrest and determined that Castro-Gonzales was previously deported on three occasions. The Saraland Police Department encountered Padilla-Castro during a traffic stop on May 6, 2025. United States Border Patrol (USBP) responded to the stop. USBP arrested Padilla-Castro after determining that he was illegally present in the United States and had been previously removed on two occasions.
In August, Antonio Flores, 41, of Mexico, Ali Torres-Barahona, 34, of Honduras, and Jorge Magana-Cartagena, 31, of El Salvador were sentenced for illegal reentry. The Foley Police Department arrested Flores for DUI in September 2023, but he was later released on bond under a false alias. ICE/ERO determined Flores’ true identity and concluded that he was illegally in the United States and had been deported twice. He was charged by a federal grand jury with illegal reentry and arrested in June 2025 by federal agents. The Mobile Police Department arrested Torres-Barahona for organized retail theft on June 8, 2025. ICE/ERO was notified of the arrest and determined that Torres-Barahona was illegally in the United States and had been deported three times. Federal agents encountered Magana during a worksite enforcement operation in Foley, Alabama on June 16, 2025. HSI agents arrested Magana after determining he was illegally in the United States and had been deported twice.
These defendants were all sentenced to time-served and had been in custody since their respective arrests on federal charges. Upon their releases from prison, all defendants were ordered to be transferred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. All defendants were ordered to pay $100.00 each in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) investigated the cases with the assistance of state and local law enforcement partners, including, the Elberta Police Department, Summerdale Police Department, Saraland Police Department, Foley Police Department, and Mobile Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin D. Kopf prosecuted the cases on behalf of the United States.
In addition to repelling the invasion of illegal immigration, Operation Take Back America aim includes the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protecting our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
In addition to repelling the invasion of illegal immigration, the Operation Take Bank America initiative is committed to leveraging Department of Justice resources to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Foley Felon Who Led Deputies on a High-Speed Chase in a Stolen Vehicle Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Foley man was sentenced to 96 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon while leading sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle.
According to court documents, Jabari Maliek Stots, 28, was driving a stolen vehicle in the Mills area of Foley on the afternoon of November 19, 2024. Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to stop the stolen vehicle, but Stots took off on a high-speed chase. During the chase, Stots reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour, blowing through stop signs and lighted intersections in residential areas, and narrowly missing several passerby vehicles. After deputies used a “pit” maneuver to immobilize the stolen vehicle that Stots was driving, Stots bailed out on foot with a pistol in his hand and ran through a field. A deputy fired a shot at Stots after observing him turn, with the pistol still in his hand, toward a tracking K-9 that was chasing him. The shot did not hit Stots.
Deputies and the K-9 continued chasing Stots through deep, standing rainwater that had accumulated in the field. Deputies repeatedly commanded Stots to drop his gun. The K-9 caught Stots and bit him, at which time Stots yelled, “I dropped it.” Deputies then wrestled with Stots to bring him into custody. Stots would not comply with deputies’ commands to surrender and tucked his hands underneath his body in the water to avoid apprehension. Deputies eventually handcuffed Stots and transported him to a nearby hospital for medical treatment for the dog bite.
Deputies searched the stolen vehicle that Stots was driving and found a small amount of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. A diver with the Daphne Search and Rescue dive team entered the water and recovered the .22 caliber pistol that Stots had discarded. In the days following his arrest, Stots made several recorded calls from jail admitting that he had possessed the pistol and thrown it in the water when he fled from deputies. At the time Stots possessed the pistol, he had prior felony convictions for breaking and entering a motor vehicle, burglary, and aggravated cruelty to animals. Those felony convictions rendered Stots’s possession of a firearm illegal under federal law.
In addition to the 96-month prison sentence, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Stots to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing and receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Stots to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeited Stots’s pistol to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mobile Woman Sentenced to over Two Years Imprisonment for Felon in Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A woman was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Pharah Molette, 28, after being convicted of Robbery 2nd out of the Circuit Court of Mobile County, armed herself with a firearm and discharged two rounds down a residential street on September 19, 2024. The shooting was captured on video. After serving a term of 27 months’ imprisonment, Molette will serve three years of supervised release with the United States Probation Office.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mobile Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 137 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Jamar Lee Webb, 42, was arrested by Mobile County Sheriff’s Office deputies during a traffic stop in Mobile on February 24, 2023. That day, federal agents were monitoring a court-authorized closed-circuit television (“CCTV”) recording device installed in a pickup truck belonging to the leader of a major drug-trafficking organization (“DTO”) in Mobile. Agents saw Webb holding a firearm on his lap in plain view on the CCTV video. Agents confirmed that Webb was a convicted felon who also had an active warrant for felony domestic violence assault, so they mobilized to locate and arrest him.
During a subsequent traffic stop, agents arrested Webb on his active warrant and detained a passenger who was a drug dealer and member of the DTO. Webb told deputies he had a pistol in the truck. Underneath Webb’s seat, deputies recovered a loaded .40 caliber pistol. Underneath the passenger’s seat, deputies recovered a loaded .380 caliber pistol. On the back floorboard behind the center console, deputies found a bag containing distribution amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, and marijuana, as well as a small amount of crack cocaine. The passenger claimed ownership of the drugs, but CCTV video showed Webb moving items around in the backseat area of the truck and hiding his pistol as deputies initiated the traffic stop. At the time Webb possessed the pistol, he knew he had multiple prior felony convictions, including for distribution of drugs and domestic violence. Webb’s prior felony convictions made his possession of a pistol illegal under federal law.
In addition to the 137-month prison sentence, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Webb to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Webb to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeited Webb’s pistol to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and George May prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mobile Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 46 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud.
According to court documents, Travis Sopson, 45, pleaded guilty to defrauding numerous banks and credit unions between August 2022 through January 2023. Sopson admitted he carried out the scheme by applying for and receiving multiple loans using fraudulent documents.
In addition to the 46-month prison term, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Sopson to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Sopson to pay $274,722.21 in victim restitution and $200 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Court Sentences Mexican Drug Smuggler Caught on the High Seas with Approximately 1,148 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
On August 14, 2025, United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Adrian Palomeque Gordillo, a Mexican national, to 108 months’ imprisonment for smuggling 1,148 kilograms of cocaine in the Pacific Ocean following his prior guilty plea on the charges.
Court documents show that on September 24, 2024, while on routine patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter from the USCG Cutter Munro spotted a suspected drug trafficking vessel in international waters, approximately 160 nautical miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico. The helicopter signaled the vessel to stop and eventually fired warning shots which were ineffective in stopping the vessel. The helicopter then shot out the engines of the vessel to stop the drug smuggling boat. Helicopter crew then recorded video of the drug smugglers jettisoning packages while the boat was disabled.
USCG personnel launched a Zodiac boat from the Cutter and boarded the vessel. USCG personnel recovered 24 bales from the water surrounding the drug smuggling vessel, which yielded a weight of approximately 1,148 kilograms of cocaine.
Gordillo and four other smugglers were taken into custody from the vessel and transferred to USCG Cutter Munro with the cocaine and brought to the United States for prosecution under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act. The vessel was deemed a danger to navigation due to no suitable tow points and its distance from land. Consequently, the vessel was sunk upon completion of law enforcement activities.
The case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorney George F. May prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Moss Point Man Sentenced in Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mississippi man was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for Bank Robbery.
According to court documents, Joseph Deric Nelson, 67, of Moss Point disguised himself and entered a Family Security Credit Union branch located in Mobile, Alabama, on March 19, 2025. Nelson passed the teller a note demanding money. The note stated that he was armed with a gun and explosives. The teller placed cash into an envelope and gave it to Nelson. As Nelson was leaving the location, a witness from the bank followed him on foot and then followed his vehicle. The witness was able to flag down Mobile Police Department Officers who quickly took Nelson into custody.
After serving 37 months in the Bureau of Prisons, Nelson will be on a supervised release term of three years.
U.S. Attorney Sean Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Evergreen Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – An Evergreen man was sentenced to 46 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Cornelius Antoine Dean, 34, was arrested by Alabama State Troopers during a traffic stop in Evergreen on July 11, 2023. Troopers smelled marijuana emanating from a vehicle in which Dean was a passenger. During a pat-down search of Dean, Troopers located and seized a .45 caliber pistol in his waistband. In the backseat of the vehicle, within reaching distance of Dean, agents found a bag containing multiple individually packaged baggies of marijuana and a digital scale near Dean’s Alabama identification card.
In an interview following his arrest, Dean admitted that he possessed the .45 caliber pistol and had previously been convicted of a felony drug-distribution crime. Dean’s prior felony conviction made his possession of the pistol illegal under federal law. Dean admitted that he knew he was not supposed to possess a firearm.
In addition to the 46-month prison sentence, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Dean to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Dean to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeited Dean’s pistol to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mobile Felon Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm During a Botched Home InvasionRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 60 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon during a deadly botched home invasion.
According to court documents, Okoye Jabrayll Day, 23, was arrested by Mobile Police Department officers who had responded to a call regarding a home invasion in progress at an apartment complex on April 16, 2024. During that 911 call, the victim reported that several individuals were attempting to break into his apartment and said that he had shot at the armed intruders before locking himself in his bathroom. Another resident of the complex called 911 to report hearing several gunshots and said that she had seen Day, who was in a wheelchair, fleeing the scene of the attempted burglary with a gun in his hand.
When police arrived on-scene, they saw one of the suspected burglars lying dead on the ground from a gunshot wound outside the victim’s apartment. The doorjamb of the victim’s apartment had severe damage from the intruders kicking in the door, which was off its hinges. The apartment had several bullet hole defects in its walls and ceiling. After clearing the apartment, officers found Day and arrested him in the next building over. Day had thrown a loaded Glock .45 caliber pistol into nearby bushes. Ring doorbell camera video from the apartment complex showed Day, the deceased suspect, and two other unidentified males beating on the door of the victim’s apartment.
In an interview with police following his arrest, Day admitted that he had a gun “for [his] protection” because he previously had been shot and paralyzed. Day further admitted that he threw the gun into the bushes because he was “on paper” for prior convictions and was still supervised. At the time Day possessed the Glock pistol, he had prior felony convictions for first-degree receiving stolen property and discharging a gun into an occupied building. Those felony convictions made Day’s possession of the Glock pistol illegal under federal law.
In addition to the 60-month prison sentence, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Day to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Day to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeited Day’s pistol and ammunition to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Court Sentences Mobile County Man to 110 months Imprisonment for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – On July 25, 2025, United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Brandon Demetrius Pettaway to 110 months imprisonment for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon. Documents filed with the Court established that on November 22, 2023, the Mobile Police Department (MPD) Homicide Unit, sent out an all-police lookout for Pettaway, who was wanted for questioning in reference to a recent homicide. Pettaway also had three active arrest warrants for his arrest. On the same day an officer with the U.S. Marshalls Fugitive Task Force advised that he had visual confirmation that Pettaway was inside a Hardee's restaurant located on Highway 90 in Theodore.
MPD units responded to the area to apprehend Pettaway on the active warrants. Pettaway exited the restaurant and entered a vehicle. At this time, members of the MPD entered the parking lot in marked police vehicles surrounding Pettaway’s vehicle. Instead of stopping, Pettaway put his vehicle in drive and rammed one of the police vehicle’s head-on with significant force. Unable to force his way out by going forward, Pettaway placed his vehicle in reverse as another officer came forward to close the gap and the vehicles collided. Pettaway, at this point, was successfully boxed-in and was unable to get past the police patrol vehicles. However, Pettaway then fled from his vehicle on foot.
One of the officers gave chase on foot behind Pettaway and gave him numerous verbal commands to stop running and get on the ground. Pettaway refused to obey commands, and the officer drew his Taser and fired it twice at Pettaway. One of the probes made contact but to no avail as Pettaway continued fleeing on foot through the parking lot of a pawn shop. Pettaway attempted to jump over a wooden fence topped with barbed wire. At this point the officer caught up with the defendant and grabbed hold of both of his legs in an attempt to remove him from the fence to take him into custody. Pettaway resisted arrest and continued to keep his grip on the barbed wire until another officer arrived to assist. The officers had to use physical force to remove Pettaway from the fence and break his grip on the barbed wire and he was subsequently detained.
A later search of Pettaway’s vehicle revealed a Glock, Model 20, 10mm handgun in the vehicle along with a magazine extender and a magazine designed to insert into the extender. Officers also found three small baggies of marijuana, a small baggie of crack cocaine, a small baggie of crystal methamphetamine and two digital scales in the vehicle.
Pettaway had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses, prior to possessing the firearm: Felon in Possession of a Firearm, on January 18, 2018 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama; Burglary Third Degree, on November 10, 2011, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, and Robbery First Degree on September 12, 2011, in the Circuit Court of Mobile, County, Alabama.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Mobile Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.
Mobile Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Carrie Mae Jones of Mobile, Alabama, was sentenced to serve two years in federal prison for filing fraudulent tax returns.
According to court documents, Jones operated Agee’s Outreach Tax Service and Royalty Queen Tax Service in Mobile where she acted as a “ghost preparer” of at least 34 false or fraudulent tax returns between 2019 and 2022. Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Jones to two years’ imprisonment and ordered her to pay $419,452 in restitution. At the conclusion of her sentence, Jones will serve one year of supervised release.
“Carrie Jones represents many of the unethical tax preparers we advise filers to avoid by doing research on the business before using their services,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Not signing tax returns is just one of several indicators that someone is dealing with a ghost preparer. The sentencing of Jones sends a message that unethical return preparers will be held accountable for their criminal activity.”
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasee Heisterhagen prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Mobile Man Sentenced to 156 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Joseph Ambrose Wilburn, Jr., of Mobile, Alabama, was sentenced to 156 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.
According to court documents, on April 11, 2024, the Mobile Police Department received information about an active arrest warrant for Wilburn in connection to him using a firearm to kidnap and sexually assault a woman. Later that day, Wilburn was stopped pursuant to a traffic stop where he was found to be in possession of two additional firearms. Wilburn has multiple prior felony convictions including multiple convictions of Domestic Violence – Assault, and convictions of Criminal Trespass, Possession/Receipt of a Controlled Substance, and Reckless Endangerment, among others. As a convicted felon, Wilburn is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Wilburn was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and pleaded guilty to the charge. United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moore sentenced Wilburn to 156 months in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for illegally possessing the firearm.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill and Jimmy L. Thomas prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Mobile Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Arson at Local Grocery StoreRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Timothy Jones has been sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for arson. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Jeffrey Beaverstock earlier today.
According to court documents, in February 2024, Jones intentionally set a fire inside of the Greer’s Downtown Market at Government and Broad Streets in Mobile, Alabama. Jones’ actions were captured on surveillance footage, and he was apprehended nearby shortly after he set the fire. The store was open at the time Jones set the fire and employees and customers were inside. Fortunately, no one was injured but Jones’ actions caused damage to the store.
At sentencing, Judge Beaverstock imposed the 5-year mandatory minimum sentence and a 3-year term of supervised release upon Jones’ discharge from prison. Jones was also ordered to pay approximately $25,000 in restitution to the business due the losses suffered because of his actions.
The Mobile Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Beth Stepan and Kasee Heisterhagen prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Mobile Man Sentenced to 92 Months in Prison for Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Edwards Cordell Burks, Jr., was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Jeffrey Beaverstock.
According to court documents, in November 2024, members of the Mobile Police Department (MPD) responded to a local hospital where two individuals were receiving treatment for gunshot wounds. During the course of MPD’s investigation, and after speaking with victims and witnesses, MPD developed Burks as a suspect in those shootings. MPD officers also located and secured the crime scene off Spring Hill Avenue. Surveillance from a nearby business captured the shooting. The shooter in the surveillance footage appears to be Burks. Three bullet casings were collected from the scene and a “be on the lookout” (BOLO) notice for Burks went out to law enforcement. Two days after the shooting, an MPD officer on regular patrol observed Burks walking on the sidewalk within a mile of the crime scene. The officer detained Burks and located a loaded firearm in his waistband. The firearm and casings from the scene were compared via the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), a match was generated indicating that the firearm from Burks was the same firearm used in the shooting two days before. Burks is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possession a firearm.
At sentencing, Judge Beaverstock imposed a 92-month sentence of incarceration and a 3-year term of supervised release upon Burks’ discharge from prison. Burks has also been charged with state assault offenses based on the shootings which remain pending.
The Mobile Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Beth Stepan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case exemplifies the mission 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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Mobile Woman Sentenced to Five Years’ Probation and One Year of Home Confinement for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
According to court documents, Davis, 42, operated Davis Tax Service with her cousin, Kenneshia Davis, at three locations in Mobile. Internal Revenue Service records show that Davis underreported her income by over $1 Million in 2015 and 2016 and failed to file any tax returns for 2017 despite having significant income. Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Davis to serve five years of probation, of which the first year will be under home confinement and subject to ankle monitoring. Davis was also ordered to pay $53,435 in restitution.
“Tax preparers who knowingly evade their own tax obligations can expect to be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Sean P. Costello, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama.
“As a tax preparer, Brandy Davis knew her responsibilities in filing returns and properly reporting all income. However, she still willfully failed to fulfill her tax obligations.” said Demetrius Hardeman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation will vigorously investigate those individuals who knowingly and willfully evade their tax obligation."
Davis’s business partner, Kenneshia Davis, was sentenced in June 2025 to serve a year and a day of incarceration and to pay $67,975 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasee Heisterhagen prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Justice Department Opens Application Period for Program to Enhance Tribal Access to National Crime Information DatabasesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice is pleased to announce the opening of the application period for federally recognized Tribes and intertribal consortia to participate in the Tribal Access Program (TAP) for National Crime Information. TAP improves public safety by providing federally recognized Tribes the ability to access and exchange data with national crime information databases for authorized criminal justice and non-criminal justice purposes, including the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
The program provides software, hardware, and training, as well as a web-based application and biometric/biographic kiosk workstations to process fingerprints, take mugshots, and submit information to FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) systems. The Department will accept TAP applications from July 9 to August 29. Tribes selected to participate will be notified in September. There are currently 149 federally recognized Tribes participating in TAP.
Using TAP, Tribes have shared information about missing persons; entered domestic violence orders of protection for nationwide enforcement; registered convicted sex offenders; run criminal histories; located fugitives; entered bookings and convictions; and completed fingerprint-based record checks for non-criminal justice purposes such as screening employees or volunteers who work with children.
“As a TAP Pilot Tribe, the Cherokee Nation has been participating in TAP for many years,” said Suzanne Drywater, Senior Director of Justice Services for the Cherokee Nation. “From sex offender registrations, law enforcement, foster home certification, human resources, and child support, our tribe has been able to exercise our sovereignty, and TAP has proven to be an invaluable resource that we use daily in a multitude of ways.”
For Tribes that are considering applying, TAP staff will be conducting informational webinars describing the program and its capabilities. Webinars will be offered throughout July and August. For more information about TAP, including webinar dates, times and access information, visit www.justice.gov/tribal/tribal-access-program-tap.
To qualify for funding, federally recognized Tribes must have – and agree to use TAP for – at least one of the following:
- A Tribal sex offender registry authorized by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act,
- A Tribal law enforcement agency that has arrest powers,
- A Tribal court that issues orders of protection, or
- A Tribal government agency that screens individuals for foster care placement or that investigates allegations of child abuse/neglect.
TAP is funded by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking; the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office on Violence Against Women. TAP is co-managed by the department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer and Office of Tribal Justice.
Foley Felon Sentenced to over Seven Years for Possessing a Firearm in Connection with a ShootingRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Foley man was sentenced today to 85 months in prison for possessing a firearm in connection with a shooting. The man had previously been convicted of a felony offense of violence.
According to court documents, Ladarious Roper, 22, possessed a CZ Scorpion semi-automatic weapon in connection with a shooting on October 11, 2024. On that date, 911 callers reported that five shots were fired, and a victim had been shot in the lower leg. The victim reported that he was walking down the road and was shot by someone wearing a red ski mask in a sedan. Foley officers entered the area and located an empty gold/beige Toyota Camry in a ditch in front of a residence in Foley. Witnesses said that four black males exited the Camry and ran to the southeast. Witnesses reported that one of the males had a red ski mask and an AR style pistol. The vehicle was registered to Ladarious Roper’s grandfather and was known to be driven by Roper. During the initial response to the scene, an AR style pistol and a red ski mask were recovered in the bushes on the north side of the property. A cell phone was recovered from the Camry.
Roper was interviewed and said the red ski mask would have his DNA on it. The phone recovered from the Camry was identified as belonging to Roper and was extracted and examined. There were also numerous videos of Roper holding a firearm that was identified as a CZ Scorpion Evo 3 S2 Micro, which is a 9mm firearm, about 16” in length, and can accept large capacity magazines. The videos found on Roper’s phone were compared to the weapon recovered near the shooting scene. There were specific characteristics about the weapon that enabled Foley police to match the weapon depicted in the videos on the phone to the firearm.
At sentencing, Chief Judge Beaverstock imposed the 85-month sentence of incarceration and a 3-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Roper was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments. Chief Judge Beaverstock ordered that the firearm be forfeited.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
Foley Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Check Fraudsters and Identity Thieves Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Ten defendants were sentenced for their roles in an organized scheme to commit bank fraud and identity theft.
According to court documents, Jaden Travier Lollie, 24, of Bremerton, Washington, Ralph Tyrone Griffin, Jr., 21, of Mobile, and several codefendants committed widespread bank fraud and identity theft between November 2021 and March 2024. The scheme involved checks stolen from the U.S. mail, which the defendants later altered and deposited at various financial institutions. The fraudulent checks bore the personal identifying information of numerous victim businesses and individuals in the Mobile area and elsewhere. Lollie, Griffin, and their coconspirators used social media and other means to recruit individuals with accounts at various banks, who provided their account information, debit cards, and other support to further the scheme. Victims of the scheme suffered more than $49,000 in actual financial losses, and the scheme involved intended losses of more than $250,000.
On several occasions in the fall of 2023 and spring of 2024, bank surveillance video captured Griffin and his codefendants making dozens of fraudulent transactions involving counterfeited checks in the Mobile area. Agents executed numerous search warrants at residences associated with the defendants, seizing laptops, printers, cell phones, counterfeited and stolen checks, debit cards belonging to other people, and other evidence of the fraud scheme. Agents also obtained voluminous text messages and social media communications between and among Lollie, Griffin, and their codefendants discussing the scheme and recruiting others to take part in it. The evidence showed that Lollie, who based in the Seattle area, generated counterfeited checks that he sent to Griffin and others, who used them to victimize businesses and individuals in Mobile.
United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Lollie and Griffin to serve 42 months and 18 months in prison, respectively. In addition to their prison terms, Judge DuBose ordered Lollie and Griffin to serve five-year terms of supervised release upon their release from prison, during which time they will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered Lollie and Griffin to pay $49,201.30 in victim restitution jointly and severally with their codefendants, and a total of $200 in special assessments.
For their roles in the scheme, the court sentenced Lollie’s and Griffin’s codefendants as follows: Jhykez Labarron Adams, 20, who was arrested in possession of an illegal machinegun (57 months); Jamarion Ant’Jwan Licharles Adams, 23 (25 months); Tamarcus Santreal Napier, 24 (25 months); Noraa Loisann Bracy, 24 (25 months); Reginald Maurice Spencer, Jr., 25 (18 months); Khadijah Lashay Kimbrough, 23 (nine months); Jamaal Isiah Kidd, 22 (one day); and Kareer Dewayne Morris, 21 (time served). The court also ordered each of those defendants to serve supervised release terms and pay restitution and special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mobile Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson Police Department, and the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Honduran National Charged with Assaulting a Federal Law Enforcement Agent During Immigration Enforcement OperationRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Honduran national has been arrested and charged with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer during an immigration enforcement operation yesterday in Baldwin County.
Jose Romero-Pineda, 46, a Honduran national, has been charged by criminal complaint with felony assault of a federal officer.
According to court documents, a multi-agency federal immigration operation was being conducted yesterday in Foley, Alabama. During the course of the operation, a federal law enforcement officer attempted to detain Jose Romero-Pineda for suspected immigration offenses. When the immigration enforcement operation began, Romero-Pineda and a woman attempted to flee the scene, and the federal law enforcement officer confronted them. As the officer approached Romero-Pineda and the woman, they began grappling with and shoving him. Romero-Pineda struck the officer with his fist, lacerating his lip. FBI Special Agents assisted the officer in detaining Romero-Pineda who continued to resist and disobey commands given to him. Romero-Pineda was detained without any additional injuries to himself or agents. The immigration investigation of Romero-Pineda has preliminarily revealed that he is a Honduran national and was not otherwise authorized to be in the United States.
“Assaulting officers who are performing their duties to enforce the law carries justifiably serious penalties,” said United States Attorney Sean P. Costello. “The Department of Justice will zealously prosecute to the fullest any physical violence against the men and women who enforce our laws.”
Romero-Pineda is scheduled to make his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge
P. Bradley Murray at 2:00 tomorrow.Assault of a federal officer causing bodily injury is punishable by up to twenty years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gaillard Ladd is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Selma Man Sentenced for Possession of MachinegunRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Selma man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for unlawful possession of machine gun conversion devices, commonly known as “Glock-switches.”
According to court documents, Mark Anthony Wallace, 26, was sentenced today for possession of two machinegun conversion devices. On February 2, 2024, Wallace was pulled over by Dallas County Sheriff Deputies for a traffic violation and observed a firearm with a machinegun conversion device attached with a high-capacity magazine. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was notified and continued the investigation leading to Wallace’s federal indictment. On October 13, 2024, Wallace was pulled over for speeding by law enforcement and a background check showed an outstanding arrest warrant from the Southern District of Alabama. When taken into custody, Wallace was found to be possession of another machinegun conversion device attached to a firearm with a high-capacity magazine.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
Dallas County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew D. Arrington prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Monroe County Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy and Providing Contraband to a Federal PrisonerRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Vredenburgh, Alabama woman was sentenced today to 6 months on house arrest followed by 3 years on probation for conspiring to and providing contraband to a federal inmate.
According to court documents, Beverly Castophney, 38, plead guilty to conspiring with a jail guard, Reginald Thames, and federal inmate, Vincent Lambert, to introduce contraband to the Monroe County jail. Castophney was in a romantic relationship with Lambert. While Lambert was incarcerated, he and Castophney discussed leaving a package of contraband on Thames’ car in exchange for money. On January 19, 2023, Castophney was observed placing a package on a vehicle in the parking lot. Thames walked out to his vehicle and was intercepted by deputies with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. The package contained contraband cell phones, chargers, cigarettes and Adderall pills.
Earlier this year, Vincent Lambert was sentenced to 12 months to serve for Conspiracy and Possessing Prison Contraband. Reginald Thames was sentenced to 6 months to serve for Conspiracy and Providing Prison Contraband to a Federal Prisoner.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama the announcement.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Mobile Woman Sentenced to a Year and a Day for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Kenneshia Davis of Mobile, Alabama, was sentenced today to serve a year and a day in federal prison for filing fraudulent tax returns.
According to court documents, Davis, 41, operated Davis Tax Service with her cousin, Brandy Lynn Davis, at three locations in Mobile. Internal Revenue Service records show that Davis underreported her income by over $2 Million between 2015 and 2017. Judge Jeffrey Beaverstock sentenced Davis to serve a year and a day and ordered her to pay $67,975 in restitution. At the conclusion of her sentence, Davis will serve one year of supervised release.
“Kenneshia Davis avoided paying her fair share of taxes by concealing income from the IRS, which is a crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are committed to fostering confidence in the tax system with the law by investigating and bringing to justice those who evade their federal income tax responsibilities.”
Brandy Lynn Davis, who has also pleaded guilty to filing fraudulent tax returns, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasee Heisterhagen prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Illegal Immigrant Sentenced for Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Guatemalan national was sentenced on May 23, 2025, for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.
According to court documents, Maynor Tecum-Tecum, 42, was encountered by deputies from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office for a traffic violation in Mobile County. The deputies suspected that Tecum-Tecum might not be a United States citizen, so they contacted law enforcement personnel from the United States Border Patrol (USBP). USBP confirmed that Tecum-Tecum had been previously removed from the United States in 2010. He had also been convicted of Illegal Entry that same year.
At sentencing, Judge Dubose imposed a time-served sentence and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Tecum-Tecum had been in custody since his arrest on February 18, 2025. Upon his release from prison, Tecum-Tecum is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Tecum-Tecum was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The United States Border Patrol and Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy L. Thomas prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Selma Felon Sentenced to Eight Years for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Selma man was sentenced today to 96 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to court documents, Marquavius Benjamin, 25, was sentenced today for possession of a Glock handgun. On October 4, 2024, a Selma Police Department officer responded to a call at Creekside Apartments, Selma, Alabama in reference to a stolen vehicle. While speaking with the victim, the officer heard a commotion around the corner and walked towards his marked police vehicle to observe. As the officer approached his vehicle several shots were fired close by, he observed a black male fire multiple shots with a handgun and the officer immediately called for backup. The officer’s body camera shows Benjamin approaching him unprompted as the officer calls for backup. Benjamin walked up and the officer attempted to take him into custody. Benjamin handed over a Glock, semi-automatic pistol to the officer but resisted efforts to be taken into custody and stated, “you’d better call for backup” and walked off. After Benjamin made an aggressive move, the officer immediately deployed his Taser and Benjamin was taken into custody. The officer ran Benjamin’s information and learned that he was a convicted felon, and that the Glock in his possession, a Glock, Model 43, 9mm semi-automatic pistol, had been reported stolen through the Selma Police Department.
A Special Agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives examined the pistol and determined that it was manufactured outside the state of Alabama and that it had been reported as stolen. The agent further determined that Benjamin had prior felony convictions in Dallas county of Robbery in the First Degree in 2018, Felony Murder and Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle in 2024, and Escape in the Third Degree in 2024.
“Together with our partners in law enforcement in Selma and Dallas County, we will continue our mission to bring to justice those who illegally possess guns,” said Sean P. Costello, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “Our communities are safer today thanks to the dedicated men and women in law enforcement helping to remove criminals from our streets.”
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Selma Police Department, and ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew D. Arrington prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Oregon Man Convicted of Transmitting Interstate Threat to KillRead the Press Release
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Richard Colvin called a church in Mobile, AL, and threatened to kill the pastor.
The jury heard evidence that Colvin called the church repeatedly, berated the pastor and the church, and ultimately threatened the pastor’s life.
The victim testified about receiving the calls and the threat. He and other witnesses testified about precautions taken after Colvin transmitted the threat and the fear his actions caused. The FBI case agent testified concerning the ongoing threat to life investigation and evidence obtained from phone records.
Colvin faces up to 5 years in prison and will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer on August 21, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill and Tandice H. Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Illegal Immigrant Sentenced for Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Guatemalan national was sentenced yesterday for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.
According to court documents, Mateo Juan-Lorenzo, 22, was arrested by the Robertsdale Police Department on February 16, 2025, for giving a law enforcement officer false information. Homeland Security (“HSI”) was notified of his arrest. HSI was able to determine that Juan-Lorenzo had previously been removed from the United States in 2024.
At sentencing, Judge Moorer imposed a time-served sentence and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Juan-Lorenzo had been in custody since his arrest on February 16, 2025. Upon his release from prison, Juan-Lorenzo is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Juan-Lorenzo was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Department of Homeland Security, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and the Robertsdale Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Mobile County Man Sentenced to over 24 Years’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – On May 12, 2025, United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Robert Leon Johnson to 294 months’ imprisonment for Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. According to court documents, on March 31, 2023, a Mobile Police Officer witnessed Johnson driving a motorcycle and initiated a traffic stop near Johnson’s home. Johnson was observed traveling with a black backpack and when the officer approached Johnson, he was bending up from the front of a vehicle that was parked on his property.
Moments later, another officer arrived and spotted the same black backpack stuffed underneath the front of the vehicle. Officers searched the backpack and found two plastic bags containing approximately 131.3 grams of Methamphetamine and $1,176 in U.S. currency. Johnson has an extensive criminal history.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the City of Mobile Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.
Illegal Immigrant Sentenced for Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Guatemalan national was sentenced on May 8, 2025, for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.
According to court documents, Manolo Elias Tecum-Tecum, 31, was stopped by deputies from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office for a traffic violation in Mobile County. The deputies suspected that Tecum-Tecum might not be a United States citizen, so they contacted law enforcement personnel from the United States Border Patrol (USBP). USBP confirmed that Tecum-Tecum had been previously removed from the United States in 2010. He had also been convicted of Illegal Entry that same year.
At sentencing, Judge Dubose imposed a time-served sentence and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Tecum-Tecum had been in custody since his arrest on February 18, 2025. Upon his release from prison, Tecum-Tecum is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Tecum-Tecum was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The United States Border Patrol and Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy L. Thomas prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Illegal Immigrant Sentenced for Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Guatemalan national was sentenced today for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.
According to court documents, Nicolas Joaquin Celestino-Gonzalez, 34, was arrested by the Saraland Police Department during a traffic stop on March 23, 2025. The U.S. Border Patrol (“USBP”) was notified of his arrest. USBP determined that Celestino-Gonzalez had previously been removed from the United States in 2018 and 2019.
At sentencing, Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock imposed a time-served sentence and a one-year term of supervised release upon Celestino-Gonzalez’s future release. The defendant had been in custody since his arrest on March 23, 2025. Upon his release from prison, Celestino-Gonzalez is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Celestino-Gonzalez was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The U.S. Border Patrol and the Saraland Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Illegal Immigrant Sentenced for Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mexican national was sentenced on May 8, 2025, for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.
According to court documents, Francisco Torres-Ambrocio, 46, was encountered by agents from the United States Border Patrol during a traffic stop. The agents found that he had been previously removed from the United States twice in 2016. Torres-Ambrocio was convicted of Illegal Entry in 2016 and also has a DUI conviction from 2009.
At sentencing, Judge DuBose imposed a time-served sentence and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Torres-Ambrocio had been in custody since his arrest on March 4, 2025. Upon his release from prison, Torres-Ambrocio is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Torres-Ambrocio was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The United States Border Patrol investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy L. Thomas prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Mobile Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Michael Jerome Elder, age 50, was sentenced today to 180 months in prison after entering a guilty plea to a count of Distribution of Child Pornography. Elder entered his guilty plea on January 16, 2025.
According to court documents, a Mobile County Sheriff’s Office deputy was conducting an investigation to identify individuals in the Southern District of Alabama who demonstrate a sexual interest in children. To do so, he utilized law enforcement software to investigate users sharing files of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) via a file-sharing network. The investigator located an IP address that was involved in the sharing of numerous files of CSAM. He was able to identify Elder as a resident at the residential address associated with the IP address. The investigator obtained a search warrant and located Elder in the home, and a search team was able to discover a cell phone that Elder had hidden in a vent. The cell phone was examined and found to contain CSAM.
Elder had previously been convicted of five counts of Being in Possession of Obscene Material of Minors, violations of Alabama Code 13-A-012-0192(B), in the Circuit Court of Mobile County. He had been released from custody on that offense on November 15, 2022, less than a year before the MCSO investigator discovered him distributing child pornography.
At sentencing, Judge DuBose imposed the 180-month sentence of incarceration and a 15-year term of supervised release upon his future release. During his term of imprisonment, Elder will be subject to sex offender treatment, substance abuse testing and treatment, and mental health treatment. Elder will be required to register as a sex offender and is to have no contact with minors. Elder was ordered to pay $5,100 in special assessments.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations and Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kacey Chappelear and Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources
Mobile Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a MachinegunRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for illegally possessing a machinegun.
According to court documents, Ty’Juan De’Andre Barnes, 21, was arrested by Mobile police during the execution of a narcotics search warrant at a house in Prichard in May 2024. Officers searched Barnes’s person and found 14 fentanyl pills in his pants pocket. Throughout the house, officers found several extended firearm magazines, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. Barnes admitted to police that he hid a loaded .40 caliber Glock pistol in a bathroom trash can. Police recovered the Glock pistol, which was equipped with an illegal machinegun-conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch.” Barnes admitted that he knew the Glock switch converted the pistol into a fully automatic machinegun, which he claimed he needed for protection due to being the victim of a prior robbery in Prichard.
Agents seized and searched Barnes’s cell phone. In the phone, agents found numerous text messages that Barnes sent in which he discussed possessing and shooting weapons equipped with Glock switches. Barnes also texted various individuals about illegally selling Glock switches for profit.
In addition to the 18-month prison term, United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose ordered Barnes to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered Barnes to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit justice.gov/PSN.
Mexican National plead guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mexican national was sentenced today for illegally re-entering the United States after prior removal.
According to court documents, Angel Flores-Quiahua, 35, was found to have illegally reentered the United States after having been removed from the country. On February 25, 2025, Homeland Security Investigations conducted labor site inspections in the Hadley Village subdivision in Foley AL. During the inspections, a group of approximately 11 individuals were seen fleeing the worksite and trying to avoid HSI Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) agents by fleeing through drainage ditches, construction zones and running through the woods. HSI and ERO agents followed individuals into the wood areas outside the Hadley Village subdivision. Agents found FLORES-QUIAHUA hiding inside the entrance to a piping system in a drainage ditch. Later that day, agents confirmed his status as an alien and a Mexican citizen who had been previously removed from the United States on two occasions. Records confirmed that FLORES-QUIAHUA was removed from the United States through the Chicago IL, port of entry on or about July 12, 2013. On or about July 11, 2016, FLORES-QUIAHUA was again identified as not legally present in the United States, and the previous order of removal was reinstated. On or about July 12, 2016, FLORES-QUIAHUA was removed from the United States through the Nogales, Arizona port of entry.
Angel Flores-Quiahua was sentenced by a District Court Judge to the time he has served since his arrest on February 25, 2025. After the sentence was announced, the Judge ordered that Flores-Quiahua be delivered to a duly authorized immigration official for deportation consideration.
U.S. Attorney Sean Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Department of Homeland Security investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Illegal Immigrant Sentenced for Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Guatemalan national was sentenced today for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.
According to court documents, Juan Lorenzo-Lorenzo, 24, was arrested by the Robertsdale Police Department on February 16, 2025, for giving a law enforcement officer false information. Homeland Security (“HSI”) was notified of his arrest. HSI was able to determine that Lorenzo-Lorenzo had previously been removed from the United States in 2020 and in 2024.
At sentencing, Judge DuBose imposed a time-served sentence and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Lorenzo-Lorenzo had been in custody since his arrest on February 16, 2025. Upon his release from prison, Lorenzo-Lorenzo is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Lorenzo-Lorenzo was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Department of Homeland Security, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and the Robertsdale Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Defendants Sentenced in Murder-for Hire ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Four defendants were sentenced for their involvement in a murder-for-hire conspiracy, among other crimes.
On January 10, 2025, a federal jury convicted Judy Owen, 61, and Mitzy Smith, 54, of Fairhope, AL, for conspiracy to commit murder for hire, transfer of a firearm in furtherance of a felony, and murder for hire.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Smith and Owen conspired together and with others to hire a hitman to murder another person. The sisters’ co-defendants, Rebecca Murphy, Sandra Grimes, and Jessica Montgomery previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit murder for hire. The sisters were also convicted of transferring a firearm to another person in furtherance of a felony, murder.
On May 5, 2025, United States Chief District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Judy Owen to 120 months in prison, Sandra Grimes to 70 months in prison, and Jessica Montgomery to 60 months in prison for their roles in the conspiracy. Mitzy Smith was sentenced to time served. Rebecca Murphy was previously sentenced on January 27, 2025, and received a sentence of 60 months in prison.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill and Tandice H. Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Bay Minette Man Sentenced to 17½ Years in Prison for Attempting to Entice a ChildRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Timothy Allen Arthur, age 66, was sentenced today to 210 months in prison after entering a guilty plea to a count of Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Arthur entered his guilty plea on September 17, 2024.
According to court documents, during the summer months of 2023, Bay Minette Police Department (“BMPD”) was called to a school to address an issue about a nude photo of a student that was being distributed at a school. As part of the investigation into that incident, BMPD made contact with Arthur. Arthur’s behavior during his interview with BMPD was suspicious. Afterwards, teachers at the school began looking at the social media accounts of a 12-year-old child, and they discovered that Arthur was making inappropriate comments on the child’s social media posts. A teacher took screenshots of those comments and provided them to law enforcement.
The 12-year-old was interviewed and indicated that Arthur had been sending her inappropriate text messages for about a year, beginning when she was 11 years old. BMPD took the child’s phone into evidence and searched the phone. They found the text messages with Arthur. In those text messages, Arthur solicited the child to perform sex acts and produce naked images of herself. Arthur used sexually explicit language to describe the acts he wanted to engage in with the child. She did not encourage or respond positively to these comments. On at least one occasion, the child reminded Arthur that she was 12. After one of his comments about engaging in sexual activity, the child wrote “ur old. That’s rape, right?” Arthur wrote “I think we should get together” and the girl responded, in part, “I’m only 12 I can’t get together with u.” The child also repeatedly told Arthur to stop messaging her.
At sentencing, Judge DuBose imposed the 210-month sentence of incarceration and a 10-year term of supervised release upon his future release. During his term of imprisonment, Arthur will be subject to sex offender treatment, substance abuse testing and treatment, and mental health treatment. Arthur will be required to register as a sex offender and is to have no contact with minors. Arthur was ordered to pay $35,000 in restitution to the victims of his offenses and $5,100 in special assessments.
The Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Bay Minette Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, Including 3 in the Southern District of AlabamaRead the Press Release
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice:
205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, Including 3 in the Southern District of AlabamaMOBILE, AL – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.
“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”
“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”
“Protecting south Alabama from predators is a mission we pursue day in and day out,” said Sean P. Costello, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “Criminals who seek to exploit, abuse, or harm children in our community will find dedicated, talented prosecutors and law enforcement agents who are all eager to bring them to justice.”
Timothy O’Malley, Special Agent in Charge of the Mobile Field Office of the FBI, said:
“The FBI is unwavering in its commitment to identifying and apprehending those who prey on children. Through relentless investigation and strong partnerships, the FBI works tirelessly to protect our communities and safeguard the most vulnerable – our children. The dedication of the men and women behind these efforts is a clear reflection of the FBI’s core mission and values.”
In the Southern District of Alabama, 3 individuals were charged with federal crimes, including:James Eugene Dees, charged with Possession of Child Pornography, Possession of Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children, and Penalties for a Registered Sex Offender.
Zachary Norris, charged with Distribution of Child Pornography and Access with Intent to View Child Pornography.
Jason Jones, charged with Sexual Exploitation of Minors, Coercion and Enticement, Distribution of Child Pornography, Access with Intent to View Child Pornography, and Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor.
Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.
In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.
This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.
The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.Other online resources:
Electronic Press Kit
Violent Crimes Against Children
How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kidsAn indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mobile Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 24 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Derrick C. Busby, 34, was arrested by Mobile Police Department officers following a traffic stop on October 22, 2023. During the stop, officers saw marijuana on Busby’s lap and witnessed Busby chugging from a bottle of prescription-only promethazine syrup and swallowing marijuana. Officers searched Busby’s car, seizing, among other things, a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol, a loaded extended magazine, and a digital scale. The pistol had previously been reported stolen to the Daphne Police Department by its original owner in December 2022.
Busby admitted to police that he possessed the pistol, which he heard was stolen and might have been connected to a homicide. Busby further admitted that he was a convicted felon who was not supposed to be around guns. At the time Busby possessed the pistol, he had prior felony convictions for robbery and burglary. Those felony convictions made Busby’s possession of the pistol illegal under federal law.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit justice.gov/PSN.
Mobile Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Attempting to Distribute Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Michael Edward Terrell, age 46, was sentenced today to 135 months in prison after entering a guilty plea to a count of Attempted Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Terrell entered his guilty plea on January 30, 2025.
According to court documents, between August 22, 2017, and September 5, 2017, an FBI Online Convert Employee identified Terrell as a person who was distributing child pornography online. FBI executed a search warrant at his home, seized his electronic devices, and found child pornography on his devices.
On December 3, 2019, an ALEA SBI Special Agent was notified that Terrell was soliciting child pornography on Twitter. ALEA obtained the contents of the Twitter account and confirmed that Terrell, using an explicit username, was engaging in conversations with other Twitter users in which he would request that they send him “hard core” images of child pornography.
At sentencing, Judge Steele imposed the 135-month sentence of incarceration and a 15-year term of supervised release upon his future release. During his term of imprisonment, Terrell will be subject to sex offender treatment, substance abuse testing and treatment, and mental health treatment. Terrell will be required to register as a sex offender and is to have no contact with minors. Terrell was ordered to pay $30,500 in restitution to the victims of his offenses and $5,100 in special assessments.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources
Court Sentences Fentanyl Trafficker to 33 Months ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – On April 29, 2025, United States District Court Judge William H. Steele sentenced Isaiah Lorenzo Bess, 28, to 33 months imprisonment for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
Documents filed with the court established that beginning in or around July 2023 and continuing to or about December 8, 2023, Bess conspired with others to distribute fentanyl pills throughout the Mobile area.
Bess was indicted for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and pled guilty to the charge. United States District Court Judge William H. Steele sentenced Bess to 33 months in prison followed by a 5-year term of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Illegal Immigrant Sentenced for Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Honduran national was sentenced on April 21, 2025, for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.
According to court documents, Saul Cruz-Argueta, 39, was encountered by agents from the United States Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations during labor site inspections. The agents discovered that he had previously been removed from the United States in 2016 and 2018. Cruz-Argueta has two prior convictions for Illegal Reentry, as well as convictions for Theft of Property and Possession of Marijuana.
At sentencing, Chief Judge Beaverstock imposed a time-served sentence and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Cruz-Argueta had been in custody since his arrest on March 7, 2025. Upon his release from prison, Cruz-Argueta is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Cruz-Argueta was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Department of Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, DEA, and Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy L. Thomas prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Court Sentences Mobile County Man to 15 years Imprisonment for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – On April 22, 2025, United States District Court Judge William H. Steele sentenced John Rodney Weeks III to 180 months imprisonment for Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine. Documents filed with the Court established that between February 2024 and March 2024, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) used a confidential informant to make five controlled buys of methamphetamine from Weeks. On March 27, 2024, the MCSO executed a search warrant at Weeks’ residence in Mobile County and seized approximately 62 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales for weighing drugs, approximately $720.00 in US currency that were drug proceeds and ledger notes used to keep records of monies owed for drugs. Because Weeks had a prior federal methamphetamine trafficking conviction in 2005 the United States filed a Sentencing Enhancement which required the 15 year mandatory minimum sentence under Title 21 USC §841 (b)(1)(A).
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Mobile County Sherriff’s Office, Narcotics Unit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.
Court Sentences North Carolina Woman to Twenty-Four Months Imprisonment for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – On April 21, 2025, United States District Court Judge, Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Phyliss Joy Ferris of Wake Forrest, North Carolina, to 24 months imprisonment for Conspiracy to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine.
Documents filed with the Court established that on October 24, 2022, the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) Special Operations Unit stopped Ferris on Interstate 65 for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop a deputy smelled the odor of marijuana and officers began a probable cause search of the vehicle based on the odor of marijuana. Ferris was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. Officers located the top to a marijuana dispensary jar that still contained small remnants of green leafy substance consistent with marijuana. Inside Ferris' purse, officers located a bottle of "Blunt Bomb", a cover agent commonly used to mask the odor of marijuana. The defendant later told officers that she purchased the "Blunt Bomb" while on the trip to help cover the odor of marijuana in the vehicle.
As officers continued to search, they opened the spare tire well inside the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Inside, they found a Ziploc bag wrapped in duct tape. White powder consistent with cocaine could be seen through cracks in the tape on the "brick" or kilo of suspected cocaine. Officers removed the cocaine from the vehicle and the DEA Laboratory later confirmed the powder was in fact cocaine weighing 1007 grams. In a later interview with a DEA Task Force Officer, Ferris admitted to being paid to make previous trips for the organization that hired her to transport the cocaine from Texas to North Carolina.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.
Illegal Immigrant Sentenced for Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Honduran national was sentenced today for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.
According to court documents, Tomas Rivera-Melgar, 39, was encountered by agents from United States Border Patrol and Homeland Security while he was working at a construction site. Agents were able to determine that Rivera-Melgar had previously been removed from the United States in 2011 and in 2016. Rivera-Melgar has prior convictions for Illegal Entry, Driving While Intoxicated, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury.
At sentencing, Chief Judge Beaverstock imposed a time-served sentence and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Rivera-Melgar had been in custody since his arrest on February 26, 2025. Upon his release from prison, Rivera-Melgar is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Rivera-Melgar was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol, and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.