District of Arizona
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Mesa Bank Employee Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Embezzling Money from the BankRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A former bank employee who embezzled $655,000 from the bank she managed over the course of seven months was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Roslyn O. Silver to 48 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Brooke McDonough, formerly known as Brooke Taylor, 35, of Mesa, Arizona, was sentenced on June 10, 2026. A jury previously convicted McDonough of embezzlement by a bank employee, structuring, and transactional money laundering.
McDonough served as the branch manager of a Mesa bank, a position that afforded her broad authority over branch operations, employee assignments, and cash audits. Between June 2021 and February 2022, McDonough stole cash from the ATMs and vault inside the branch. She also manipulated monthly audits by entering inflated figures into the bank’s systems to conceal the increasing cash shortage. The scheme came to light only after McDonough resigned. The discovery of the theft triggered an internal investigation that caused three other bank employees to be placed on administrative leave.
A federal investigation revealed that McDonough deposited most of the cash she stole into her personal bank accounts. She used different ATMs at multiple bank branches breaking deposits into smaller amounts to avoid mandatory Currency Transaction Reports for deposits of over $10,000 in cash.
“Embezzlement is not a victimless crime,” said United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “McDonough’s conduct caused real harm to her employer, to the integrity of the financial system, and to innocent co-workers whose careers were placed at risk by her actions. The sentence she received reflects the seriousness of that conduct.”
“The sentencing in this case serves as a stern warning to others who are considering victimizing financial institutions or financial consumers…you will be caught, and you will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “We are laser focused on protecting the Nation’s Financial System, and we were proud to work alongside the Mesa Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office to bring justice in this case.”
"This successful embezzlement prosecution reflects the strong investigative work of the Mesa Police Department and its partnership with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General,” said Mesa Police Chief Dan Butler. “Financial crime cases are often complex, requiring detailed analysis and coordination across jurisdictions. We commend the investigators and prosecutors whose dedication and professionalism led to this outcome. Their efforts demonstrate the importance of collaboration in holding offenders accountable and protecting the community from financial crime."
This case was investigated by the FDIC OIG and the Mesa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aron Ketchel and Adriana Genco, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-376
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-099_McDonough# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Federal Inmate Sentenced to an Additional 10 Months in Prison for Indecent ExposureRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Raphel Samone Crosby, 34, an inmate in the United States Bureau of Prisons, was sentenced on June 9, 2026, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric J. Markovich to 10 months in prison for exposing himself to correctional officers. Crosby’s sentence will run consecutive to his current jail term, which was previously set to end in October 2029, and will now end in August 2030. Crosby previously pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent exposure.
The investigation showed that on multiple occasions Crosby exposed his genitalia to correctional officers employed at the Federal Correctional Complex – Tucson.
The United States Bureau of Prisons conducted the investigation in this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 23-MJ-2855
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-097_Crosby# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.District of Arizona Charged 323 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct Last WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from June 6 through June 12, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 323 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 151 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 144 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 23 cases against 28 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Carlos Lorenzo-Oliveras. Carlos Lorenzo-Oliveras was charged by criminal complaint on June 9, 2026, with Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit, Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person. On June 8, 2026, Lorenzo-Oliveras drove through the primary inspection lane at the Border Patrol Immigration Checkpoint on State Route 86. Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) ordered Lorenzo-Oliveras to stop several times, but he did not comply. BPAs tried to use a tire deflation device, but Lorenzo-Oliveras sped away from the checkpoint, leading BPAs on a vehicle pursuit with their lights and sirens activated. Lorenzo-Oliveras briefly stopped and four individuals got out of his car and ran into the desert. Several BPAs pursued the fleeing individuals on foot while other agents followed Lorenzo-Oliveras until he eventually came to a stop and was taken into custody. Agents also apprehended the four subjects that had fled on foot and determined that they were citizens of Mexico or Guatemala, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-09251]
United States v. Steven Garcia. On June 11, Steven Garcia was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation and Harboring of an Illegal Alien. On June 9, 2026, BPAs responded to a report from a concerned citizen about several individuals who had been lying in the back of a parked Jeep for over two hours at a nearby motel, with outside temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When agents arrived at the scene, the Jeep was unoccupied. BPAs observed that the back seats were missing, and that in their place were multiple sleeping bags and blankets. Through additional investigation, agents learned that the Jeep belonged to Steven Garcia, who was staying in the motel. Inside Garcia’s motel room, agents found 13 people. BPAs confirmed that all 13 were citizens from Mexico, Vietnam, or Nicaragua, unlawfully present in the United States. Agents also learned that Garcia transported the aliens to the motel room and that he did not offer them food or water. [Case Number: 26-MJ-01477]
United States v. Jose Carlos Rodelo-Arvizu. On June 5, 2026, Jose Carlos Rodelo-Arvizu was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On June 4, 2026, a Coolidge Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on Rodelo-Arvizu. After speaking with Rodelo-Arvizu and his passenger, the officer suspected Rodelo-Arvizu was engaged in human smuggling. Border Patrol agents later determined that the passenger was a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-3181]
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-098_June 12, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Mexican Citizen Sentenced for Role in Prolific Human Smuggling Organization that Moved Aliens from Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle EastRead the Press Release
A Mexican national extradited from Mexico was sentenced today to 87 months prison for his role in a smuggling organization that operated for several years at the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to the indictment, Raul Saucedo-Huipio, 51, of Mexicali, Mexico, and co-conspirators facilitated the travel of large numbers of aliens from and through numerous countries into the United States between 2018 and 2022. The smuggling organization charged the aliens as much as tens of thousands of dollars to illegally cross the Mexico-U.S. border. Saucedo-Huipio was a manager or supervisor in this extensive alien smuggling operation and would frequently brandish a firearm in his waistband before they crossed the border. The aliens traveled from and through Bangladesh, Yemen, Pakistan, Eritrea, India, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Russia, Egypt, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico to ultimately reach the United States. The conspiracy moved well over 200 people, and the actual number is likely much higher.
“Human smuggling is not a victimless crime. It is a direct assault on our national security and an exploitation of some of the world’s most vulnerable people,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This criminal organization not only moved aliens across the border; it stole from them and left them in desperate situations. Human smuggling causes so many additional problems that communities and government programs ultimately inherit. It is dangerous and a drain on our resources.”
“Violent human smugglers like Saucedo-Huipio use intimidation, violence and coercion to achieve their goals – financial gain no matter the harm caused,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona. “One of the many HSI missions include investigating human smuggling organizations to dismantle them and bring those responsible to face justice in a court of law. The sentence imposed today serves not only as punishment, but as an opportunity for the offender to reflect on the damage inflicted on so many people. Behind bars is where Saucedo-Huipio belongs.”
Saucedo-Huipio and co-conspirators directed aliens to cross the border by various means. They provided a ladder to climb over the border fence, pointed out holes in the fence that could be crawled through, and provided a plank for waterway crossings. Saucedo-Huipio oversaw one smuggling event where three small children had to cross a wooden plank lying atop a body of water. In addition to moving aliens across the border, Saucedo-Huipio and his co-conspirators also robbed the aliens of money, cell phones, and other belongings, often while armed with guns and knives.
In March 2023, Saucedo-Huipio and Ofelia Hernandez-Salas were arrested in Mexico pursuant to an extradition request from the United States. In December 2024, Hernandez-Salas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States and three substantive counts of bringing an alien to the United States for commercial benefit or private financial gain. She was sentenced to 11 years in prison on May 13 for her role in the organization. In March 2026, Saucedo-Huipio pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States and bringing an alien to the United States.
The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 458 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 408 U.S. convictions; more than 357 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
HSI Yuma investigated the case with assistance from CBP USBP, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service, working in concert with HSI Tijuana, INTERPOL, and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. HSI also received substantial assistance from CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force and U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Mexico. The Justice Department thanks its Mexican law enforcement partners, who were instrumental in arresting Saucedo-Huipio, and the Mexican Attorney General’s Office and the Mexican Foreign Ministry for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) provided significant assistance as well.
Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Crowley for the District of Arizona prosecuted the case, with significant assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
Tucson Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Shams Khan Rehman, 31, of Tucson, Arizona, pleaded guilty on June 8, 2026, to two counts of Production of Child Pornography. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 3, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez.
According to the plea agreement, Rehman admitted that he used Snapchat to communicate with individuals whom he paid to exploit several minors under the age of 12. At Rehman’s direction, those individuals produced images and videos documenting the abuse and sent the files to him. The plea agreement further states that Rehman also redistributed some of the produced images and videos to other Snapchat users.
A conviction for Production of Child Pornography carries maximum penalties of 30 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000, and lifetime supervised release.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s 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, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel J. Walters and Jennifer H. Berman, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 25-CR-04780
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-096_Rehman
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Jury Convicts Arizona Man for Threatening to Kill President Trump and Former Vice President HarrisRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – An Arizona man was convicted by a federal jury on June 8, 2026, for threatening to kill former Vice President Kamala Harris and President Donald Trump.
Rene Ortiz, 56, of Casa Grande, Arizona, was found guilty of two felony violations for Making Threats Against Successors to the Presidency and one felony violation of Threats Against Former Presidents. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 1, 2026, before Senior U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee.
On Nov. 5, 2024—Election Day—Ortiz delivered to the federal courthouse in Phoenix a written threat to “execute the newly elected [President of the United States] by firing an M-16A2 service rifle with a magazine of 6 rounds,” directed at both candidates.
After the election, on Nov. 25, 2024, Ortiz delivered a second threat to shoot “the incoming fraudulent elected [President of the United States] … at the inauguration on January 20th, 2025,” to the federal courthouse in Tucson. When interviewed by the U.S. Secret Service about the threats, Ortiz repeated his intent to make the threats; he was subsequently arrested on Jan. 17, 2025, ahead of the Presidential Inauguration.
“The message in this case is clear: The American people will not stand for threats of political violence against President Trump or any other elected official,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “A jury of Mr. Ortiz’s peers unanimously agreed that his threats were egregious violations of the law and rendered a just verdict. Once again, federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and agents from the U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Secret Service proved their excellent skills and duty in protecting our elected officials.”
“The Secret Service takes every threat against our protectees with the utmost seriousness,” said Special Agent in Charge William R. Mack of the Phoenix Field Office. “Our agents, working closely with our law enforcement partners, acted swiftly and thoroughly to investigate these threats and ensure the safety of those we are sworn to protect. This conviction demonstrates our unwavering commitment to our protectees and to upholding the law, as well as the dedication and professionalism of our team and law enforcement partners.”
“Our incredible Nation continues to flourish through a living Constitution with the understanding that we must abide by the Rule of Law,” said U.S. Marshal Van Bayless. “This case is an excellent reminder that anyone who threatens or attempts to intimidate our elected or appointed officials will be investigated by law enforcement, will be prosecuted, and will be held accountable for their conduct.”
A conviction for Threats Against the President and Successors to the Presidency or Threats Against Former Presidents carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, or both, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.
The U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Chang and Abbie Broughton, District of Arizona, Phoenix, are handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 25-CR-00153
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-095_Ortiz
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Repeat Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 12 years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – An illegal alien with previous state convictions for drug trafficking was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
Faustino Soto-Martinez, 54, a Mexican citizen, was sentenced on May 8, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Krissa M. Lanham. According to court documents and information discussed at sentencing, on March 11, 2024, in Sun City, Arizona, Soto-Martinez possessed and intended to sell 40,000 fentanyl pills, approximately 4.2 kilograms of fentanyl, to an undercover agent.
“Soto-Martinez’s 12-year sentence reflects his repeated disregard for the law and the devastating effects that fentanyl inflicts on individuals, families and communities across America,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in partnership with the DEA and local law enforcement agencies will continue to fight for Arizonans and dismantle the organizations that distribute these deadly drugs into our communities.”
At sentencing, Soto-Martinez’s criminal history was taken into consideration, including multiple state drug trafficking convictions. In 2005, he was convicted in three separate state drug trafficking cases and sentenced to five years in prison for each, which he served concurrently. Shortly after he was released, he was again convicted for possession of methamphetamine for sale and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The DEA East Valley Drug Enforcement Task Force High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-00615
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-093_Soto-Martinez
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Globe Man Receives Four Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Phoenix, Ariz. – A Globe, Arizona, man was sentenced in federal court for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl.
James Morris Wilckens, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 48 months in prison to be followed by 36 months of supervised release.
During a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation, Wilckens was identified as a member of a cross-border smuggling ring engaged in the distribution of fentanyl in Globe and the surrounding communities. In June 2024, he was arrested near Claypool after being found in possession of 230 fentanyl pills that were packaged for sale.
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF Tucson comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Tucson Police Department, Pima County Sheriff's Office, Oro Valle Police Department, Marana Police Department, and Arizona HIDTA. Prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Lizano of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: 25-CR-02677
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-094_Wilckens
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
District of Arizona Charges 271 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from May 30, 2026, through June 5, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 271 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 137 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 113 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 16 cases against 20 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Federal prosecutors also charged one defendant for assaulting a federal officer.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Marie Rosa Vavages. Marie Rosa Vavages was charged on June 1, 2026, with Transportation of Illegal Aliens Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person. On May 31, 2026, officers with the Tohono O'odham Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle, but it failed to yield. The driver subsequently drove at a high rate of speed, lost control, and rolled off the road. Border Patrol agents broke the rear window to extract the two rear-seat occupants. The driver, later identified as Marie Rosa Vavages, eventually complied with officers’ orders to exit the vehicle, leaving through the rear of the vehicle. Vavages and the two other occupants were transported to the hospital. The two other occupants were determined to be citizens of Guatemala, illegally present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-06276 – Tucson].
United States v. Kiiza Donald Atuhairwe. On May 30, 2026, Kiiza Donald Atuhairwe, a citizen of Uganda, was charged with Assault on a Federal Officer. On May 6, 2025, an immigration judge found Atuhairwe inadmissible and entered a final order of removal. On May 28, 2026, in the course of their official duties, two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers escorted Atuhairwe from El Paso, Texas, to Phoenix, Arizona, via commercial flight, with an ultimate destination to Kampala, Uganda. While on the short layover, Atuhairwe ran from ICE officers, pushing several people out of his way. Eventually, Atuhairwe stopped running and turned toward the ICE officer in a fighting stance. The ICE officer then attempted to restrain him. Atuhairwe bit the officer’s left hand and then bit the officer’s right ring finger, causing the finger to bleed. Atuhairwe was eventually restrained by law enforcement and escorted to a secure area of the airport. [Case Number: 26-MJ-8182 – Phoenix]
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.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-092_June 5, 2026, Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
New River Couple Sentenced for $12 Million AHCCCS Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Thvoughn Lynden Curry, 34, and Alexis Daneen Curry, 34, both of New River, Arizona, were sentenced Monday by Senior U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow for their role in a scheme to defraud the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid Agency, of over $12 million.
Both defendants were previously convicted at trial of one count of Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud, three counts of Health Care Fraud, and eight counts of Transactional Money Laundering following a four-day bench trial earlier this year. Thvoughn Curry was sentenced to 88 months in prison, and Alexis Curry was sentenced to 70 months in prison. Both were also ordered to three years of supervised release and to pay restitution of over $12 million to AHCCCS.
“The President tasked us to eliminate fraud and recoup every taxpayer dollar possible, and we’ve delivered in this case, bringing the Currys to justice for stealing millions from the government,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Beyond their own fraud, the Currys also preyed upon Arizonans fighting deadly addictions, placing them in imminent danger, with some victims overdosing on illicit drugs under 1 Family Clinic’s care. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will use every legal means available to track down and prosecute fraudsters and protect vulnerable citizens.”
“Healthcare fraud is a direct attack on our community’s safety net,” said IRS-CI Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown. “The Currys diverted millions from Arizona’s Medicaid program to line their own pockets, depleting vital resources from those who depend on these services. These sentences reflect the seriousness of that harm and reinforce IRS-CI commitment to protecting the integrity of taxpayer funded healthcare programs. Those who abuse these systems and violate the public’s trust can expect to be held accountable.”
"Fraud on this scale is not just a financial crime, it directly harms the vulnerable populations AHCCCS exists to serve,” said Roberta Harrison, Interim Director of AHCCCS. “This sentencing reflects the strength of our partnerships with law enforcement and underscores our commitment to aggressively pursuing those who attempt to misuse public funds.”
“The successful conviction and six-year prison sentence in this case are the direct result of outstanding collaboration between our law enforcement partners," said Mesa Police Chief Dan Butler. "Complex investigations often extend beyond the jurisdiction of a single agency, and this case highlights the importance of sharing resources, information, and expertise. We appreciate the efforts of every investigator, prosecutor, and agency involved in bringing this case to a successful conclusion and ensuring justice was served.”
The Currys defrauded AHCCCS through “1 Family Clinic, LLC,” their purported outpatient behavioral health clinic in Mesa, Arizona. They first defrauded AHCCCS by submitting a fraudulent application to enroll as an AHCCCS provider, falsely claiming that Alexis Curry was the sole owner and manager. In the application, the Currys did not disclose Thvoughn Curry’s role in the business, even though they were required to do so because he was an owner and managing employee. At the time, Thvoughn Curry had an active, outstanding warrant for state felony fraud charges.
Once approved by AHCCCS based on the fraudulent application, the Currys engaged in fraudulent billing practices. Between approximately Feb. 1, 2021, and March 31, 2023, the Currys routinely billed AHCCCS in a uniform, nearly identical pattern for services that were not actually provided. The Currys targeted AHCCCS’s American Indian Health Plan for fraudulent billing. Throughout the course of the scheme, 1 Family billed an average of more than 12 hours of service per member per day. The clinic, however, was open for far fewer hours than that, and even when the clinic was open, 1 Family failed to provide the licensed substance abuse therapy they billed to AHCCCS.
Prosectors further argued in court documents that the Curry’s conduct preyed on vulnerable, low-income Arizonans with real treatment and rehabilitation needs. According to medical records, residents were often left unsupervised, with several overdosing and experiencing life threatening health emergencies.
As a result of their fraudulent billings, AHCCCS paid 1 Family Clinic more than $12 million—funds that were intended to be used for legitimate healthcare services for low-income individuals.
The evidence at trial showed that the Currys spent much of the money they received from AHCCCS on themselves. They purchased properties and luxury vehicles, including a 2019 Lamborghini Urus for more than $300,000.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case and received substantial assistance from the Mesa Police Department and AHCCCS-Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Corbet and Lindsay Short, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 23-CR-1293
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-091_Curry
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Making America Safe Again: DOJ to Award $300 Million to Model Cities Dedicated to Restoring Law and OrderRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department today announced the Model Cities Initiative (MCI), a whole-of-city approach directing nearly $300 million in federal funding to transform public safety in America’s cities. Through this initiative, two to four cities will be selected to receive awards supporting the implementation of comprehensive and innovative strategies to reduce crime, restore law and order, and enhance public safety. Proposals from qualifying cities are due September 1.
“This administration is leveraging every authority to ensure the safety of all Americans,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Model Cities Initiative will supercharge our law enforcement partners and restore the rule of law to America’s neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Our message is clear: We will help those who help us Make America Safe Again.”
“The Model Cities Initiative presents an exceptional opportunity to enhance and modernize public safety infrastructures and reduce rates of violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Law enforcement in Arizona has a long history of working together to protect our communities. I encourage cities in Arizona to apply for the grant funding, and I look forward to our continued cooperation.”
Investments will be made in a variety of areas addressing public safety, behavioral health, and related staffing, equipment, and services with the goal of leveraging federal resources to build capacity, strengthen accountability, and deliver measurable reductions in crime that can serve as a model of innovation for replication nationwide. Eligible applicants include local government entities serving a population of at least 100,000.
The MCI initiative will support a range of allowable activities, including:
- Hiring and retention of sworn and non-sworn personnel directly engaged in or supporting violent crime reduction efforts.
- Purchase or lease of equipment, tools, or technology that reduce crime and restore law and order including but not limited to real-time crime centers; forensic and DNA tools; body-worn cameras; license plate readers; artificial intelligence systems; small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and counter-UAS; ballistic identification systems; and information technology upgrades.
- Training and professional development that support intelligence-led policing, violent crime investigations, crisis response, correctional practices that strengthen reentry outcomes, and coordination with state and federal law enforcement partners.
- Facility Costs including lease, rental, or renovation expenses for space directly used in program operations, such as service delivery sites, training facilities, real-time crime centers, or intelligence analysis centers.
- Mental health and substance use services that directly support prevention, crisis response, screening and early intervention, treatment, case management, and related services addressing issues linked to public safety outcomes, including services provided in correctional facilities and in the community.
- Reentry, transitional support, and recidivism reduction programs and services designed to reduce repeat offending, support transitions from custody, and promote successful reintegration into communities, including operational costs for county jails and state prisons that support reentry preparation.
- Victim services for American victims of crime, including, emergency assistance, case management, shelter and temporary housing, medical and dental care, advocacy, transportation, childcare, legal services, and employment assistance.
- Youth crime prevention and intervention services that address risk factors for juvenile delinquency and violence, including gang intervention and suppression programs.
Cities will apply through a whole-of-city approach. That means that city leaders, including the mayor, sheriff, county prosecutor, and others will work together to submit one application that proposes a persuasive vision of how this money can be awarded strategically throughout their city to improve law enforcement engagement, victim services, detention and reentry services, and preventive programs.
Additional information about the award is available at www.justice.gov/grants. The planned competition is a multi-phase process. DOJ anticipates making initial award decisions in late 2026. To apply for this award, please submit application materials to [email protected].
For any questions related to the MCI Call for Applications, you can send your inquiry to [email protected].
If you have questions about the grants, please call the Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-090_Model Cities Initiative Grants
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Navajo Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Stabbing DeathRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A member of the Navajo Nation who was convicted of killing a man near Steamboat, Arizona, was sentenced on May 21, 2026, in federal court.
Thurman Yazzie, 26, of Keams Canyon, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 240 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Yazzie previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder.
On March 26, 2023, Yazzie attacked the victim with a knife, stabbing him multiple times, causing his death. Yazzie then placed the victim’s body on the back of an ATV and took it into the woods where he set fire to the victim’s body. The crime occurred on the Navajo Nation.
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Gallup Office, the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Anthony W. Church, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 23-CR-08057
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-089_Yazzie
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine Appointed to Serve on the Attorney General's Advisory CommitteeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz.– Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recently selected U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). The AGAC provides sound counsel and advice to the Attorney General on matters of national policy, management, and procedure and is comprised of 18 U.S. Attorneys and First Assistant U.S. Attorneys leading Districts across the nation.
Courchaine brings an Arizona voice to the committee and proven experience leading an office that handles one of the nation’s highest volumes of cases, prosecuting a range of matters that are imperative to national security and public safety, including countering fraud, violent crime, illegal immigration, and foreign terror organizations like the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels.
“It is always an honor to serve the United States in any role. I am humbled by the opportunity to serve with an incredible group of leaders on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee as we help shape national level policy and priorities. This is also a pivotal moment when the Department of Justice seeks to recruit top-level talent to serve long into the future,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “The District of Arizona is at the tip of the spear when it comes to guarding our national security and advancing Administration priorities. I look forward to bringing that experience to the Committee.”
Courchaine has served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona since February 2025, leading 180 federal prosecutors and 160 support staff spread across offices in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, and Flagstaff. In addition to prosecuting cases arising along the 375-mile border with Mexico, the office also manages the nation’s most robust Indian Country docket and serves as the exclusive felony prosecutor for nearly all of the 22 federally-recognized tribes whose reservations fall in whole or in part in Arizona.
Courchaine joined the Department of Justice in 2020 as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the Phoenix office. During his time with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Courchaine prosecuted crimes across the Southern Border, including human trafficking, illegal immigration, and drug smuggling. He also prosecuted cases involving transnational drug organizations.
Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Courchaine was a law clerk for Arizona Supreme Court Justice William G. Montgomery. He also served as a Judge Advocate with the United States Marine Corps for four years, leaving as a Captain. As a Marine Officer, he served in a variety of roles, including trial counsel, civil and legal assistance officer in charge, and as a felony level defense counsel aboard MCAS Miramar.
Courchaine received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach, and his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. He lives in the Phoenix area with his wife and four children.
Others also appointed to the AGAC include, U.S. Attorney Dan Bishop (Middle District of North Carolina), U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros (Northern District of Illinois), U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford (District of Oregon); Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby (Northern District of Alabama), U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant (Western District of Tennessee), First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison (District of New Mexico), First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bilal Essayli (Central District of California), U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon (Southern District of California), U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon (Eastern District of Michigan), Acting U.S. Attorney John Marck (Southern District of Texas), U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly (District of Colorado), U.S. Attorney David Metcalf (Eastern District of Pennsylvania), U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro (District of Columbia), U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones (Southern District of Florida), and U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods (District of Nebraska).
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-088_Attorney General Advisory Committee
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.District of Arizona Charges 331 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from May 23 through May 29, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 331 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 146 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 163 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 18 cases against 22 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Ismael Solis-Solis. On May 28, 2026, Ismael Solis-Solis was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Solis-Solis had been previously removed from the United States in 2025. In October 1997, Solis-Solis was convicted of Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor in the Superior Court of California, Tulare County, and was sentenced to 270 days in prison, followed by 36 months of probation. [Case number: 26-MJ-08154]
United States v. Joel Ibarra-Lara. On May 27, 2026, Joel Ibarra-Lara was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ibarra-Lara had been previously removed from the United States in 2009. In September of 2001, Ibarra-Lara was convicted of Attempted Possession of Narcotics for Sale in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County, and sentenced to five years of supervised probation. [Case Number: 26-MJ-08138]
United States v. Mario Alberto Varela. On May 22, 2026, Mario Alberto Varela was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On May 21, 2026, a Pinal County Officer stopped a black Ford Expedition for suspended registration. During the stop, the officer spoke to the driver, Mario Alberto Varela, and an assisting officer spoke to the three passengers. Due to conflicting statements from Varela and his passengers, the officers contacted U.S. Border Patrol for further assistance. Border Patrol determined that Varela was a U.S. citizen and that the three passengers were aliens unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-5235]
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-087_May 29, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Tucson Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – A man who exploited multiple children was sentenced last week in federal court.
Nathan Dean Hinte, 36, of Tucson, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 40 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Hinte previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Production of Child Pornography.
“Every child deserves to be protected,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This 40-year sentence sends a clear message that federal law enforcement in Arizona is committed to pursuing justice for children. I commend Homeland Security Investigations for their outstanding work in uncovering the abuse and for teaming up with federal prosectors to ensure Hinte was held accountable for his heinous crimes.”
“Protecting and rescuing children remains one of Homeland Security Investigations highest priorities and this lengthy sentence demonstrates the seriousness of this reprehensible crime,” said Jason T. Stevens, special agent in charge for HSI Arizona. “Let this case serve as a warning to anyone who seeks to exploit or harm children. HSI will relentlessly pursue those who commit these heinous offenses, regardless of how long it takes to bring them to justice.”
According to the plea agreement, Hinte admitted he used his cell phone in March of 2024 and August of 2024 to create videos and images of the victims, two of whom were under the age of 12, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hinte also admitted that he used a computer and the Internet to access and view files depicting Child Sexual Abuse Material. Finally, Hinte further admitted that he distributed at least one image of a victim to another individual using the Internet.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing 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, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
HSI Arizona conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Walters, District of Arizona, Tucson, prosecuted the case.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-6718
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-085_Hinte
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Tucson Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with ChildrenRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 26, 2026, Johney Lynn Hammond, 30, of Tucson, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez to 18 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Hammond previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child.
Between Jan. 1, 2014, and Oct. 25, 2017, Hammond, an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, molested two children under the ages of nine on the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Tucson, Arizona.
The Pascua Yaqui Police Department and the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Cassell, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-2720
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-086_Hammond
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Jamaican National Extradited to the United States Pleads Guilty in Lottery and Romance Scheme Targeting Elderly Arizona ResidentRead the Press Release
Tucson, Ariz. – On May 20, 2026, Sherwayne Benjamin Bellinfantie, aka “Ice Man”, 40, a Jamaican national, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud. Bellinfantie was indicted in March 2022 and subsequently extradited to the United States on June 12, 2025, for prosecution in the District of Arizona.
In his plea agreement, Bellinfantie admitted that from December 2015 to January 2019, he and his coconspirators engaged in a romance and sweepstakes scheme targeting an 85-year-old Arizona resident. Bellinfantie and a co-conspirator lured the victim into the scheme by pretending to be romantically involved with her. In furtherance of the scheme, the co-conspirator would send flowers with love messages to the victim’s residence. They also led the victim to believe that she had won the lottery and a new vehicle and convinced her that in order to claim the prize she would need to pay fees and taxes. The victim was told to mail funds to locations across the United States and to transfer money to various money runners. Bellinfante admitted that he received portions of the scheme proceeds.
As a result of the scheme, the victim lost approximately $469,302 that Bellinfantie agreed to pay in restitution. Bellinfantie’s sentencing hearing is scheduled August 18, 2026.
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance with securing the arrest and extradition of Bellinfantie to the United States.
CASE NUMBER: 4:22-CR-0523
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-084_Bellinfantie
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Running a Multi-State Identity Theft and Bank Fraud RingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Armani Ryan Purandah, 27, of Los Angeles, was recently sentenced by U.S. District Judge Angela Martinez to 70 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud.
Purandah, who primarily lived in New York up until 2023 when he moved to Los Angeles, was a leader in a bank fraud and identity theft scheme involving multiple co-conspirators that targeted individuals and banks across the United States, to include Arizona, Colorado, and California. Purandah and his co-conspirators illegally used victims’ personal identifying information as well as fraudulent identifications to open phony business accounts linked to the victims’ legitimate bank accounts. The co-conspirators then transferred funds from the victims’ accounts to the phony accounts, allowing the co-conspirators to then withdraw the victim’s funds in cash from the phony accounts at banks and tribal casinos. The cash would then be delivered to Purandah or other conspiracy supervisors.
As part of his sentence, the court ordered Purandah to pay restitution to victims totaling $1,188,008.
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Unit, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-00927
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-083_ Purandah
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Oro Valley Man Charged with Wire Fraud and Money Laundering for Defrauding Investors in Business SchemeRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Brandon Aaron Kreutz, formerly known as Brandon Aaron Moushey, 40, of Oro Valley, Arizona, was arrested Tuesday after being charged by criminal complaint with Wire Fraud and Money Laundering. Kreutz made an initial appearance Wednesday in federal court.
Kreutz is alleged to have operated under business names Brandon Kreutz Custom LLC, Brandon Kreutz Custom LLC, dba BKC Firearms, Balor Defense LLC, Vice Manufacturing, and Vice Fitness Inc., and defrauded three victims of approximately $10.9 million between May 2023, through the present.
According to the complaint, Kreutz told victims he was a former U.S. Government subcontractor and holder of a patent-pending firearms device with contracts to produce it. He further told the victims that he was party to multi-million-dollar contracts with foreign governments for the purchase of the device.
Kreutz allegedly made false claims to secure loans from the victims, saying that loan proceeds would be used to fund the device’s production and sale to the foreign entities, ultimately yielding high returns and repayments of the loans. In reality, Kreutz did not apply for a patent on the device nor had the equipment to produce it. Furthermore, he had not secured manufacturing contracts nor lucrative contracts to purchase the device.
Instead, the funds were used on a million-dollar personal residence, upgrades to the residence, dozens of luxury and exotic vehicles, a race car and membership in a racing club, travel, and firearms and accessories. Kreutz further concealed some of the victims’ funds in health and wellness business ventures and bank accounts owned by close associates.
Anyone with information regarding this alleged scheme or who may have fallen victim to the scheme are encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov.
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office and IRS-Criminal Investigation are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Feldmeier, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: 26-MJ-2189
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-081_Kreutz
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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District of Arizona Charges 389 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from May 16 through May 22, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 389 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 170 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 191 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 23 cases against 28 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Gregory James Russell. Gregory James Russell was charged by criminal complaint on May 20, 2026, with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit and Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person. On May 19, Border Patrol Agents observed a Ford F-150 exceeding 80 mph in a 55 mph zone. The driver also swerved from side to side, crossing the center line, then continued into the town of Sonoita, Arizona, where agents eventually initiated a stop. Inside the vehicle, agents discovered two individuals who were determined to be citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. Agents also observed an open container of alcohol inside the vehicle and noted that Russell appeared to be intoxicated. Agents learned that Russell drove from Tucson to Nogales to pick up two illegal aliens and transport them to Phoenix and that he would be paid to do so. At the request of agents, Arizona Department of Public Safety Troopers also responded and charged Russell with Driving Under the Influence. [Case number: 26-MJ-03276]
United States v. Robert Blair Schenberg. On May 20, 2026, Robert Blair Schenberg was charged by criminal compliant with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On May 19, a Pinal County Deputy noticed the license plate on a silver Hyundai Elantra was blowing upright in the breeze, making it unreadable. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Robert Blair Schenberg. While speaking to Schenberg, the deputy noticed the rear passenger was dressed in camouflage clothing and wearing carpet shoes. On the floorboard next to the passenger was a camouflage backpack. The deputy contacted the U.S. Border Patrol for assistance. Border Patrol Agents confirmed that the passenger was a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case number: 26-MJ-5222]
United States v. Luis Arturo Quezada-Garcia. On May 19, 2026, Luis Arturo Quezada-Garcia was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On May 18, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent noticed a Chevrolet Silverado near Wickenburg, Arizona, with dark window tint and an item hanging from the rearview mirror. The agent followed the vehicle and noticed the driver slow down and repeatedly drift across the fog line. As the agent pulled up to the vehicle, he could see two passengers in the back seat. Shortly after, the two passengers were no longer visible. The agent conducted a vehicle stop for an immigration inspection. During the stop, agents learned that the driver, Quezada-Garcia, and the rear passengers were citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States, and that they had crossed the border into the United States approximately one week prior. [Case number: 26-MJ-01388]
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.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-081_May 22, 2026, Immigration Enforcement
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Tucson Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Marc Anthony Giron, 26, of Tucson, was sentenced on May 5, 2026, by U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 96 months in prison. Giron previously pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
On Jan. 27, 2025, Giron sold 15,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover agent in Tucson. On Feb. 4, 2025, Giron sold an additional 20,000 fentanyl pills to the same undercover agent. During his arrest, law enforcement located a stolen firearm in his possession.
Giron admitted to law enforcement that he was selling fentanyl pills on behalf of a criminal organization based in Mexico.
Homeland Security Investigations-Arizona conducted the investigation with assistance from the Tucson Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-01346
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-078_Giron
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Avondale Man Faces Federal Charges for Vandalizing ICE Property in ArizonaRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A man was taken into custody May 7, 2026, after being indicted for attempting to set fire to a property owned by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Surprise, Arizona, in February.
A federal grand jury handed down an indictment charging Gabriel Mendoza-Acoltzi, 19, of Avondale, Arizona, with Malicious Damage to Federal Property and Willful Depredation Against Property of the United States. According to court documents, Mendoza-Acoltzi broke a window and attempted to light the building on fire just after 1 a.m. on Feb. 21, 2026.
Last week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael T. Morrissey granted the United States’ request that Mendoza-Acoltzi be detained pending further court proceedings.
According to court documents, a video camera in the area of the ICE property captured Mendoza-Acoltzi’s Honda Civic entering the parking lot around 12 am on Feb. 21. Mendoza-Acoltzi can be seen exiting the vehicle and placing a propane tank next to the ICE building. Later video shows Mendoza-Acoltzi swinging the propane tank at a window on the building, breaking the glass, and using a long torch connected to the tank to light the window shades inside the lobby on fire.
Video from the scene also shows Mendoza-Acoltizi moving between the sidewalk and the rock landscaping at the ICE property. When responding to the incident, investigators observed a profane anti-ICE message spelled out with landscaping rocks on the sidewalk.
A conviction for Malicious Damage to Federal Property carries a penalty of five to 20 years in the Bureau of Prisons, up to a $250,000 fine, and one to three years of supervised release.
The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and the City of Surprise Police and Fire Departments conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan McCarthy and Stephen Marlowe of the District of Arizona, Phoenix, is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-455
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-079_Mendoza-Acoltizi
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Arizona Woman Indicted after Allegedly Attempting to Smuggle Firearms, RPG Launcher Tube into MexicoRead the Press Release
PHOENIX Ariz. – A woman has been charged in federal court after she attempted to cross the southern border in a vehicle loaded with firearms, firearm parts, and an RPG launcher tube.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging Migdelia Irma Mendoza, 42, of Phoenix, with Attempted Smuggling Goods from the United States. The charge resulted from a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation.
According to the court documents, on April 19, 2026, Mendoza was traveling to Mexico and passed multiple signs warning drivers that firearms and ammunition are prohibited in the Republic of Mexico. When Mendoza attempted to cross the border at the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, officers conducted an outbound inspection.
As officers searched Mendoza’s Lexus, they folded up the rear seat and found non-factory black fabric beneath it. Under the fabric, officers felt objects that were solid and did not appear to be part of the vehicle. After anomalies were confirmed through a scan of the vehicle, officers conducted a closer inspection and discovered the RPG launcher tube, firearms, and firearm parts.
Specific items included four AR-style rifles, 16 AK-style rifles, one AK-style pistol, one RPG-7 launcher tube, 20 firearm pistol grips, 16 rifle buttstocks, and 24 AK-style firearm magazines. These items are prohibited by U.S. law for export without a valid U.S. government issued export license, which Mendoza did not possess.
This prosecution is part of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF Arizona-Tucson comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Border Patrol, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, and various local and state law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Phoenix.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-489
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-080_Mendoza
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Phoenix Highlight Email Scams and Preventive Measures as Part of National Senior Fraud Awareness DayRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – As part of National Senior Fraud Awareness Day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona and the FBI Phoenix Division’s fraud team are reminding the public to remain vigilant as sophisticated scammers are capable of targeting virtually all businesses and individuals in the digital age. If you or a loved one become a victim of one of these scams, our offices encourage you to contact law enforcement and your bank as soon as possible after the incident, ideally within 24 hours, to help minimize financial losses.
Unfortunately, in today’s world, no one is immune from the threats posed by scammers, who caused an estimated $20.9 billion in losses last year, according to the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report– up more than $16 billion from 2020. Notably, Arizona ranked sixth in the country for total losses, amounting to nearly $631 million, behind only California, Texas, Florida, New York, and New Jersey.
Between staying connected with family and friends, shopping and banking online, and working remotely, we all depend on the security of our digital information. Protecting our digitally connected world has been, and remains, a key priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Phoenix.
Some of the most common scams include Business Email Compromise (“BEC”)– also known as email account compromise (“EAC”), spoofing and phishing, tech/customer support, government impersonation, non-payment/non-delivery, and grandparent scams.
Behind investment fraud, BEC scams accounted for the second largest loss amount across the nation in 2025—approximately $3 billion. BEC scams target businesses and individuals across industries that perform legitimate transfer-of-funds requests. In BEC scams, a scammer that has compromised a third party’s email account (through social engineering or computer intrusion), makes the scammer’s own account mimic the characteristics of the third party’s account that a victim would expect to see (including name, address, phone number, email address, logos, and font) to trick the victim into sending money to the scammer.
For example, a scammer that has compromised the email account of a real estate title insurance company might target a home buyer shortly before a real estate closing, instructing the buyer to send the down payment to a bank account in the name of the title company. The email, however, is not from, and the bank account does not belong to, the actual title company– both belong to the scammer. Because the email and bank information are nearly identical to the actual title company, the fraud is very difficult to detect and the buyer complies with the instructions, sending the funds to the scammer.
If you are the victim of a scam that involves sending money to a supposed bank or other financial institution, you should immediately (timing is imperative, as after 24 hours the probability of recovery is severely limited) take the following steps:
- Call your financial institution; report that you have been the victim of a scam. Provide the date, time, amount, and details of the transaction (including the sending account number, receiving financial institution and account number, and transaction number); and ask the financial institution to send a recall of the transaction and provide a Hold Harmless Letter to the receiving financial institution.
- File a Complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (“IC3”) at https://www.ic3.gov/ by clicking the red “File A Complaint” button. Be sure to include all available information about the scam: date, time, amount, and reference number for the transaction; sending financial institution and account number; receiving financial institution and account number; and details of the scam.
Immediately taking these steps after discovering you have become a victim can trigger the Internet Crime Center’s Recovery Asset Team to start the Domestic Financial Fraud Kill Chainor International Financial Fraud Kill Chain processes to attempt to freeze the fraudulent account and recover any stolen funds. It is imperative that a victim take these steps immediately after discovering that he or she has been scammed. With every minute that passes, the likelihood that a financial institution and/or law enforcement can recover any stolen funds decreases substantially.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-075_cybercrime
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Social Media Influencer Indicted for Evading Taxes by Making False Statements on his Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On April 21, 2026, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a two-count indictment against Charles Lewis Davis, 33, of Phoenix, for making false statements on his tax returns. This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s pursuit to protect American taxpayer dollars and critical government programs.
Davis owns and operates Forever Investments LLC, a social media entity that posts videos involving Davis to YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, among other social media platforms. The indictment alleges that Davis failed to report the full income he earned from that work in 2020 and 2021 by withholding information from his tax preparer regarding an additional $807,142 and $390,566 in those respective years. He is alleged to have stored the unreported income in his personal and business bank, brokerage, and cryptocurrency accounts.
Davis made his initial appearance in federal court on May 13, 2026, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. A conviction for making a false statement on a tax return carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Rapp, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-00412
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-076_Davis
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
District of Arizona Charges 299 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from May 9, 2026, through May 15, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 299 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 147 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 137 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 15 cases against 15 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Kyle Bowman Marsaw. Kyle Bowman Marsaw was charged by complaint on May 11, 2026, with one count of Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit. On May 9, Border Patrol agents observed a Dodge Ram travelling southbound on a highway on the Tohono O'odham Nation then 13 minutes later traveling back north. Agents attempted to stop the vehicle to conduct an immigration inspection, but the driver failed to yield. Agents pursued the vehicle, which reached speeds of 98 mph. The pursuit was terminated, and agents relayed the direction of travel to other agents in the area. Approximately 30 minutes later, the Ram activated a camera, and agents responded to the location, following tire tracks until the Ram was located near a cemetery, unoccupied. Agents then followed footprints and, with the assistance of a K9 unit and air asset, located an individual, later identified as Kyle Bowman Marsaw, hiding in the brush. The air asset was able to guide agents to two other individuals dressed in camouflage hiding in the brush who were determined to be citizens of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. Agents learned that Marsaw was the driver of the Ram and had picked up the two illegal aliens, who had been instructed by their guide to hide in the brush and wait to be picked up. [Case Number: 26-MJ-00426 TUC]
United States v. Derek Dialesandro Amperez-Toledo. Derek Dialesandro Amperez-Toledo was charged by complaint on May 13, 2026, with one count of Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit. On May 12, Border Patrol Agents on the Tohono O'odham Nation were advised to be on the lookout for a black BMW potentially involved in human smuggling. Agents located the vehicle and attempted to stop it to conduct an immigration inspection, but the vehicle failed to yield and rapidly accelerated. Agents successfully deployed a vehicle immobilization device. The vehicle then drove off the road and continued for approximately one quarter of a mile before coming to a stop. Multiple individuals then exited the vehicle and ran away. Agents pursued them on foot and apprehended four subjects, including Amperez-Toledo and three citizens of Mexico illegally present in the United States. Agents learned that Amperez-Toledo was the driver of the vehicle who picked up the subjects. Once inside the vehicle, Amperez-Toledo instructed the subjects to get down inside the vehicle to avoid detection by Border Patrol. When the vehicle eventually stopped, the defendant instructed the subjects to flee on foot. [Case Number: 26-MJ-00619 TUC]
United States v. Ever Emmanuel Gonzalez. On May 11, 2026, Ever Emmanuel Gonzalez was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit and Improper Entry by an Alien. On May 11, 2026, a Department of Public Safety trooper observed that a silver Ford Fusion’s license plate was not properly affixed and was consistently flapping as the car drove. The trooper initiated a traffic stop. The driver, Ever Emmanual Gonzalez, identified himself by his Mexican driver’s license and appeared visibly nervous. The Fusion had three occupants. After further investigation, the trooper contacted Border Patrol for assistance, who determined that Gonzalez and all three passengers were citizens of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-3135 – Phoenix]
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.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-077_May 15, 2026, Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
San Xavier Man Sentenced to 340 Months in Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Ski Redfeather Johnson, 37, of San Xavier, Arizona, was sentenced on May 7, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 340 months in federal prison. Johnson previously pleaded guilty to four counts of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor.
Between 2015 and 2020, Johnson engaged in abusive sexual contact with four different minor victims who were all under the age of 12 on multiple occasions at residences where he was living on the Tohono O’odham Nation. Johnson and the minor victims are enrolled members of the Tohono O’odham Nation.
“Ski Redfeather Johnson repeatedly preyed upon and stole the innocence of four children,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This 28-year sentence reflects the relentless work of FBI Special Agents and Tohono O’odham Nation Tribal Police officers dedicated to protecting these children and bringing their perpetrator to justice.”
“This sentence underscores the severity of Ski Johnson’s crimes and thanks to the courageous victim who came forward, he will spend the next 28 years in prison,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day. “The FBI and our partners remain devoted to identifying, investigating, and holding accountable those who seek to harm our most vulnerable.”
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office and the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-8440
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-074_Johnson
Mexican Human Smuggler Sentenced for Role in Years-Long Smuggling OrganizationRead the Press Release
A Mexican national was sentenced Monday to 11 years in prison for her role in a years-long, prolific smuggling organization that operated at the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to the indictment, Ofelia Hernandez Salas, 64, of Mexicali, Mexico, and co-conspirators facilitated the travel of hundreds of aliens from and through numerous countries into the United States. Hernandez Salas charged the aliens as much as tens of thousands of dollars to illegally cross the Mexico-U.S. border. The aliens traveled from and through Bangladesh, Yemen, Pakistan, Eritrea, India, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Russia, Egypt, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico.
“Transnational human smuggling at a large scale directly threatens our national security,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Ofelia Hernandez Salas and her co-conspirators endangered our communities on a massive scale by illegally bringing foreign nationals from more than a dozen countries into the United States. Not only did she take away the ability to properly vet these people from immigration authorities, she and her co-conspirators also robbed these people of their personal belongings at gun or knife point. Illegal border crossings are already incredibly dangerous; this defendant only increased the potential of mortal danger they faced by adding robbery to her criminal acts.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office alongside our federal and international partners use every available tool to aggressively target and dismantle dangerous transnational human smuggling organizations and bring their leaders to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “This investigation and prosecution exemplify the work that is being done every day in the District of Arizona and through Joint Task Force Alpha to secure our nation’s southern border and protect the American people.”
Hernandez Salas and co-conspirators directed the aliens to cross the border in several ways. They provided aliens with a ladder to climb over the border fence, pointed out holes where they could climb under the fence, and provided a plank for them to walk over a waterway. In addition to moving aliens across the border in droves, Hernandez Salas and her co-conspirators also robbed the aliens of money, cell phones, and other belongings, often while armed with guns and knives.
In March 2023, Hernandez Salas and co-conspirator Raul Saucedo-Huipio were arrested in Mexico pursuant to an extradition request from the United States and remained in federal custody. Saucedo-Huipio has also pleaded guilty and is pending sentencing in June 2026. In December 2024, Hernandez Salas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States and three substantive counts of bringing an alien to the United States for commercial benefit or private financial gain. She is subject to deportation upon the completion of her sentence.
The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by JTFA, the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies.
To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 450 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
HSI Yuma investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol (BP), Customs and Border Protection (CBP); U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; FBI; and the U.S. Marshals Service, working in concert with HSI Tijuana, INTERPOL, and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. HSI also received substantial assistance from CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force and OFAC.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Mexico. The Justice Department thanks its Mexican law enforcement partners, who were instrumental in arresting Hernandez-Salas, and the Mexican Attorney General’s Office and the Mexican Foreign Ministry for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) provided significant assistance as well.
Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Crowley for the District of Arizona prosecuted the case, with significant assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
Pinal County Resident Sentenced to 24 Years for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A man who pleaded guilty to Producing Child Pornography involving a 14-year-old girl was sentenced on May 5, 2026, in federal court.
Agustin Julian Sauceda, 39, of Casa Grande, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 293 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Sauceda previously pleaded guilty to the charge on Aug. 11, 2025.
“No one should exploit and sexually victimize children, least of all a public servant entrusted with serving his community,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This case demonstrates that proactive law enforcement work in child pornography cases is critical to not only identify individuals clicking on illicit images, but also to uncover even more serious offenses, as occurred here.”
“As a firefighter, this individual was entrusted with protecting and serving his community. Instead, he betrayed that trust in the most egregious way possible,” said Jason T. Stevens, special agent in charge for HSI Arizona. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: those who abuse positions of public trust to harm children will be held fully accountable. HSI and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue child predators, hold them accountable and will stop at nothing to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
Sauceda, who was employed as an Eloy Fire Battalion Chief, was detected in a file sharing network between June and September 2024 as he distributed child pornography files. A review of Sauceda’s electronic devices following a search of his home on Oct. 30, 2024, revealed 5,063 files that he had produced of a nude and partially nude 14-year-old victim. The images were taken between August 2022 and July 2024. Sauceda also possessed approximately 14,089 child pornography files of prepubescent children that he had received from the internet.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and 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 justice.gov/PSC.
Homeland Security Investigations-Arizona conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and the Casa Grande Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-01898
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-073_Sauceda# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Illegal Aliens Arrested for Running Alien Smuggling Operation in PhoenixRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Five illegal aliens were arrested last week for running an alien smuggling operation in Phoenix following an investigation led by agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol Intelligence Unit and Homeland Security Investigations.
Rigoberto Rangel-Mora, 40, of Mexico, Jesus Marin-Esquivel, 52, of Mexico, Ingrid Bolanos-Gomez, 41, of Guatemala, Alejandro Ambrocio-Espinosa, 32, of Mexico, and Enrique Cervantes-Barrera, 48, of Mexico, were indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday for Conspiracy to Transport and Habor Illegal Aliens based on their participation in the alien smuggling operation.
According to court documents, investigators located a residence in Phoenix being used as a stash house to harbor aliens before members of the conspiracy would transport them throughout the United States. Investigators identified and conducted surveillance on several older model minivans that were observed making trips across the country, often with charity license plates attached.
On April 28, investigators conducted a traffic stop on one of the minivans near Cordes Lakes, Arizona, and identified Ambrocio-Espinosa as the driver and Cervantes-Barrera as the front seat passenger. Agents discovered that they were transporting 11 aliens in the minivan, including one individual who was forced to ride in the trunk.
On April 30, investigators executed federal search warrants at a residence and two apartments in Phoenix. At the residence, investigators discovered 17 aliens that the smuggling organization was harboring. At another apartment, investigators discovered five additional aliens the organization was harboring. Investigators identified Rangel-Mora as the caretaker of the stash house and the remaining charged co-conspirators as drivers who conduct cross-country trips with smuggled aliens.
At the stash house, the harbored aliens told investigators that while at the residence, they were confined to bedrooms, told not to leave the house, and were unable to make calls. They further reported filthy living conditions, not having enough food, and being required to sleep on the floor.
A conviction for Conspiracy to Transport and Habor Illegal Aliens carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and a maximum term of three years of supervised release.
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.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol Intelligence Unit and Homeland Security Investigations, Douglas, Arizona, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Greve and Ryan McCarthy, District of Arizona, Phoenix, are handling the prosecution.
An Indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: 26-MJ-5182 and 26-MJ-5192; 26-CR-462
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-071_ Rangel-Mora et al
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
District of Arizona Charges 340 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from May 2, 2026, through May 8, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 340 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 143 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 177 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 18 cases against 19 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border vigilance, and federal prosecutors also charged one defendant for assaulting a Border Patrol agent.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Christian Diangelo Martinez-Espinoza. Christian Diangelo Martinez-Espinoza was charged by criminal complaint on May 4, 2026, with one count of Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person and two counts of Assault on a Federal Officer. On May 3, a U.S. Border Patrol agent initiated a traffic stop on a Honda Civic in Patagonia, Arizona. Martinez-Espinoza, the driver, initially stopped, but immediately afterward reversed the Honda into an agent’s vehicle, striking the front end of the vehicle. He then fled the scene. Agents pursued the Honda as it fled reaching speeds of approximately 100 mph. Agents then deployed a vehicle immobilization device (VID) and successfully deflated three of the tires. Martinez-Espinoza continued to travel at approximately 80 mph on the flat tires when agents successfully deployed the VID again, deflating the remaining tire. Martinez-Espinoza continued with all tires deflated for approximately eight more miles until he lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll over and crash off the side of the road into the desert. He fled the vehicle, and agents pursued him on foot. Martinez-Espinoza then assaulted an agent, punching him in the mouth, in an effort to avoid apprehension. He was eventually taken into custody. Two passengers were located inside the crashed vehicle. One was critically injured and transported to a hospital. Both passengers were determined to be citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-1826MJ – Tucson]
United States v. Gregory Elisha Evans. On May 5, 2026, Gregory Elisha Evans was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens. On May 5, 2026, U.S Border Patrol agents observed a white Hyundai Genesis enter and exit a known smuggling area near the border. Agents responded to the area where the vehicle was last seen and discovered footprints belonging to two individuals originating from a wash near the international border fence. The description and direction of travel of the Genesis was sent out to nearby Border Patrol stations and local law enforcement partners. Shortly after, a deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office observed the Genesis on I-10 and noticed there was an object mounted to the center of the windshield. He then conducted a traffic stop on the Genesis. While speaking with the driver, Gregory Elisha Evans, the deputy observed two passengers attempting to conceal themselves on the floorboard between the front and back seats. The passengers were wearing camouflage pants, and there was a strong body odor coming from the back seat, both indicative of individuals traveling through the desert for long periods. Border Patrol agents determined that both passengers were citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-06150 - Tucson]
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.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-072_May 8, 2026, Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Tucson Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison for Violent Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 5, 2026, Steven Daniel Buitimea, 37, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 210 months in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Buitimea previously pleaded guilty to Aggravated Sexual Abuse.
On May 28, 2022, Buitimea, an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, sexually assaulted the victim by force, causing serious physical injury to the victim. The sexual assault occurred on the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation in Tucson, Arizona.
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office and the Pascua Yaqui Police Department conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 22-CR-1916
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-070_Buitimea
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Pakistani National Pleads Guilty for Leading an International Human Smuggling OrganizationRead the Press Release
A Pakistani man pleaded guilty yesterday for leading an international human smuggling conspiracy that brought illegal aliens from Pakistan into the United States using sham film production companies.
According to court documents, Abbas Ali Haider, 49, of Sialkot, Pakistan, operated two fake Pakistan-based companies – Diamond TV World Productions and Multimedia Advertising Ltd. – to bring Pakistani nationals illegally into the United States. From approximately September 2019 through September 2023, Haider fraudulently obtained visas for Pakistani nationals to travel to Ecuador, Cuba and Colombia under the cover of legitimate business travel when their real destination was always the southern U.S. border. Posing as employees of Haider’s fake companies traveling to work on films, the Pakistani nationals were admitted to countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Haider’s network then guided them to the U.S.-Mexico border where they illegally crossed into California, Texas, and Arizona. For this, Haider charged each person as much as $40,000.
Haider was extradited to the United States from Mexico in July 2025.
Haider pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States for private financial gain and bringing in illegal aliens for profit. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 30, and faces a minimum penalty of three years in prison and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona, and Acting Special Agent in Charge, Kevin P. Murphy of HSI San Diego, made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations Calexico led U.S. investigative efforts, working in concert with HSI’s Brasilia, Quito, Tijuana, and Caribbean attaché offices and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s International Interdiction Task Force; U.S. Border Patrol; the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Miami; and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Detroit provided substantial assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Haider.
The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; and more than 350 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Trial Attorney Bethany Allen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section on detail from the Office of International Affairs and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Kreamer Hope and Evan Wesley for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case.
District of Arizona Charges 217 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from April 25 through May 1, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 217 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 126 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 74 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 13 cases against 17 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Laura Rowell. On April 27, 2026, Laura Rowell was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit. On April 25, Border Patrol Agents received a report of three potential illegal aliens getting into a truck on Route 19. Agents located the vehicle and attempted to stop the driver, Rowell, to perform an immigration inspection. Rowell failed to yield and accelerated to over 100 miles per hour. She eventually slowed down and started to make a U-turn in a driveway before getting out of the vehicle and surrendering. Agents discovered four passengers wearing camouflage hiding in Rowell’s truck, who were eventually determined to be citizens of Mexico and Guatemala, all unlawfully present in the United States. Agents discovered that Rowell was transporting the illegal aliens to Phoenix for payment. [Case Number: 26-MJ-05980]
United States v. Carlos Abraham Echeverria-Rodriguez, et al. On April 28, 2026, Carlos Abraham Echeverria-Rodriguez and Yadira Zueth Rivera-Cervantes were charged by criminal complaint with Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit. On April 27, Border Patrol Agents observed headlights approaching an area at a known load-up spot to pick up illegal aliens then watched the driver speed off. Agents attempted to stop the driver to conduct an immigration inspection. The driver slowed, and two individuals wearing camouflage exited the vehicle. The driver drove off again at a high rate of speed. Agents apprehended the camouflaged individuals, who were determined to be citizens of Mexico, all unlawfully present in the United States. Agents then located the truck and apprehended the driver, Echeverria-Rodriguez, and the passenger, Rivera-Cervantes. Agents discovered that the two had picked up the illegal aliens with the intent of transporting them to Phoenix for payment. [Case Number: 26-MJ-06082]
United States v. Kevin Mejia-Quintanilla. On April 27, 2026, Kevin Mejia-Quintanilla was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit. On April 26, Border Patrol Agents received information that a driver was traveling up and down a highway, appearing to look for areas to stop and pull off. Agents then observed the driver pull over before merging back onto the highway. Agents attempted to stop the driver, Meija-Quintanilla. He failed to yield, and agents pursued his vehicle. Agents ahead of the pursuit set up a vehicle immobilization device and successfully spiked two of the tires on the vehicle. When the vehicle came to a stop, agents observed four individuals inside who were wearing camouflage. The camouflaged individuals were determined to be citizens of Mexico, all unlawfully present in the United States. Agents discovered that Mejia-Quintanilla was transporting the illegal aliens to Phoenix for payment. [Case Number: 26-MJ-06058]
United States v. Alberto Santiago. On April 24, 2026, Alberto Santiago was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens. On April 23, agents received information regarding a suspicious vehicle traveling on I-10 westbound that appeared to be carrying approximately 10 individuals. Homeland Security Investigations Agents located the vehicle and saw several individuals in the rear cargo area. The agents also observed that the driver had an obstructed view and was speeding in a construction zone. A sergeant with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office initiated a vehicle stop, at which point, the driver of the vehicle, Santiago, pulled over and jumped out while the vehicle was still moving. Santiago was ultimately apprehended and taken into custody. Law enforcement identified 11 passengers in the vehicle, including five juveniles. Some of the passengers wore camouflage clothing, and similar clothing littered the inside of the vehicle. Law enforcement learned that Santiago, the driver of the vehicle, was transporting the illegal aliens. Immigration checks confirmed that all 11 passengers were citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-3115]
United States v. Selvin Mauricio Romero-Flores and Mynor Aroldo Ramirez-Vasquez. On April 29, 2026, Selvin Mauricio Romero-Flores and Mynor Aroldo Ramirez-Vasquez were charged by criminal complaint with Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens. On April 28, a deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office observed a vehicle traveling westbound on I-10. A records check revealed that the vehicle had an expired registration, so the deputy initiated a traffic stop. When the driver pulled over to the shoulder of the road, four men got out and ran east into the desert. Inside the vehicle, the deputy found the driver, Romero- Flores; a passenger, Ramirez-Vasquez; and a man lying in the rear cargo area of the vehicle. The deputy also saw camouflage clothing on the passenger-side floorboard. Immigration checks confirmed that the man in the rear cargo area was a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. It was discovered that both Romero-Flores and Ramirez-Vasquez were transporting illegal aliens for payment. [Case Number: 26-MJ-5177]
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-069_May 1, 2026, Immigration Enforcement
The Fraud Division Launches West Coast Strike Force to Target Health Care Fraud Schemes Across Arizona, Nevada, and Northern CaliforniaRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division) today announced the formation of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force, a multi-district enforcement initiative uniting the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Arizona, District of Nevada, and Northern District of California. The Health Care Strike Force model has proven to be one of the most powerful tools in the federal enforcement arsenal, responsible nationally for the prosecution of over 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion.
“Driven by data showing a significant and accelerating increase in health care fraud across all three districts, the Strike Force builds on a foundation of recent landmark prosecutions — including the successful prosecution of digital health technology executives in the Northern District of California and the dismantling of Medicaid, sober home, and wound care fraud schemes in the District of Arizona,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s Fraud Division. “The Fraud Division is committed to bringing that same relentless, data-driven prosecutorial force to bear across every corner of this region, making unmistakably clear that no scheme is too sophisticated, no network too large or small, and no fraudster too distant to escape federal accountability.”
“Silicon Valley has become ground zero for technology-driven health care fraud schemes that seek to cheat taxpayer-funded programs like Medicare,” said Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California. “The Health Care Strike Force announced today is a powerful partnership that brings together the resources and expertise needed to detect and dismantle even the most sophisticated fraud schemes.”
“Defrauding the government steals from Americans who need help the most. In Arizona alone, federal law enforcement and the United States Attorney’s Office have disrupted fraud schemes worth over a billion dollars of taxpayer money,” said Timothy Courchaine, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. “Our mission as part of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force is to ensure Americans who need critical services are not used as pawns to make bad actors rich. Through excellent investigations, trial work, and seizures of ill-gotten gains, the District of Arizona will continue safeguarding those services.”
“The dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys and professional staff in the District of Nevada are working in coordination with our partners at the FBI, HHS, DEA and other federal, state, and local agencies to unravel fraud schemes and to hold criminals fully accountable,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “With each indictment and conviction, we are achieving justice for victims who were taken advantage of by these fraudsters. We are proud to be part of the newly created West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force and we are committed to bringing our skill and expertise to the Justice Department’s fight against fraud.”
This expansion brings enhanced federal enforcement resources to one of the nation’s most significant health care technology hubs in the Northern District of California and what data analytics show is the migration of fraud schemes to Arizona and Nevada. Late last year in San Francisco, the CEO and Chief Medical Officer of a digital technology company were convicted for an over $100 million scheme to commit health care fraud and distribute over Adderall over the internet, resulting in addiction and patient harm. These convictions followed other recent high-impact prosecutions that were jointly prosecuted by the Strike Force and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices prosecutors:
- United States v. Gehrke and King (DAZ): Two wound graft company owners pled guilty and were sentenced to 15.5 and 14 years in prison for a $1.2 billion wound graft fraud scheme targeting Medicare and Medicaid. The Government seized $126 million in assets, including cash, luxury vehicles, and gold bars, related to this case.
- United States v. Ali (DAZ): The owner of a Pakistan-based medical billing company was indicted in June 2025 for an alleged scheme involving the exploitation of substance abuse patients at over 41 substance abuse treatment clinics that fraudulently billed Arizona Medicaid over $650 million. The defendant is a Pakistani national and fugitive from justice.
- United States v. Schena (NDCA): The president of a Silicon Valley-based medical technology company was convicted at trial and sentenced to eight years in prison in the first criminal securities fraud case related to COVID-19 charged by the Justice Department, the first criminal COVID-19 health care fraud case brought to trial, and a significant prosecution delineating the scope of the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act. United States v. Schena, No. 23-2989 (9th Cir. 2025).
As part of the expansion, Health Care Fraud Acting Chief Jacob Foster and Acting Assistant Chief Gary Winters will coordinate closely with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to establish the Strike Force. The Strike Force will work in partnership with the HHS Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other law enforcement partners, reflecting the Department’s determination that the need for coordinated, aggressive action in this region is urgent and undeniable. Health care fraud in these districts imposes an enormous and growing burden on American taxpayers and undermines the integrity of Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE. The victims are real: elderly patients denied access to legitimate care, disabled individuals whose benefits are stolen by criminal networks, and low-income families who rely on these programs for basic medical services. The Strike Force’s west coast expansion makes clear that the Fraud Division will use every available legal tool to identify, investigate, and prosecute these offenses. Members of the public are encouraged to report wrongdoing in the health care industry, and the new Department-wide corporate enforcement policy for criminal matters creates incentives for companies to voluntarily disclose when misconduct occurs.
“DEA’s involvement in the West Coast Fraud Task Force demonstrates our continued commitment to work across government to safeguard the health and safety of our communities. Our message to health care professionals who profit their patients’ pain is clear: if you use your license to harm the public, you will be held accountable,” said Assistant Administrator Cheri Oz, DEA Diversion Control Division. “Whether you are a medical professional who diverts controlled substances, like Adderall or Xanax, or a criminal enterprise that defrauds federal health care programs and private insurers, DEA will continue its pursuit of those who exploit our health care system and poison our communities.”
“The FBI is proud of the work we do to combat health care fraud, and we are eager to continue investigating those who illegally abuse our systems,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This Strike Force allows for further joint actions that will prevent more criminals from lining their pockets at the expense of the American taxpayer. We look forward to playing our part in this whole-of-government approach to combating these schemes.”
“Strike Force partnerships between HHS-OIG, DOJ, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI, and the DEA are a proven force multiplier that utilizes a coordinated and data-driven approach to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting fraud,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “Recent enforcement actions across Arizona, Nevada, and California have revealed emerging threats targeting billions of taxpayer dollars from federal health care programs. Many of these schemes are driven by sham operations designed to appear legitimate while exploiting patients and inflating claims through increasingly sophisticated methods. The expansion of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force ensures that HHS‑OIG can apply our investigative tools and coordinated enforcement capabilities to identify these threats earlier and act with strategic precision.”
The establishment of the West Coast Strike Force builds on the recent expansion of the Strike Force program to the District of Massachusetts and a record-setting year for health care enforcement in 2025—leading the largest ever National Health Care Fraud Takedown, charging more than $15 billion in alleged loss, forfeiting and returning to the public fisc more than $560 million, and bringing four corporate matters. A third-party consulting group analyzed return on investment and showed that the average return on investment (FY21-24) from funding the Health Care Fraud Section by year 10 is $106.76 per $1 spent, and over $4.5 billion in projected savings.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes Organizations, Federal Personnel for their Service to Victims of CrimeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona joined communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 19-25.
As part of that observation, the Office recognized individuals and organizations from Arizona for their dedicated work to support victims of crime. The Salt River Police Department Honor Guard began the ceremony with the posting of the colors. Afterward, U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Macdonald, guest speaker for the event, thanked those in attendance for their commitment to the justice system and for their work with victims.
“The Crime Victims’ Rights Act gives victims the legal right to be heard, to be informed, to be present, and to be treated with fairness and respect," said U.S. Magistrate Judge Macdonald. "These are not courtesies. They are rights—enforceable, codified, and hard won through decades of advocacy by people like all of you in this room.”
“To our survivors,” he said, “Your voice has shaped every reform in this space. Every meaningful change in how this country treats victims of crime has been driven at its core by someone who refused to be silenced. You are not peripheral to this movement. You are its foundation.”
Following the judge’s remarks, U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine and his leadership team recognized the following individuals and advocacy groups for their work in support of victims of crime:
- FBI Victim Specialist Katie Lawler received the Advocacy and Direct Services Award. Katie Lawler was recognized for her commitment to ensuring victims receive essential services, are afforded their rights, and are treated with dignity and respect during periods of vulnerability. She works with compassion and builds trust with victims as an investigation moves forward and eventually enters the federal court system. Her exemplary advocacy and professionalism have been lauded by FBI special agents, victim specialists, and federal prosecutors.
- Team members from Homicide Survivors, Inc. were recognized with the Service Coordination Award. Homicide Survivors, Inc., located in Tucson, advocates for and supports families who have suffered the loss of a loved one to murder. The team provides compassionate, trauma-informed response to survivors, linking families to critical resources and tools to help them in their healing journey. Through their understanding that grieving is a lifelong journey, Homicide Survivors, Inc. has created a safe space for survivors to grieve, heal and transform.
- Julian Garcia, Founder and CEO of the Bryan Brown Foundation, received the Leadership Award. Julian Garcia leads the Bryan Brown Foundation, named after Tohono O’odham Nation Police Officer Bryan Brown, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty as he neared retirement in 2020. For nearly 20 years, Officer Brown was a mentor and leader, believing strongly in community policing and the importance of guiding the next generation toward success. Through the foundation, Garcia, a retired detective for the Tohono O’odham Nation, continues Officer Brown’s mission. Through outreach, to include community gatherings and the Bryan Brown Academy, the foundation seeks to foster youth and leadership development, to promote careers in public service, and to address mental health challenges faced by Native American youth today.
- Vida and Alexus Garbo, founders of the Michael Garbo Foundation, received the Courage in Action Award. Vida, wife of DEA Special Agent Michael Garbo, and their daughter, Alexis, started the Michael Garbo Foundation in 2022 in honor of Agent Garbo after he made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty in 2021. The two women were recognized for the foundation’s work that brings awareness to the devastating effects of drug trafficking on children, families, and the American people. The foundation also offers educational and Jiu-Jitsu scholarships to young people and carries on Agent Garbo’s fight to improve security on public transportation.
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Simon received the Sustained Excellence Award. Assistant U.S. Attorney Simon was recognized for being a driving force and advocate for victims of violent crime in Indian Country, consistently explaining federal court processes and providing dignity to victims and their families. He is often described as empathetic, responsive, relentless, and fair and as an expert at navigating difficult cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Simon values input from victims, their advocates, law enforcement, and other prosecutors.
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Powell and FBI Special Agent L. N. received the Brett Day Legacy Award. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Day was a relentless advocate for exploited children and a steady leader and mentor to young federal prosecutors. The award that was created to carry on his legacy recognizes federal prosecutors and law enforcement who go above and beyond the call of duty, specifically in support of vulnerable victims. Both men were honored for their work during an especially complex murder investigation and prosecution. Withstanding countless challenges, the two men remained persistent and relentless in their pursuit of justice on behalf of the vulnerable victim. They garnered second degree murder convictions in the case, with one defendant being sentenced to 26 years and the other 30 years in federal prison.
In 1981, Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week, putting crime victims' rights, needs and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims.
The Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, supports victim assistance programs and victim compensation programs in every state and U.S. territory. Funds for these programs come from the Crime Victims Fund, which is made up of federal criminal fines and penalties.
Learn more about the Office for Victims of Crime and the assistance it provides for victims here.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-068_National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
District of Arizona Charges 288 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from April 17 through April 24, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 288 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 147 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 113 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 24 cases against 28 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Jesus Jose Alvarez-Ramirez. On April 24, 2026, Jesus Jose Alvarez-Ramirez was charged by criminal complaint with Bringing an Alien to the United States Unlawfully. On April 23, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent responded to a radio call about three individuals traveling near Dateland, Arizona. When the agent approached the group, which included Alvarez-Ramirez, another adult male, and an unaccompanied male juvenile, they were attempting to conceal themselves in brush to avoid detection. Agents determined that Alvarez-Ramirez acted as a foot guide for the group, bringing them from Mexico into the United States. They also learned that Alvarez-Ramirez’s fee for crossing was waived and that he would eventually receive payment for acting as a foot guide. It was determined the three individuals were citizens of Mexico, all unlawfully present in the United States. [Case number: 26-MJ-01328]
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-067_April 24, 2026, Immigration Enforcement
(note PR originally sent out as #068 to media)
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Pinal County Man Sentenced to 129 Months in Prison for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A Pinal County man was sentenced last week in federal court for distribution of child pornography from 2016 to 2017.
James Stacey Porter, 59, was sentenced April 13, 2026, by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 129 months in prison. Porter previously pleaded guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography on Oct. 10, 2025.
“Child Sexual Abuse Material causes significant emotional distress to the children depicted in the images and videos,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Every offender in a file sharing network, like BitTorrent used in this case, is able to grow his collection exponentially with a click of the button at the expense of the minors depicted. We are committed to focusing on not only the producers, but on those who participate in distributing and receiving such illegal materials and bring them to justice.”
“The actions perpetrated by this defendant are reprehensible and will not be tolerated,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge, Rebecca Day. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain resolute in keeping children in our communities safe, and those who prey on children will be pursued, investigated, and held accountable – no matter how long it takes.”
Porter was detected in the BitTorrent file sharing network during a proactive FBI investigation in 2016 through 2017. Law enforcement connected to Porter’s computer in Phoenix, Arizona, and received child pornography files that Porter’s computer was sharing. Porter gave a statement where he admitted to using search terms specific for finding child pornography files. He also stated he had sought out child pornography for several years. Porter was in possession of approximately 3,509 image files and 175 video files of child pornography.
The federal sentence followed a separate conviction in Pinal County Superior Court for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor for a different case, in which he was sentenced in August 2024 to 10 years in prison.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal 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, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The FBI’s Phoenix field office, as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 18-CR-00240
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-066_Porter
(note PR originally sent out as #067 to media)
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Chandler Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for First Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On April 17, 2026, Francisco Juan Acevedo, 35, of Chandler, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to two consecutive life sentences plus additional prison time related to the shooting of three victims.
On Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022, at a family gathering on the Gila River Indian Community, Acevedo shot and killed his uncle, shot and seriously injured another uncle, and shot and seriously wounded a third victim. On Oct. 23, 2025, Acevedo was found guilty at trial of eight charges: one count of First Degree–Premeditated Murder, one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder, two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, three counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and one count of Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
“My thoughts are with the victims of this terrible crime and their families, as they continue to deal with heartbreak and long-term injuries. Mr. Acevedo’s sentence of life in prison is just,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This week is National Crime Victims’ Rights week, where we recognize those affected by unthinkable crimes as well as the individuals who advocate for them. I am especially proud of the dedicated work of Tribal police, special agents, victim specialists, and assistant U.S. attorneys who fight every day to give voice to victims and mete out justice on their behalf.”
"The toll of these crimes has a devastating and long-lasting impact on tribal families,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day. “Collaborating with our partners, FBI Phoenix will continue to aggressively investigate the most serious offenses on tribal lands and pursue justice for victims in Indian Country."
The investigation was conducted by the Gila River Police Department and the FBI’s Phoenix Division. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan and Vinnie Lichvar, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: 22-CR-01040
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-065_Acevedo
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
District of Arizona Charges 240 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from April 11 through April 17, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 240 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 152 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 68 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 17 cases against 19 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border vigilance, and federal prosecutors also charged one defendant for assaulting a Border Patrol agent.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Rae Ashley Paya. Rae Ashley Paya was charged by criminal complaint on April 13, 2026, with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit. On April 11, U.S. Border Patrol agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a suspicious vehicle near Why, Arizona. The driver abruptly stopped before fleeing at a high rate of speed. Agents pursued the vehicle as it reached speeds of 100 mph. About four miles later, the driver abruptly stopped again, and four subjects exited the vehicle and ran. Agents apprehended the subjects. The driver was identified as Rae Ashley Paya. The three other subjects were determined to be citizens of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-04565]
United States v. Jose Ivan Solano-Perez. Jose Ivan Solano-Perez was charged by complaint with Bringing Aliens to the United States Unlawfully, on April 15, 2026. On April 13, U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered multiple individuals at the summit of the Sierra Pinta Mountains near Wellton, Arizona. Agents in a helicopter observed two individuals inside a cave with several tree branches covering the opening and additional individuals further up the mountain. Agents located and apprehended five individuals—including Solano-Perez—all wearing camouflage clothing. Agents learned that Solano-Perez acted as a foot guide, leading the group from Mexico into the United States. Immigration checks confirmed that two of the four individuals traveling with Solano-Perez were citizens of Mexico, one was a citizen in Honduras, and one was a citizen of El Salvador, all unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-1289]
United States v. Carlos John Peters. Carlos John Peters was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens, on April 13, 2026. On April 11, a Pinal County Sheriff’s Office sergeant observed a white Dodge Durango traveling westbound on I-10 near mile marker 207 and conducted a routine registration check on the vehicle. The check showed that the vehicle’s registration was suspended, so the sergeant initiated a traffic stop. When the sergeant approached the vehicle, he observed Peters in the driver’s seat and two individuals asleep in the rear passenger seats. He also saw two camouflage backpacks and a smaller camouflage bag containing camouflage clothing on the floorboard between the front and second row seats of the vehicle. When U.S. Border Patrol agents arrived on the scene, they learned the passengers were citizens of Guatemala, unlawfully present in the United States. Agents also learned that the passengers had crossed into the United States from Mexico and had walked through the desert until they met up with Peters. [Case Number: 26-MJ-3018]
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-064_April 17, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Florida Man Arrested After Traveling to Arizona to Pick up $600,000 in Gold from Victim in Phantom Hacker SchemeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Gary Christopher, 59, of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, was arrested on April 10, and charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to launder money for his role as a courier in a broader fraud scheme that targeted an elderly victim in Phoenix. Christopher made his initial appearance in federal court on April 13.
According to the complaint, Christopher’s co-conspirators contacted the elderly victim, falsely claiming that she was the victim of identity theft. A co-conspirator, impersonating a former United States Attorney, instructed the victim to purchase gold with the funds in her account and turn it over for safekeeping. The victim transferred over $400,000 in assets to the co-conspirators before discovering she had been defrauded. Christopher, acting as a courier, then traveled to Arizona on April 9 to retrieve an additional $600,000 in gold bullion from the victim. Law enforcement intercepted Christopher when he arrived at the victim’s residence to collect the gold. Investigators recovered evidence that Christopher received instructions outlining the steps for picking up and transferring the gold from the victim to a co-conspirator.
FBI’s Phoenix Division is conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adriana Genco, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
Phantom hacker scams and government impersonation scams are increasingly prevalent and disproportionately affect elderly victims. Fraudsters in these schemes typically pose as government agents and pressure victims to act quickly to transfer their money to the perpetrators.
The public is urged to remain vigilant, verify the identity of anyone requesting financial transactions, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately. The government will never call individuals to instruct them to transfer funds to the government without written documentation.
The government will never instruct individuals to transfer assets into gold bullion. The government will never instruct an individual to deliver funds to a “courier” who comes to the individual’s residence. Educating potential victims and their families is a key component in preventing these crimes and minimizing financial harm.
If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, we encourage you to call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time. Services are available for speakers of English, Spanish, and other languages. Victims can also report the fraud to the FBI by filing a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (“IC3”) at https://www.ic3.gov/ by clicking the red “File A Complaint” button. Victims should be sure to include all available information about the scam.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: 26-mj-6086
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-063_Christopher
Peoria Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining $1.8 Million in Tax RefundsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Leslie Victor Gentry, 54, of Peoria, Arizona, pleaded guilty on April 8 to Filing False Claims for Refund. Sentencing is scheduled for July 13, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich.
According to the plea agreement, Gentry knowingly prepared and submitted 14 false Form 941 tax returns for tax years 2020 and 2021. Gentry filed the tax returns on behalf of two businesses that he and his wife owned, but that were not in operation during that time. The tax returns claimed false COVID-related tax credits based on fictitious wages paid to fictitious employees. Gentry admitted that, in reality, the companies did not have any employees and did not pay any of the reported wages. Through the false filings, Gentry fraudulently sought and received more than $1.8 million in COVID-related tax credits.
A conviction for Filing False Claims for Refund carries a maximum term of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and restitution to the IRS.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-00263
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-061_Gentry
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Gun Store Owner Indicted for Aiding and Abetting Straw Purchasing and Failing to Report Cash Payments over $10,000Read the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The owner of Virtus Armament and The Armory, Virtus Armament, a federal firearms licensee (FFL), was indicted last week on charges related to aiding and abetting straw purchases of firearms and failing to report cash transactions over $10,000.
On April 8, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned an 8-count indictment against Esteban Yanez, 34, of Gilbert, Arizona, for False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm, Straw Purchasing of Firearms, and Failure to File Forms 8300 Relating to Cash Received in Trade or Business. Yanez was arraigned April 14.
The indictment alleges that on three occasions, Yanez aided and abetted individuals who knowingly made false statements to Yanez’s FFL when submitting the ATF Form 4473, misrepresenting the actual purchaser of the firearms. In two instances, the firearms were being purchased for an individual convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms. Finally, Yanez is also alleged to have failed to file the IRS Form 8300, reporting the receipt of over $10,000 in a trade or business related to the sale of firearms.
A conviction for False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Straw Purchasing of Firearms carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Failure to File Forms 8300 Relating to Cash Received in Trade or Business carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-00326
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-062_Yanez
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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New York Man Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Launder Proceeds for Scammers Targeting the ElderlyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Ivan Wilbur Seales, 58, a resident of New York and citizen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, was found guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering on Tuesday, following a six-day jury trial.
Seales laundered nearly $1 million in proceeds of a fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims from around the country including Arizona, with numerous victims losing significant portions of their life savings to the scam.
Seals kept a portion of the ill-gotten gains for himself and helped the scammers launder the remaining funds through a maze of financial transactions he conducted either through crypto currency transfers or other financial transfers offshore, to include to India.
The scam organization targeted elderly victims using “phishing attacks” such as fraudulent emails, text messages, pop-ups, or websites impersonating trusted entities like banks and software or tech companies.
Some victims observed a “pop-up” display causing their computer to freeze. These victims were directed to call other scammers who claimed to be representatives of legitimate companies such as Apple or Microsoft. Other victims received “phishing” emails or text messages indicating they had received a charge on their account from Geek squad, PayPal, or an antivirus software company.
These charges never occurred but were sent to the victims to lure them into the scheme. Once the victims called the fraudsters, they were led to believe that these “legitimate companies” erroneously transferred an over-refunded amount to the victims’ bank accounts. As instructed, victims then transferred their own money back to the scammers believing they were returning the scammers the “over-refunded amounts.”
Victims were also lied to and informed that their bank accounts had been hacked or were compromised. Some were also told that money from their bank accounts was directed to child sexual abuse material, pornography, or a gambling site. To further the scam, the fraudsters directed the victims to transfer their money to various locations to “protect” their accounts and/or to “catch” the scammers.
Seales, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, was remanded into custody after the jury’s verdict. Sentencing is set for June 18, 2026.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and New York State Police conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
Learn more about the Justice Department’s efforts to protect older Americans from exploitation here.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-0419
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-059_Seales
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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District of Arizona Charges 171 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from April 4 through April 10, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 171 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 99 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 62 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 10 cases against 10 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Cesar Arturo Herrera-Moreno, Ernesto A. Vargaz-Ramirez. Herrera-Moreno and Vargaz-Ramirez were charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens, on April 4, 2026. On April 2, a Pinal County Sheriff’s sergeant observed a vehicle driving near mile marker 214 on I-10 that had multiple items hanging from the rearview mirror. The sergeant ran a search on the vehicle’s license plate, which indicated the vehicle did not have insurance. The sergeant initiated a vehicle stop, approached the car and observed a driver, Herrera-Moreno; a front seat passenger, Vargaz-Ramirez; and three males in the backseat of the car. When Border Patrol agents arrived on the scene, they noticed camouflage clothing and carpet shoes on the backseat floorboard. Immigration checks confirmed that the passengers were citizens of Mexico and Guatemala, all unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-5144]
United States v. Ernesto Carrillo-Gonzales. Carrillo-Gonzales was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit on April 8, 2026. On April 7, Border Patrol agents conducting surveillance in Nogales, Arizona, observed a subject concealed in the brush less than a mile north of the border. Agents watched the subject run from the brush and get into a vehicle. They followed the vehicle to a Motel 6 and observed both the subject and the driver, later identified as Carrillo-Gonzales, enter a motel room. An hour later, Carrillo-Gonzales drove to an area just north of the border and then returned to the motel room with a second individual. After another hour, Carrillo-Gonzales left and returned to the same motel room with two additional subjects. Twenty minutes later, Carrillo-Gonzales left again and was observed picking up another individual from the brush. He drove briefly before coming to a stop, and the individual got out of the vehicle. Agents apprehended both Carrillo-Gonzales and his passenger and learned that the passenger was a citizen of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. Finally, agents conducted an immigration inspection at the motel room and determined that the individuals inside were citizens of Mexico and Guatemala, all illegally present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-07395]
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-060_April 10, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Printing Manufacturer Agrees to Pay $900,000 in Settlement over Misrepresentations in PPP ApplicationsRead the Press Release
mutoh_america_inc._settlement_agreement.pdfPHOENIX, Ariz. – Mutoh America, Inc. (Mutoh), a manufacturer in the large format printing industry and a technology distributor of drafting machines operating in Arizona, has admitted to making material misrepresentations in its applications to receive and have forgiven a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. Mutoh also agreed to pay $900,000 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by making those material misrepresentations.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief under the CARES Act was the authorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. The PPP was expanded and modified by the Economic Aid Act (EAA) in December 2020 and the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) in March 2021.
ARPA provided new restrictions on PPP loans, including limiting loans to applicants who, together with their domestic and foreign affiliates, collectively employed 300 or fewer persons. ARPA clarified that second draw PPP loans required applicants to include employees working overseas at foreign affiliates in calculating the total number of employees.
Mutoh is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mutoh Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded company in Japan. In the settlement agreement, Mutoh admitted the following facts:
- Together with its foreign affiliates, Mutoh had more than 300 employees at the time of its second PPP loan.
- Mutoh Holdings, Inc., collectively had approximately 684 employees in March 2019, approximately 693 employees in March 2020, and approximately 674 employees in March 2021.
- Mutoh applied for a second draw PPP loan, which Mutoh received on or about March 18, 2021.
- Mutoh did not disclose its affiliated entities’ employees in its computation of the total number of employees on the application as otherwise required.
- Before Mutoh’s application was submitted, a high-ranking Mutoh official seriously doubted Mutoh’s eligibility for the loan but decided to proceed with the application anyway and run the risk of a repayment obligation.
- On or about September 29, 2021, Mutoh applied for forgiveness of the loan, which the SBA later approved.
- The United States was unaware of the misrepresentations regarding the number of employees in Mutoh’s applications to receive the loan and have it forgiven, and these misrepresentations were material to the United States’ decision to pay and forgive Mutoh’s PPP loan in the amount of $584,012.
“The overarching purpose of the PPP was to help people keep their jobs, but some people abused the program and misused taxpayer money,” said Timothy Courchaine, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. “This settlement underscores my office’s continued efforts to pursue recoveries from individuals and businesses that unlawfully took advantage of the federal government’s COVID-19 assistance at the expense of other Americans’ welfare.”
“The favorable settlement in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, other federal law enforcement agencies, as well as financial institutions or private individuals who uncover misconduct to recover the lending program’s damages,” said SBA’s General Counsel Wendell Davis.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Verity Investigations, LLC v. Mutoh America, Inc., CV-25-01647-PHX-SPL (D. Ariz.). Verity Investigations, LLC will receive $90,000 as its share of the settlement.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs or any other potential fraud against the federal government can be reported here. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form, which can be found here.
CASE NUMBER: CV-25-01647-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-058_Mutoh America, Inc.
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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District of Arizona Charges 226 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from March 28 through April 3, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 226 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 117 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 95 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 14 cases against 14 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Porfirio Astorga-Rivera. Astorga-Rivera was charged by criminal complaint on April 1, 2026, with Bringing an Alien to the United States Unlawfully for Profit. On March 31, Border Patrol agents were alerted to the presence of a potential group of illegal aliens near Tule Road in Wellton, Arizona. The agents apprehended three individuals, including Astorga- Rivera, attempting to conceal themselves and wearing camouflage clothing and carpet shoes. Agents learned that Astorga-Rivera led the group through an opening in the border wall and that he would receive $1,000 per illegal alien he led into the country. Astorga-Rivera and the two other individuals are citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-1255]
United States v. Idefonso Beltran-Aispuro. Beltran-Aispuro was charged by criminal complaint on April 1, 2026, with Bringing an Alien to the United States Unlawfully for Profit. On March 30, a Border Patrol agent discovered a group of five individuals wearing camouflage clothing and carrying camouflage backpacks between the Cabeza Prieta Mountains and Copper Mountains in Wellton, Arizona. Border Patrol agents apprehended four of the individuals in brush and later located Beltran-Aispuro hiding in a tree. Agents learned that Beltran-Aispuro guided the group of four into the United States and that he was promised $1,000 per individual he led into the country. [Case Number 26-MJ-1248]
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-057_April 3, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Puerto Rican Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Role in a Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jefte Monell Diaz, 28, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, was sentenced on Tuesday by Chief U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 60 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Diaz previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
On July 1, 2024, Diaz and his co-conspirators traveled from Tucson to Phoenix with approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine, which they intended to deliver to another individual that evening. Diaz was indicted for his role in the conspiracy on Aug. 21, 2024.
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.
Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This HSTF Tucson led investigation comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS). Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-5415
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-056_Auz-Vasquez, et al.
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Tuba City Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Wyatt Op Maloney, 24, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced on March 26, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 144 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Maloney previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
On July 14, 2023, Maloney assaulted the victim by striking and kicking him multiple times in the head and face, causing the victim to sustain fatal blunt force trauma injuries. Maloney, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted the victim in Tuba City on the Navajo Nation. The victim was also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
The FBI Phoenix office in Flagstaff and the Navajo Nation Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina J. Reid-Moore, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-08099-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-053_Maloney
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Peoria Tax Preparer Indicted for Preparing Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On March 17, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a tax preparer in Peoria, Arizona, with 17 counts of tax evasion.
Butoyi Mechack, 38, of Peoria, is charged with three counts of Making and Subscribing a False Tax Return and 14 counts of Willfully Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation of False or Fraudulent Tax Returns.
According to the indictment, from 2019 to 2023, Mechack prepared and assisted in the preparation of numerous false and fraudulent tax returns on behalf of clients of his business, PTPS Tax Services, LLC. In helping prepare these returns, Mechack overstated and misrepresented tax credits, deductions, income, and expenses to fraudulently reduce the taxpayers’ tax liability and claim refund amounts to which they were not entitled. Mechack also filed individual tax returns for himself for tax years 2021, 2022, and 2023, that substantially underreported his income.
Mechack’s arraignment was held on March 26, where he pleaded not guilty to charges and was released on conditions.
A conviction for Making and Subscribing a False Tax Return carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. A conviction for Willfully Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation of False or Fraudulent Tax Returns carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Rapp, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
As we head into the final weeks of tax season, IRS Criminal Investigation wants to remind the public to protect themselves when choosing a tax preparer. Keep these tips in mind:
- Be wary of tax return preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than others can.
- Avoid tax return preparers who base their fees on a percentage of the refund or who offer to deposit all or part of your refund into their financial accounts.
- Ensure you use a preparer with a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Paid tax return preparers must have a PTIN to prepare all or substantially all of a tax return.
- Use a reputable tax professional who enters his or her PTIN on the tax return, signs the tax return, and provides you a copy of the return (as required).
- Consider whether the individual or firm will be around for months or years after filing the return to answer questions about the preparation of the tax return.
- Never sign a blank tax form.
- Good preparers will ask to see your records and receipts. They’ll also ask questions to determine your total income, tax deductions and credits.
- Check the preparer’s history. Taxpayers can ask the local Better Business Bureau about the preparer.
- Check the preparer’s credentials. Only attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents can represent taxpayers before the IRS in all matters, including audits, collections, and appeals. Other tax return preparers who participate in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program have limited practice rights to represent taxpayers for audits of returns they prepared and signed. See Annual Filing Season Program for more information.
CASE NUMBER: CR-26-00247-PHX-KML (JZB)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-054_Mechack
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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