District of Arizona

Today, the Department of Justice is monitoring polling sites in three Arizona counties for the state’s primary election to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law.

The Department, through the Civil Rights Division, enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. The Department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities across the country.

“The Department of Justice today continues to monitor elections consistently and in a uniform fashion nationwide, ensuring our elections are safe and secure,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice department’s Civil Rights Division. “Transparent election processes and election monitoring are critical tools for safeguarding our elections and ensuring public trust in the integrity of our elections. We appreciate Arizona’s cooperation in these important procedural safeguards.”

“Our democracy depends on free and fair elections,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “My office is pleased to be leading efforts to ensure election integrity for Arizona voters. Today’s monitoring effort is a critical piece of that.”

The Department is currently monitoring polls in Maricopa, Apache, and Pima counties with DOJ staff from the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section and Arizona’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.

This initiative is aimed at promoting transparency and an open flow of communication between poll observers and election monitors. Election officials in these three counties issued letters to DOJ personnel — giving them credentials to observe vote-casting procedures at various poll sites. Such communication ensures both election security and appropriate access to the franchise for all Americans.

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.

From now and up to Election Day on Nov. 3, 2026, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws. If you would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at [email protected], and the Civil Rights Division will determine whether monitoring is warranted.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from July 11 through July 17, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 279 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 56 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 206 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 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. Braulio Espinoza. On July 11, 2026, Braulio Espinoza was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On July 9, 2026, a Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper initiated at traffic stop on a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The driver, Braulio Espinoza, did not have his driver’s license. After speaking with Espinoza, the trooper suspected that he was engaged in alien smuggling. Border Patrol was called to the scene and determined that the two passengers in Espinoza’s vehicle were citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. One of the passengers was an unaccompanied minor. [Case Number: 26-MJ-6256]

United States v. Ionut Calciu. On July 11, 2026, Ionut Calciu was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Calciu had been previously removed from the United States on December 17, 2025 after being convicted of Unlawful use of Unauthorized Access Devices in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Central District of California. In that case, he was sentenced to 9 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release. [Case Number: 26-MJ-6265]

The 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:    2026-123_July 17, 2026 Immigration Enforcement

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Mario JB Juan, 39 years old, of Sells, Arizona, pleaded guilty on June 26, to one count of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 8, 2026, before United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez.

Juan admitted that in 2015, he knowingly engaged in sexual contact with the victim, who was under the age of 12 at the time. Juan was employed at the Head Start Program in Sells at the time.

A conviction for Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. 

Anyone with information regarding this defendant or who may have also been a victim of this defendant is encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov. 

The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            25-CR-01242-TUC-AMM
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-121_Juan 

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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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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Andre Anthony Miller, 33, of Parker, Ariz., was sentenced on June 23, by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 336 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Miller previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder. 

On February 18, 2024, on the Colorado River Indian Tribes (“CRIT”) Reservation, Miller shot the victim, who was a former intimate partner, in front of the victim’s minor children. The victim sustained life-threatening injuries from the shooting, including quadriplegia. Approximately eleven months later, the victim died from her injuries. Both Miller and the victim are enrolled CRIT members.

The FBI’s Phoenix Division and the CRIT Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina J. Reid-Moore, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. 

CASE NUMBER:            24-CR-00743-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-119_Miller

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Carlos Jobany Castaneda Lechuga, 38, of Laredo, Texas, pleaded guilty yesterday to five counts of Producing Child Pornography involving five minor age girls. Sentencing is scheduled for September 15, 2026, before United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa. Lechuga has been detained in federal custody since his arrest in December 2024.

During the change of plea hearing, Lechuga admitted that between 2013 and 2019, he taught mariachi music classes at a school and gave private music lessons at his home in Phoenix, Arizona. The victims were students who came to his home for private music lessons. During this period, when each of the girls was between the ages of 6 – 11 years old, Lechuga recorded videos and images that showed him undressing, touching, and exposing the girls’ nude genitalia to the camera. In December 2024, the FBI located five video recordings on the dark web showing two of the identified girls. 

A conviction for Producing Child Pornography carries a minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum penalty of 30 years, and a possible $250,000 fine. 

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC coordinates federal, state, and local resources to investigate, prosecute, and rescue victims. For more investigation, visit www.justice.gov/psc. 

The FBI’s Phoenix Division and Phoenix Police Department conducted the investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            25-CR-00025-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-120_Lechuga

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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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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from June 27 through July 2, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 325 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 101 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 196 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 20 cases against 26 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 two defendants for assaulting Border Patrol agents.

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. Davis Cabanillas-Flores. On June 29, 2026, Davis Cabanillas-Flores, was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cabanillas-Flores had been previously removed from the United States in 2021. In June 2019, he was convicted of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Five Kilograms or More of Cocaine while on Board a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States, in the Middle District of Florida. In that case, Cabanillas-Flores was sentenced to 46 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. [26-MJ-08245]

United States v. Humberto Roman-Tapia. On June 30, 2026, Humberto Roman-Tapia was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On June 28, 2026, Border Patrol agents initiated a traffic stop on a Honda Accord traveling westbound on I-40. Agents determined that the driver, Humberto Roman-Tapia, was a citizen of Mexico with an employment authorization card. The three passengers in the car were citizens of Mexico with no legal documentation to be present in the United States. [26-MJ-01551]

The 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:    2026-117_July 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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TUCSON, Ariz. – Joe Martin Cruz, Jr., 20, of San Pedro, CA, was sentenced on June 23, by United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez to 60 months in prison. Cruz previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Assault on a Federal Officer and one count of Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit. 

On January 14, 2025, Cruz transported four illegal aliens near Arivaca, AZ. When Border Patrol began following Cruz, he stopped his vehicle and the aliens bailed out. Cruz then sped off at a high rate of speed. During his flight from law enforcement, Cruz intentionally crashed his vehicle into a Border Patrol vehicle occupied by two agents who were traveling in the opposing lane of travel. 

Vehicle crash data and scene evidence showed that at the time of the collision, Cruz had the accelerator pedal pushed to 100%. Immediately before the collision, he turned his wheel to the left, crossing the lane divider and colliding with the victim agents’ vehicle. Despite the agents’ efforts to avoid the collision, their vehicle was violently struck by Cruz. The force caused the rear axle to be sheared off and spun the agents’ vehicle off the road and into the brush. The agents sustained several injuries during the collision. Cruz then fled on foot through the desert but was eventually caught by law enforcement. 

Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol and Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Amlee, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. 

CASE NUMBER:            25-CR-00980-TUC-AMM
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-118_Cruz

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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, Ariz. – Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, California, pleaded guilty today to two counts of Harassment Using a Telecommunication Device. Sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2026, before United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker. 

In his plea, Callella admitted that he called and sent text messages to a missing person’s family on Feb. 4, 2026, which asked about a bitcoin transfer. Callella acknowledged that he knew an earlier ransom demand had been made. Callella also admitted that his actions were meant to harass the family by seeking information about the investigation into the missing person’s disappearance. 

A conviction for Harassment Using a Telecommunication Device carries a maximum penalty of  two years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, and one year of supervised release.

The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office is conducting the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. 

CASE NUMBER:            26-CR-00940-TUC-JCH
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-116_Callella

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Mark Craythorn Thompson, 63, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced on June 25, by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 60 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Thompson previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl. 

As part of this conspiracy, Thompson picked up a package in Detroit, Michigan on September 28, 2023, that contained 997.3 grams of powdered fentanyl. The package had been shipped to Michigan from Arizona in the U.S. Mail, and Thompson intended to deliver the fentanyl to individuals in the Detroit metro area. 

This prosecution 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 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 (DEA), U.S. Marshals Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, and various local and state law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. 

CASE NUMBER:            23-CR-2465-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-115_Thompson

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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, Ariz. – Miguel Martinez-Meraz, 56, of Rancho San Felipe, Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced last week by United States Chief District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 72 months in prison. Martinez-Meraz previously pleaded guilty to Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit and Reentry of a Removed Alien.  

On January 16, 2025, Martinez-Meraz was apprehended by United States Border Patrol agents in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. At the time of his arrest, Martinez-Meraz was with a Chinese national who was unlawfully present in the United States. During the investigation, agents located the Chinese national’s brother who had been left behind in the desert. Martinez-Meraz admitted that he served as a foot guide for the two migrants through the desert near Ajo, Arizona. One of the migrants told agents that Martinez-Meraz beat his brother and held him at knifepoint to force him to continue moving. 

Martinez-Meraz committed these offenses while under supervised release for a previous conviction. 

Agents from United States Border Patrol-Ajo Station conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arturo Aguilar, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. 

CASE NUMBER:            CR-25-00975-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-114_Martinez-Meraz

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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, Ariz. – Last week, Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, also known as, “Dada Joe Remix,” a citizen of Ghana, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, a felony. Boateng was arrested in Ghana on an extradition warrant on May 27, 2025. In June 2025, Boateng was extradited to the United States, and he has remained in custody since his arrest. 

In his plea agreement, Boateng admitted that he and his co-conspirators engaged in a romance and inheritance fraud scheme from 2013 through March 2023, targeting the elderly from Arizona and around the United States. The co-conspirators pretended to be romantically involved with the victims through online dating sites, text, or other electronic communications. The co-conspirators also falsely represented that they had received an “inheritance” of gold and jewels and that to release such items to the victims, taxes and other fees would be required. 

In addition to pleading guilty, Boateng agreed to pay restitution totaling approximately $4.4 million dollars, which was the direct loss caused by his involvement in the scheme. Boateng’s sentencing is scheduled for September 8, 2026, before United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez. 

The FBI Phoenix Division’s Sierra Vista office conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Arizona, Tucson is handling the prosecution. The following partners provided essential support for the extradition: FBI Legal Attaché in Accra, Ghana; the Office of Attorney General and Ministry of Justice; the Republic of Ghana’s Economic and Organized Crime Office, Ghana Police Services – INTERPOL, and the Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs.

CASE NUMBER:            23-CR-00695-TUC-AMM
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-113_Boateng

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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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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Syed Haider Najib, 30, of Phoenix, was sentenced on June 22, by Senior United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 22 months in prison. Najib previously pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, an Alien Illegally and Unlawfully in the United States. 

Najib, who is originally from Afghanistan, has been illegally and unlawfully present in the United States since at least March 8, 2018, when his asylum application to remain in the United States permanently was denied and a final order of removal was issued by a United States Immigration Judge. Because of conditions in Afghanistan, Najib was ordered removed to a third country. A third country could not be found for him, so he was released from custody. However, as he is still illegally and unlawfully present in the United States, Najib is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. 

In 2023, FBI special agents discovered photographs and videos of Najib with a firearm on a social media site. During a search of Najib’s home and car in October 2023, agents from FBI and HSI discovered an AR15-style rifle, a high-capacity magazine, and more than 175 rounds of ammunition in his car. As part of his plea agreement with the government, Najib agreed to forfeit the rifle and abandon the ammunition. 

The FBI’s Phoenix Division, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-23-1445-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-112_Najib

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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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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from June 19 through June 26, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 365 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 149 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 188 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 22 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. Hernan Roberto Acosta-Valdez. On June 23, Hernan Roberto Acosta-Valdez was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On June 22, a Border Patrol agent observed a driver of white GMC truck swerving while driving north on State Route 85. The agent attempted to conduct a vehicle stop for an immigration inspection, but the driver failed to yield and instead sped up, eventually crashing into a ditch 20 yards off the roadway. The agents then observed the driver, Acosta-Valdez, and the five other passengers flee the vehicle. Four of the passengers were wearing camouflage clothing. Officers apprehended five of the six occupants, including Acosta-Valdez. All five subjects were determined to be citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-5260]

United States v. Mauricio Loza-Rivera. On June 25, Mauricio Loza-Rivera, was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Mauricio Loza-Rivera had been previously removed from the United States in 2018. In 2015, he was convicted of Possession/Purchase for sale Narcotic/Controlled Substance, in the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County. Loza-Rivera was sentenced to 180 days of incarceration and three years of probation. [Case Number: 26-MJ-05280]

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:    2026-111_June 26, 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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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Hector Delacruz, 36, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Krissa M. Lanham to concurrent prison sentences of 300 months and 120 months for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. 

The underlying convictions stem from Delacruz’s involvement in a conspiracy focused on the sale of more than 19 pounds of methamphetamine in West Phoenix on September 26, 2023. On October 20, 2025, a federal jury convicted Delacruz for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. The jury also found that Delacruz had committed two prior serious drug offenses. 

“Delacruz’s 25-year sentence reflects his repeated disregard for the law and the devasting effects that methamphetamine 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 enforcement agencies, will continue the fight to dismantle organizations that distribute these deadly drugs into our communities.”

“In protecting our communities, DEA Arizona is never out of the fight and will continue to be tenacious in dismantling organizations that are distributing these deadly drugs,” said Apolonio Ruiz, Jr., DEA Phoenix Special Agent in Charge. 

“This sentence sends a clear message: those who endanger our communities will be held accountable,” said William Mack, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Office. “Through strong partnerships with our federal, state, and local counterparts—and by leveraging our unique technical and investigative capabilities—we remain committed to bringing to justice those who threaten the safety of the people of Arizona.” 

“Violent crime and Illicit drug trafficking go hand-in-hand,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge A. J. Gibes. "This significant sentence exemplifies how our combined partnerships give us the collective power to target, convict, and remove violent criminals from our communities and hold them accountable.”

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Glendale Police Department, the United States Secret Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. 

CASE NUMBER:            CR-23-01374-002-PHX
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-109_Delacruz

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Jorge Luis Castro-Mercado, 51, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, was arrested earlier this month by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nogales Special Agents as he tried to cross the border into the United States from Mexico. Castro-Mercado faces federal charges related to drug trafficking from an indictment in March.

On March 11, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a 12-count indictment against Castro-Mercado, for operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise; Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine; Conspiracy to Import Fentanyl and Methamphetamine; Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments; three counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Aiding and Abetting; three counts of Importation of Fentanyl; Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Aiding and Abetting, and Importation of Methamphetamine. 

The indictment alleges that Castro-Mercado was a principal leader of a drug trafficking enterprise that involved the importation and distribution of dangerous drugs into the United States from Mexico. The law that prohibits the operation of a continuing criminal enterprise is known as the “kingpin” statute. As charged in the indictment, this crime carries a mandatory penalty of life in prison. 

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 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 Valley Police Department, Marana Police Department, and Arizona HIDTA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Lizano, District of Arizona, 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-01041-TUC-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-108_Castro-Mercado

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PHOENIX, Ariz – William Wilson, 56, of Buckeye, Arizona, was sentenced on June 15, by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to ten months in prison for aiming a laser pointer at U.S. Air Force F-35 Fighter Jets. 

“Military pilots risk their lives to protect Americans. They should not have to worry about threats from people on the ground when they are training here at home,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Interfering with any aircraft is dangerous and the United States Attorney’s Office can and will protect our pilots by bringing bad actors to justice.”

“Directing a laser pointer at aircraft of any kind, much less an F-35 Air Force fighter jet, is extremely dangerous and a federal felony,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day. “The FBI advises people to think twice before committing this crime because we’re focused on identifying and investigating people who do, and a federal prosecution could lead you straight to prison.”

“Interfering with aircraft by pointing lasers or any other means is dangerous and illegal. It puts the safety of the aircrew, passengers, and everyone on the ground in jeopardy,” said Special Agent Keith M. Daniels, Senior Enlisted Leader, AFOSI Detachment 421. “The Air Force Office of Special Investigations will continue to partner with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to hold offenders accountable for their actions.”

Wilson struck multiple United States Air Force F-35 jets training in the airspace around Luke Air Force Base with lasers between September 2024 and January 2025. On the night of January 8, 2025, an FBI surveillance plane captured video of the laser strikes coming from Wilson’s residence in Buckeye. Pilots of the FBI plane and of two F-35 jets were all struck by lasers that night. Wilson’s home was later searched, and two lasers, one red and one green, were found in his possession. Wilson admitted to agents that he had pointed the lasers at planes on several occasions. 

On July 29, 2025, Wilson was indicted on four counts of Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft. Wilson later pleaded guilty to two of the counts. 

The FBI’s Phoenix Division and Air Force Office of Special Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abbie Broughton, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. 

CASE NUMBER:            CR-25-00391-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-110_Wilson

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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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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Earlier this month, Ernest Larry Tabaha, 65, of Fort Defiance, AZ, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 87 months in prison, followed by 180 months of supervised release. Tabaha previously pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a teenager on the Navajo Nation. 

In 2024, Tabaha provided alcohol to a teenaged girl until she became highly intoxicated and passed out. Tabaha then engaged in a sexual act with the victim while she was unconscious. Tabaha is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. 

The FBI Phoenix Division’s Flagstaff office and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-25-8028-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-106_Tabaha

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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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PHOENIX, Ariz. – A federal grand jury in Phoenix yesterday returned an indictment against Kevin Charles Pyles, 33, of Glendale, Arizona for the Intentional Defacement of Religious Real Property.

The indictment alleges that Pyles defaced Sha’arei Shalom Congregation, a synagogue in Phoenix, on July 11, 2025. On that day, Pyles posted an antisemitic flyer on the synagogue’s front door. Pyles had previously pleaded guilty to Attempted Making and Communicating a Terrorism Threat in Maricopa County Superior Court. Those charges related to online threats Pyles made targeting the Jewish community and Sha’arei Shalom Congregation. 

“This indictment is a message to the community – we will not tolerate the defacement or destruction of any house of worship,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.  “Members of the Arizona community should feel free to worship without the fear of harassment.” 

“Every Arizonan has the right to feel safe in his or her community,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day. “For this reason, investigating hate crimes is one of the FBI’s highest priorities and this office along with our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our pursuit of offenders.”

“Everyone who calls Phoenix home, and everyone who visits our city, deserves to feel welcome and safe. Acts that target or intimidate any part of our community undermine the values we stand for,” said Phoenix Police Department Chief Matt Giordano. “The Phoenix Police Department takes these crimes seriously, and we remain committed to working with our partners to protect our community.”

A conviction for Intentional Defacement of Religious Real Property carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine, or both.

The FBI’s Phoenix Division and the Phoenix Police Department are handling the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Goldberg and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Rehrig for the District of Arizona are handling the prosecution, in conjunction with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. 

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-26-00688-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-107_Pyles

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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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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, McRenoisen Morales Sagina, 57, of St. Michaels, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 31 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. On March 18, 2026, a federal jury convicted Sagina of one count of Sexual Abuse by Threat, two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact by Threat, and three counts of Sexual Abuse Without Consent. 

The evidence at trial showed that between Jan. 2025 and March 10, 2025, Sagina, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, sexually abused a 17-year-old on the Navajo Nation Reservation, in St. Michaels, Arizona. As part of the abuse, Sagina, who served as a medicine man on the Navajo Nation Reservation, threatened the victim with witchcraft and violence. Sagina’s threats included pointing a shotgun at the victim to make her take her clothes off.       

The FBI Phoenix Division’s Gallup Office and the Navajo Nation Criminal Investigator’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Genevieve A. Ozark and Tracy Van Buskirk, District of Arizona, Phoenix, prosecuted the case.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-25-08052-PCT-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-104_Sagina

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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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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Guy Galanti, 48, an Israeli citizen who resided in Scottsdale, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday to time served with three years of supervised release by United States District Judge G. Murray Snow. Galanti was previously charged for Conspiring to Steal a Trade Secret on September 10, 2025, and was arrested the following day. Galanti has been in custody since his arrest. He pleaded guilty to Conspiring to Steal a Trade Secret on May 26, 2026. 

Galanti worked as a senior level manager for Green Technology Investments (GTI) in Scottsdale, Arizona. GTI is based in Arizona and is in the business of servicing semiconductor testing machines and selling remanufactured semiconductor testing machines with new functionalities designed by GTI. 

Beginning sometime in early January 2025, and continuing to August 2025, Galanti conspired with another individual to steal GTI’s newly created Glass Detect Design, which would allow a semiconductor testing machine to locate microscopic defects on a semiconductor wafer made of glass instead of silicon material. Galanti’s co-conspirator sought to recreate GTI’s new design as he operated a Taiwanese company that directly competed with GTI. 

Over the course of several months, Galanti secretly sent photos of GTI’s Glass Detect Design, information, and software, to his co-conspirator in an effort to recreate GTI’s proprietary system. To conceal their interactions, Galanti and his co-conspirator communicated over an encrypted messaging system, deleted emails and transaction data sent from Galanti’s work email, and created fictitious invoices to document the transfer and potential payment of funds to Galanti. 

The FBI’s Phoenix Division conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raymond K. Woo and Matthew Williams, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. 

CASE NUMBER:            CR-25-1391-PHX-GMA
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-103_Galanti

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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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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Alejandro Montemayor, 33, of Chandler, Arizona pleaded guilty earlier this month to Aiding and Abetting a False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm and Failure to File a Report Related to Currency. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17, 2026, before United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich. 

Montemayor admitted that between Jan. 6, 2022 and May 29, 2024, he operated and ran AV AZ Firearms, a Federal Firearms Licensee in Phoenix. During that time, he facilitated the straw purchase of firearms and later transferred at least 72 of those firearms to other individuals.

One example of Montemayor’s criminal acts took place on May 22, 2024, when he allowed and encouraged an individual to commit the crime of False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm by showing them how to fill out the forms required for purchasing a firearm. Montemayor directed the individual to attest he was the true purchaser of the firearm, even though Montemayor knew that was false. Montemayor then gave the firearm to a third individual. 

Montemayor also failed to file reports with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for sales greater than $10,000. In total, Montemayor admitted that he failed to file 15 such reports between Feb. 23, 2024 and May 14, 2024, accounting for over $258,000 in proceeds.

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 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. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Goldberg and Sheila Phillips, District of Arizona, are handling the prosecution. 

CASE NUMBER:            26-CR-00501-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-102_Montemayor

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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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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Today, United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine announced criminal charges against four defendants in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health care programs of over $1.2 billion. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. 

“The billions of dollars of fraud highlighted in today’s announcement should shock and anger every American,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “We must protect our valuable federal health care programs from exploitation by criminals. The message from the success of this takedown is clear – the United States government will protect taxpayer dollars and will prosecute those who seek to defraud our country.”

The charges announced today by U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. Today’s Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms.   

Today’s coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:

• Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers.
• 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers.
• Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million.
• 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025.

The following individuals were charged in the District of Arizona: 

• Susie Kamien, 55, of West Chester, Illinois, was charged by information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with submitting over $918 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for amniotic wound allografts. As alleged in the information, Kamien was a medical biller who submitted claims to Medicare for allografts that were medically unreasonable and unnecessary, and procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Shane Butland and William Hochul III of the National Rapid Response Strike Force and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Williams of the District of Arizona.
• Jimmy Muyumbu, 38, formerly of Glendale, Arizona, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to launder money, and money laundering, in connection with an alleged scheme involving a substance abuse treatment clinic in Arizona that billed Arizona Medicaid over $44 million. As alleged in the indictment, Muyumbu owned and operated an outpatient treatment center called Motherland Counseling LLC (“Motherland”) in Phoenix, Arizona, which was purportedly in the business of providing addiction treatment services for vulnerable patients suffering from alcohol and drug addiction. Muyumbu enrolled Motherland as a provider with Arizona’s Medicaid agency, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (“AHCCCS”). Muyumbu sought out patients enrolled in AHCCCS’s  American Indian Health Program, a fee-for-service program for Native American AHCCCS members. Muyumbu and his co-conspirators exploited these patients by submitting approximately $44,920,644 in false and fraudulent claims to AHCCCS for services that were not provided, were not provided as billed, were so substandard that they failed to serve a treatment purpose, were not used as part of or integrated into any treatment plan, were tainted by illegal kickbacks and bribes, and, in some cases, were medically unnecessary. AHCCCS paid approximately $36,678,016 based on these fraudulent claims. Muyumbu then laundered the fraudulent proceeds by purchasing real estate in the greater Phoenix area. The government seized approximately $104,463 in proceeds from Muyumbu’s alleged fraud scheme. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Sarah Edwards and Assistant Chief Jim Hayes of the National Rapid Response Strike Force and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Williams of the District of Arizona. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Bozdech is handling the forfeiture aspects of the case.
• Sandra Peters, 45, of Saint Johns, Florida, was charged by information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with over $10 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for amniotic wound allografts. As alleged in the information, Peters was a sales representative who ordered and recommended allografts that were medically unreasonable and unnecessary, and procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Shane Butland and William Hochul III of the National Rapid Response Strike Force and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Williams of the District of Arizona.
• Brian Rowan, 47, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay health care kickbacks, paying health care kickbacks, and transactional money laundering, in connection with a $1.2 billion wound allograft scheme. As alleged in the Indictment, Rowan, the Vice President of Sales for a company that sold expensive amniotic wound allografts, caused hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks, bribes, and rebates to be paid to sales representatives and medical providers throughout the country to unlawfully induce purchases of the company’s allografts. Rowan and his co-conspirators concealed these kickbacks and bribes by issuing sham sales invoices to providers in amounts that exceeded the providers’ actual cost of the allografts and directing providers to use the amounts reflected on those invoices for Medicare reimbursement, thereby inflating Medicare’s reimbursements and concealing the providers’ undisclosed and unreported profits. Rowan and his co-conspirators further concealed the kickbacks and bribes by using pass-through bank accounts associated with a shell company to funnel the illegal kickbacks and bribes to providers in exchange for purchasing the company’s allografts. Induced by these unlawful financial incentives, sales representatives and providers targeted elderly patients, many of whom were terminally ill in hospice care, and caused medically unreasonable and unnecessary allografts to be applied to these vulnerable patients. Between December 2021 and June 2024, Rowan and his co-conspirators caused the submission of $1.2 billion in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, TRICARE, CHAMPVA, and commercial insurers, of which approximately $614 million was paid. Rowan personally made over $24 million, which he used to purchase multi-million-dollar houses, million-dollar life insurance policies, luxury vehicles, and luxury watches. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Shane Butland and William Hochul III of the National Rapid Response Strike Force, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Williams of the District of Arizona.

The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virigina participated in the investigation of federal cases announced today.

Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.

The District of Arizona, in particular, worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division and the following law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the Takedown: the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of War Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

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.

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CASE NUMBER:           U.S. v. Susie Kamien CR-26-0676-PHX-KML
                                       U.S. v. Jimmy Muyumbu CR-26-0668-PHX-DJH
                                       U.S. v. Sandra Peters CR-26-0673-PHX-SMB                 
                                       U.S. v. Brian Rowan CR-26-0660-PHX-DGC

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-105_National Health Care Fraud Takedown

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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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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Edgar Giovany Baca-Anaya, 27, of Mesa, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 120 months in prison, followed by 96 months of supervised release. Baca-Anaya previously pleaded guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl and admitted that the distribution resulted in the death of another person.  
    
On June 23, 2019, in Mesa, Arizona, a man was found deceased in his apartment from an apparent drug overdose. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner confirmed the cause of death was fentanyl toxicity. Through their investigation, law enforcement agents learned that the victim contacted Baca-Anaya through Facebook Messenger and obtained fentanyl from him shortly before overdosing. 

Fentanyl is a man-made opioid 50 times more potent than heroin. Just two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially deadly dose. Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, appearing nearly identical to other prescription pills, are often sold through social media or other illegitimate sources. 

Legitimate pharmaceutical pills cannot be bought through social media. The only safe medications are ones prescribed directly to you by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. For additional information and resources, including a Caregivers Fact Sheet, visit DEA.gov/onepill.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Forsyth (N. Dist. Ga.), Brandon M. Brown, and William H. Bryan, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-22-01041-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-100_Baca-Anaya

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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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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from June 13 through June 18, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 330 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 153 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 148 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 25 cases against 29 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).

The 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:    2026-101_June 19, 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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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

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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

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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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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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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, 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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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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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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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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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/

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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:

1. 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.
2. 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/

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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/

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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.