District of Columbia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Previously Convicted Murderer is Re-Arrested and Arraigned for the Killing of an Elderly ManRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Randall Cornell Mack, 42, of Washington, D.C., was arrested September 2, 2025 and arraigned yesterday on an indictment charging him with conspiracy, robbery while armed, first-degree murder while armed (felony murder), possession of a firearm during crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction), stemming from the May 2, 2025, killing of Steven Stewart, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Mack, along with his co-defendant Phillip Palmer were indicted on August 6, 2025. Co-defendant Palmer was previously arrested on this indictment on August 21, 2025.
Mack appeared September 3, 2025, before Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman where he pleaded not guilty. A detention hearing is set for September 19, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. for both Mack and Palmer.
According to the government’s evidence, on May 2, 2025, at approximately 12:44 p.m., Mack and Palmer are alleged to have entered 61-year-old Steven Stewart’s apartment inside 633 21st Street NE, robbed him and then shot him multiple times at close range. Mr. Stewart was a vulnerable victim who had to use a wheelchair and/or walker for trips beyond his apartment.
Mack has a previous murder conviction from 2010, where his probation was revoked in 2011, and he was sentenced to 12-36 years. Mack was paroled for the murder in 2019, and his parole was revoked in 2024, but he was later released on parole again allowing him the opportunity to kill Mr. Stewart. Mack was to be supervised on parole through 2037.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Dinan.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Caregiver Who Abused Vulnerable Adult in His Care Gets SentencedRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Fouodzing Mbord, 49, of Maryland, was sentenced today in Superior Court for the physical abuse of a vulnerable adult in his care in November 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Mbord pleaded guilty on August 29, 2025, to one count of abuse of a vulnerable adult – injure or threat to injure. The government asked that the defendant be ordered to serve 180 days in jail. However, Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur ordered 180 days in jail but suspended the sentence in full and placed the defendant on probation for one year.
According to the government’s evidence, Mbord was a home health aide who was caring for the victim, a vulnerable adult, who needed 24-hour care due to his inability to care for himself. On November 19, 2023, Metropolitan Police Officers were called to the victim’s apartment in the 100 block of I Street, SE, for a report of the abuse of a vulnerable adult who was bedridden after suffering a stroke. When officers arrived at the residence they met with the victim’s sister. She explained that she installed security cameras in the victim’s home after being concerned about her brother’s welfare.
The security camera footage showed that on November 12, 2023, the defendant struck the victim on his backside while cleaning him. After seeing the footage, the victim’s sister asked the defendant why he struck her brother. He said that the victim passed gas in his face while he was cleaning him. He also threatened to do it again if the victim continued the behavior. Then, on November 16, 2023, the victim’s sister, while viewing the security camera, observed the defendant raised his hand up high and strike the victim, who was completely naked at the time.
Mbord was arrested on November 20, 2023.
Joining in the announcement was Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas of the D.C. Office of the Inspector General (D.C.-OIG).
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Inspector General Lucas commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, the DC OIG’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They also acknowledged Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmanuela Charles, who prosecuted the case, while on detail from the DC-OIG.
U.S. Seizes 300,000 Kilos of Meth Precursor Chemicals Sent from China Destined for Mexico’s Sinaloa Drug CartelRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – More than 300,000 kilograms of chemicals used to produce methamphetamine and intended for clandistine labs controlled by the Sinaloa Drug Cartel in Mexico were seized this week by agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at the Port of Houston, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Acting Director Todd Lyons of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“This is the largest seizure of precursor chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine in U.S. history,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “China was sending over 700,000 pounds on the high seas to the Sinaloa Cartel before my office seized them. Because President Trump and Secretary Rubio declared the Sinaloa Cartel a Foreign Terrorist Organization, we can now strike faster and hit harder.”
“This marks the first time a seizure warrant was issued for material support for terrorism,” said Acting Director Todd M Lyons of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “After seizing these two shipments, Homeland Security Investigations International worked closely with foreign law enforcement partners to consolidate the shipments in Panama and bring them here to the Port of Houston. I can’t thank all of our partners enough."
“These many barrels of precursor chemicals are directly linked to one of the most dangerous and deadly terrorist networks, the Sinaloa Cartel. It’s one of the most violent and brutal terrorist organizations in the world. They are responsible for countless deaths, devastation, and destruction of communities in the U.S. and abroad,” said Director of Field Operations Jud Murdock of Customs and Border Protection, Houston. “This represents one of the largest interdictions of its kind in history and highlights the critical role of collaboration and intel sharing in combating threats posed by drug trafficking organization and terrorist groups.”
The chemicals, which originated in and were sent from China, could have been used to produce nearly 190,000 kilos of methamphetamine – worth about $569 million if they had reached their intended destination. Instead, agents seized six shipping containers of benzyl alcohol, a solvent used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, weighing 164,880 kilos and six shipping containers of N-methyl formamide, another liquid organic solvent, weighing 151,560 kilos.
To put in perspective the impact of this seizure, in Fiscal Year 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) seized a total 78,925 kilos of methamphetamine along the entire southwest border. In order to transport the chemicals from port to a secure HSI storage facility, it took twenty-four, 18-wheeler trucks to transport the sheer volume of precursor chemicals.
In 2023, more than 34,800 Americans died of overdoses from psychostimulants, primarily methamphetamine.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia obtained the seizure warrant that provided the legal authority to seize the chemicals. Because the Administration designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on January 20, 2025, the designation provided federal prosecutors in the District the authority to execute the seizure under the terrorism forfeiture provision.
Joining in today’s announcement were Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz of Homeland Security Investigations, Houston; Director of Field Operations Jud Murdock of Customs and Border Protection, Houston; Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Houston; and FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the Houston Field Office.
The matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia as part of its Cartel Elimination effort, a collaboartion between the office’s National Security section’s Threat Finance Unit (TFU) and Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking (VCNT) section.
The effort is also a part of the Attorney General’s February 5, 2025 directive, calling for the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations by harnessing the resources of the Department of Justice and empowering federal prosecutors throughout the country to work urgently with the Department of Homeland Security and other parts of the government toward the goal of eliminating these threats to U.S. sovereignty.
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Former Postal Worker Stripped of Citizenship, Sentenced to 66-Months in Prison, for Stealing $1.6 Million from the U.S. MailRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Hachikosela Muchimba, 45, a former letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and resident of the District of Columbia, was stripped of his U.S. citizenship and sentenced to 66 months in federal prison today in connection with mail theft and bank fraud scheme that illegally netted him $1.6 million, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
A federal jury found Muchimba guilty on March 14, 2025, of conspiracy to commit theft of mail and bank fraud; theft of mail; bank fraud; engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity, and unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization.
In addition to the 66-year prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras ordered Muchimbato to pay $651,068.35 in restitution to victims and to forfeit his ill-gotten gains of $1,273,403.36. Muchimba also will be subject to deportation.
Muchimba, originally of the Republic of Zambia, was naturalized as an American citizen on May 26, 2022. The mail theft and bank fraud scheme ran from December 2020 until March 2023. On his application for citizenship he falsely claimed to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services that he had not previously committed any criminal activity, all the while he was actively conducting his theft of mail and scheme to defraud. Because it was unlawfully procured, the Court revoked Muchimba’s citizenship.
Joining in the announcement of the sentencing was Special Agent in Charge Kathleen Woodson, of the U.S. Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General.
According to court documents, between December 2020 and March 2023, Muchimba was a letter carrier based in Friendship Heights, when he executed a scheme to steal U.S. Treasury checks and private party checks from the U.S. mail. The stolen checks were intended for District postal customers living on over 30 different mail routes. Muchimba deposited the checks, sometimes while wearing his U.S. Postal uniform, into bank accounts under his control. Bank surveillance footage captured images of him making deposits and withdrawals of the funds.
The total amount of the U.S. Treasury checks fraudulently deposited into Muchimba’s various bank accounts was over $1.6 million. Muchimba used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle that included international travel, stays at luxury hotels, and $100,000 spent at gentlemen’s clubs.
Muchimba was arrested on Sept. 20, 2023, at Dulles International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Zambia. At the time of his arrest, Muchimba had $2,000 in cash in his luggage.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorneys John Borchert and Diane Lucas of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section.
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Justice Department Seeks Forfeiture of $848,247 in Cryptocurrency from Confidence ScamsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department filed a civil forfeiture complaint today against $868,247 in Tether (USDT). As detailed in the complaint, the funds are alleged to be ill-gotten gains from several cryptocurrency-related confidence scams that targeted victims in the District of Columbia, Texas, Illinois, and Florida, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Co-conspirators stole funds from at least four victims between September 2022 and February 2025 and laundered the funds through a convoluted web of cryptocurrency wallets to evade detection and avoid accountability.
Joining in the announcement were Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge David K. Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office.
In late 2022, the FBI Honolulu Division Cyber Squad opened the investigation after a victim in Hawaii reported being defrauded out of $1.3 million by the LME Crypto Group, a scam group impersonating the London Metal Exchange while operating a complex cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme by cultivating long-term relationships with victims online and eventually enticing them to make investments in fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platforms.
At least one victim of the LME Crypto Group was defrauded in the District of Columbia. In December 2023, that victim reported a $30,000 loss to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).[1] The victim’s complaint explained that they “thought it was an investment to earn big profits in a short amount of time.” The victim went on to state that they bought cryptocurrency through an online platform and invested it in “an app called LME.”
Cryptocurrency investment fraud typically begins by criminals contacting potential victims through seemingly misdirected text messages, dating applications, or professional meetup or investment groups. In the four cases highlighted in the complaint, the victims were each approached through seemingly misdirected text messages.
Next, using various means of manipulation, the perpetrators gain the victim’s affection or trust. The perpetrator then recommends cryptocurrency investment by touting their own, or an associate’s, success in the field.
A common tactic is to direct a victim to a fake investment platform hosted on a website that mimics a legitimate platform. The perpetrator assists the victim with opening a cryptocurrency account, often on an exchange based in the U.S., and then walks the victim through transferring money from a bank account to that cryptocurrency account. Next, the perpetrator provides instructions to the victim regarding how to transfer their cryptocurrency assets to what is in actuality a fake investment platform. On its surface, the fraudulent platforms often show lucrative returns, encouraging further investment; underneath, all deposited funds are routed to a cryptocurrency wallet address controlled completely by the perpetrators.
The perpetrators frequently allow victims to withdraw some of their “profits” early in the scheme to engender trust and help convince victims of the legitimacy of the platform. As the scheme continues, victims are unable to withdraw their funds and are provided various excuses as to why. Ultimately, victims are locked out of their accounts and lose all their funds.
Anyone who believes they are a victim of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, and investment scams – should contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov. In 2024 alone, approximately $5.8 billion in losses from cryptocurrency investment fraud was reported to the IC3.
The FBI Honolulu Field Office is investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and FBI’s Virtual Asset Unit provided invaluable assistance. The Department of Justice would like to acknowledge Tether for its assistance in effectuating the transfer of these assets.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Columbia Acting Deputy Chief Kevin Rosenberg and Asset Forfeiture Coordinator Rick Blaylock Jr., along with Trial Attorneys Stefanie Schwartz, Ethan Cantor, and Gaelin Bernstein from the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Department of Justice, and Daniel Zytnick with the Consumer Protection Branch of the Department of Justice.
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[1] The Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, is the United States’ central hub for reporting cybercrime. It is run by the FBI, the lead federal agency for investigating cybercrime.
tron_20250902_civil_complaint_25-cv-2967.pdfJuvenile Pleads Guilty to Firing Multiple Rounds in an Elementary School PlaygroundRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Travis Thomas, 17, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to shooting multiple rounds in an elementary school playground and armed carjacking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Thomas was charged as an adult under Title 16.
Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of assault with intent to kill while armed and two counts of armed carjacking. The Honorable Judge Neal Kravitz, of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, scheduled sentencing for November 14, 2025.
According to the government’s evidence, on April 20, 2025, Thomas got into an online argument with another individual, whom he believed to be affiliated with a rival crew. Thomas proceeded to travel to the 300 block of 53rd Street SE, where he exited a vehicle and fired over 15 rounds into the playground of C.W. Harris Elementary School. One victim suffered a gunshot wound to the forehead and was taken to a local hospital, where surgeons had to remove a bullet. The victim suffered a skull fracture.
The government’s investigation also revealed Thomas as a suspect from two separate armed carjackings, the first of which occurred on October 30, 2024, in the parking garage of the Safeway grocery store, located at 415 14th Street SE, and the second of which occurred on November 17, 2024, in the 1300 block of Massachusetts Avenue SE.
Thomas was arrested on April 25, 2025, and remains in custody.
Joining the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Green, who is prosecuting the case.
Felon Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Firearm Following Arrest in SoutheastRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mustafa Wright, 32, of the District of Columbia, has been charged in an indictment, unsealed today in U.S. District Court, on a federal firearms charge as part of the “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful” initiative, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Wright is charged federally with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.
Joining in the announcement were Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Jessica M.E. Taylor of the U.S. Park Police.
This prosecution comes as part of the "Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful" initiative, which is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
According to court documents, on August 17, 2025, members of the United States Park Police were on patrol near Poplar Point and Anacostia Drive SE, when they noticed Mustafa Wright driving a vehicle with expired tags. Officers impounded the vehicle after Wright was unable to provide valid registration or insurance. Upon a routine search of the vehicle, officers discovered a Glock 17 9 mm pistol, loaded with one round of 9mm ammunition in the chamber and 22 additional rounds in the 31-round capacity magazine.
Wright is prohibited from possession of a firearm and ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions, including a 2014 burglary conviction and a 2019 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the United States Park Police. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Liss is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Carjacker Gets 14 Years in Prison for Two Carjackings Committed Days ApartRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Erick Alvarenga, 19, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for his participation in two separate carjackings committed in December 2024 and January 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Alvarenga pleaded guilty on June 23, 2025, in D.C. Superior Court, to one count of carjacking (unarmed) and one count of possession of a firearm during crime of violence for the December 28, 2024, offense, and to one count of carjacking (unarmed) and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for the January 3, 2025, offense. His co-defendant, Malik Kearney, 20, who also pleaded guilty on June 23rd, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10, 2025.
The Honorable Judge Andrea Hertzfeld ordered Alvarenga to serve 60 months in prison on each count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and 84 months in prison for each count of unarmed carjacking. Both charges in the December 28th offense will run concurrent to one another but consecutive to the charges for the January 3rd offense.
According to the government’s evidence, at around 4:45 a.m., on December 28, 2024, Alvarenga and Kearney approached the first victim while he was parked in a Jeep SUV in the 6100 block of Eastern Avenue, Northeast, one of whom was armed with a black handgun. The defendants ordered the victim out of the car and to hand them his car keys. The defendants then drove away from the scene.
Days later January 3, 2025, the second offense, occurred around 3:00 p.m., in the 4200 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, Northeast. The second victim was at a gas station and had finished putting gas in his Dodge sedan. Alvarenga used the Jeep which had been stolen on December 28, 2024, to block in the victim’s car, while Kearney approached the victim with a handgun. After ordering the victim out of his car, Kearney got behind the wheel of the Dodge, and both vehicles then fled in the same direction.
Alvarenga and Kearney were arrested later that evening and have been in custody since. At the time of their arrest, officers recovered two firearms from the location where the defendants were detained -- one had the serial number removed and the other was a PMF ghost gun.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Special Agent Nelson Rhone, Jr..
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant United States Attorneys Randle Wilson and Amanda Hoover, who prosecuted the case.
D.C. Consultant Pleads Guilty to $1.5 Million Fraud of Covid-Era Loan ProgramRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jennifer May, 43, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today to her role in a scheme that defrauded $1,500,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the U.S. Government, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
May pleaded guilty to an Information charging her with one count of wire fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper, who scheduled sentencing for December 9, 2025. Under the terms of the plea agreement, May must return the $1,500,000 to the United States.
According to court documents, May was founder and owner of Next Level Partners LLC, a consulting firm specializing in assisting campaigns with complying with campaign finance regulations and managing their accounts payable functions.
In October 2021, May applied for a second modification to an original EIDL application, requesting an additional $1,500,000 in EIDL funds for Next Level Partners.
The EIDL was a response to the COVID-19 pandemic in which the U.S. Small Business Administration offered small business owners low-interest, long-term loans. The funds were intended to be used for working capital to make regular payments for operating expenses, including payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities, and other ordinary business expenses, and to pay business debt.
May falsely certified on loan applications that she would use all loan proceeds only for business-related purposes. Instead, she misappropriated the funds to speculate on cryptocurrency and to pay for unrelated business ventures and other personal expenditures.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the IRS-CI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Hart of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section.
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Previously Convicted Felon Who Crashed Stolen Car, Punched Officer, Is Sentenced for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Lamar Redfield, 34, a previously convicted felon from the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 65 months in prison in connection with an October 2024 incident during which he was on probation when he crashed a stolen car into a parked vehicle, discarded a loaded Glock 17 pistol as he fled from police, and then punched an officer in the face as police attempted to arrest him, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Redfield pleaded guilty May 12, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Loren L. AliKhan to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 65-month prison term, Judge AliKhan ordered Redfield to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Oct. 21, 2024, members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Sixth District Crime Suppression Team were on patrol when they spotted a stolen black Hyundai Sonata on the 3100 block of Minnesota Ave. SE. The Hyundai, occupied by two men, entered the 3500 block of A Street, SE, and then began to reverse backwards down the street.
The passenger bailed from the car and ran away from the police. The driver, identified as Redfield, continued in reverse and crashed into a parked vehicle. Redfield abandoned the car and ran with police in pursuit. As Redfield ran, he repeatedly reached into his jacket pocket with his right arm. Redfield removed a black firearm from his jacket and placed it on the ground. After discarding the firearm, Redfield continued to run. Officers caught Redfield, who hit one of the officers in the face with a closed fist. After the assault, Redfield was stopped and detained without further incident.
In a search incident to his arrest, officers found Redfield was in possession of half an ounce of suspected methamphetamine and one ounce of suspected synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as “K2” or “Spice.”
Redfield has previous felony convictions in Arlington County, Virginia, on narcotics and firearms offenses. He was serving a five-year sentence (suspended) when he was arrested on Oct. 21, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.
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Former FAA Contractor Sentenced for Illegally Acting as an Agent of the Iranian GovernmentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Abouzar Rahmati, 43, a naturalized U.S. citizen and resident of Great Falls, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 12 months in federal prison for acting as an illegal agent of the Iranian government in the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Rahmati, a former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contractor, pleaded guilty on April 16, 2025, to acting as an agent of the Iranian government without prior notification to the Attorney General and to conspiracy to do so, before U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan. In addition to the 12-month prison term, Judge AliKhan ordered Rahmati to serve three years of supervised release.
Joining in the announcement were Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel Wierzbicki of the Counterintelligence and Cyber Division.
According to court documents, from at least December 2017 through June 2024, Rahmati worked with Iranian government officials and intelligence operatives to act on their behalf in the United States, including by meeting with Iranian intelligence officers in Iran, communicating with Iranian intelligence officers and government officials using a cover story to hide his conduct, obtaining employment with an FAA contractor with access to sensitive non-public information about the U.S. aviation sector, and obtaining open-source and non-public materials about the U.S. solar energy industry and providing it to Iranian intelligence officers.
“By secretly doing the bidding of the Iranian government, Mr. Rahmati violated the trust placed in him as a U.S. citizen and as a federal contractor with access to sensitive information,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Ensuring that sensitive U.S. information does not fall into the hands of hostile foreign intelligence services remains one of our highest priorities.”
“Rahmati exploited his trusted position to obtain sensitive information about the U.S. aviation sector and share it with the Iranian government, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Wierzbicki. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to disrupt threats to U.S. critical infrastructure, especially those emanating from the nefarious activities of Iranian intelligence officers who seek to harm our nation.”
In August 2017, Rahmati offered his services to the Iranian government through a senior Iranian government official who previously worked in Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and with whom Rahmati had previously attended university.
Four months later, in December 2017, Rahmati traveled to Iran, where he met with Iranian intelligence operatives and government officials and agreed to obtain information about the U.S. solar energy industry, to provide that information to Iranian officials, and to conduct future communications under a cover story based on purported discussions about research with fellow academics.
Upon returning to the United States in early 2018, Rahmati obtained various private and open-source materials related to the U.S. solar energy industry and provided them to an official from the office of Iran’s Vice President for Science and Technology in response to tasking from Iranian government officials.
In response to tasking from Iranian officials, and in furtherance of his role as an agent of the Government of Iran, Rahmati exploited his employment as an FAA contractor by downloading at least 172 GB of the company’s files. Rahmati stored those files on removable media, which he took to Iran, where he provided sensitive documents to the Government of Iran in April 2022.
At the April 2022 meeting in Iran, Iranian intelligence officers told Rahmati and his brother that they were seeking information, including new ideas and technology not available in Iran. They further explained that if Rahmati brought such information to Iran, the Government of Iran could provide Rahmati with financial incentives, including free or low-interest loans and grants.
Later in April 2022, also in response to tasking from Iranian government officials, Rahmati sent additional information relating to solar energy, solar panels, the FAA, U.S. airports, and U.S. air traffic control towers to his brother, who lived in Iran, so that he would provide those files to Iranian intelligence.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office investigated the case, with significant assistance from the FAA’s Office of Counterintelligence and Technical Operations.
Prosecuting the case were Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Tortorice and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys Beau Barnes and Alexander Wharton of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia provided significant assistance.
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FBI Arrests Seven Alleged Members of DC Fentanyl and PCP Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The FBI this morning executed approximately 20 residential search warrants across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Los Angeles, following a year-long investigation into an alleged D.C.-based drug trafficking organization that sold PCP and fentanyl in and around the 2900 block of Knox Place SE, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Law enforcement seized 18 firearms including one AR-Style rifle, a shotgun, and one Draco-style pistol. Agents also seized a pill press commonly used to manufacture fentanyl pills, at least two kilograms of suspected narcotics, and over $50,000 in cash.
Last week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia indicted eight individuals – two from California, one from Baltimore, and five from metropolitan Washington D.C. – and charged them in the conspiracy.
This morning, the FBI in partnership with the DEA and the Metropolitan Police Department took seven of the indicted defendants into custody. They are Leonard Edwards, 52, of Washington D.C.; Eric “Marbury” Prather, 43, of Washington D.C.; Thomas Wilton Hancock, Jr., aka “Fresh,” 43, of Baltimore, MD; Sarda Smith, 36, of Oxen Hill, MD; Michael Thomas, 49, of Los Angeles, CA; Reginald Lassiter, 39, of Washington, D.C.; and Darryl Riley, 39, Washington, D.C.
Joining in the announcement were FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Phil Bates, DEA Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
One additional defendant remains at large and is considered a fugitive. The indictment against that defendant remains sealed.
The Knox Place neighborhood has experienced at least five homicides in the past year, among other violent crimes. The alleged D.C.-based traffickers who operated around Knox Place sourced their narcotics through a Baltimore-based co-conspirator, who in turn was importing narcotics from California. One of the shipments from California included 17-gallons of PCP that was intercepted earlier this year by law enforcement outside of Topeka, Kansas.
Six of the eight defendants face 10-year mandatory minimum sentences based on the drug quantities for which they were charged. Two of them face 15-year mandatory minimum sentences.
Federal agents arrested five additional individuals who face an array of charges that include conspiracy to distribute narcotics, felon in possession of firearms, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and illegal re-entry into the country.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office with valuable assistance from the DEA and the MPD. It is being prosecuted Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sitara Witanachchi, Matthew W. Kinskey, and John Parron of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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DC Man Arrested at San Francisco Airport, Charged in Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Hershel Andrew Green, III, 42, of the District of Columbia, was arrested Aug. 24 at San Francisco International Airport and charged in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court with possessing and distributing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Hershel is expected to make his first court appearance in U.S. District Court today in San Francisco.
As part of the investigation, Green was identified after law enforcement agents discovered electronic communications between Green and another individual related to the sexual abuse of children. Green distributed and received images and videos that included the sexual abuse of prepubescent children.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and Metropolitan Police Department’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Janani Iyengar.
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Shooting That Killed One Man and Wounded Another Leads to Guilty PleaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Walter Jenkins, 36, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty yesterday to second-degree murder while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon for the November 2021 shooting of two men, killing one and wounding another, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Jenkins pleaded guilty on August 21, 2025, to one count of second-degree murder while armed and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon is contingent upon the Court’s approval. Jenkins faces a sentence range of between 18 and 33 ½ years under the District of Columbia Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt accepted the factual basis for the plea and scheduled sentencing for November 18, 2025.
According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, at approximately 4:47 p.m., on November 14, 2021, MPD Seventh District officers responded to the 2000 Block of Alabama Avenue SE, for the report of the sounds of gunshots. Upon conducting a canvass of the area, officers located two victims near a vehicle on Bruce Place. They found Mr. David Williams, who was breathing but barely conscious, suffering from multiple gunshots to the body. DC Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and transported Mr. Williams to George Washington University Hospital where all lifesaving efforts failed, and he was pronounced dead more than an hour later. The second victim was conscious and breathing, suffering from gunshot wounds to the lower legs. He was transported to Med-Star where he was admitted in stable condition.
Jenkins was arrested on February 4, 2022, and has been in custody since.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by officers, detectives, and other personnel of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Horton and Miles Janssen.
Man Pleads Guity to Murder in Drive-By ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Korriek Akinola, 24, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to murder for his role in a 2023 drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of Joshua White, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Akinola pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of second-degree murder while armed on August 18, 2025. Sentencing is scheduled for October 24, 2025, before the Honorable Neal Kravitz.
On June 6, 2023, the defendant and another individual were in a white Infiniti SUV near the Shell gas station located at 4700 South Capitol Street SE. While there, they spotted the victim, Joshua White, riding around in the parking lot on a Veo bike. Akinola and the other individual drove to a separate location and switched vehicles to a stolen black Honda Accord. The defendant left his cell phone in the white Infiniti SUV and switched out the hard tag on black Honda Accord for a temporary tag, in an effort to conceal his movement. Akinola and the other individual then drove back to the Shell gas station, where Mr. White was still located. The defendant drove into the parking lot of the Shell gas station and accelerated rapidly toward the victim. Akinola and the other individual shot at Mr. White, who was hit by gunfire multiple times. The defendant then sped away, leaving Mr. White to die in the parking lot.
Akinola evaded arrest from the police on multiple dates, but he was ultimately arrested by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force on July 24, 2023.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Hall and Natalie Hynum.
Felon Sentenced in Crack Distribution and Illegal Possession of a Glock and a ‘Ghost Gun’ While on Pre-Trial ReleaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Melvin Johnson, 27, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to a total of 66 months in federal prison in connection with trafficking crack cocaine and illegally possessing a loaded Glock semi-automatic pistol and a “Ghost Gun” semi-automatic pistol equipped with a laser pointer, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Johnson pleaded guilty on April 8, 2025, to unlawful possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and to being a felon in possession of two firearms and ammunition. In addition to the 66-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Leon ordered Johnson to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Aug.17, 2021, at 4:15 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the 3500 block of 14th Street NW, to investigate a report of drug trafficking. The officers encountered Melvin Johnson nearby on a scooter and asked him if he had anything illegal on him. Johnson said he only had personal items.
One of the officers noticed that Johnson’s bag appeared to have an extended magazine protruding from it and was weighted down by an additional heavy object. After cuffing Johnson, officers recovered a Glock 29 semi-automatic pistol from the bag. The pistol was loaded with one round in the chamber and equipped with an extended magazine containing 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition. In addition, the bag contained an additional Glock magazine loaded with 16 rounds.
During a search, officers recovered $1,203 in cash and 26 grams of a white rock substance from inside the Johnson’s spandex pants. Officers field tested a portion of the substance which returned a positive result for cocaine base.
Previously, on Feb. 28, 2020, at about 4:15 p.m., MPD officers recovered a loaded “ghost gun” from Johnson on the 1500 block of Meridian Place NW. The firearm was equipped with a laser pointer. At the time of his arrest on the drug trafficking charge and possession of the Glock, Johnson was on pre-trial release on the charge for carrying a loaded pistol without a license.
This case was investigated by the MPD. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.
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Spree of Carjackings and Armed Robberies Results in a 108-Month Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Andre Rushing, 23, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 108 months in federal prison for his role in a March 2023 spree of armed carjackings and robberies in the metropolitan area that victimized at least six people, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Rushing, aka “Dre,” pleaded guilty March 17, 2025, to carjacking and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. As part of his guilty plea, Rushing admitted to perpetrating four separate carjackings and robberies. The spree only stopped when Rushing and his co-defendants were arrested in Fairfax County on March 30, 2023, as they attempted to flee police in a carjacked vehicle.
U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras ordered Rushing to serve 5 years of supervised release following completion of his 108-month prison sentence.
Joining in the announcement were FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Still shots taken from surveillance video of the Rushing (left) and Roach (right) in the March 6, 2023, carjacking.
According to court documents, on March 6, 2023, at 9:20 p.m., Rushing and co-defendant Javon Roach carjacked a male victim on the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue. Rushing pointed a handgun and demanded the victim’s keys and phone as Roach stood to the side with a loaded long-style gun.
Image of Rushing taken from the Instagram Live Post on March 7, 2023.
On March 7, 2023, Rushing was arrested for gun possession on the 300 block of Anacostia Road SE a few feet away from a “ghost gun” with a 31-round capacity magazine loaded with 17 rounds of 9mm ammunition. About 15 minutes before the arrest, Rushing broadcast a video from Roach’s Instagram account in which he appeared to be holding a handgun with an extended magazine.
On March 16, 2023, about 3:05 p.m. Rushing and Roach a robbed a food deliveryman at gunpoint on the 3900 block of Benning Road NE. taking the man’s phones, cash, and the food he was delivering. The defendants then fled in a black Toyota RAV-4 that had been carjacked the day before.
On March 17, 2023, about 9:34 a.m. Rushing and Roach robbed three construction workers on the 300 block of Anacostia Road, SE.
On March 26, 2023, about 7:48 p.m., Rushing and Roach carjacked a Chevrolet Impala at gunpoint at a gas station on the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.
On March 30, 2023, at about 2:15 p.m., Fairfax County police located a carjacked Audi Q5, that had been stolen the day prior in Capitol Heights, Maryland, at Tyson’s Mall and set up surveillance of the vehicle. Rushing and Roach fled in the carjacked Audi onto the 8000 block of Leesburg Pike and became stuck in traffic. Roach, who was driving, crashed into several cars in an attempt to escape. He ultimately struck a Fairfax County police vehicle. Officers surrounded the Audi. Roach fled on foot, while Rushing was arrested inside of the vehicle. A loaded handgun was recovered from the glovebox in front of Rushing. FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service took Rushing into custody before handing him over to the Fairfax County Police Department Police.
Roach, 20, was sentenced June 27 to 228 months in federal prison for his role in the carjackings and robberies.
This case was investigated by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Fairfax County Police Department. It was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Gaelin Bernstein and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Duvall.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to over Three Years in Prison for Assaulting a Fellow InmateRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jermaine Knight, 36, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to a total of forty-three months in prison, for assaulting and strangling an inmate in December 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Knight pleaded guilty on July 17, 2025, to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction) and one count of felony strangulation. Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld ordered Knight to serve 20 months of incarceration for the unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction) and 23 months of in prison for the felony strangulation, with prison time to be served consecutively and followed by three years of supervised release.
The defendant admitted that on October 9, 2024, he was walking his dog while in possession of a ghost gun when he accidently shot himself in the thigh when his dog lunged on the leash. Officers responded to the scene and though Knight initially lied and said he was shot by an unidentified assailant, Officers conducted a thorough investigation and determined that Knight shot himself.
Knight also admitted that on December 18, 2024, while he was pending trial for the firearm offense, he assaulted and strangled a fellow inmate in the D.C. Superior Court holding cell while both men were waiting for their court hearings. Knight sucker punched the other inmate, hit him in the head and face approximately 15 times, and eventually strangled the inmate for five seconds. Knight then mopped up the inmate’s blood with sandwich bread.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Marshal Robert A. Dixon of the Marshals Service.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro, Chief Smith, and U.S. Marshal Dixon commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kadian D. Carter, who prosecuted the case.
Judge Hands Man 24 ½ Years in Prison for Fatal Shooting at a Gender-Reveal PartyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Nyjell Outler, 22, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to a total of 24-and-a-half years in prison for the shooting death of 21-year-old Demetris Johnson and the shooting of Daloni Williams in March of 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
A Superior Court jury found Outler guilty in March 2025 for voluntary manslaughter while armed in the fatal shooting of Mr. Johnson and for aggravated assault while armed in the shooting of Mr. Williams. The Honorable Jason Park sentenced the defendant August 15, 2025.
According to evidence presented at trial, at approximately 7:43 p.m., on March 20, 2021, Outler arrived at a gender-reveal party, on Madison St., Northeast. He was carrying an AK-style rifle (known as a “Draco”) in a backpack. He was at the party for a little more than a half hour before the shooting. After interacting with different guests throughout the evening, he stepped away from the driveway of the home where he had been hanging out, pulled the Draco out of his backpack, held it at his right side, and returned to the driveway where three young men, including Demetris Johnson and Daloni Williams, were. There were still dozens of other guests inside the house and inside the fenced-in area just off the driveway. When Daloni Williams took a couple steps toward the defendant with his arm extended, as if to say, “put that away” the defendant raised the Draco and shot Daloni Williams twice, from point-blank range. Outler then pivoted and pulled the trigger two more times as Demetris Johnson and the other young man on the driveway were trying to run away. One of the shots hit Demetris Johnson in the back. The defendant fled the scene.
Daloni Williams spent nine days in the hospital after emergency surgery to save his leg and had to undergo months of physical therapy. Demetris Johnson died in the backyard of the house hosting the gender reveal party.
At today’s sentencing hearing, the government requested that Judge Park sentence the defendant to a total of 35 years of incarceration. In support of its request, the government highlighted not only the egregious circumstances of the killing, but also informed Judge Park of multiple armed assaults and a misdemeanor sex offense the defendant is reported to have perpetrated since being brought back to Washington, D.C. from Florida.
At the time of the shooting, Outler was on a GPS monitor after he had been arrested and released for possessing another Draco in February 2021. About two hours after fleeing from the area, he cut off his GPS. He was on the run for 11 months, even making it into the U.S. Marshals Service Top 15 most wanted. Finally, in February 2022, Outler was arrested in Florida following an anonymous tip.
Joining the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Mabry Johnson and Sharon Newman, Victim/Witness Advocate Latrice Washington-Williams, Victim/Witness Service Coordinators Katina Adams-Washington and Shanika McCullough, and Investigative Analyst Zach McMenamin.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis Clark, Kristian Hinson, and Yasmin Emrani, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Indiana Woman Charged with Making Death Threats on Facebook Against President TrumpRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Nathalie Rose Jones, 50, of Lafayette, Indiana, was arrested in the District of Columbia on Saturday, August 16, and charged in connection with making a series of threats on social media in which she threatened to kill President Trump, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Jones was charged in a complaint in U.S. District Court with threatening to take the life of, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States, and transmitting in interstate commerce communications containing threats to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another.
“Threatening the life of the President is one of the most serious crimes and one that will be met with swift and unwavering prosecution. Make no mistake—justice will be served,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated law enforcement partners, especially the Secret Service Special Agents from New York and Washington, D.C., for their tireless commitment to protecting our leaders and our nation.”
“Protecting the President of the United States is our highest priority, and every potential threat is addressed with the utmost seriousness,” said Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool of the U.S. Secret Service, Washington Field Office. “Special Agents from New York and Washington, DC, working in close coordination with prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, acted swiftly and decisively to neutralize this alleged threat before it could escalate. We are deeply grateful to the dedicated professionals who worked tirelessly to advance this investigation and safeguard our nation’s leadership.”
According to court documents, from August 2 to August 9, members of the U.S. Secret Service observed that Instagram user account “nath.jones” had posted threatening comments about the President of the United States. The Instagram user called for President Trump’s removal, labeled President Trump as a terrorist, referred to President Trump’s administration as a dictatorship, and stated that President Trump had caused extreme and unnecessary loss of life in relation to the coronavirus.
On Facebook between August 6 and August 15, “Nath.Jones” allegedly continued to post threatening comments about President Trump. In an August 6 post directed at the FBI, Nath.Jones wrote that “I am willing to sacrificially kill this POTUS by disemboweling him and cutting out his trachea with Liz Cheney and all The Affirmation present.”
On August 14, in a post directed to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Nath Jones allegedly wrote “please arrange the arrest and removal ceremony of POTUS Trump as a terrorist on the American People from 10-2pm at the White House on Saturday, August 16th, 2025.”
On August 15, the U.S. Secret Service conducted a voluntary interview with Jones, during which she stated the President was a “terrorist” and a “nazi,” that if she had the opportunity, she would take the President’s life and would kill him at “the compound” if she had to, that she had a “bladed object,” which she said was the weapon she would use to “carry out her mission of killing” the president, and that she wanted to “avenge all the lives lost during the Covid-19 pandemic,” which she atrributed to President Trump’s administration and its position on vaccinations.
On August 16, Jones joined a protest demonstration that started at Dupont Circle, and circumnavigated the White House complex. Following the march, the U.S. Secret Service interviewed Jones for a second time, during which she admitted that she had made threats towards President Trump during her interview the previous day. She denied having any present desire to harm the President of the United States. Law enforcement arrested her and she confirmed that she was the owner of the Facebook user account “Nath Jones” and that she had posted the threatening statements.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Satter.
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District Man Pleads Guilty to September 2024 Murder in NortheastRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Derek Turrentine, 43, of the District, pleaded guilty today to second-degree murder while armed for the September 2024 shooting of James Thomas Price, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Turrentine’s guilty plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval at sentencing, calls for a sentence of 17 years in prison, to be followed by supervised release. Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman accepted the factual basis for the plea and scheduled sentencing for October 17, 2025.
According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, on the morning of September 15, 2024, the defendant followed Mr. Price into an alley behind 400 50th Street NE. Mr. Price stopped and turned around to face Turrentine, and Turrentine produced a firearm and pointed it at the victim as he continued to walk toward him. As the defendant got close to the victim, they began to fight, and the defendant then fired multiple gunshots at the victim, who died as a result.
Turrentine was arrested in March of 2025 and has been in custody since.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by officers, detectives, and other personnel of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bromwich.
Jury Convicts District Man of Conspiracy and First-Degree Murder for Kenilworth KillingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jajuan Gripper, 22, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on all charges for the December 20, 2022, murder of 34-year-old Rynell Bradford in Northeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The jury deliberated for one day before finding Gripper guilty of charges including conspiracy to commit a crime of violence and first-degree premeditated murder while armed. Judge Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for October 17, 2025.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 9:40 p.m., on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, Gripper and two co-conspirators, each armed with a handgun, followed Bradford out of an apartment building in the Kenilworth neighborhood of Northeast D.C., where Bradford lived with his fiancé and then four-month-old daughter. After a brief exchange of words, Gripper and his co-conspirators opened fire on Bradford as he ran away from them down a public street in the residential neighborhood. Gripper and his co-conspirators fired a total of at least 19 shots, striking Bradford once in the back of the head, killing him.
Gripper was arrested in March 2023 and has been detained since his arrest.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Branch. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant United States Attorneys Charles R. Jones and Anthony Cocuzza, who prosecuted the case.
Felon Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Firearm Following Police Foot Chase and Arrest in NortheastRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Damion Barnett, 22, of the District of Columbia, was charged in an indictment unsealed yesterday in U.S. District Court with being a felon in illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and unlawful discarding of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Barnett allegedly had been in possession of a loaded Glock 19 9mm semiautomatic pistol shortly before he was arrested July 14 by Metropolitan Police officers following a foot chase in Northeast Washington, D.C.
This prosecution comes as part of the "Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful" initiative, which is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
According to the charging documents, officers with the MPD’s Robbery Suppression Unit were on patrol July 14 about 6 p.m. when they saw a group of men standing on the 1100 block of 16th Street NE. One of the individuals, later identified as Barnett, was smoking a white cigarette that officers believed contained marijuana.
On seeing the officers approach, Barnett passed the cigarette to another member of the group and ran in the opposite direction down 16th Street. Barnett dashed into an alley as officers gave chase.
During the foot pursuit, an officer observed Barnett reach into his waistband with his right hand and discard a firearm into the air. Officers soon apprehended Barnett, placed him under arrest, and traced his flight path. The officers recovered a black Glock 19, 9mm pistol loaded with 23 rounds of ammunition in an extended magazine. An NCIC check revealed the firearm had been reported stolen on Nov. 3, 2024, to the Prince George’s County Police Department.
Barnett previously was convicted on a 2021 felony charge in D.C. Superior Court, and as a result, prohibited from possessing any firearm.
This investigation is being conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Sussler of the Federal Major Crimes Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Felon Charged in November 2024 Daytime Shooting of over 15 Rounds in Southeast D.C.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Vance McIlwain, 32, and Kenneth Johnson, 32, both of Washington, D.C., were indicted Wednesday and arraigned today for the November 2024, firing of over 15 rounds of ammunition in a residential neighborhood and shooting of a man in southeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
McIlwain and Johnson were indicted on August 13, 2025, by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, on charges of assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault while armed, endangerment with a firearm, and conspiracy. Johnson was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
Both men were arraigned on today, August 15, 2025, at a hearing before the Honorable Judge Jason Park. They each face a maximum of thirty years in prison if convicted of the charges.
According to the government’s evidence, on November 8, 2024, at about 3:50 p.m., McIlwain and Johnson were captured on CCTV conspiring to shoot the victim. Inside of an apartment building hallway, Johnson was captured on video passing a cross-body bag to McIlwain, which is believed to have contained a firearm. They both made their way to the apartment building’s entryway landing. McIlwain stepped out of the building and removed the firearm from the bag, but then returned to the entryway and handed the gun to Johnson. Johnson re-racked the firearm and gave it back to McIlwain. McIlwain walked down the alley, turned the corner, and began firing over 15 rounds of ammunition at the victim, who was sitting on a front porch. A stray bullet went into a neighbor’s house and another was found on the front porch.
Following the attack, McIlwain ran back to the apartment building and handed the gun to Johnson. McIlwain then continued to run from the scene. Johnson entered one of the apartment units. Johnson was found inside the apartment unit and was arrested. McIlwain was arrested about an hour and a half later in the area. Investigators recovered 15 spent shell casings from the scene. Both have been in custody since their respective arrests.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rudolf.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bar Argument Which Ended in a Shooting Yields Prison TimeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Duarte Santos, 25, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on August 15, 2025, in Superior Court, to 13 years in prison, for assault and related firearms charges, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Santos pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025, to aggravated assault while armed, possession of firearm during violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, and carrying a pistol without a license outside of home/business. The Honorable Judge Brandt Rainey, of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, sentenced Santos to 13 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 11:30 p.m., on July 5, 2024, Santos open fired a handgun toward three victims in a bar and restaurant at 3521 14th St NW. Specifically, officers viewed the establishment’s surveillance video and observed the defendant sitting inside the establishment at the bar. He then proceeded up the stairs and appeared to have a verbal exchange with two individuals. A fight between one individual and Santos broke out. During the fight, Santos took a firearm from his waistband and discharged a single round, at which point a bar employee threatened to call the police.
Santos left the bar but then returned a few minutes later and started shooting at the two men that he had been in a verbal dispute with earlier and the bar employee who told him to leave. One victim realized he was shot shortly after the shots were fired and was taken to a hospital.
Santos was arrested on July 5, 2024 and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Pericak Ginsburg and Anthony Cocuzza, who prosecuted the case.
Armed Robber Found Guilty of Robbing His Former EmployerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Stephon Martin, 25, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty yesterday for, stemming from his April 15, 2025, attack on his former employer, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
On August 14, 2025, after a jury trial in Superior Court, Martin was convicted of one count each of robbery while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and felony destruction of property. Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for November 7, 2025.
On October 18, 2024, Martin was employed as a cashier at the victim’s tobacco store in Northwest Washington, D.C. Faced with budgetary constraints, the store’s owner had to lay Martin off, and Martin reacted with extreme violence. Martin mercilessly beat the victim for several minutes before taking the cash out of the victim’s pocket and leaving the store. While the victim was still in shock, Martin returned to the store about 30 minutes later and entered using his employee key which he did not originally surrender. After entering the store the second time, Martin mercilessly beat the victim again. This time, Martin picked up a wooden board and smashed it over the victim’s head several times and forced the victim to surrender additional money from the cash register. Martin then picked up a shelving unit containing several thousand dollars’ worth of merchandise and left the store with it.
Joining the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the conviction, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Dal Lago, who prosecuted the case and Augustin Horner who investigated the case.
Justice Department Charges Five Senior Leaders of the United Cartels, a Designated Foreign Terrorist OrganizationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Today the Justice Department announced criminal charges against five high-ranking members of the United Cartels. Those charged are Juan Jose Farias Alvarez (“El Abuelo); Alfonso Fernandez Magallon (“Poncho”); Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez (“Wicho / R5”); Edgar Orozco Cabadas (“El Kamoni”); and Nicolas Sierra Santana (“El Gordo”).
“Today’s charges are designed to dismantle the United Cartels and bring their leaders to justice for unleashing death and destruction on American citizens,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Working closely with our partners throughout President Trump’s Administration, we will continue our historic effort to destroy foreign terror organizations and prosecute terrorists wherever they may hide.”
“Today’s sanctions action draws further attention to the diverse, insidious ways the cartels engage in violent activities and exploit otherwise legitimate commerce,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “Treasury, alongside our partners in U.S. law enforcement, will continue to target every effort by the cartels to generate revenue for their violent, criminal schemes.”
“Today’s announcement marks a significant step in the Justice Department’s efforts to totally eliminate the United Cartels and bring its leaders to justice,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This investigation began in a small town in Middle America and led to clandestine methamphetamine laboratories in Michoacán, Mexico. It involved extraordinary policework by our partners, some of whom came under fire in a brazen shootout – underscoring the dangers law enforcement faces every day. This case demonstrates our relentless pursuit of cartel leaders who flood our communities with illegal drugs and terrorize citizens on both sides of the border with violence.”
“Today, the Department of State is continuing to fulfill one of President Trump’s first promises when he took office — to stop the brutal criminals who are trafficking deadly drugs into our country,” said Senior Bureau Official Chris Landberg of the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. “We are announcing reward offers totaling up to $26 million for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of Mexican narcotics traffickers associated with Cárteles Unidos, a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist.”
“Today’s charges reflect the far-reaching impact of transnational criminal networks and the decisive action U.S. law enforcement is taking to dismantle them,” said Acting Executive Associate Director Derek W. Gordon for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations. “The United Cartels are responsible for flooding our communities with dangerous narcotics and profiting through violence, extortion, and corruption. ICE HSI, in close coordination with domestic and international partners, led a years-long investigation that traced the cartel’s footprint from clandestine labs in Michoacán to major U.S. distribution hubs. This case underscores our commitment to holding cartel leaders accountable, wherever they operate and safeguarding public safety on both sides of the border.”
“The United Cartels has flooded every corner of our country with deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “The indictments announced today exemplify the great work that can be achieved when federal, state, and local forces partner together to confront our greatest law enforcement challenges. What started out as an ordinary drug case in the Eastern District of Tennessee grew into a sprawling multinational investigation that will take down a transnational criminal organization precisely because law enforcement at all levels partnered together enthusiastically with mission-first single-mindedness. We are particularly grateful for our close partnerships with HSI Knoxville, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the 9th Judicial Task Force, and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, without which these results would have been impossible.”
According to court documents, the United Cartels is a transnational criminal and drug trafficking organization that controls large areas of Michoacán, Mexico. Acting as an umbrella organization, it unites several Michoacán-based cartels to acquire, manufacture, and distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine for smuggling into the United States. Profits from U.S. drug sales are allegedly used to acquire heavy weaponry, hire mercenaries, bribe local officials, and fund lavish lifestyles for cartel leaders.
The United Cartels is among the most prolific methamphetamine producers capable of manufacturing multiple tons every month. Its distribution network spans the United States, with hubs in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Kansas City (Mo.), Sacramento, California, Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago, and extends to Europe, Australia, and other regions. On Feb. 20, the U.S. Department of State designated the United Cartels (Cárteles Unidos), as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, as amended.
Court filings allege that Farias Alvarez serves as the top leader of the United Cartels, directing the importation of cocaine from Colombia via air and maritime routes, personally overseeing large shipments to the United States, and imposing a tax on methamphetamine and fentanyl producers operating in his territory.
Los Reyes Cartel, allegedly led by Fernandez Magallon, is a Michoacán-based cartel that currently operates under the United Cartels umbrella. As alleged, Los Viagras Cartel, led by Sierra Santana, is another Michoacán-based cartel that until recently operated under the United Cartels umbrella. Orozco Cabadas and Barragan Chavez allegedly each lead armed factions of the United Cartels that enforce cartel control using assault weapons, improvised explosive devices, armed drones, armored vehicles, and foreign mercenaries.
The five defendants allegedly participated in decades-long conspiracies to manufacture and distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, to be unlawfully imported into the United States. In addition, Farias Alvarez, Fernandez Magallon and Barragan Chavez are alleged to have carried, brandished, or discharged firearms, including semi-automatic weapons, machine guns, and destructive devices during and in relation to the alleged drug trafficking crimes charged in their indictments. If convicted, all five defendants face maximum penalties of life in prison.
The five defendants are still fugitives. The U. S. Department of State announced today that it is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to Farias Alvarez’s arrest and/or conviction; a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Fernandez Magallon’s arrest and/or conviction; a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Sierra Santana’s arrest and/or conviction; a reward of up to $3 million for information leading to Barragan Chavez’s arrest and/or conviction; and a reward of up to $3 million for information leading to Orozco Cabadas’s arrest and/or conviction. Also today, the U. S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced economic sanctions against these five defendants, and the United Cartels (Cárteles Unidos) and Los Viagras as entities.
HSI Knoxville investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by HSI Mexico City, HSI Denver, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Fresno Field Division, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Tennessee 9th Judicial Drug Task Force. Additional assistance was provided by HSI Atlanta, HSI Laredo, HSI Outer Banks, HSI Houston, HSI San Diego, HSI Kansas City, DEA Bogota, HSI Bogota, HSI Las Vegas, HSI The Hague, FBI Kansas City, FBI St. Louis, FBI Sacramento, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and DEA Los Angeles. U. S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Western District of Missouri, the District of Colorado, the Eastern District of California, and the Northern District of Georgia also provided significant assistance in the investigation.
Trial Attorneys Kirk Handrich and Roger Polack of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Quencer for the Eastern District of Tennessee are prosecuting the cases.
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 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 and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Members of the public are reminded that these are only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Gunman for Seven Inside-Job Robberies at Chinatown Walgreens Sentenced to 16.5 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kamanye Williams, 26, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 198 months in federal prison for his role as the gunman in seven inside-job robberies of a Walgreens drug store in the District’s Chinatown neighborhood, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Williams pleaded guilty on March 11 to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery) and pleaded guilty to two counts of using, carrying, possessing, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and aiding and abetting.
In addition to the 198-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Williams to serve five years of supervised release and to pay $7,245.75 in restitution.
Joining in the announcement were FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Washington Field Office Criminal Division and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Williams, Gianni Robinson, and Walgreen’s store managers Michael Robinson and London Teeter committed the inside-job robberies during a nearly eight-month period.on July 18, 2023, Aug. 2, 2023, Sept. 2, 2023, Nov. 10, 2023, Dec. 4, 2023, Jan. 9, 2024, and Feb. 11, 2024.
In total, the co-conspirators stole at least $28,983.00 from the Chinatown Walgreens at 7th and H Streets, NW. The robberies stopped Feb. 11, 2024, when Williams was shot in the chest by a Special Police Officer.
Each robbery followed the same modus operandi. A masked gunman entered the store in the evening as cash was transported, or had already been transported, to the Manager’s Office. The gunman either forced an employee to enter the code to the Manager’s Office or accessed the office themselves by entering the code. The gunman robbed whichever employees were present in the Manager’s Office and fled the store through the rear exit.
Michael Robinson and Teeter took turns pretending to be the “victim” manager on duty, knowing that the robberies would be captured on internal surveillance footage and later scrutinized by law enforcement.
Text messages show the co-conspirators worked to make the robberies look authentic. Gianni Robinson and Williams discussed that Teeter no longer play the role of “victim” unless Williams pretended to assault her. Williams brazenly claimed that he wanted to “go in violently now, I’m tired of this not hitting what we supposed to hit.” Gianni Robinson indicated that his “unc” (Michael Robinson) was prepared to be the victim and be “smack[ed] out” during the robbery.
Prior to some of the robberies, Michael Robinson provided Williams with insider knowledge, telling him the number of armed security guards that would be present at a given time, which employees had the code to the Manager’s Office, when cash would enter the Manager’s Office, and the best times to perform a robbery.
On Feb. 11, 2024, at approximately 6:28 p.m., an armed Special Police Officer (SPO) was escorting Michael Robinson to the Manager’s Office while carrying cash from the day. As Michael Robinson was unlocking the Manager’s Office, Williams came up and held a gun against the SPO and threatened to kill him. Michael Robinson, Williams, and the SPO entered the Manager’s Office and Williams took the SPO’s handgun. After putting the cash in his bag, Williams attempted to leave the Manager’s Office but a second armed SPO arrived and fired once at Williams, striking him in the chest. Williams was then taken to the hospital.
Williams previously was convicted in 2021 in D.C. Superior Court of carrying a pistol without a license following a car-to-car shootout in Northeast that left two men injured and one of them paralyzed. In that case, Williams was sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act to one year of supervised probation.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force with assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin with assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Song and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Svetoslavov.
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Former DOJ Employee Who Hurled a Hoagie at a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Officer Charged with AssaultRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Sean Charles Dunn, 37, was charged in a criminal complaint yesterday in U.S. District Court in connection with an alleged assault on a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer that included shouted verbal insults and a thrown wrapped sandwich, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Dunn, who had worked at the Department of Justice, was fired today by Attorney General Pam Bondi. He is charged with one felony count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and employees of the United States. Dunn had his first appearance today before federal Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey and was released on his own recognizance.
“If you touch any law enforcement officer, we will come after you,” said Attorney General Bondi in a post on the social media platform X. “I just learned that this defendant worked at the Department of Justice — NO LONGER. Not only is he FIRED, he has been charged with a felony. This is an example of the Deep State we have been up against for seven months as we work to refocus DOJ. You will NOT work in this administration while disrespecting our government and law enforcement.”
“Let me be clear, if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, be certain we will come after you with the full weight of the law. Our officers have a job to do, and they should not be abused in the process,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This alleged assault is no joke – it’s a serious crime, and those who think otherwise will learn just how gravely mistaken they are.”
According to the charging documents, on Sunday, Aug. 10, at about 11 p.m., Metro Transit Police and members of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, were patrolling on the 2000 block of 14th Street NW.
Dunn allegedly approached one of the CPB officers, pointed his finger in the officer’s face, and shouted “F--- you! You f---ing fascists! Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!”
About 11:06 p.m., Dunn forcefully threw a sub-style sandwich at the CPB officer, striking him in the chest. An Instagram video recorded by an observer captured the incident.
Dunn attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended. While being processed at Metropolitan Police Department’s Third District, Dunn told an officer, “I did it. I threw a sandwich.”
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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District Woman Pleads Guilty to Assault for Spitting on Former Interim U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Two Deputy United States MarshalsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Emily Gabriella Sommer, 32, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today to three counts of assaulting a government official, in connection with a May 8 incident during which she spit on former U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and with her May 22 arrest during which she spit and kicked one Deputy United States Marshal and kicked another, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb scheduled sentencing for Oct. 10, 2025.
"I want to congratulate U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro, and her trial prosecutors Josh Gold and Jake Green, for the professional and respectful manner they handled this case and bringing it to a successful conclusion," said U.S. Pardon Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. who also serves as Director of the Weaponization Working Group for the Department of Justice.
According to court documents, on May 8, 2025, at about 3:30 p.m., then-Interim U.S. Attorney Martin was conducting an on-camera interview in front of the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the 600 block of D Street NW.
During the interview, Sommer approached Martin and stated words to the effect of, “Who in the f-- are you?” Martin turned to face Sommer. Sommer then said, “Are you Ed Martin? You are. Ed Martin.” Sommer lunged at Martin and spit on his shoulder. Sommer then walked eastbound on D Street Northwest and yelled, “You are a disgusting man. F--- you, Ed Martin. My name is Emily Gabriella Sommer, and you are served.”
Law enforcement identified an X account with username @EmilyGabriellaS and display name “Lefttits” as likely belonging to Sommer. On the evening of May 8, 2025, that account made several posts related to the incident.
On May 22, 2025, as Deputy U.S. Marshals placed Sommer under arrest she spit on one Deputy U.S. Marshal and kicked him a short time later. She also kicked a separate Deputy U.S. Marshal.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob Green and Joshua Gold.
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Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of Glock While on Supervised Release for AssaultRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Lamaas Lowery-Bey, 28, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 70 months in prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun while he was still on supervision following his incarceration for assault, announced U.S Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Lowery-Bey pleaded guilty on Apr. 18, 2025, before Judge Dabney L. Friedrich to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition to the 70-month prison term, Judge Friedrich ordered Lowery-Bey to serve three years of supervised release.
Joining in the announcement were FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Washington Field Office Criminal Division and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to court documents, law enforcement was focused on the Fairlawn neighborhood in the area of 19th Street SE and Minnesota Ave SE, following a series of five homicides in 2023.On Sept. 14, 2023, Lowery-Bey was observed pulling a black semi-automatic handgun out of the front of his pants in the 1900 block 18th Street SE. From the way he held the gun, it appeared to have an extended magazine.
On Oct. 4, 2023, MPD officers executed a search warrant at Lowery-Bey’s residence. Behind a canvas painting which hung above a bathroom toilet, officers recovered a .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine. As they removed the canvas, the loaded firearm fell onto the toilet tank.
The firearm, loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition, was also equipped with a “switch,” which would have enabled it to fire like a machine gun if it was operable. A check revealed that the gun had been reported stolen.
Lowery-Bey has been held since his arrest in November 2024.
Prior to the arrest in this case, Lowery-Bey was detained in June 2023 for unlawful possession of a 9mm Taurus Millenium handgun loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition and a 50-round drum magazine. He was charged in D.C. Superior Court. The counts were dismissed.
Lowery-Bey was previously convicted for attempted assault with a dangerous weapon (gun), possession of a firearm (prior conviction), and felony contempt that stemmed from an incident of domestic violence on Aug. 6, 2019. He threatened to shoot his then-girlfriend, her daughter, and the daughter’s friend. He then barricaded himself in the bathroom and did not surrender to police until three hours later. Investigators believe he attempted to flush a black Velocity 9mm semiautomatic firearm down the toilet.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Iris McCranie.
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Convicted Sex Offender Who Had Been Deported to Mexico Charged in Illegally Re-Entering the U.S.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Saul Castillo-Crespo, 28, a citizen of Mexico, has been charged in an indictment, unsealed today in U.S. District Court, with violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) and illegal re-entry into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Castillo-Crespo was previously convicted in August 2017 in D.C. Superior Court and sentenced to five years in prison in connection with the kidnapping and sexual abuse of an intoxicated stranger in Northwest Washington. In January 2023, Castillo-Crespo was deported to Mexico. He illegally re-entered the country in March 2025, proceeded to violate the law by failing to register as a sex offender, and was arrested in June by local law enforcement.
“This defendant has repeatedly crossed the border illegally to commit multiple crimes in the District of Columbia,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He’s a poster boy for the kind of threat that we are determined to remove from our community.”
According to the court documents, ICE learned that Castillo-Crespo had been arrested by MPD officers on June 27, 2025, and had been charged with unlawful entry and destroying property. On arrest, the defendant identified himself using the alias “David Crespo.”
On July 16, 2025, law enforcement fingerprinted “David Crespo.” The FBI identified him as Castillo-Crespo. ICE determined that the fingerprints matched those of a known and previously deported alien.
On May 7, 2017, Castillo-Crespo found the victim in the early morning hours on a sidewalk near Lafayette Square in downtown Washington. She was extremely intoxicated, unable to walk, and told Castillo-Crespo that she wanted to go to her home. Castillo-Crespo hailed a passing taxi and brought her back to his apartment building in the 1700 block of Seventh Street NW. Once inside, the victim refused to enter Castillo-Crespo’s fourth-floor apartment and repeated that she wanted to go home. On multiple occasions, she fell and laid down on the hallway floor due to her intoxication. She tried to push Castillo-Crespo away and return to the elevator to leave the building, but Castillo-Crespo blocked her and pulled her back toward his apartment. Because of the commotion this was causing in the hallway, Castillo-Crespo lifted her and carried her to the fourth- floor staircase, where Castillo-Crespo sexually assaulted her. His conduct inside the building was captured on building surveillance cameras.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Satter and Kyle McWaters.
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Convicted Killer Serving Life Is Sentenced to an Additional 46-Months for Possessing Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Marcel Vines, 28, a convicted kidnapper and killer serving a life sentence in prison, was sentenced today to an additional 46-months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy that smuggled a knife, fentanyl, and cell phones into the Central Detention Facility while he was awaiting trial for the murders of two innocent victims, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Vines, a member of the violent Clay Terrace Crew, pleaded guilty July 29, 2025, to conspiracy to commit and offense against the United States, that is possession of contraband in prison. In addition to his current life sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered Vines to serve an additional 46 months on the contraband charge.
Joining in the announcement were Director Tom Faust of the D.C. Department of Corrections, FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Previously, on Aug. 19, 2024, a federal jury found Vines guilty in the brutal kidnapping and murder of Kerrice Lewis and Armani Coles who had each been abducted at gun point, forced into vehicles, driven around the city, and then killed. In the case of Ms. Coles, she was trapped in the trunk of a sedan for more than 90 minutes before Vines and his co-defendant, Malique Lewis, 27, opened the trunk and shot her numerous times before setting the car on fire with her inside.
On March 7, 2025, Judge Dabney L. Friedrich sentenced Vines and Malique Lewis to life plus 60 years in prison for the kidnappings and murders. Vines will serve the 46-month sentence for possessing contraband consecutively to the previous sentence.
According to court documents, Vines was incarcerated in the Central Detention Facility (CDF) of the D.C. Department of Corrections (DOC) where he was awaiting trial on the double-armed kidnapping and murder charges. Vines was housed with other detainees from the Clay Terrace neighborhood of the District.
Beginning in February 2024—but likely much earlier—the Clay Terrace detainees sought to bring weapons and controlled substances into CDF. They recruited two correctional officers to assist in bringing the contraband into the jail.
DOC Office of Investigative Services made two recoveries of contraband in this case. On Feb. 28, 2024, DOC officers intercepted a bag containing a switchblade knife; an Apple iPhone; a USB iPhone charger; two pairs of eyeglasses; a bundle of marijuana wrapped in clear plastic wrap; tobacco wrapped in clear plastic wrap; several sheets of white rolling papers; a pair of gambling dice; three white sheets of paper that were damp and contained MDMB4en-PINACA—a synthetic cannabinoid and Schedule I Controlled Substance; additional packages of marijuana; and five plastic wrapped packages containing approximately 100 cigarettes.
On July 25, 2024, DOC staffers conducted two searches of the unit housing the Clay Terrace detainees for contraband. The DOC staff recovered 269 blue pills (including 120 from Vines’ cell), which tested positive for fentanyl; 60 cigarettes soaked in an unknown liquid (including 40 in Mr. Vines’ cell); 255 suboxone strips (170 in Vines’ cell); seven pieces of paper soaked in an unknown liquid substance; three cellular phones; and cigarettes.
This case was investigated by the DOC Office of Investigative Services, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the FBI Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold and Sarah Santiago.
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Haitian Gang Leader ‘Barbecue’ Indicted for Conspiracy to Violate U.S. SanctionsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — An indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. charging Jimmy Cherizier, 48, of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Bazile Richardson, 48, a naturalized U.S. citizen, with leading a conspiracy to transfer funds from the United States to Cherizier, aka “Barbecue,” to fund his gang activities in Haiti in violation of the U.S sanctions imposed on Cherizier, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Cherizier is a fugitive believed to be in Haiti.
Richardson, aka “Fredo,” “Fred Lion,” “Leo Danger,” and “Lepe Blode,” was arrested on July 23 in Pasadena, Texas, and is expected to make his initial court appearance today in the District of Columbia.
Concurrent with the indictment, the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Cherizier. Anyone possessing such information should contact Rewards for Justice here.
“There’s a good reason that there’s a $5 million reward for information leading to Cherizier’s arrest. He’s a gang leader responsible for heinous human rights abuses, including violence against American citizens in Haiti,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The U.S. government sanctioned Cherizier in 2020 because he was responsible for an ongoing campaign of violence, including the 2018 La Saline massacre, in which 71 people were killed, more than 400 houses were destroyed, and at least seven women raped by armed gangs. The U.S. Attorney’s office is committed to apprehending Cherizier and bringing him to justice, along with individuals like defendant Richardson, who has sent money and other support to Cherizier from the United States in violation of U.S. sanctions. Our office is committed to keeping Americans safe anywhere in the world, and the gang violence that has ravaged Haiti must end.”
“Cherizier and a U.S. associate sought to raise funds in the United States to bankroll Cherizier’s violent criminal enterprise, which is driving a security crisis in Haiti,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division does not tolerate criminal gang fundraising in the United States, and will continue to pursue those who enable Haiti’s violence and instability.”
"The FBI is committed to confronting foreign terrorist organizations wherever they operate, and Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier’s gang is no exception," said FBI Criminal Investigative Division Acting Assistant Director Darren Cox. "Through intelligence, partnerships and the full weight of federal law, we are dismantling FTO’s and rooting out those who threaten the safety of our communities.”
“The unsealing of this indictment marks the results of a lengthy investigation into Jimmy Cherizier’s criminal activities,” said acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons. “His actions to fund the oppression and slaughter of Haitians, including firearm procurement and trafficking networks, fundraising activities, movement and usage of U.S. dollars, and violations of sanctions, are unconscionable — but today marks a step towards accountability.”
“The FBI is dedicated to disrupting and dismantling transnational gangs, such as Viv Ansanm, who spread violence and engage in illicit finance activities – whether here or overseas,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of FBI Miami. “I commend the dedication and collaboration of our partners in this investigation to include HSI Washington Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. We especially thank the U.S. Embassy Port au Prince for their close cooperation and the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program for their robust $5 million reward for Cherizier.”
According to court documents, Cherizier is a former officer in the Haitian National Police and the leader of a gang known as the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies who helped to forge a gang alliance called Viv Ansanm that united Haiti’s many criminal gangs to oppose the legitimate government of Haiti. On Dec. 10, 2020, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Cherizier and designated him as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for his role in serious human rights abuses in Haiti. As a result of the SDN designation, U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with or for the benefit of Cherizier absent approval from OFAC in the form of a license.
As alleged in the indictment, since Cherizier’s SDN designation in December 2020, Cherizier and Richardson together have led a wide-ranging conspiracy with individuals in the United States, Haiti, and elsewhere to raise funds for Cherizier’s gang activities in violation of the sanctions imposed on Cherizier.
In particular, Cherizier and Richardson directly solicited money transfers from members of the Haitian diaspora located in the United States. After sending funds to intermediaries in Haiti for Cherizier’s benefit, the U.S. and Haitian co-conspirators would send Cherizier images of receipts from the money transfers. Cherizier used these funds principally to pay salaries to the members of his gang and to acquire firearms from illicit firearms dealers in Haiti.
The FBI Miami Field Office and HSI Washington Field Office are investigating the case, with substantial assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Providing valuable support are the FBI Houston, Boston, and Charlotte Field Offices and the HSI Miami Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas N. Saunders for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall, Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Seifert, and former Trial Attorney Benjamin Koenigsfeld. Significant support was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and the Department of State and U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.
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Haitian Gang Leader ‘Barbecue’ Indicted for Conspiracy to Violate U.S. SanctionsRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court charging Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue, 48, of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Bazile Richardson, also known as Fredo, Fred Lion, Leo Danger, and Lepe Blode, 48, a naturalized U.S. citizen, with leading a conspiracy to transfer funds from the United States to Cherizier to fund his gang activities in Haiti in violation of the U.S sanctions imposed on Cherizier. Cherizier is a fugitive believed to be Haiti. Richardson was arrested on July 23 in Pasadena, Texas, and is expected to make his initial court appearance today in the District of Columbia.
Concurrent with the indictment, the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Cherizier. If you have information, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at www.tips.fbi.gov. Information may also be provided to HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or online at www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
“Cherizier and a U.S. associate sought to raise funds in the United States to bankroll Cherizier’s violent criminal enterprise, which is driving a security crisis in Haiti,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division does not tolerate criminal gang fundraising in the United States, and will continue to pursue those who enable Haiti’s violence and instability.”
“There’s a good reason that there’s a $5 million reward for information leading to Cherizier’s arrest. He’s a gang leader responsible for heinous human rights abuses, including violence against American citizens in Haiti,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “The U.S. government sanctioned Cherizier in 2020 because he was responsible for an ongoing campaign of violence, including the 2018 La Saline massacre, in which 71 people were killed, more than 400 houses were destroyed, and at least seven women raped by armed gangs. The U.S. Attorney’s office is committed to apprehending Cherizier and bringing him to justice, along with individuals like defendant Richardson, who has sent money and other support to Cherizier from the United States in violation of U.S. sanctions. Our office is committed to keeping Americans safe anywhere in the world, and the gang violence that has ravaged Haiti must end.”
“The FBI is committed to confronting foreign terrorist organizations wherever they operate, and Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier’s gang is no exception,” said Acting Assistant Director Darren Cox of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Through intelligence, partnerships, and the full weight of federal law, we are dismantling FTOs and rooting out those who threaten the safety of our communities.”
“The unsealing of this indictment marks the results of a lengthy investigation into Jimmy Cherizier’s criminal activities,” said Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd M. Lyons. “His actions to fund the oppression and slaughter of Haitians, including firearm procurement and trafficking networks, fundraising activities, movement and usage of U.S. dollars, and violations of sanctions, are unconscionable — but today marks a step towards accountability.”
“The Department of State is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Jimmy Cherizier, the leader of Foreign Terrorist Organization Viv Ansanm,” said Senior Bureau Official Chris Landberg of the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. “The State Department will continue to apply its tools, including rewards programs, to combat the scourge of transnational organized crime and its violence — especially to stop the worst of the worst criminal ringleaders threatening the people of our hemisphere.”
According to court documents, Cherizier is a former officer in the Haitian National Police and the leader of a gang known as the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies who helped to forge a gang alliance called Viv Ansanm that united Haiti’s many criminal gangs to oppose the legitimate government of Haiti. On Dec. 10, 2020, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Cherizier and designated him as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for his role in serious human rights abuses in Haiti. As a result of the SDN designation, U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with or for the benefit of Cherizier absent approval from OFAC in the form of a license.
As alleged in the indictment, since Cherizier’s SDN designation in December 2020, Cherizier and Richardson have together led a wide-ranging conspiracy with individuals in the United States, Haiti, and elsewhere to raise funds for Cherizier’s gang activities in violation of the sanctions imposed on Cherizier.
In particular, Cherizier and Richardson directly solicited money transfers from members of the Haitian diaspora located in the United States. After sending funds to intermediaries in Haiti for Cherizier’s benefit, the U.S. and Haitian co-conspirators would send Cherizier images of receipts from the money transfers. Cherizier used these funds principally to pay salaries to the members of his gang and to acquire firearms from illicit firearms dealers in Haiti.
The FBI Miami Field Office and HSI Washington Field Office are investigating the case, with substantial assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Providing valuable support are the FBI Houston, Boston, and Charlotte Field Offices and the HSI Miami Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas N. Saunders for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall, Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Seifert, and former Trial Attorney Benjamin Koenigsfeld. Significant support was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and the Department of State and U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
D.C. Child Psychotherapist Charged with Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Victor Renato Blythe, 60, of the District of Columbia, has been charged by federal complaint with allegedly distributing and possessing child pornography to another individual, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Blythe is employed as a psychotherapist and specializes in working with children and adolescents. Blythe previously was employed in the Psychiatry Department at Children’s National Medical Center.
According to the complaint, Blythe is alleged to have communicated with another individual regarding his interest in the sexual abuse of children. During the course of those communications, Blythe is alleged to have distributed child pornography to that other individual. Blythe is also alleged to have possessed additional videos depicting child pornography on his electronic devices.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department with the assistance of the Fairfax County Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at [email protected].
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Justice Department announces coordinated disruption actions against BlackSuit (Royal) Ransomware operationsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Justice Department announced today coordinated actions against the BlackSuit (Royal) Ransomware group which included the takedown of four servers and nine domains on July 24. The takedown was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the FBI, and international law enforcement from the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, France, Canada, Ukraine, and Lithuania. These actions include the unsealing of a warrant for the seizure of virtual currency valued at $1,091,453 at the time of the seizure. The unsealing was announced today jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Columbia.
"This action exemplifies the forward-leaning, disruption-first approach we are taking to address this threat," said Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. "When it comes to protecting U.S. businesses, critical infrastructure, and other victims from ransomware and other cyberthreat actors, we will pull no punches."
“The BlackSuit ransomware gang’s persistent targeting of U.S. critical infrastructure represents a serious threat to U.S. public safety,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division is proud to be part of an ongoing team of government agencies and partners working to protect our Nation from threats to our critical infrastructure.”
“Too often we see the damage ransomware causes to systems that then allows cybercriminals to wreak havoc on corporations and others,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Whether these criminals target law enforcement, other government agencies, or private companies, my office and our law enforcement partners stand ready to go toe-to-toe with criminals and make victims whole.”
“Disrupting ransomware infrastructure is not only about taking down servers—it's about dismantling the entire ecosystem that enables cybercriminals to operate with impunity,” said Michael Prado, Deputy Assistant Director for HSI’s Cyber Crimes Center (C3). “This operation is the result of tireless international coordination and shows our collective resolve to hold ransomware actors accountable.”
“This investigation reflects the full reach of HSI Washington, D.C.’s cyber mission and our commitment to defending victims—whether they’re small businesses, school systems, or hospitals,” said Christopher Heck, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Washington, D.C. “We will continue to target the infrastructure, finances, and operators behind these ransomware groups to ensure they have nowhere left to hide.”
“This operation strikes a critical blow to BlackSuit’s infrastructure and operations,” said Special Agent in Charge William Mancino of the U.S. Secret Service’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The U.S. Secret Service is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal enterprises and prevent the deployment of malicious ransomware that victimizes businesses and organizations.”
“This announcement demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to disrupting the illicit flow of money that enables cyber criminals to illegally launder millions in cryptocurrency,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the IRS-CI Washington Field Office. “Criminal software like the BlackSuit Ransomware group is deployed to steal, extort victims, and launder proceeds of these activities. IRS Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Cyber Crimes Unit will continue to work hand in hand with our law enforcement partners to leverage all available tools to identify, apprehend and hold accountable these bad actors and put an end to their illicit activity.”
As detailed in a joint announcement released by HSI, an operation by U.S. law enforcement in close coordination with international partners successfully seized servers, domains, and digital assets used by the BlackSuit Ransomware group to deploy ransomware, extort victims, and launder proceeds of these activities. Some of those proceeds included approximately $1,091,453 in virtual currency (valued at the time of the theft) — which was separately seized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia using evidence collected by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia on or about June 21, 2024.
As previously described in a joint FBI and Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Cybersecurity Advisory, BlackSuit (Royal) ransomware attacks have targeted numerous critical infrastructure sectors including, but not limited to, critical manufacturing, government facilities, healthcare and public health, and commercial facilities. The advisory also describes the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used and indicators of compromise (IOCs) to help organizations protect against ransomware.
Royal victims are typically required to pay ransoms in BTC by accessing a darknet website. On April 4, 2023, a victim paid a ransom of 49.3120227 Bitcoin to decrypt their data. This ransom was worth $1,445,454.86 at the time of the transaction. A portion of those proceeds ($1,091,453) was repeatedly deposited and withdrawn into a virtual currency exchange account until the funds were frozen by that exchange on Jan. 9, 2024.
HSI, the U.S. Secret Service, IRS-CI, and the FBI are investigating the case alongside the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and Northwest Regional Organized Crime Unit, Germany's Landeskriminalamt Niedersachsen, Ireland's An Garda Síochána - Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, France's Office Anti-Cybercriminalité, Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Delta Police Department, Ukraine's National Police – Cyber Police Department, and Lithuania's Criminal Police Bureau.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers for the Eastern District of Virginia, Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock Jr. for the District of Columbia.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Justice Department Announces Coordinated Disruption Actions Against BlackSuit (Royal) Ransomware OperationsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today coordinated actions against the BlackSuit (Royal) Ransomware group which included the takedown of four servers and nine domains on July 24, 2025. The takedown was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the FBI, and international law enforcement from the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, France, Canada, Ukraine, and Lithuania. These actions include the unsealing of a warrant for the seizure of virtual currency valued at $1,091,453 at the time of the seizure. The unsealing was announced today jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Columbia.
“The BlackSuit ransomware gang’s persistent targeting of U.S. critical infrastructure represents a serious threat to U.S. public safety,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division is proud to be part of an ongoing team of government agencies and partners working to protect our Nation from threats to our critical infrastructure.”
“This action exemplifies the forward-leaning, disruption-first approach we are taking to address this threat,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “When it comes to protecting U.S. businesses, critical infrastructure, and other victims from ransomware and other cyberthreat actors, we will pull no punches.”
“Too often we see the damage ransomware causes to systems that then allows cybercriminals to wreak havoc on corporations and others,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Whether these criminals target law enforcement, other government agencies, or private companies, my office and our law enforcement partners stand ready to go toe-to-toe with criminals and make victims whole.”
“Disrupting ransomware infrastructure is not only about taking down servers — it's about dismantling the entire ecosystem that enables cybercriminals to operate with impunity,” said Deputy Assistant Director Michael Prado for HSI’s Cyber Crimes Center (C3). “This operation is the result of tireless international coordination and shows our collective resolve to hold ransomware actors accountable.”
“This operation strikes a critical blow to BlackSuit’s infrastructure and operations,” said Special Agent in Charge William Mancino of the U.S. Secret Service’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The U.S. Secret Service is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal enterprises and prevent the deployment of malicious ransomware that victimizes businesses and organizations.”
“This announcement demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to disrupting the illicit flow of money that enables cyber criminals to illegally launder millions in cryptocurrency,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the IRS-CI Washington Field Office. “Criminal software like the BlackSuit Ransomware group is deployed to steal, extort victims, and launder proceeds of these activities. IRS Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Cyber Crimes Unit will continue to work hand in hand with our law enforcement partners to leverage all available tools to identify, apprehend and hold accountable these bad actors and put an end to their illicit activity.”
As detailed in an announcement by HSI, an operation by U.S. law enforcement in close coordination with international partners successfully seized servers, domains, and digital assets used by the BlackSuit Ransomware group to deploy ransomware, extort victims, and launder proceeds of these activities. Some of those proceeds included approximately $1,091,453 in virtual currency (valued at the time of the theft) – which was separately seized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia using evidence collected by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia on or about June 21, 2024.
As previously described in a joint FBI and Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Cybersecurity Advisory, BlackSuit (Royal) ransomware attacks have targeted numerous critical infrastructure sectors including, but not limited to, critical manufacturing, government facilities, healthcare and public health, and commercial facilities. The advisory also describes the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used and indicators of compromise (IOCs) to help organizations protect against ransomware.
Royal victims are typically required to pay ransoms in BTC by accessing a darknet website. On or about April 4, 2023, a victim paid a ransom of 49.3120227 Bitcoin to decrypt their data. This ransom was worth $1,445,454.86 at the time of the transaction. A portion of those proceeds ($1,091,453) was repeatedly deposited and withdrawn into a virtual currency exchange account until the funds were frozen by that exchange on or about Jan. 9, 2024.
HSI, the U.S. Secret Service, IRS-CI, and the FBI are investigating the case alongside the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and Northwest Regional Organized Crime Unit, Germany's Landeskriminalamt Niedersachsen, Ireland's An Garda Síochána - Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, France's Office Anti-Cybercriminalité, Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Delta Police Department, Ukraine's National Police – Cyber Police Department, and Lithuania's Criminal Police Bureau.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers for the Eastern District of Virginia, Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock Jr. for the District of Columbia.
Justice Department Announces Coordinated Actions to Disrupt the Operations of BlackSuit (Royal) RansomwareRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department today announced coordinated actions against the BlackSuit (Royal) Ransomware group which included the takedown of four servers and nine domains on July 24. The takedown was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the FBI, and international law enforcement from the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, France, Canada, Ukraine, and Lithuania. These actions include the unsealing of a warrant for the seizure of virtual currency valued at $1,091,453 at the time of the seizure. The unsealing was announced today jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
“Too often we see the damage ransomware causes to systems that then allows cybercriminals to wreak havoc on corporations and others,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Whether these criminals target law enforcement, other government agencies, or private companies, my office and our law enforcement partners stand ready to go toe-to-toe with criminals and make victims whole.”
“The BlackSuit ransomware gang’s persistent targeting of U.S. critical infrastructure represents a serious threat to U.S. public safety,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division is proud to be part of an ongoing team of government agencies and partners working to protect our Nation from threats to our critical infrastructure.”
“Today’s action exemplifies the forward-leaning, disruption-first approach we are taking to address this threat,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “When it comes to protecting U.S. businesses, critical infrastructure, and other victims from ransomware and other cyberthreat actors, we will pull no punches.”
“Disrupting ransomware infrastructure is not only about taking down servers — it's about dismantling the entire ecosystem that enables cybercriminals to operate with impunity,” said Deputy Assistant Director Michael Prado for HSI’s Cyber Crimes Center (C3). “This operation is the result of tireless international coordination and shows our collective resolve to hold ransomware actors accountable.”
“This operation strikes a critical blow to BlackSuit’s infrastructure and operations,” said Special Agent in Charge William Mancino of the U.S. Secret Service’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The U.S. Secret Service is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal enterprises and prevent the deployment of malicious ransomware that victimizes businesses and organizations.”
“Today's announcement demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to disrupting the illicit flow of money that enables cyber criminals to illegally launder millions in cryptocurrency,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the IRS-CI Washington Field Office. “Criminal software like the BlackSuit Ransomware group is deployed to steal, extort victims, and launder proceeds of these activities. IRS Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Cyber Crimes Unit will continue to work hand in hand with our law enforcement partners to leverage all available tools to identify, apprehend, and hold accountable these bad actors and put an end to their illicit activity.”
As detailed in a joint announcement released today by HSI, an operation by U.S. law enforcement in close coordination with international partners successfully seized servers, domains, and digital assets used by the BlackSuit Ransomware group to deploy ransomware, extort victims, and launder proceeds of these activities. Some of those proceeds included approximately $1,091,453 in virtual currency (valued at the time of the theft) — which was separately seized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia using evidence collected by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia on or about June 21, 2024.
As previously described in a joint FBI and Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Cybersecurity Advisory, BlackSuit (Royal) ransomware attacks have targeted numerous critical infrastructure sectors including, but not limited to, critical manufacturing, government facilities, healthcare and public health, and commercial facilities. The advisory also describes the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used and indicators of compromise (IOCs) to help organizations protect against ransomware.
Royal victims are typically required to pay ransoms in BTC by accessing a darknet website. On or about April 4, 2023, a victim paid a ransom of 49.3120227 Bitcoin to decrypt their data. This ransom was worth $1,445,454.86 at the time of the transaction. A portion of those proceeds ($1,091,453) was repeatedly deposited and withdrawn into a virtual currency exchange account until the funds were frozen by that exchange on or about Jan. 9, 2024.
HSI, the U.S. Secret Service, IRS-CI, and the FBI are investigating the case alongside the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and Northwest Regional Organized Crime Unit, Germany's Landeskriminalamt Niedersachsen, Ireland's An Garda Síochána - Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, France's Office Anti-Cybercriminalité, Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Delta Police Department, Ukraine's National Police – Cyber Police Department, and Lithuania's Criminal Police Bureau.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock Jr. for the District of Columbia, Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section.
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Links to Court Documents:
DDC Seizure
blacksuit_24-sz-27_-_redacted_-_seizure_warrant.pdfUnsealing Motion and Order
Virginia Man Sentenced in Sex Tourism, Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Randall Meck, 52, of Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 188 months in federal prison in connection with possessing 180 videos and 560 images depicting the sexual abuse of children. The files were recovered on his phone following his arrest at Dulles International in December 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Meck pleaded guilty Apr. 2, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton to distribution of child pornography. In addition to the 188-month prison term, Judge Walton ordered Meck to serve a lifetime of supervised release, to register as a sex offender, and to pay $5,000 in restitution.
“Children are our most precious resource and those who seek to exploit and harm them—whether online or overseas—will be hunted down, prosecuted, and face the full weight of justice. We will not allow predators to hide behind screens while committing the most heinous acts imaginable.”
Joining in the announcement were FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Washington Field Office Criminal Division and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to court documents, in September 2024, law enforcement obtained Facebook messages between Meck and another individual in connection with a sex tourism investigation.
On Sept. 26, 2024, an undercover agent with the Washington D.C. Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force contacted Meck. Meck shared a video with the undercover officer depicting prepubescent boys being sexually abused by adult men. Meck also provided the undercover agent with a contact in the Philippines who he said could provide children to abuse. In addition, Meck provided travel tips, transportation and hotel recommendations, and made efforts to coordinate a trip to the Philippines for the purpose of sex with minors.
On Dec. 21, 2024, law enforcement arrested Meck after landing at Dulles International Airport and seized Meck’s iPhone 13 Pro which contained approximately 180 videos and 560 still images depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Following his arrest, Meck waived his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with law enforcement. In an interview, Meck confirmed that he had traveled to the Philippines on multiple occasions between 2021 and 2024 for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual activity with minors and provided details of the encounters.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and MPD’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Parron and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Bond.
24cr43
Illegal Immigrant Who Murdered the Mother of His Children Gets 24 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mario Miguel Banegas Deras, 43, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in Superior Court for the beating, stabbing, and strangulation death of Maria Magdalena Ayala Guardado in Northwest, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Banegas Deras pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed on April 15, 2025. Superior Court Judge J. Michael Ryan sentenced Banegas Deras to 24 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
“This illegal lowlife killed the mother of his children in the most heinous way, after abusing her throughout their relationship,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. “Domestic violence is something that we will not tolerate from anyone, particularly those who are not legal citizens of this country who break the law. For any woman in a violent relationship please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.”
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 6:30 a.m. on December 15, 2024, 42-year-old Mario Miguel Banegas Deras, went to 744 Girard Street, NW, where he had lived with the victim, Maria Magdalena Ayala Guardado, and their 3 children until approximately one week before the murder, after Ms. Ayala told him to leave the home due to continued physical and emotional abuse. On that day, Banegas Deras entered the apartment building and made his way to the lower level where he exited the building at the storage/garage area and attempted to open the garage door. When he couldn’t get in the garage, the defendant re-entered the building where he waited in hiding for the victim to make her way to the garage, as she did every day. Ninety minutes later, Maria Magdalena Ayala Guardado exited the building, unlocked and then entered the garage. The defendant, who had been watching her through a small window, followed her into the garage and immediately closed the door. Once the defendant had Ms. Ayala trapped inside the garage, he killed the victim by strangling her, hitting her in the head over fourteen times with a brick, and stabbing her in the neck. Thirty-five minutes after closing the garage door, Banegas Deras called 9-1-1 and reported that he’d just killed his wife by strangling her. The defendant was placed under arrest at the scene.
Shortly after the defendant’s arrest, the government obtained a Warrant of Removal/Deportation with the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Upon completion of his sentence, the defendant will be deported to his country of origin, Honduras.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorney, Marybeth Manfreda, who prosecuted the case.
Armed Robber Who Targeted an Elderly Resident on Metro Gets 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kevin Freeman, 20, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today in Superior Court to five years in prison for robbing an elderly man on a Metro train while armed with a knife, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Freeman pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025, to one count of robbery while armed. Today, the Honorable Judge Jennifer Di Toro sentenced Freeman to 60 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Di Toro also ordered that Freeman’s sentence run consecutively to his probation revocation sentence in a separate criminal case in which Freeman was convicted of robbery on the Metro in June of 2024. As such, Freeman will serve an aggregate sentence of 90 months’ incarceration. Finally, Judge Di Toro declined to sentence Freeman under the Youth Rehabilitation Act given his recent conviction for similar conduct in June of 2024.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 10:56 p.m. on January 16, 2025, Freeman boarded an orange line train wearing a face mask. He sat across the car from the 72-year-old victim, who was on his way home from work. Freeman waited until the other passengers left the train then moved to the seat directly next to the victim. He demanded the victim’s money and grabbed at the victim’s pockets while holding a large knife. The victim fought back against Freeman – a man 50 years his junior – and almost succeeded in stopping the robbery. However, around two minutes into the struggle, Freeman managed to grab the victim’s iPhone 15, valued at $800, and cash from the victim’s pants pockets before fleeing the train.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Michael Anzallo of the Metro Transit Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Anzallo commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metro Transit Police Department, particularly Detective Adrian Rodriguez. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliot Folsom, who prosecuted the case.
Two Drug Trafficking Co-Conspirators Sentenced to 15-Year Prison TermsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Charles Cunningham, 59, and Tyrone Ragland, 57, both of the District of Columbia, were each sentenced today to 15 years in prison for their roles in a drug conspiracy that trafficked large quantities of PCP, fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base (crack) in the metropolitan area and for possessing illegal firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Cunningham pleaded guilty on May 7, after a jury was selected but before the trial began, before U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon with a sentencing enhancement under the Armed Career Criminal Act. In addition to the 180-month prison term, Judge Cobb ordered three years of supervised release.
Ragland, aka “Tech,” pleaded guilty on May 7, after a jury was selected but before the trial began, before Judge Cobb to a charge of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram of PCP. In addition to the 180- month prison term, Judge Cobb ordered Ragland to serve five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, through controlled purchases and wiretaps, evidence showed that a co-defendant Melvin Grayson distributed PCP, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Ragland, Cunningham, and others conspired with Grayson to distribute the narcotics. In search warrants conducted at various residences, agents recovered six firearms, more than 2.5 kilos of PCP, more than 100 grams of fentanyl, and approximately $50,000 in cash.
On Jan. 11, 2023, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Cunningham’s residence on 13th Street, NE, and recovered large quantities of narcotics: over 1,500 grams of PCP, over 50 grams of cocaine, over 50 grams of cocaine base, and over 270 grams of fentanyl. In the oven, next to a pouch of various drugs packaged for distribution, Cunningham kept a loaded Glock 31 handgun. During the conspiracy, Cunningham stashed bulk quantities of PCP and fentanyl at his residence to provide to his coconspirators for redistribution.
Items recovered from Cunningham’s residence.
Also on Jan. 11, 2023, FBI agents executed search warrants at two residences associated with Ragland. In his Eastern Ave SW apartment (where he primarily resided), agent recovered dozens of glass vials used for PCP distribution, multiple cell phones, and a digital scale. In a 6th Street SW, residence where Ragland had unfettered access, agents found a firearm stashed between the mattress and the bed’s headboard, about 626 grams of PCP, 41 grams of cocaine, and $16,230 in cash.
Items recovered from Ragland’s residences.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office Cross Border Task Force and the DEA Washington Division, with assistance from MPD’s Violent Crime Suppression Division and the Prince George’s County Police Department. The Cross Border Task Force is a part of the FBI’S Safe Streets Initiative and targets the most egregious and violent street crews operating in the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the Baltimore/Washington High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nihar R. Mohanty and Iris Y. McCranie of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
23cr007
Federal Hate Crime and First-Degree Murder Charges Filed Against Alleged Killer of Israeli Embassy Staff MembersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, was charged in an indictment unsealed yesterday with additional federal and local murder offenses in connection with the May 21, 2025, fatal shootings of two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Rodriguez previously was charged by complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia with the murder of a foreign official, causing death through the use of a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition, he had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder under the D.C. criminal code.
The indictment adds two federal counts of hate crime resulting in death and two local counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.
Multiple charges in the indictment carry a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment. At a later date, the Attorney General will decide whether to seek the death penalty.
“This office will leave no stone unturned in its effort to bring justice to the innocent victims of Elias Rodriguez,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The hate charges shed further light on his evil intent in the killing of innocent victims.”
Joining in the announcement were Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith.
“This Justice Department will not tolerate violence motivated by hatred of faith or national origin, and we will enforce our federal civil rights laws accordingly,” said Assistant Attorney General Dhillon.
According to the indictment, Rodriguez made multiple statements prior to the slayings in which he advocated for violence against Israelis.
On May 20, 2025, Rodriguez flew from Chicago to Washington D.C. with a Heckler and Koch VP9 SK 9mm semi-automatic handgun packed in his luggage.
The same day, he allegedly authored a manifesto that he called “Explication,” in which he argued for the “morality of armed demonstration” and wrote that “[t]hose of us against the genocide take satisfaction in arguing that the perpetrators and abettors have forfeited their humanity.”
On May 21, 2025, Rodriguez purchased a ticket to the “Young Diplomats Reception” sponsored by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) at the Capital Jewish Museum (CJM) located at 575 3rd Street NW, Washington, D.C.
Yaron Lischinsky, Sarah Milgrim, C.S., and A.T., were employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., who attended the reception at the CJM. Yaron Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen who was in the United States on official business. Sarah Milgrim, C.S., and A.T. were United States citizens.
Rodriguez allegedly approached the victims after they walked out of the CJM and fired approximately 20 shots using the 9mm semi-automatic handgun that he had transported from Chicago. After the victims fell, he allegedly continued firing at close range, including as one attempted to crawl away. Multiple shots struck Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, killing them. During the shooting, the defendant allegedly called out, “Free Palestine.”
Moments after the shooting, Rodriguez entered the CJM, where several event attendees were still present., displayed a red keffiyeh and allegedly said, “I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza.”
Police removed Rodriguez from the CJM. As he was taken away, Rodriguez yelled at event attendees who had remained inside CJM, “shame on you” and “shame on Zio-nazi terror.”
Investigators recovered a 9mm handgun and 20 spent shell casings at the scene.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia with assistance from the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Burglar Sentenced for Stealing Personal Items from a Woman’s Apartment While She Was SleepingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Nathaniel Robinson, 36, of Washington, D. C., was sentenced in Superior Court today for burglarizing a woman’s apartment in the middle of the night on March 6, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Robinson pleaded guilty on June 4, 2025, to one count of first-degree burglary. Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro sentenced Robinson to 70 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, suspended as to all but three years.
According to court documents, on the night of March 6, 2025, Robinson broke into the victim’s apartment while she was sleeping. The victim slept through the burglary and when she awoke around 9:00 a.m., the next day after she started to get ready for work, she went to look for her bag but could not locate it. When the victim went to retrieve her cell phone, she discovered that it was missing, along with other personal items such as credit cards and a key fob which belongs to a wine cellar inside the building. The victim called the police using her work phone to report the burglary.
Surveillance footage from the apartment building camera showed the defendant attempt to break into the lobby entrance of the apartment building, but he was unsuccessful. The victim’s patio door is adjacent to the lobby entrance, and the defendant later told detectives that he jumped over the victim’s gate and entered through her patio door.. According to the footage, thirteen minutes went by between Robinson trying to break into the lobby entrance from the outside and when Robinson was seen leaving the building through the lobby with a red bag in his possession. That bag was identified as belonging to the victim. Robinson was arrested on March 7, 2025 and has been in custody since.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Skopicki, who prosecuted the case.
Alleged Perpetrator of Shooting in Washington, D.C. Charged with Hate CrimesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. returned an indictment yesterday charging Elias Rodriguez with murder of a foreign official, hate crimes, firearms offenses, first-degree murder, and assault with intent to kill, for the shooting of Israeli Embassy staffers leaving a reception hosted at the Capital Jewish Museum (CJM). Rodriguez had previously been charged by complaint with murder of a foreign official, firearm offenses, and first-degree murder on May 22.
According to the indictment, on May 21, Rodriguez purchased a ticket to the American Jewish Committee (AJC)’s Young Diplomats Reception being hosted at CJM. Yaron Lischinsky, Sarah Milgrim, C.S., and A.T. were employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. who attended the reception. After purchasing the ticket, Rodriguez reviewed information about AJC, which indicated AJC’s support for Israel. After Lischinsky, Milgrim, C.S., and A.T. walked out of the reception, Rodriguez approached them and fired approximately 20 shots. Rodriguez shot Lischinsky and Milgrim multiple times, killing them. C.S. and A.T. escaped uninjured. Rodriguez approached a police officer, said “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” and was arrested. Rodriguez’s previously scheduled “explication” was then posted to his X account; in it, Rodriguez advocated for violence against Israelis.
“This Justice Department will not tolerate violence motivated by hatred of faith or national origin, and we will enforce our federal civil rights laws accordingly,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
“This office will leave no stone unturned in its effort to bring justice to the innocent victims of Elias Rodriguez,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “The hate charges shed further light on his evil intent in the killing of innocent victims.”
The Metropolitan Police Department and the Washington Field Office of the FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Joint Task Force October 7.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro Joined the Community and Law Enforcement Partners for National Night OutRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Ferris Pirro joined our law enforcement partners, neighbors, and communities for last night’s National Night Out event at Emery Height’s Community Center in the District’s Petworth neighborhood.
“National Night Out is about celebrating successes when community and law enforcement work together,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Tonight, we join together in unity to make this a place where it’s safe to raise our children, to live and to work and that’s what National Night Out is all about.”
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/.
Two Charged with Federal Counts in Georgia Ave. Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bobby Ransom, 46, of the District of Columbia, and Shawn Seegars, 49, of Forestville, Maryland, were charged by complaint on Aug. 4, 2025, for allegedly robbing the Truist Bank on Georgia Avenue, NW, on July 31, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Ransom, aka “James Ranson,” and Seegars, were charged in U.S. District Court with bank robbery, Hobbs Act robbery (robbery affecting interstate commerce), and D.C. Code robbery.
Joining in the announcement were FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
On Thursday, July 31, 2025, at approximately 2:55 p.m., two men entered the bank branch on the 6400 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. One of the suspects approached the counter and passed a note to the teller stating “Give up the money right now with no problems slide money out.” The teller complied, and both suspects fled the bank with a large sum of money. A weapon was not used during the robbery.
While walking away from the bank, Suspect 1 dropped some of the cash, and Suspect 2 picked it up. The two men then continued walking westbound.
About 5:25 p.m. on July 31, an MPD officer at the Metro Center transit stop at 12th and G Street NW recognized Suspect 1 from a bulletin issued earlier in the day. The officer arrested Ransom and in a search recovered $5,640 in cash. Shawn Seegars was arrested on August 1 by the FBI. Approximately $1,100 was recovered from Seegars at the time of his arrest.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office's Violent Crimes Task. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared English and John Parron.
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Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Lawrence Jordan, 44, a previously convicted felon from the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison in connection with being in illegal possession of a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic firearm that he had secreted in a bulky knee brace, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Jordan pleaded guilty on June 17, 2025, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
In addition to the 27-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss ordered Jordan to serve three years of supervised release.
Joining the announcement of the sentencing were Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
According to court documents, on Nov. 23, 2023 at 6:16 a.m., MPD officers responded to the 1300 block of H Street NE for a report of aggressive panhandling. One of the officers recognized Jordan as wanted in connection with an indecent exposure offense a week earlier. Jordan was placed under arrest for lewd, indecent, and obscene acts.
At the First District, Jordan was searched more thoroughly. Underneath Jordan’s knee brace, officers recovered a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic firearm, loaded with one round in the chamber and eight rounds in the magazine.
Jordan previously was convicted in 2009 in Maryland for second degree assault, fleeing, and driving while revoked and sentenced to 18 months in prison. He also has a 2010 conviction in Virginia being a felon in possession of a firearm and 35 prior arrests.
This case was investigated by the ATF and MPD. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold.
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Justice Department Dismisses Race-Based 44-Year-Old Consent DecreeRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division ended a court-imposed decree initiated by the Carter administration, which limited the hiring practices of the federal government based on flawed and outdated theories of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In Luevano v. Ezell, the Court dismissed a consent decree based on a lawsuit initially brought by interest groups representing federal employees in 1979. The decree entered in 1981 imposed draconian test review and implementation procedures on the Office of Personnel Management—and consequently all other federal agencies—requiring them to receive permission prior to using any tests for potential federal employees, in an attempt to require equal testing outcomes among all races of test-takers.
“For over four decades, this decree has hampered the federal government from hiring the top talent of our nation,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Today, the Justice Department removed that barrier and reopened federal employment opportunities based on merit—not race.”
“It’s simple, competence and merit are the standards by which we should all be judged; nothing more and nothing less,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia. “It’s about time people are judged, not by their identity, but instead ‘by the content of their character.’”
Note: Read the Dismissal here.