District of Columbia

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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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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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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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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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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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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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.

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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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. 

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.

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

Unsealing Motion and Order

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

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. 

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.

          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

            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.

25cr224

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.

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.

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/.

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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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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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. 

WASHINGTON – Deandre Miles, 30, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced August 1, 2025, in Superior Court, to 15 years for charges pertaining to the shooting death of 28-year-old Davon Fuller in October 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Miles pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and destruction of property (felony) on February 28, 2025. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt also ordered Miles to serve 12 months for the destruction of property charge to run concurrent to the 15-year prison term for the manslaughter charge. 

            According to the government’s evidence, in the early afternoon of October 16, 2023, in the 1600 block of Maryland Avenue, NE, the victim, Davon Fuller, and the defendant got into an argument inside a store at Hechinger Mall.  Although they left the store without incident, when the men saw each other a few minutes later inside another business at the mall they again got into an argument.  The argument persisted outside the store where Miles pulled out a gun and Mr. Fuller took out a knife.  Despite Mr. Fuller telling Miles to stop following him, Miles persisted walking behind Mr. Fuller throughout the mall before  fatally shooting Mr. Fuller five times. The victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including to his shoulder, torso, buttocks and upper extremities. After all life-saving measures were attempted, Mr. Fuller succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

            Miles was arrested on December 27, 2023, where he remains in custody. 

            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 expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the cases at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Lashone Samuels, Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark.  Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah C. Santiago, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Ronald Hall, 56, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in Superior Court for assaulting a senior citizen during a road rage incident, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Hall pleaded guilty on May 30, 2025, to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon.  On July 29, 2025, Superior Court Judge Carmen Mclean sentenced Hall to 36 months in prison, requiring Hall to serve 30 months of incarceration, and suspending the remaining six months of the sentence. Judge McLean imposed two years of supervised probation to follow his 30-month prison term, during which the Court ordered Hall to comply with substance abuse treatment and abstain from alcohol.

            According to the government’s evidence, on March 1, 2025, Hall and the victim got into a car accident near the 3900 block of East Capitol Street NE. Hall chased the victim through traffic and attempted to stab him with a knife. Hall was arrested at the scene.

            Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.

            This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nickolas Reck.

WASHINGTON – Derrick Howard, 30, a previously convicted felon from the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 21 months in prison in connection with being in illegal possession of a Rohm .38 special revolver when he crashed his unlicensed motor scooter into a marked police cruiser, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Howard pleaded guilty on Apr. 11, 2025, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

            In addition to the 21-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell ordered Howard 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 Jan. 27, 2025, at 7:15 a.m., Howard was riding a motor scooter when he ran a red light and struck a marked police vehicle that was passing through the intersection of New York Avenue and Bladensburg Road NE.

            The police officer called for assistance and reported that she had been involved in a traffic accident. A detective responded and observed that the motorized scooter had no tags, and that Howard was not wearing a motorcycle helmet at the time of the crash. The detective ran a check and learned Howard was not licensed to drive a motorized scooter and, in addition, that the motorized scooter was not registered. The detective placed Howard under arrest.

            Howard was wearing a satchel bag around his neck. During a search incident to the arrest, officers recovered a Rohm .38 special caliber revolver from the satchel loaded with five rounds of ammunition.

            Howard’s criminal history includes previous convictions for assault with a dangerous weapon in 2021, unauthorized use of a vehicle in 2019, and unauthorized use of a vehicle in 2017.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.

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WASHINGTON - 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.

“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. “It’s about time people are judged, not by their identity, but instead “by the content of their character.””

“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 Civil Rights Division. “Today, the Justice Department removed that barrier and reopened federal employment opportunities based on merit—not race.”

WASHINGTON – Andre Clark, 34, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in Superior Court for the October 2024 shooting of Leonard Taylor, Jr., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Clark pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025, to one count second-degree murder while armed. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman sentenced Clark to 19 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.

            According to the government’s evidence, on the morning of October 20, 2024, the defendant walked out of a building in the 1500 block of 19th St., SE and towards the victim, who was sitting in the driver’s seat of a gray sedan parked on that street. Clark walked up to the driver’s side of the car, leaned down towards the driver’s side window, and used his right hand to point a firearm at the victim. As the victim started to drive away, the defendant fired his gun at him, striking the victim in the back and killing him.

            Clark was located and arrested in Baltimore, Maryland on December 19, 2024, 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 Daniel Bromwich, who prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Andre Jamar Turman, 34, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 28 months in federal prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a loaded Haskell Model JS-45 pistol while he was on probation and on pretrial release for multiple cases, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Turman pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2024, to the indictment charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 28-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Turman to serve three years of supervised release.

            Joining in the announcement were U.S. Marshal Robert Dixon of D.C. Superior Court, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)

            According to court documents, on May 4, 2023, Deputy U.S. Marshals and MPD detectives were searching for Turman due to numerous bench warrants out of D.C. Superior Court as well as an outstanding arrest warrant.

            At about 11:30 a.m., officers spotted and arrested Turman on the 2400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, near Twining Square Park. A Deputy U.S. Marshal patted down the right front pants pocket and recovered a loaded Haskell Model JS-45 pistol. The firearm was not registered in the District of Columbia. In addition, the firearm previously had been reported as stolen.

            Turman was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had been previously convicted of carrying a pistol without a license and sentenced to more than a year in prison. 

            At the time of his arrest, he was on probation and pretrial release for multiple cases—including release in another firearm case in Maryland.

            This case was investigated by the MPD and U.S. Marshals. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shezhad Akhtar and Chrisellen Rebecca Kolb.

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WASHINGTON – Andre Jamar Turman, 34, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 28 months in federal prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a loaded Haskell Model JS-45 pistol while he was on probation and on pretrial release for multiple cases, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Turman pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2024, to the indictment charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 28-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Turman to serve three years of supervised release.

            Joining in the announcement were U.S. Marshal Robert Dixon of D.C. Superior Court, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)

            According to court documents, on May 4, 2023, Deputy U.S. Marshals and MPD detectives were searching for Turman due to numerous bench warrants out of D.C. Superior Court as well as an outstanding arrest warrant.

            At about 11:30 a.m., officers spotted and arrested Turman on the 2400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, near Twining Square Park. A Deputy U.S. Marshal patted down the right front pants pocket and recovered a loaded Haskell Model JS-45 pistol. The firearm was not registered in the District of Columbia. In addition, the firearm previously had been reported as stolen.

            Turman was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had been previously convicted of carrying a pistol without a license and sentenced to more than a year in prison. 

            At the time of his arrest, he was on probation and pretrial release for multiple cases—including release in another firearm case in Maryland.

            This case was investigated by the ATF, MPD, and U.S. Marshals. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shezhad Akhtar and Chrisellen Rebecca Kolb.

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WASHINGTON –  Erik Schleehauf, 43, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today for actions stemming from his April 15, 2025, attack on a Metro Transit Police Sergeant, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

            After a jury trial in Superior Court, Schleehauf was found guilty of one count each of assault of a police officer while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault with serious bodily injury. The Honorable Robert Salerno scheduled sentencing for October 3, 2025. 

            “The conviction of this defendant, who violently stabbed a Metro Transit Officer for legally pursuing him after he refused to pay his Metro fare, is a perfect example of the violent behavior that will not be tolerated here in the District,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. “This violent attack while people are commuting using the transit system threatens the safety of everyone in our communities, and, in this case, the brave transit officer, severely injured in this attack, who was just doing his job.”

            At around 2:26 p.m., on April 15, 2025, at the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro Station, an MTPD Sergeant observed Schleehauf evade his fare by jumping over the glass gates on his way out of the Metro Transit System. The MTPD Sergeant followed the defendant as he tried to leave the station using the escalator. After Schleehauf refused to provide his identification and ignored the MTPD Sergeant’s efforts to stop him, the MTPD Sergeant deployed OC spray. Schleehauf pulled out a sharpened metal bolt, placed it between his knuckles and swung repeatedly at the MTPD Sergeant. Schleehauf repeatedly stabbed MTPD Sergeant in the face, causing puncture wounds in his cheek and lower jaw—just above his neck, which resulted in nerve damage that continues to this day.

            Schleehauf was arrested at the scene.

            Joining in the announcement was Chief Michael Anzallo of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

           This case was investigated by the Metro Transit Police Department and the Metropolitan Police Department.  

            This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nickolas Reck.

WASHINGTON – Michael Pittman, 30, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison in connection with trafficking more than 200 illegal firearms from Georgia and North Carolina to the Washington D.C. area where he sold many of them to convicted felons, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Pittman pleaded guilty on April 14, 2025, to conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking.

            “It’s bad enough we have a gun problem in D.C. but even worse when you traffic them in from other states,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Firearms traffickers present an immediate danger to the community. My office will aggressively prosecute these criminals and take them off the street for a significant amount of time.”

            In addition to the 84-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya S. Chutkan ordered Pittman to serve three years of supervised release.

            Joining in the announcement was Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            According to court documents, from at least April 2023 through May 2024, Pittman rented cars and drove to Georgia and North Carolina where he purchased guns from illegal firearm suppliers. Pittman re-sold the firearms in the D.C. area, advertising them through different means. He took photos of the firearms displayed on his bed with prices.

            Between April 2023 through May 2024, Pittman obtained, advertised, or sold 200 or more firearms.

            On May 30, 2024, Virginia State Police arrested Pittman in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, as he was returning to D.C. from a buying trip. Pittman fled from a traffic stop before he crashed and ran into the nearby woods. Police recovered Pittman’s backpack which contained 16 firearms, an additional firearm he had dropped, and two firearms he had left in his vehicle.

            Law enforcement subsequently obtained a warrant and searched Pittman’s residence. In Pittman’s home, law enforcement recovered hundreds of rounds of ammunition, firearm cleaning and repair tools, firearm magazines, and three additional firearms. Law enforcement also observed the same red-and-black patterned bed spread observed in the images from Pittman’s phone.

            Pittman has one prior felony conviction for second degree assault in Prince George’s County, Maryland, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison suspended as to all but 30 days.

            This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division with valuable assistance from the Virginia State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron A. Tepfer and Sarah Martin.

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WASHINGTON – LaTara Brown, 31, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, Kiya Holland, 33, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, Darius Robertson, 31, of Washington, D.C., Marcel Vines, 28, of Washington, D.C., and Stefon Freshley, 28 of Washington, D.C. have all pleaded guilty in a conspiracy to provide a knife, cell phones, and fentanyl and other controlled substances to inmates in the D.C. jail as they awaited trial for murder and assault with intent to kill while armed. The pleas were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

           Brown, Holland, Robertson, Vines and Freshley pleaded guilty in District Court. They were previously indicted on November 14, 2024 for providing or possessing contraband in a prison, as well as conspiring to do so. The sixth co-conspirator, Rashaad Roper, 45, of Gaithersburg, MD is set to go to trial.

           As part of the plea, Brown, Holland, Robertson, Vines and Freshley admitted to their role in the conspiracy which included Holland and Brown admitting to packaging contraband, such as a knife, cell phones, and controlled substances to include fentanyl, into Tupperware containers which would then be brought to the Central Detention Facility, also known as the D.C. Jail. Robertson, Vines, and/or Freshley, who were inmates inside the housing unit, admitted to receiving the contraband from Officer Roper or another corrections officer after they were smuggled into the jail.

            Sentencings are scheduled for August 13, 2025 (Vines), September 5, 2025 (Holland), September 16, 2025 (Robertson), September 25, 2025 (Freshley), and October 21, 2025 (Brown). Each defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 5 years in prison for conspiracy to provide or possess contraband in a prison. Judge Timothy J. Kelly will determine the appropriate sentence at each of the respective sentencings. 

           Joining in the announcement was FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis and Chief Investigator Kevin L. Hammond of the D.C. Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services.

           This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the D.C. Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services with the assistance of the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Gold and Sarah Santiago.

WASHINGTON – Kevin Hopkins, 39, a resident of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty on July 25, 2025, in U.S. District Court, on a firearms charge. The plea, which comes as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative, was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            This case is being prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe Again is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump’s Executive Order to make D.C. Safe and Beautiful. Make D.C. Safe Again aims to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

            Hopkins pleaded guilty to the indictment before U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb on count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Judge Cobb set a sentencing hearing for November 7, 2025.

            As part of his plea, Hopkins admitted to possessing a 9mm handgun, which MPD officers had recovered from the sofa cushions in an apartment during the execution of a residential search warrant. Hopkins also admitted to possessing 14 rounds of ammunition, which had been loaded  in the magazine of the 9mm handgun.

            Hopkins is a previously convicted felon and was on supervised release after being convicted of assault, burglary, and stalking.

            Joining in the announcement was Special Agent in Charge Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Division, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            This case is being investigated by the DEA Washington Division, the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Levy and Kate Naseef are prosecuting this case. 

WASHINGTON – Sherwood Russell, 35, 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. 

           The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Russell is charged federally with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.

            According to court documents, on May 4, 2025, members of the MPD’s Third Police District responded to a call for a domestic disturbance on the 2000 block of 11th Street Northwest. Officers observed Russell grabbing a woman by the arms and yelling at her. Russell attempted to flee in his vehicle as officers attempted to stop him. After a struggle, officers were able to detain Russell and observed an open container of alcohol in the front passenger seat. Upon further search of the vehicle, officers discovered a Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol, containing one round of .40 caliber ammunition in the chamber and 25 additional rounds in the 29 round capacity magazine. The pistol was modified with a “giggle” switch that converted the firearm into a fully automatic weapon.

            Russell is prohibited from possession of a firearm and ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions, including a 2011 conviction for first degree burglary while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon.

            This case is being prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe Again is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful. Make D.C. Safe Again aims to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

            Joining in the announcement was Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            The case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. 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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WASHINGTON – Christopher Light, 22, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 90 months in federal prison for his role in a 24-hour violent crime spree that included a gunpoint carjacking and armed robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Light pleaded guilty March 24, 2025, to one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition to the 90-month prison term, U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg ordered Light to serve three years of supervised release.

            Joining in the announcement was 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 February 4, 2024, about 6:45 p.m., Light and a co-conspirator ambushed a man in a Wharf District parking lot. Light was armed with a handgun; his co-conspirator wielded an AR-style firearm. Light and the co-conspirator threatened the man and took his iPhone 15 Pro and two gold chains with pendants. Light and his accomplice fled in a white Audi SUV.

            Early the next morning, Light and three other individuals pulled into the 900 block of Thayer Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland, in the same Audi SUV, and stopped behind a 2017 Mercedes E300 occupied by two individuals. Brandishing firearms, Light and the others ordered the occupants of the Mercedes to get out and turn over their possessions. Light and the others stole a Gucci handbag, a Louis Vuitton wallet, Bulgari watch, a gold necklace, a black Mark Jacobs bag, three cellphones, and various identification cards and credit cards. Two of the individuals with Light stole the Mercedes, while the others fled in the white Audi SUV.

            Later on February 5, 2024, at about 3 p.m., Light and another individual attempted to rob a man who was attempting to withdraw money from an ATM in the 2000 Block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE. Light and the other individual parked and exited a white Audi SUV and approached the man from behind. At gunpoint, Light and his accomplice ordered the man: “Don’t move, give me that sh--.” The man ran away and nothing was stolen from him.

            Law enforcement arrested Light on March 25, 2024. From a freezer in Light’s residence, officers recovered an AM-15, multi-caliber pistol along with a black magazine containing 50 rounds of ammunition.

            This case was investigated by the ATF and the MPD. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Tepfer.

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WASHINGTON – Elijah Porter, 20, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on July 25, 2025, in Superior Court, to 106 months in prison, for charges pertaining to two armed robberies he committed in 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Porter pleaded guilty on February 7, 2025, to armed robbery for an incident on December 2, 2023, and to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to commit robbery for an incident on November 8, 2023. In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel also ordered Porter to serve three years of supervised release. 

            According to the government’s evidence, on December 2, 2023, Porter, using a false Facebook account, responded to a Facebook Marketplace advertisement for the sale of an Apple MacBook. The defendant arranged for the victim to meet him in the 1300 block of Orren Street, NE. When the victim arrived, Porter asked to inspect the MacBook, so the victim handed the MacBook to the defendant. The defendant then pulled out what appeared to be a black handgun and stole the MacBook from the victim. A search, conducted two days later at Porter’s residence, resulted in the recovery of the victim’s MacBook.

            On November 8, 2023, Porter created an advertisement for the sale of Apple iPhones using a false Facebook account, and the victim responded to the advertisement, eventually agreeing to meet with the defendant to discuss the purchase of the iPhones posted for sale. Porter arranged for the victim to meet him in the 1300 block of Orren Street, NE. When the victim arrived, Porter and an accomplice got into the victim’s vehicle and struck the victim in the face with a handgun. Porter and the accomplice then stole personal property belonging to the victim.

            Porter was arrested on December 4, 2023, and he has remained 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 commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Hanley and Travis Wolf, who prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Dennis Chase, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on July 25, 2025, to 420 months in prison for the 2020 murder of Anthony Orr in Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            In October of 2024, a jury sitting in Superior Court found the defendant guilty of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm.   

            According to the government’s evidence, the defendant drove around the Washington Highlands neighborhood with the victim, Anthony Orr, sitting in the passenger seat. As the defendant slowly drove down Xenia St. SE, he raised a gun to Mr. Orr’s head and fired one lethal shot. The defendant pushed Mr. Orr out of the car and sped off. The defendant drove 30 miles North of the District to the woods of Severn, Maryland, where he doused the car in diesel exhaust fluid and attempted to light it on fire. The defendant then hiked through the woods until he found a random home, where he stripped down and hid his clothes and other evidence in the back shed, knocked on the back door, and asked for help. The homeowner called 911, and Anne Arundel County Police arrested the defendant on an unrelated warrant. MPD Homicide Detectives later charged defendant for the murder of Mr. Orr. The defendant testified at trial and claimed he acted in self-defense.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Anne Arundel County Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case form the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Investigative Analyst Zach McMenamin, Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity, Litigation Technology Specialists Leif Hickling and Charlie Bruce, Victim/Witness Advocate Jenn Clark, and Victim/Witness Coordinators Maenylie Watson and Katina Adams-Washington.

            Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Roman, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wes Faulkner and Andrea Antonelli, who prosecuted the case. 

WASHINGTON – Anthony McNair, 36, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced earlier today  to 42 months in prison for a jail stabbing that occurred on October 11, 2024, at the DC Central Detention Facility, located at 1901 D Street SE in Washington, D.C., announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            On January 27, 2025, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon for the jail stabbing.  The Honorable Judith Pipe, of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, ordered McNair to the prison term on July 28, 2025.

            According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 11:00 a.m., on October 11, 2024, in the Southwest 2 housing unit of the DC jail, McNair used a sharp object to repeatedly stab another inmate, 28-year-old Tyjuan McNeal, in an apparently unprovoked attack. The attack was captured on the facility’s surveillance cameras. In the footage, McNair can be observed with a clenched fist repeatedly using a stabbing motion while holding a sharp, white object to stab McNeal all over his body, at one point pulling a shirt over McNeal’s face so that he could not see to defend himself. McNair did not stop assaulting McNeal until a correctional officer intervened. As a result of the attack, the victim sustained multiple stab wounds on his head, neck, shoulder, chest, and palm, and was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

            At the time of the assault, McNair was in custody pending sentencing in a matter before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In that case, a federal jury found McNair guilty of charges stemming from his involvement in a series of armed robberies of Brinks armored cars in Washington, D.C., that took place in late 2021 and early 2022, and resulted in the loss of approximately $1.2 million. For his role in the robberies, the defendant was sentenced on March 26, 2025 by U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth to 31.5 years. His co-defendants in the robbery case – William Brock and Erin Sheffey, were sentenced to 54.7 years and 18 years, respectively.

            McNair’s sentence for the jail robbery will run consecutive to any other sentence he is already serving, including the sentence for the Brinks robberies.

            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. Attorney Ariel Lieberman, who prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Rashad Ervin (17), Markell Butler (16), and Dereon Butler (17), all of Washington, D.C., were arrested and charged by complaint as adults under Title 16 with multiple counts of armed robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for a robbery spree in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

            According to the government’s evidence, in the early-morning hours of December 2, 2024, the defendants utilized a stolen gray Kia Sorento and a stolen red Lexus sedan to locate and target commuting pedestrians in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. In all, they approached ten different unsuspecting pedestrians across numerous locations, brandished a firearm (or imitation thereof) at them, and robbed them of their wallets, purses, cellphones, and other personal belongings. They then fled each scene before the police could arrive.

           Rashad Ervin was arrested on May 13, 2025; Markell Butler was arrested on June 23, 2025; and Dereon Butler was arrested on July 22, 2025 in Superior Court.  They are all in custody.

           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) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy.

           A complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WASHINGTON – Eduardo Alberto Zelaya Vides, 31, of San Diego, California, was sentenced today in the District of Columbia to 108 months in prison in connection with repeatedly posting child sexual abuse materials to an online chatroom, with aggressively encouraging other group members to do the same, and possessing a collection of child pornography that numbered more than 2,000 digital files, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Zelaya Vides pleaded guilty on February 7, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell, to one count of distribution of child pornography.

            In addition to the 108-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Zelaya Vides to serve 15 years of supervised release, to register as a sex offender, and to provide a total of $106,500 in restitution to the 14 children depicted in the child exploitation images that he distributed.

            Joining in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office, which conducted the investigation.

            According to court documents, Zelaya Vides joined an instant messaging group which existed as a chatroom for the purpose of discussing the sexual exploitation of children and sharing child pornography. To gain entry and remain in the group, members were required to actively post and share child sexual abuse content. Zelaya repeatedly shared child pornography videos in the group and encouraged other members to share materials they collected, repeatedly imploring the group to “post your sluts” and “post your young sluts.”

            On May 10, 2024, law enforcement arrested Zelaya Vides. FBI agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home and recovered six digital devices, three of which contained more than 2,000 videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of children.

            During his interview with investigators, Zelaya Vides admitted that he participated in the chatroom that began as a forum for discussion and exchange of pornography. He later admitted that he was aware that the pornographic images shared in the group depicted minors who were under 18-years-old. He further admitted that he uploaded images to the chatroom.

            This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Shinskie.

            This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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WASHINGTON – Wendell Smith, 60, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today  to  32 months in federal prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a loaded Glock firearm when he was stopped by police for speeding on the Suitland Parkway, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Smith pleaded guilty on April 18, 2025, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 32-month prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Loren L. AliKhan ordered Smith to serve three years of supervised release

            Joining in the announcement of Smith’s sentencing was Chief Jessica Taylor of the U.S. Park Police.

            According to court documents, on Nov. 4, 2024, U.S. Park Police officers observed a black Mercedes speeding on the Suitland Parkway near Alabama Ave. SE, and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. After the sedan came to a halt, officers saw the driver reach to his right side.

            Smith presented his driver’s license. Officers asked Smith to step out of the vehicle. A K-9 unit indicated the presence of controlled dangerous substances in the car.

            Officers searched the car and, from a backpack on the passenger’s seat, recovered a Glock 27, .40 caliber pistol loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition. In another bag on the floor, officers discovered more than $78,000 in cash.

            Smith previously was convicted of first degree murder while armed and other offenses in D.C. Superior Court and in February 1990 was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.

            This case was investigated by the U.S. Park Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Strong.

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            WASHINGTON –Rodney Baggott, 58, of the District of Columbia, was found guilty yesterday of murder and related counts in U.S. District Court in the 2024 road rage slaying of Uber Eats driver Rasheek Abdullah near the Dupont Circle Metro Station, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            A federal jury deliberated for a single day before finding Baggott guilty on July 24 of first degree murder while armed (premeditated), possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Judge Reggie B. Walton scheduled sentencing for Dec. 18, 2025.

            Joining in the announcement was Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 30, 2024, Baggott was driving a white Mitsubishi Outlander to his then-girlfriend’s office at a law firm in Dupont Circle.

            Shortly before 4 p.m., the girlfriend left her office and joined Baggott. The two drove to the intersection of Connecticut Ave. and Q St, NW. There, as Baggott made a right-hand turn, Mr. Abdullah passed him on the left-hand side.  Baggott became enraged believing that Mr. Abdullah had cut him off. Baggott drove up next to Mr. Abdullah, pulled out a gun, and shot him in the neck.  Mr. Abdullah ultimately died as a result of the shooting.

            Baggott fled the scene with his girlfriend sitting in the passenger seat. The girlfriend called an auto body repair shop to fix distinctive damage on the vehicle—distinctive damage that would go out on a police bulletin later that day and would ultimately be used to link Baggott to the shooting.

            On March 2, 2024, a Montgomery County Police officer stopped Baggott and the girlfriend while they were in the white Mitsubishi Outlander. Baggott was arrested for illegally possessing a gun in the vehicle.

            On March 3, 2024, law enforcement found the gun used in the shooting during the execution of a search warrant at Baggott’s girlfriend’s apartment. The firearm had DNA that linked it to both the girlfriend and Baggott.

            This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and the Metropolitan Police Department, with valuable assistance from the Montgomery County Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron Tepfer and Daniel Seidel, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes. 

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WASHINGTON – Antonni Flores, 29, was sentenced to 42 months of jail time for breaking into a local business, stealing money and food, and returning the next day to break in a second time to steal a TV, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Flores was found guilty by a jury on April 28, 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of second-degree burglary. As part of the sentence, Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel sentenced him on July 18, 2025, to 42 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for each count to be served concurrently.

            According to the government’s evidence, in the early morning of July 26, 2024, the defendant broke into a local business. While inside, the defendant stole food, money, and various items before leaving the business. Surprisingly, the defendant returned less than 24 hours later with an accomplice. Once again, the defendant forced entry into the business and stole a large screen TV. Fortunately, the burglar alarm swiftly went off in the establishment and a Metropolitan Police Department officer, on the beat patrolling, stopped and arrested the defendant who was seen walking shirtless with the local business’s large screen TV.

           Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In announcing the sentencing, 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 Mikéla Cuffy and Michael Dal Lago, who prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Christina Marie Chapman, 50, of Litchfield Park, Arizona, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 102 months in prison for her role in a fraudulent scheme that assisted North Korean workers—posing as U.S. citizens and residents—in obtaining and working in remote IT positions at more than 300 U.S. companies. The scheme generated more than $17 million in illicit revenue for herself and for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea), announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

            Chapman pleaded guilty on Feb. 11, 2025, in the District of Columbia to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. In addition to the 102-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss ordered Chapman to serve three years of supervised release, to forfeit $284,555.92 that was to be paid to the North Koreans, and to pay a judgement of $176,850.

            The case involved one of the largest North Korean IT worker fraud schemes charged by the Department of Justice, with 68 U.S. person identities stolen and 309 U.S. businesses and two international businesses defrauded.

            Joining in the announcement were Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI Counterintelligence Division, FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith R. Janke of the FBI Phoenix Field Office, and Internal Revenue Service Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick for IRS Criminal Investigation’s Phoenix Field Office.

            U.S. Attorney Pirro noted her Office’s ongoing efforts to stem North Korean revenue generation.

            “North Korea is not just a threat to the homeland from afar. It is an enemy within. It is perpetrating fraud on American citizens, american companies, and American banks. It is a threat to Main Street in every sense of the word,” she said. Pirro further called on corporate America to take action.

            “The call is coming from inside the house. If this happened to these big banks, to these Fortune 500, brand name, quintessential American companies, it can or is happening at your company. Corporations failing to verify virtual employees pose a security risk for all. You are the first line of defense against the North Korean threat.”

            Said Acting Assistant Attorney General Galeotti: “The defendant’s role as a U.S.-based facilitator was critical to North Korea’s complex scheme to defraud American companies and steal the identities of American citizens. This multi-year plot highlights the unique threat that North Korea poses to U.S. companies who hire remote workers. The Criminal Division remains steadfast in its commitment to identify and prosecute individuals who facilitate these criminal schemes against U.S. companies.”

           “The North Korean regime has generated millions of dollars for its nuclear weapons program by victimizing American citizens, businesses, and financial institutions,” said FBI Assistant Director Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “However, even an adversary as sophisticated as the North Korean government can't succeed without the assistance of willing U.S. citizens like Christina Chapman, who was sentenced today for her role in an elaborate scheme to defraud more than 300 American companies by helping North Korean IT workers gain virtual employment and launder the money they earned. Today's sentencing demonstrates that the FBI will work tirelessly with our partners to defend the homeland and hold those accountable who aid our adversaries.”

            According to court documents, North Korea has deployed thousands of highly skilled IT workers around the world, including the United States, to obtain remote employment using false, stolen, or borrowed identities of U.S. persons. To circumvent controls employed by U.S. companies to prevent hiring illicit overseas IT workers, the North Korean IT workers obtain assistance from persons residing in the U.S.

            Chapman, an American citizen, conspired and assisted the North Korean IT workers from October 2020 to October 2023.  Using stolen and purchased identities of U.S. nationals, the North Korean IT workers applied for remote IT jobs at U.S. companies and, in furtherance of the scheme, transmitted false documents to the Department of Homeland Security on at least 100 occasions.

            Chapman and her coconspirators obtained jobs at 309 U.S. companies, including Fortune 500 corporations, often through temporary staffing companies or other contracting organizations. The impacted companies included a top-five major television network, a Silicon Valley technology company, an aerospace manufacturer, an American car maker, a luxury retail store, and a U.S media and entertainment company. The IT workers also attempted to obtain employment and access to information at two different U.S. government agencies, although these efforts were generally unsuccessful. Some of the companies were purposely targeted by a group of DPRK IT workers, who maintained a repository of postings for companies at which they wanted to insert IT workers.

            Chapman operated a “laptop farm” where she received and hosted computers from the U.S. companies her home, so that the companies would believe the workers were in the United States. Chapman also shipped 49 laptops and other devices supplied by U.S. companies to locations overseas, including multiple shipments to a city in China on the border with North Korea. More than 90 laptops were seized from Chapman’s home following the execution of a search warrant in October 2023.

Christina Chapman organized and stored U.S. company laptops in her home, and included notes identifying the U.S. company and identity associated with each laptop.

            Chapman and the North Korean IT workers netted more than $17.1 million for their work. Much of the income was falsely reported to the IRS and Social Security Administration in the names of actual U.S. individuals whose identities had been stolen or borrowed. Additionally, Chapman received and forged payroll checks in the names of the stolen identities used by the IT workers and received IT workers’ wages through direct deposit from U.S. companies in her U.S. financial accounts. Chapman further transferred the proceeds from the scheme to individuals overseas.

            Said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Janke: “The sentencing today demonstrates the great lengths to which the North Korean government will go in its efforts and resources to fund its illicit activities. The FBI continues to pursue these threat actors to disrupt their network and hold those accountable wherever they may be.”

            “Today’s sentencing brings justice to the victims whose identities were stolen for this international fraud scheme,” said Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office. “The scheme was elaborate. If this sentencing proves anything, it’s that no amount of obfuscation will prevent IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners from tracking down those that wish to steal the identities of U.S. nationals, launder money, or engage in criminality that jeopardizes national security.”

            The conspiracy orchestrated a vast and sophisticated fraud scheme, at the expense of generally unknowing U.S. companies and persons — generating at least $17.1 million of revenue for North Korea. The coconspirators compromised the identities of 68 U.S. persons, creating false tax liabilities for these victims; applied for or obtained remote jobs at 309 U.S. companies and 2 international companies; and caused false information to be conveyed to DHS on more than 100 occasions.

            In 2024 a United Nations Panel of Experts report estimated that the technology sector continues to be a key moneymaker for North Korea with an estimated 3,000 North Korean IT workers abroad and another 1,000 more operating inside North Korea, generating $250 million to $600 million annually.

            This case was investigated by the FBI Phoenix Field Office, and the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office. Assistance was provided by the FBI Chicago Field Office.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Ashley R. Pungello of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section prosecuted the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Jorge Casillas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rothstein, the Victim Witness Unit, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, and the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section also provided assistance.

***

            In a coordinated effort, FBI Phoenix also issued guidance for HR professionals on detecting North Korean IT workers, and the Department of State issued guidance[KS1]  on the North Korean IT worker threat.

            Prior guidance was issued by the FBI, State Department, and the Department of the Treasury on this threat in a May 2022 advisory, and by the United States and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in October 2023. The FBI issued updated guidance in May 2024 regarding the use of U.S. persons acting as facilitators by providing a U.S.-based location for U.S. companies to send devices and a U.S.-based internet connection for access to U.S. company networks and in January 2025 concerning the extortion and theft of sensitive company data by North Korean IT workers, along with recommended mitigations.

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Additional Guidance on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Information Technology Workers

Treasury Sanctions Clandestine IT Worker Network Funding the DPRK’s Weapons Programs

An Arizona woman was sentenced today to 102 months in prison for her role in a fraudulent scheme that assisted North Korean Information Technology (IT) workers posing as U.S. citizens and residents with obtaining remote IT positions at more than 300 U.S. companies. The scheme generated more than $17 million in illicit revenue for Chapman and for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea).

Christina Marie Chapman, 50, of Litchfield Park, Arizona, pleaded guilty on Feb. 11 in the District of Columbia to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. In addition to the 102-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss ordered Chapman to serve three years of supervised release, to forfeit $284,555.92 that was to be paid to the North Koreans, and to pay a judgment of $176,850.

“Christina Chapman perpetrated a years’ long scheme that resulted in millions of dollars raised for the DPRK regime, exploited more than 300 American companies and government agencies, and stole dozens of identities of American citizens,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Chapman made the wrong calculation: short term personal gains that inflict harm on our citizens and support a foreign adversary will have severe long term consequences.  I encourage companies to remain vigilant of these cyber threats, and warn individuals who may be tempted by similar schemes to take heed of today’s sentence.”

“North Korea is not just a threat to the homeland from afar. It is an enemy within. It is perpetrating fraud on American citizens, American companies, and American banks. It is a threat to Main Street in every sense of the word,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “The call is coming from inside the house. If this happened to these big banks, to these Fortune 500, brand name, quintessential American companies, it can or is happening at your company. Corporations failing to verify virtual employees pose a security risk for all. You are the first line of defense against the North Korean threat.”

“The North Korean regime has generated millions of dollars for its nuclear weapons program by victimizing American citizens, businesses, and financial institutions,” said Assistant Director Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “However, even an adversary as sophisticated as the North Korean government can't succeed without the assistance of willing U.S. citizens like Christina Chapman, who was sentenced today for her role in an elaborate scheme to defraud more than 300 American companies by helping North Korean IT workers gain virtual employment and launder the money they earned. Today's sentencing demonstrates that the FBI will work tirelessly with our partners to defend the homeland and hold those accountable who aid our adversaries.”

“The sentencing today demonstrates the great lengths to which the North Korean government will go in its efforts and resources to fund its illicit activities. The FBI continues to pursue these threat actors to disrupt their network and hold those accountable wherever they may be,” said Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke of the FBI Phoenix Field Office.

“Today’s sentencing brings justice to the victims whose identities were stolen for this international fraud scheme,” said Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Phoenix Field Office. “The scheme was elaborate. If this sentencing proves anything, it’s that no amount of obfuscation will prevent IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners from tracking down those that wish to steal the identities of U.S. nationals, launder money, or engage in criminality that jeopardizes national security.”

The case involved one of the largest North Korean IT worker fraud schemes charged by the Department of Justice, with 68 identities stolen from victims in the United States and 309 U.S. businesses and two international businesses defrauded.

According to court documents, North Korea has deployed thousands of highly skilled IT workers around the world, including to the United States, to obtain remote employment using false, stolen, or borrowed identities of U.S. persons. To circumvent controls employed by U.S. companies to prevent the hiring of illicit overseas IT workers, the North Korean IT workers obtain assistance from U.S.-based collaborators.

Chapman helped North Korean IT workers obtain jobs at 309 U.S. companies, including Fortune 500 corporations. The impacted companies included a top-five major television network, a Silicon Valley technology company, an aerospace manufacturer, an American car maker, a luxury retail store, and a U.S media and entertainment company. Some of the companies were targeted by the IT workers, who maintained a repository of postings for companies that they wanted to employ them. The IT workers also attempted to obtain employment at two different U.S. government agencies, although these efforts were generally unsuccessful.

Chapman operated a “laptop farm” where she received and hosted computers from the U.S. companies at her home, deceiving the companies into believing that the work was being performed in the United States. Chapman also shipped 49 laptops and other devices supplied by U.S. companies to locations overseas, including multiple shipments to a city in China on the border with North Korea. More than 90 laptops were seized from Chapman’s home following the execution of a search warrant in October 2023.

Much of the millions of dollars in income generated by the scheme was falsely reported to the IRS and Social Security Administration in the names of actual U.S. individuals whose identities had been stolen or borrowed. Additionally, Chapman received and forged payroll checks in the names of the stolen identities used by the IT workers and received IT workers’ wages through direct deposit from U.S. companies into her U.S. financial accounts. Chapman further transferred the proceeds from the scheme to individuals overseas.

This case was investigated by the FBI Phoenix Field Office, and the IRS-CI Phoenix Field Office. Assistance was provided by the FBI Chicago Field Office.

Trial Attorney Ashley R. Pungello of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia prosecuted the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Jorge Casillas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rothstein for the District of Columbia, the Victim Witness Unit, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, and the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section also provided assistance.

***

In a coordinated effort, FBI Phoenix also issued guidance for HR professionals on detecting North Korean IT workers, and the Department of State issued guidance on the North Korean IT worker threat.

Prior guidance was issued by the FBI, State Department, and the Department of the Treasury on this threat in a May 2022 advisory, and by the United States and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in October 2023. The FBI issued updated guidance in May 2024 regarding the use of U.S. persons acting as facilitators by providing a U.S.-based location for U.S. companies to send devices and a U.S.-based internet connection for access to U.S. company networks and in January 2025 concerning the extortion and theft of sensitive company data by North Korean IT workers, along with recommended mitigations.

WASHINGTON – Sydney Lori Reid, 44, of the District of Columbia, was charged by complaint today in U.S. District Court in connection with an assault on an FBI agent who was assisting with the transfer of an alleged international gang member at the DC Central Detention Facility, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Reid was charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees.

            According to the complaint, at approximately 7:30 p.m. on July 22, two men -- alleged members of the violent transnational 18th Street gang -- were being released from the D.C. Jail into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Both men previously had been arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department, one of them on firearm related charges.

            The FBI agent was assisting two ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers outside the jail when Reid walked up close to the officers and started recording video. After multiple commands to step back, Reid tried to go around the ERO officers, placing herself between FBI agents and one of the suspects being transferred into their custody.

            As Reid tried to impede the transfer, one of the ERO officers pushed her against the wall and told her to stop. Reid continued to struggle and fight with the officer. The FBI agent tried to help the officer control Reid who was flailing her arms and kicking. During Reid's active resistance to being detained, the FBI agent's hand was injured from striking and scraping the cement wall causing lacerations while the FBI agent was assisting ICE ERO officers

            This case is being investigated by  Homeland Security Investigations Washington Field Office and the FBI Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Dernbach of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

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WASHINGTON – Jean Wiltene Eugene, 57, of Key West, Florida, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison and a $20,000 fine for his role in a gunrunning operation that illegally exported firearms to Haiti, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Eugene pleaded guilty on April 11, 2025, to one count of smuggling. In addition to the prison term, Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Eugene to serve 24 months of supervised release.

            Joining in the announcement of the sentence were Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the Miami Field Office.

            According to court documents, Eugene is a U.S. citizen who was born in Haiti and resides in Key West. On Sept. 23, 2021, Eugene knowingly exported more than two firearms from the United States to Haiti contrary to U.S. laws and regulations, including the prohibitions in the Export Administration Regulations and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, knowing the firearms were intended for exportation contrary to such laws and regulations. In particular, Eugene exported the firearms without having first obtained the required license from the Bureau of Industry and Security, located in the District of Columbia. Anyone who violates the smuggling statute may be fined up to $250,000 and imprisoned for up to 10 years.

            Eugene arranged to ship vehicles to Haiti through a Florida-based export company. Eugene signed the company’s terms and conditions of shipments, which required the shipper to affirm that the vehicles did not contain any firearms or ammunition. In a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Eugene admitted that, in 2020 and 2021, he shipped two vehicles to Haiti with firearms hidden inside. Eugene stated that he placed food and other items around the bins holding the firearms so border authorities would not find the weapons.

            In a later interview with federal agents, Eugene stated that nine firearms he purchased in Key West under his name were currently located at his gas station in Haiti and that none of those firearms remained in the United States. He admitted that he knew it was illegal to ship weapons to Haiti when confronted by the federal agents.

            Eugene was arrested May 4, 2024, in Key West.

            This case was investigated by the FBI Miami Field Office with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorney Pravallika Palacharla. Substantial assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.

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WASHINGTON – Michael Robinson, 35, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 147 months in prison, for his role in seven inside-job robberies of a Walgreens drug store in the District’s Chinatown neighborhood, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Robinson pleaded guilty on March 11, 2025, to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery) and to using, carrying, possessing, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and aiding and abetting. In addition to the 147-month prison term, the Honorable Jia M. Cobb ordered Williams to serve five years of supervised release and to pay $7,245.75 in restitution.

            Joining in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office.

            Sentencing is pending for co-defendants Kamanye Williams, Gianni Robinson, and London Teeter, the last of whom was also a former Walgreen’s store manager.

            According to court documents, the four co-conspirators devised a scheme to carry out armed robberies of the Chinatown Walgreens store nearly once a month, beginning in July 2023, when either Michael Robinson or Teeter were working. As a store managers, Michael Robinson and Teeter knew the timing of cash transfers within the business. The co-conspirators would also relay information to each other on how many armed security guards were present in the Chinatown Walgreens and how much cash was in the manager’s office at any given time. 

            When Michael Robinson was on duty, he gave inside information to his nephew, Gianni Robinson, who then relayed it to Williams so that Williams could more easily rob the store.

            The robberies occurred on July 18, 2023, Aug. 2, 2023, Sept. 2, 2023, Nov. 10, 2023, Dec. 4, 2023, Jan. 9, 2024, and Feb. 11, 2024. In their plea agreements, the co-defendants admitted that they stole and split at least $28,983.

            In each robbery, Williams entered the Chinatown Walgreens wearing clothing selected to disguise his identity. Williams brandished a firearm at employees of the Walgreens, and at Special Police Officers assigned to guard the store, and then demanded business proceeds located in the Manager’s Office. Williams forced employees into the manager’s office or accessed the manager’s office using a code provided by Michael Robinson or Teeter. Williams then robbed the employees and fled through a 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.

            Michael Robinson later admitted that he and Teeter reviewed internal surveillance footage of a robbery, and discussed how to make future robberies look more authentic. Michael Robinson asked Williams to assault him during the robberies to make it look more real.

            In response to the robberies, the Chinatown Walgreens hired armed Special Police Officers to protect the business. Undeterred, the co-conspirators continued the robberies and Williams escalated to stealing the firearms from the Special Police Officers.

            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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WASHINGTON – Kevin Brent Buchanan, 63, of Tooele, Utah, pleaded guilty yesterday in the District of Columbia in connection with threatening violence against the employees of a D.C.-based Palestinian rights organization, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Buchanan pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with transmitting in interstate commerce a communication containing a threat to injure the person of another. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly scheduled a sentencing hearing for November 18, 2025. Buchanan faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

            Joining in the announcement were Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office.

            According to court documents, between Oct. 31, 2023, and Nov. 2, 2023, Buchanan used his cell phone to call and leave five voice mail messages for members of the organization. In his November 2 message, Buchanan stated in part: “Your families are going to be followed and watched;” “You don’t even belong in America;” “I hope every Muslim in the United States [expletive] croaks;” and “You are all going to [expletive] die, you pieces of [expletive] traitors.”

            Buchanan admitted that he intentionally targeted the organization because its staff and members are Palestinian, and because the organization advocates on behalf of Palestinians.

            The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by FBI Salt Lake City and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Utah. Prosecuting the case are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Visser and Joshua Gold for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.

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The Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia today announced the unsealing of a civil forfeiture action against approximately $2 million dollars in digital currency connected with Buy Cash Money and Money Transfer Company (BuyCash), a Gaza-based money transfer business that was involved in financially supporting Hamas – a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) – as well as its agents and collaborators.

“Terrorist organizations like Hamas and their affiliates rely on shadowy financial networks to fund their deadly operations,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “By seizing millions in cryptocurrency, the Justice Department is aggressively dismantling the financial infrastructure of terrorism and refusing to allow our digital currency platforms to become safe havens for terrorist financing.”

“It is essential to disrupt the flow of money to terrorist organizations like Hamas which enables their lethal activities,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Our message is that terrorists cannot hide behind digital currency to bankroll their operations. The FBI and our partners will continue our efforts to cut off the flow of money and - most importantly - stop the violence committed by Hamas and their affiliates.”

“The forfeiture action executed today is an example of how diligently our office works to prevent any actions from taking place that support foreign terrorist organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Our partnership with other law enforcement agencies strengthens us to uphold the safety of the American people from entities that threaten the security of our citizens.”

“The forfeiture action unsealed today demonstrates that no matter what lengths terrorism financers take to obscure their illegal transactions, the FBI will aggressively disrupt the transmission of illicit proceeds intended to support designated terrorist organizations like Hamas,” said Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the FBI Washington Field Office.

BuyCash, and one of its owners, Ahmed M. M. Alaqad, have been suspected of supporting various terrorist organizations including Hamas, ISIS, Al-Qaida affiliates and others. After the October 2023 attacks on Israel, BuyCash and Alaqad were designated as having materially supported Hamas under Executive Order 13224 by the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC). Since 2017, BuyCash and Alaqad have supported several foreign terrorist organizations. In 2017, BuyCash was used for the procurement of large quantities of online infrastructure on behalf of ISIS. In September 2019, BuyCash was used to receive funds from a known Al-Qaida affiliate. In 2019, law enforcement identified various instances where BuyCash, with the direct support of Alaqad, directly aided in the transfer of fiat currency to known individuals and entities in support of Hamas. In June 2021, Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terrorist Financing seized various digital currency accounts connected to Hamas and the Izz-al-Din Qassam Brigades, including one involving BuyCash.

The complaint describes a detailed scheme whereby users utilized BuyCash to fund accounts at Binance and to fund unhosted wallet addresses containing USDT (or Tether) to obfuscate their financial support of international terrorist organizations, including Hamas. Before and after the October 2023 attacks, one account was reported to have received at least $4 million to support Hamas.

The government’s forfeiture action targets funds previously seized via Tether and Binance connected to BuyCash and removed approximately $2 million dollars from streams of funds supporting international terrorism.

A civil forfeiture complaint contains mere allegations. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

The FBI Washington D.C. Field Office is investigating the case. The Department of Justice would like to acknowledge Tether for its assistance in effectuating the transfer of these assets.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rajbir S. Datta and Thomas Saunders for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Allison Ickovic of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and Deputy Chief Alicia Cook of the National Security Division. Critical assistance was provided by Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers, Gina Torres, and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.