District of Columbia

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice, through U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, today announced the results of a first-of-its-kind event combining the focus of government entities and private industries to tackle cyber-enabled and cryptocurrency fraud targeting Americans. 

During “Disruption Week,” the private sector took voluntary action to interrupt millions of social media, email, and internet access accounts used by transnational organized crime actors in Southeast Asia that were being used to defraud Americans, and the government shared information which enabled private sector actors to voluntarily freeze over $3.8 million in cryptocurrency involved in laundering of funds stolen from Americans.

The Department’s Scam Center Strike Force convened in-person meetings in Washington from May 18 to May 21 with foreign government officials and private industry representatives. Federal investigators from the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) provided information to private sector representatives on specific targets in Southeast Asia, in order to help industry identify infrastructure used to defraud Americans through cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes. 

Based on the data shared, as well as their own information, and as in collaboration with each other, private sector participants voluntarily identified and disrupted scam actors operating on their networks who were violating the provider’s terms of service. Private sector participants included officials from Apple, Coinbase, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Silent Push, SpaceX, TRM Labs, and Zenlayer. Foreign law enforcement counterparts from the Australian Federal Police, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, New Zealand Police, the Royal Thai Police, and U.K. National Crime Agency also joined Disruption Week. Meta played a key role in coordinating the event and encouraging broad private sector participation to maximize scam compound disruption.

The Scam Center Strike Force’s convening of these participants shows the magnitude of disruptions that can occur when there is a common focus on a specific threat and through information shared, including: 

• Disruptions of criminal activity across more than 1.4 million social media and email accounts; 
• Interruptions of malicious IP address traffic and of network connections hosted by scammers; 
• Decommissioning of servers, colocation environments, and hosting infrastructure linked to scam networks operating across Southeast Asia; 
• Identification of multiple scammers and scam platforms, and referrals of the same to U.S. authorities for investigation and possible prosecution; and 
• Arrests of seven scammers in Thailand and the opening of new cases by the Royal Thai Police Anti Cyber Scam Center. 

The governments and private industry also voluntarily exchanged information about how transnational organized crime operates within U.S. infrastrucure, and developed relationships to enable future disruptions of scams occurring on U.S. networks. 

“Cyber-enabled and crypto investment fraud is devastating Main Street Americans, wiping out life savings and preying on some of our most vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We will not allow transnational scammers or the Chinese organized crime groups behind them to use America’s internet infrastructure against us or let U.S. companies stand idly by. I formed the Scam Center Strike Force with a goal of bringing private industry into the fight against this threat. When the public demands accountability, corporations respond. Disruption Week shows what is possible when governments and private industry focus their efforts in tandem: millions of scam accounts interrupted, and criminal networks pushed off the U.S. internet platforms on which they rely. This week’s results show our commitment to disrupting these schemes and protecting the American public.” 

“America is facing an unprecedented threat from industrial-scale, foreign organizations looking to prey on our citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “And unprecedented problems call for novel, bold solutions. As Disruption Week demonstrates, the Department’s Criminal Division will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. Attorney Pirro and her office, U.S. and foreign law enforcement, and any private sector firms that commit to joining the battle to save American resources from flowing to criminal groups abroad.” 

“The FBI is going to leverage everything at its disposal to impose cost on criminals stealing from the American people through fraudulent investment schemes that have caused immense harm across the country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “One of the best tools we have in combating these illicit actors is our partnerships and they are only getting stronger. We’re preventing further victimization by working with other agencies, our foreign law enforcement counterparts, and the private sector who have all taken part in this Disruption Week.”

Cyber-enabled and cryptocurrency investment fraud (referred to by the scammers as “pig butchering”) is among the fastest growing and most financially devastating forms of fraud targeting Americans. In these schemes, victims are cultivated over time and deceived into depositing funds into fraudulent investment platforms that appear to show substantial returns. In reality, all victim funds flow directly to the scammers. The scam continues until the victim runs out of money or discovers the fraud, at which point the scammers cease contact.  

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), investment scams became the most commonly reported crime type in 2023, with cryptocurrency investment fraud comprising 83 percent of that category. Reported losses from these scams rose from $3.96 billion in 2023 to $5.8 billion in 2024. Reported losses rose 24 percent in 2025 to over $7.2 billion, according to IC3’s newly released 2025 annual report. Those figures, based largely on victim reports, are believed to significantly underrepresent actual losses, as many victims do not report to law enforcement. According to one government report, a conservative estimate of the annual value of funds stolen by scam syndicates worldwide approached $64 billion as of the end of 2023.  

Many of these schemes are run out of industrial-scale compounds in Cambodia, Laos and in Burma along the border with Thailand. Criminal syndicates often lure workers to Thailand with promises of high-paying technical jobs, then seize their identification documents and traffic them to work in scam compounds. Within the compounds, trafficked workers are frequently forced to conduct fraud operations against victims in the United States and elsewhere under threat of violence. Public reporting on these compounds has documented beatings, electrocutions, and murder.  

The Strike Force has taken a number of actions against Southeast Asian Scam Centers, including, among other things, filing criminal complaints against individuals who participated in cryptocurrency investment fraud operations in Burma, seizing cryptocurrency and other infrastructure used to fund and facilitate scam operations, and working with other federal agencies taking action against Scam Center organizations. 

Although the Strike Force and other government personnel have exchanged information with private industry in the past in an effort to disrupt cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes, never before have so many private firms convened for an event dedicated to protecting Americans through voluntarily sharing of information and voluntary action by the private sector.

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About the Scam Center Strike Force

The Scam Center Strike Force was officially launched by U.S. Attorney Pirro in November 2025 to address the growing threat posed by Chinese organized crime syndicates operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia. The Strike Force targets cryptocurrency investment fraud, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering operations that have cost American victims billions of dollars.  

On March 6, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings. Through the Executive Order, President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud. The Scam Center Strike Force is a critical node in executing the mission outlined in the President’s Order. 

The Strike Force’s founding partners are the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, the FBI, and the U.S. Secret Service, who have now been joined by U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the IRS Criminal Investigation, and HSI-DC, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Alaska, Rhode Island, and Western Washington. The Strike Force works in collaboration with other agencies, including the Treasury and State Departments. The Strike Force works in strategic partnership with private industry and calls on all U.S. businesses to take more proactive steps to protect users from scam operations.  

The Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, it will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing from America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia directs the Strike Force, in consultation with Associate Counsel Richard Goldberg of the Department’s Criminal Division. 

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WASHINGTON – Daniel Cruz Ramirez, 28, a Maryland resident, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with the sustained sexual abuse of a D.C. resident starting when she was thirteen, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Cruz Ramirez pleaded guilty before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to one count of Coercion and Enticement of a Child. Judge McFadden scheduled sentencing for Nov. 12, 2026.  

According to court documents, Cruz Ramirez met the victim at church services when she was twelve years old. Cruz Ramirez began texting the victim and told her that he liked her on her first day of school in the eighth grade. There were various messages exchanged between the defendant and the victim spanning April 2024 through December 2025 – including chats on WhatsApp, Instagram, and text message. The chats discussed Cruz Ramirez engaging in sexual acts with the victim and steps to avoid detection, including sneaking into the victim’s house and deleting certain messages and images.   

Cruz Ramirez sexually abused the victim multiple times between 2024 and 2025, including vaginally penetrating her. On Nov. 17, 2025, Cruz Ramirez recorded a series of videos, including a 26-minute video depicting vaginal and oral penetration of the victim.  

This case was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Kelley. 

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 - Michael Owens, 38, of St. Charles, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 87 months in prison in connection with his role in a multi-year conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine in the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Owens was an active participant in a drug trafficking network that moved massive quantities of fentanyl and cocaine into the District. He personally admitted the narcotics amounted to more than a kilogram of fentanyl and two kilograms of cocaine,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “When he learned his customers ‘loved’ what he was selling, he sought an even more potent supply. That kind of indifference fuels fatal overdoses. Owens’ sentence reflects the gravity of his choices and serves as a warning: anyone who helps drive the opioid crisis in our community will be held accountable, no matter their role.” 

Owens pleaded guilty on Dec. 8, 2025, before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. In addition to the 87-month prison term, Judge McFadden ordered Owens to serve five years of supervised release and to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $30,000. 

According to court papers, from at least August 2022 through about November 2023, Owens conspired with co-conspirator Ronnie Rogers and others to distribute fentanyl and cocaine in the District. Owens served as a redistributor in the conspiracy, acquiring bulk quantities of fentanyl and cocaine from Rogers and reselling them in smaller quantities to other distributors and buyers. 

Rogers supplied Owens with fentanyl in two-gram bundles, each divided into 10 individual packages. Owens repaid Rogers after making sales. Wiretap interceptions recorded the two discussing drug debts, supply quantities, and contingency plans in the event either was raided by law enforcement. 

In one intercepted communication from March 2023, Owens told Rogers that his customers loved what he was selling and asked for stronger, more potent fentanyl. In another, Owens confirmed he was nearly finished distributing a supply of both fentanyl and cocaine and was ready to be resupplied.  

As part of his plea agreement, Owens admitted responsibility for between 400 grams and 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl and between 500 grams and two kilograms of cocaine. 

 Rogers, 71, of the District, was sentenced to 236 months in prison. Co-defendant Wayne Glymph, 49, of Port Tobacco, Maryland, was sentenced to 162 months. Co-defendant Samuel Braxton, 57, of Temple Hills, Maryland, who led the organization while incarcerated at FCI Fort Dix, was sentenced to 162 months. 

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division Office, the FBI Washington Field Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Alexandria Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department and the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Eliopoulos and Matthew W. Kinskey. 

This operation was supported in part by the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN). The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP) supplies grant funding and strategic assistance to MCIN member sites. These resources enable the identification, disruption, and dismantling of criminal organizations through enhanced inter-agency collaboration and data sharing, contributing to a safer Maryland for all.

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WASHINGTON – Ricardo Anton Koonce, 35, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison in connection with a bicoastal marijuana distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

"Koonce and his co-conspirators ran a systematic drug trafficking operation, making repeated cross‑country trips to stock a D.C. stash house and selling marijuana on the streets while armed with firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We will not allow armed traffickers to endanger our neighborhoods, and anyone who treats this city as their drug marketplace will be held accountable.” 

Koonce, aka “King Phew,” pleaded guilty on March 3 before U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich to conspiracy to distribute marijuana. In addition to the 24-month prison term, Judge Friedrich ordered Koonce to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 26-month prison term. 

According to court papers, from at least October 2023 through May 2024, Koonce and his co-conspirators traveled multiple times between the Baltimore-Washington area and Los Angeles to buy marijuana for distribution on the East Coast. 

In February 2024, agents stopped Koonce and his co-conspirators at BWI Airport when they returned from one of their trips to L.A. Agents seized about 54.5 pounds of marijuana, packaged in vacuum-sealed plastic bags, that had been hidden in suitcases carried by one of Koonce's co-conspirators. 

Koonce and his co-conspirators stored and sold their marijuana out of an apartment in the 1900 block of C Street SE. Agents observed Koonce and his co-conspirators conducting hand-to-hand transactions consistent with drug sales outside the building on a daily basis. 

On Oct. 30, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants at the C Street SE apartment and at Koonce's home on the 700 block of 2nd Street NE. At the apartment, agents recovered marijuana, other narcotics, and several firearms. At Koonce's residence, agents recovered two Glock pistols, magazines and ammunition, about $53,569 in cash, and a quantity of marijuana. Koonce admitted that he possessed the firearms in connection with his role in the marijuana trafficking conspiracy. 

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division, and the FBI's Washington Field Office.  

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nihar Mohanty and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Isabelle Sun. 

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WASHINGTON – Richard Cunningham, 55, a former D.C. Housing Authority employee turned real estate developer residing in the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with a scheme to defraud private mortgage lenders of more than $15 million, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Richard Cunningham didn’t just defraud lenders, he fabricated federal voucher documents, forged signatures, and invented a veterans housing program that never existed, all to line his own pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Exploiting the name and sacrifice of American veterans to commit fraud is particularly offensive, and my office will pursue those abuses with the full weight of federal law.” 

Cunningham pleaded guilty today before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to charges of false statements to a mortgage lending business. Cunningham faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing was scheduled for Dec. 4, 2026. 

According to court documents, beginning in or about August 2020 and continuing through May 2024, Cunningham engaged in a scheme to defraud private mortgage lenders by submitting false statements and fraudulent documents in support of loan applications for multifamily properties he owned or controlled in the District of Columbia. 

In the first phase of the scheme, Cunningham applied for six secondary renovation loans from a Virginia-based private mortgage company, which required him to have sufficient equity in his properties as collateral. Knowing his equity was insufficient to qualify, Cunningham submitted falsified mortgage statements for the primary loans on those properties, significantly understating the balances owed to make his equity appear greater than it was. Relying on those falsified documents, the lender funded all six loans, totaling about $7.4 million. 

In the second phase, Cunningham sought renovation financing from an Oregon-based private mortgage company for two additional District properties. To make those properties appear to generate reliable income, Cunningham fabricated lease documents purporting to be from a "Veterans Assistance Payments" program run by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. There is no such program. In reality, Cunningham had taken genuine Housing Assistance Program lease documents from HUD's Housing Choice Voucher program and altered them, changing "HAP" to "VAP" throughout, then filled them in with forged entries and signatures to make it appear veterans were already living at the properties under a federal voucher program. He also submitted fabricated rent rolls falsely showing all tenants held vouchers from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The lender funded one of the two loans, in the amount of $4.7 million. The other application was rejected. 

In total, Cunningham sought about $14.9 million from the two lenders and received about $12.1 million based on his false statements. 

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG). 

The matter was prosecuted by HUD-OIG Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha R. Miller for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.  

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.  Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. 

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WASHINGTON – Abdul Fields, 30, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in connection with firing a gun at a vehicle in Northwest during the early morning hours of March 24, 2025, and to possessing a loaded firearm on the evening of Nov. 19, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Fields pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon to assault with a dangerous weapon, to possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and to unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon. Judge Leon scheduled sentencing for Aug. 5, 2026.  

According to court documents, on March 24, 2025, at about 12:19 a.m., Fields was walking southbound on North Capitol Street NE while crossing New York Avenue NE when he pulled out a firearm and fired a shot at a vehicle making a right turn onto New York Avenue NE. Fields then walked away from the scene and into the Tyler House Apartments on the 1200 block of North Capitol Street NE.  

ShotSpotter detected the event and an MPD officer was dispatched to investigate the gunfire. The officer found a bullet casing in the street where Fields fired. In September 2025, United States Marshals executed a search warrant where Fields was staying and recovered a privately manufactured firearm, known as a “ghost gun.” Ballistics testing linked the firearm to the casing recovered from the shooting.   

On Nov. 19, 2025, police arrested Fields pursuant to a warrant issued by Superior Court for the District of Columbia. Officers recovered a loaded ghost gun from Fields’ waistband.  

Fields faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison on the charge of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative.  

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

This case was investigated by detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Washington Division.  

The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Travis Wolf.   

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WASHINGTON – Michael Augment, 38, of Lorton, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 81 months in prison in connection with conspiring to distribute fentanyl in the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Augment repeatedly sold fentanyl in quantities large enough to kill hundreds of people, flooding a city already ravaged by an opioid crisis with one of the most lethal drugs on the market,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This sentence reflects the grave danger he posed to our community and our determination to hold fentanyl traffickers accountable.” 

Augment pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026, before Judge Timothy Kelly to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. In addition to the prison term, Judge Kelly ordered Augment to serve five years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested an 87-month prison term. 

According to court papers, between April 2024 and October 2024, Augment conspired with others to distribute fentanyl in Washington, D.C. During that period, he sold fentanyl to a law enforcement agent on multiple occasions. Those sales included about 157 grams for $4,000 and 278 grams for $8,750. 

In July 2024, Virginia State Police stopped Augment's vehicle after he left a co-conspirator's apartment in the District. Officers recovered fentanyl and about $12,473 in cash, along with a ledger containing money orders totaling about $32,478. A subsequent search of Augment's home turned up about $27,000 in cash, a heat sealer, and a handgun case. Augment admitted responsibility for between 400 grams and 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl. 

The investigation was conducted by the DEA Washington Division with valuable assistance provided by Virginia State Police. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nihar Mohanty and Solomon Eppel. 

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WASHINGTON – George Carr, 24, a convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for his participation in the armed robbery of a Washington beauty supply store, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Carr pleaded guilty on Dec. 9, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan to one count of interference with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act). In addition to the 51-month prison sentence, Judge Sullivan ordered Carr to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a sentence of 63 months in prison. 

“George Carr is a lifelong criminal who has never been held accountable for his actions,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Whether he destroys property, steals, sexually assaults another, or threatens to kill innocent people, the result has always been the same: an extremely lenient sentence that does nothing to deter his behavior or protect the public. Today that changes.” 

According to court papers, on Aug. 1, 2025, at about 6 p.m., Carr and an unidentified co-conspirator entered Scott’s Beauty Supply in the District, wearing masks. Carr grabbed a store employee by the back of his shirt, pointed a handgun at him, and ordered everyone in the store to the ground. Carr then pressed the firearm to the back of the employee’s head while his co-conspirator demanded cash from another store employee. The pair took about $200 from the register before fleeing. Carr later told law enforcement that he carried out the robbery to repay a debt. 

Carr’s criminal history includes adult convictions for threatening to blow up a Washington restaurant and kill the people inside, and for assaulting his ex-girlfriend and threatening to burn down her home. 

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. 

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter. 

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WASHINGTON – Daveion Antonio Ervin, 28, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in connection with his illegal possession of a loaded Springfield Armory pistol discovered after he was stopped by police for smoking marijuana on a public street, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Ervin pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols to one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Judge Nichols scheduled sentencing for Sept. 10, 2026.  

According to court documents, on Feb. 18, 2026, about 8:55 p.m., U.S. Park Police officers were patrolling in the area of Dix Street at 63rd Street NE. Officers were driving west when they spotted Ervin holding a hand-rolled cigarette and exhaling a large cloud of white smoke. Moments later, the officers made a U-turn toward Ervin.  

The officers exited their cruiser, approached Ervin, and detected the strong odor of marijuana. Ervin attempted to flee the scene when officers ordered Ervin to stop. Ervin discarded the hand-rolled cigarette and continued running. After a brief foot pursuit, Ervin tripped and fell. Officers caught up with Ervin and told him to remain on the ground. When the officers asked Ervin why he ran, Ervin told the officers that he was in possession of a firearm and did not have a license to carry.  

Officers recovered a Springfield Armory XDS-9 9mm pistol from Ervin’s front waistband. It was loaded with one round in the chamber and five rounds in the magazine. Officers also recovered the remainder of Ervin’s marijuana cigarette along his flight path.  

The firearm in the defendant’s waist prior to its recovery 

Image of the 9mm firearm, ammunition, and partially smoked suspected marijuana cigarette that the defendant had possessed.

This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative.   

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

This case was investigated by the U.S. Park Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.  

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WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against officers with the Metropolitan Police Department arising out of the death of a 39-year-old District resident from a drug overdose that occurred on Jan. 4, 2026.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement and civilian accounts, security camera footage, Body-Worn Camera footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, autopsy and toxicology reports, and reports from the Metropolitan Police Department 

According to the evidence, on Jan. 4, 2024, Brent Garcia was arrested for simple assault.  Mr. Garcia was taken to the Sixth District, and the police began to process the paperwork. In consuming alcohol prior to his arrest, Mr. Garcia consumed fentanyl while in the cell.  Mr. Garcia passed out after 15 minutes. Other detainees helped him to a bench in the cell where he appeared to be sleeping. When the police attempted to contact him, Mr. Garcia was not responsive. The police immediately requested assistance, and an ambulance came to the scene. Unfortunately, Mr. Garcia could not be revived, and he was declared dead at the scene. An autopsy revealed that Mr. Garcia had died from a drug overdose from alcohol and fentanyl. 

After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers willfully violated the civilian’s rights. 

Investigations generally 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law.   

 The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia. 

WASHINGTON – An indictment was filed today in U.S. District Court charging Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, in connection with the May 4 shooting near the Washington Monument in which a civilian bystander was struck by gunfire, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

The federal indictment charges Marx, aka Patrick Gary Michael or Michael Zavici, with assaulting certain officers using a dangerous weapon and with using a firearm during a crime of violence. Marx is expected to make his first appearance in U.S. District Court today before a magistrate judge.  

 “Today’s indictment reflects the gravity of the defendant’s actions on one of the most heavily visited public spaces in the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The evidence shows Marx not only carried an illegal firearm into DC, but he fired it at uniformed officers, wounding an innocent teenage bystander who was simply visiting the National Mall with his family on a spring afternoon. When someone brings violence to a place that symbolizes the heart of our democracy and does so along the path of the Vice President’s motorcade, we will respond with the full weight of federal charges and pursue accountability at every step.” 

According to the previously filed complaint, on May 4, 2026, about 3:40 p.m., a plainclothes U.S. Secret Service agent observed a man, later identified as Marx, appearing to conceal a firearm on the right side of his body near 15th Street and Madison Drive NW. The agent alerted the Secret Service Joint Operations Center and requested uniformed backup.  

At the same time, the motorcade for Vice President J.D. Vance was departing the White House, passing through the area of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW. 

Uniformed Secret Service officers responded and located Marx along the path of the Vice President's motorcade. As officers approached, Marx walked toward a group of civilians crossing the street.  

Officers issued verbal commands. Marx fled east on Independence Avenue SW. As officers pursued him, Marx drew a firearm from his waistband while running through the crosswalk toward bystanders.  

When Marx reached the sidewalk, he turned and fired at one of the pursuing officers. A civilian witness standing behind the officer was wounded in his leg. Officers returned fire, striking Marx in the hand, left arm, and upper abdomen.  

Marx collapsed at the intersection of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW, where officers rendered aid. He was identified through a Texas driver's license found on his person. Law enforcement also identified aliases including Patrick Michael and Michael Zavici. Marx was transported to George Washington University Hospital. While in the hospital, he allegedly made statements to officers including “F--- the White House” and “kill me, kill me, kill me.”  

Investigators recovered a Sig Sauer P365 handgun loaded with 9mm ammunition from the area where Marx fell. Law enforcement confirmed Marx does not hold a license to carry a handgun in the District of Columbia. 

   The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office. The matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.  

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WASHINGTON – Ronnie Bookhardt, 64, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today for the arson of a residential apartment building, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

            Bookhardt pleaded guilty on February 9, 2026, in D.C. Superior Court to one count of arson. In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Judith Pipe order Bookhardt to three years of supervised release.  

            According to the government’s evidence, at about 4:48 a.m., on October 20, 2022, D.C. Fire Department Investigators responded to the sound of an alarm generated at a residential, 4-story apartment building located at 601 L Street Southeast in Washington, D.C. Fire Investigators noted an odor of gasoline in front of one of the units, in addition to substantial fire damage and water damage from two activated sprinkler heads in the hallway in front of the unit. Video surveillance footage captured the defendant entering a stairwell in the apartment building, stopping in front of a unit, manipulating a lighter, and pouring lighter fluid from a black plastic bag, causing a bright flash of fire in the stairwell. It was later determined that the defendant lit the fire near a unit in which his family members resided. Building staff later reported that the water damage caused by the fire far exceeded the fire damage. The cost of the damage was over $200,000.  

            Bookhardt was arrested on October 22, 2022, where he has been in custody since. 

            Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, D.C. Fire Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jasmine Dohemann, who prosecuted the case. 

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WASHINGTON – Damarco Jackson, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty Tuesday, for a spree of armed robberies, in March 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

            Jackson pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of armed robbery, two counts of robbery, and one count of first-degree theft, for the armed robberies. The defendant also pleaded guilty to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, for a stabbing he committed in jail. Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld scheduled sentencing for September 11, 2026.  

            According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 10:00 p.m., on March 11, 2025, the first victim parked her car in the 2300 block of Ainger Place, SE. When she returned to the location two days later, she found that her vehicle had been stolen.  

            On March 12, 2025, the second victim parked her vehicle, a light blue 2012 Hyundai Sonata, in the 4600 block of Livingston Road, SE. Three days later, she came back to where she parked it and found that it had been stolen. Video footage from an MPD camera captured Jackson and another individual in a blue sedan, which drove past the victim’s vehicle, turn around and park next to her vehicle.  

            On March 13, 2025, in the area of Oklahoma Avenue and E Streets, NE, a dark color sedan drove into the area and approached the third victim, a juvenile on a bike. The defendant brandished a handgun with a silver slide and robbed the juvenile of his black Moose Knuckle jacket. Within three minutes, Jackson, armed with a black Glock handgun with an extended magazine, approached a fourth victim while he was riding a Capital Bikeshare bicycle, in the 2100 block of D Street, NE. Jackson stated to the victim something to the effect of “run me that coat!” and robbed him of his black Moose Knuckle jacket. 

            Subsequently, on April 13, 2026, after his arrest and while in D.C. jail, Jackson and a fellow inmate were observed having a verbal argument in the common area of the jail. During the argument, the defendant was observed to have pulled out a sharp metal object from his pants and assault his fellow inmate. As a result of the attack, the victim inmate had puncture wounds/lacerations to his upper left arm and shoulder.  

            Jackson was presented on October 10, 2025, for the armed carjackings and robberies. This is the same day he was sentenced to 40 months in jail for crimes he committed in other separate cases. He has been in custody since. 

            Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. 

            The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Dal Lago, Rukiya Mohamed, and Emanuel Francone. 

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WASHINGTON – Alvin Ponson, 67, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with the armed robberies of two fast-food restaurants in Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Ponson pleaded guilty before Judge Tanya Chutkan to interference with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act). Judge Chutkan scheduled sentencing for Sept. 2, 2026. 

According to the complaint, Ponson was carrying a black handgun when he entered the Chipotle restaurant on the 2300 block of Washington Place NE, just before 7 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2026. Ponson ordered a cashier to “open the register.” The cashier refused to comply. Ponson then walked away without any of the restaurant’s money.  

Minutes later, Ponson walked into the adjacent Jersey Mike’s hoagie shop on the 2300 block of Washington Place NE. Ponson told the Jersey Mike’s cashier that he was picking up an order. The cashier went to look for the order. When the cashier returned, Ponson was pointing his handgun at her. The cashier ran to the back of the store. Ponson approached another employee and ordered “Give me all that sh---!” The employee handed over cash from the register and Ponson fled in the direction of the Rhode Island-Brentwood Metro Station. 

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Washington Metro Transit Police with the valuable assistance of theFederal Bureau of Investigation- Washington Field Office.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand. 

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WASHINGTON -- Gerald Ezell, 36, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 26 months in prison in connection with his unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Ezell pleaded guilty on Feb. 11, 2026, before Judge Amir H. Ali to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 26-month prison sentence, Judge Ali ordered Ezell to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 57-month prison term. 

According to court papers, on Sept. 21, 2025, Metropolitan Police officers approached Ezell's parked car for a missing front registration tag. As an officer approached, he observed Ezell, who was seated in the front passenger seat, make a furtive movement toward his waistband. Ezell then got out of the car. He locked it and walked away. Looking through the car window, the officer spotted a Glock 19 pistol in plain view on the front passenger floorboard where Ezell had been sitting. 

Officers recovered the 9mm pistol, which was loaded with a round in the chamber, along with a 31-round extended magazine loaded with 27 rounds. A second search by special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and members of the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division Crime Scene Search Unit turned up another firearm, a Derringer .22 Magnum caliber pistol, on the floorboard between the front passenger seat and the center console. 

Law enforcement also recovered about 4.6 grams of cocaine, more than a hundred unused half-gram plastic containers typically used to distribute narcotics, and a digital scale with white powder residue. 

Ezell previously had been convicted of unlawfully possessing a firearm on three separate occasions, in 2010, 2014, and 2019. Due to his previous felony convictions, he was prohibited from possessing any firearm.  

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

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English. 

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WASHINGTON -- Kelon Von Dukes, 22, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison in connection with his unlawful possession of a loaded Sig Sauer 9mm pistol, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Dukes had already been convicted twice for carrying a pistol without a license. During this latest encounter with police, he was carrying a stolen gun, led the police on a chase, and ran into oncoming traffic to avoid them,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Repeat offenders like Dukes have really got to ask themselves if it’s all worth the serious federal consequences they face.” 

Dukes pleaded guilty on May 29, 2025, before Judge Reggie B. Walton to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 30-month prison term, Judge Walton ordered Dukes to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 46-month prison term. 

According to court papers, on March 1, 2025, about 5:25 p.m., members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Seventh District Special Missions Unit were on patrol in the 4700 block of South Capitol Street SE when they spotted Dukes smoking what appeared to be marijuana cigarette near a gas station. On noticing the officers, Dukes tossed his cigarette and a black bag and fled on foot toward the Maryland border. 

Officers pursued Dukes on foot. During the chase, Dukes ran into the street through oncoming traffic, forcing vehicles to swerve to avoid him. Officers eventually detained Dukes on the 400 block of Southern Avenue SE and recovered a loaded Sig Sauer P365 9mm pistol from his jacket pocket. The firearm had one round chambered and eight additional rounds in the magazine. The pistol was later determined to have been stolen. 

Officers also recovered the black bag Dukes had discarded, which contained marijuana, a digital scale, and cash. 

Dukes was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his two 2023 felony convictions for carrying a pistol without a license. 

The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Washington Field Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Ibanez. 

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

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WASHINGTON – James Adrian Brewer, 20, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 16 months in prison in connection with his possession of a machine gun on the grounds of a Northwest charter school, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

Brewer pleaded guilty on Feb. 12, 2026, before Judge Jia M. Cobb to one count of unlawful possession of a machine gun. In addition to the 16-month prison term, Judge Cobb ordered Brewer to serve two years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a sentence of 27 months in prison. 

“Bringing a machine gun onto school grounds is an act that puts students, staff, and the entire community at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Schools must be safe spaces where students can learn without fear. Today’s sentence reflects our commitment to holding accountable those who endanger the public.” 

According to court documents, Brewer was attending the Goodwill Excel Center Adult Charter School in Northwest Washington on Sept. 3, 2025, when a school administrator observed Brewer with what appeared to be a firearm tucked into his waistband. When confronted, Brewer surrendered the pistol to the administrator, who then turned it over to Metropolitan Police Department officers.    

The firearm was later determined to be a Glock 19 9mm pistol that previously had been reported stolen. The Glock was loaded with 23 rounds of ammunition and outfitted with a switch-style machine gun conversion device (MCD) which allowed it to function as a fully automatic weapon.   

As part of his plea, Brewer admitted to possessing the handgun at the school. He further admitted to knowing that the MCD converted the pistol into a machine gun. When asked if he knew what an MCD did, Brewer stated that it made the firearm “fun” and shoot quickly. 

This case was investigated by the MPD with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein and former Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson.  

The Glock 19 9mm pistol that previously had been reported stolen.

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WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that it has reached civil settlement agreements with two non-profit organizations to resolve allegations that the organizations violated the False Claims Act when they applied for and received loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  

            Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, Inc. (the JWV) is a Section 501(c)(4) non-profit organization that supports Jewish uniformed service members and veterans in the United States. In 2020, JWV applied for and received a first draw PPP loan in the amount of $125,654 and later sought and received forgiveness for that loan. Section 501(c)(4) organizations, however, were never eligible for PPP loans. JWV has agreed to pay $210,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by obtaining a PPP loan for which it was not eligible. 

            Center for International Policy (the Center) is a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization described as a center for research and advocacy on U.S. foreign policy. In early 2021, the Center applied for a second draw PPP loan in the amount of $192,447 and subsequently applied for and received complete forgiveness of that loan. Congress, however, had prohibited second draw PPP loans to entities primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities, including those entities organized for research or for engaging in public policy advocacy or political strategy or publicly referring to themselves as think tanks. After an analysis of the Center’s ability to pay pursuant to a settlement, the Center agreed to pay $243,571.25, plus interest, to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by obtaining a PPP loan for which it was not eligible. 

            The civil settlements resulted from investigations by Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Tepe and Auditor Timothy C. Hurley. The United States Attorney further wishes to commend attorneys Caitlin J. Kelly and Kandace Zelaya of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of the General Counsel for their assistance in the investigations.    

            Tips and complaints regarding potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or by submitting a NCDF Web Complaint form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.  

            On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.  Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.   

            The claims resolved by the civil settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

WASHINGTON -- Larry White, 25, Mark Anthony Fletcher III, 26, and Malik Keyon Bynum, 26, all of the District of Columbia, were found guilty late yesterday by a federal jury on all counts in connection with the July 2, 2021, armed robbery and killing of Rosendo Miller, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“Rosendo Miller walked out of a convenience store and was surrounded by three masked men, thrown to the ground at gunpoint, and robbed of everything he was carrying. They took Mr. Miller’s watch, his bag, his shoes, his cash, even the ‘grill’ from his mouth. And when that wasn’t enough, Larry White shot him five times in cold blood,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “These three men planned this together, armed themselves together, and carried it out together. Today’s verdict holds all of them accountable for what they did.”  

Following a five-day trial, the federal jury deliberated for approximately five and a half hours before finding White, Fletcher and Bynum guilty of all counts: first-degree felony murder while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon (White and Bynum), conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence (robbery while armed), and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence (first-degree felony murder). First-degree felony murder carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years imprisonment. Sentencing before Judge Tanya S. Chutkan is pending.  

Fletcher committed the offenses while on release in two pending Superior Court cases. Bynum committed the offenses while on release in a pending Superior Court case.  

According to court papers, on July 2, 2021, White, Fletcher, Bynum, and others gathered outside a 2/4 Quick Trip convenience store on the 1300 block of Brentwood Road, NE. The men armed themselves with firearms and covered their faces with ski masks after Rosendo Miller, 21, arrived and saw that he was wearing a Rolex watch and designer clothes. Fletcher was wearing a court-issued GPS ankle monitor.  

Miller, who stopped at the business to purchase tobacco, exited the store. White, Bynum, and Fletcher pointed firearms at Miller, grabbed him by his dreadlocks, and wrestled him to the ground. They stripped Miller of his Rolex watch, his Gucci crossbody bag, his cash, and the diamond-studded grill from his mouth. 

As White and Fletcher held Miller down, Bynum fired a firearm multiple times in the direction of the intersection of Brentwood Road NE and 14th Street NE in response to a single shot fired from the corner. Fletcher still had Miller pinned down while White shot Miller five times in the back, shoulder and arms. The incident was captured on surveillance video with audio. 

White, Fletcher, and Bynum fled the scene with Miller’s property. Miller died from his injuries that day. 

The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Iris Y. McCranie and Lauren Galloway. 

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WASHINGTON – D’Andre Montgomery, 20, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty yesterday in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, on charges of shooting and killing 28-year-old Kenneth Barksdale in Southeast D.C., in December 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

            Montgomery was found guilty, on May 26, 2026, of one count of second-degree murder while armed, one count of conspiracy, and one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle during a crime of violence, by a Superior Court jury. Judge Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for August 21, 2026.

            According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 8:07 p.m., on December 16, 2023, Montgomery and his co-defendants Kevin Hider, 20, and Eric Sheffield, 21, were driving around the 1200 Block of 44th Place, Southeast, pulling the door handles of parked cars to see if the cars were unlocked and available to steal. The victim, Kenneth Barksdale, had parked his car on the street and taken his one-year-old son inside his family’s home. Once inside the home, Mr. Barksdale realized he forgot his phone in his car. He went back outside to his car at the exact moment the defendants were breaking into it. When Mr. Barksdale confronted the defendants, they responded by shooting him. The defendants continued to shoot at Mr. Barksdale even as he ran away, back up the stairs to his mother’s home. Mr. Barksdale died later that evening. 

            Montgomery was arrested on July 31, 2024, and has been in custody since. 

            Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.

            The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory Evans and Shauna Payyappilly. The case was initially prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles Jones. 

WASHINGTON – Mathieu Zahui, 59, the former Director of Financial Management at the U.S. African Development Foundation, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to four months in prison in connection with a multi-year scheme in which he steered federal contracts to a friend's company, accepted cash payments in return, and then lied to federal investigators about it, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Mathieu Zahui spent fifteen years rising to the top of his agency’s financial operations and then used that authority to steer taxpayer‑funded contracts to a friend while pocketing cash for himself,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “When federal agents sought answers, he didn’t come clean; he doubled down with repeated lies. Public servants who betray the public trust and obstruct oversight will be held accountable.” 

Zahui, of Fairfax, Virginia, pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2026, before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg to one count of receiving a gratuity as a public official and to one count of making false statements to federal law enforcement. In addition to the four-month prison term, Judge Boasberg ordered Zahui to serve 12 months of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 21-month prison term. 

According to court papers, the U.S. African Development Foundation is an independent federal agency established to support African-owned and African-led business enterprises. Zahui joined ADF as a budget analyst in 2010 and rose over fifteen years to become its Finance Director, serving in effect as the agency's chief financial officer with authority to review and approve invoices paid with taxpayer funds. Beginning in December 2020, he also served as ADF's Contracting Officer Representative, responsible for monitoring contractors’ performance and processing invoices, and received specific training on his obligation to avoid conflicts of interest. 

Rather than honor those obligations, Zahui used his position to benefit a friend and the friend's company. In March 2020, Zahui directed ADF to award his friend's company a series of sole-source contracts, exempting it from competitive bidding, for purported logistical support services that the company never actually performed. The contracts, valued at about $173,640, $350,544, and $93,200, far exceeded the $100,000 cap on sole-source awards. Zahui approved invoices submitted by the company knowing they were illegitimate and unsupported by any actual work. 

Zahui also arranged for other ADF contractors doing legitimate work to route their payments through his friend's company, allowing the friend to collect markups ranging from 17% to 66% for doing nothing. In one instance, Zahui directed a staffing company to issue a $120,000 invoice to his friend’s company, which had no involvement in the underlying work. The friend’s company then submitted a $140,653 invoice to ADF, and Zahui approved it, generating more than a $20,000 markup.  

Over about three years, the friend's company submitted more than 20 such pass-through invoices and collected about $134,886 in markups for performing no legitimate work.    

To avoid scrutiny from the Bureau of Fiscal Service, which was responsible for authorizing ADF payments, Zahui ensured that invoices consistently described the services as logistical support, even when they had nothing to do with logistics. In one instance, he directed another contractor to revise an invoice description to falsely reflect logistical services. 

In return for steering the contracts and approving the fraudulent invoices, Zahui received $12,000 in eight separate cash payments from his friend. 

When federal agents interviewed Zahui in January 2024, he denied receiving any benefits from his friend and downplayed the extent of their relationship, claiming they communicated only a few times a year. Phone records and emails later revealed they had in fact communicated nearly every day during some periods. In a second interview in February 2024, Zahui again lied to federal agents. The full extent of his conduct came to light only after investigators conducted an extensive review of his phone, emails, and ADF records. 

As part of his sentence, Zahui was ordered to pay a criminal forfeiture money judgment of $12,000. 

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General (USAID-OIG), a statutorily independent law enforcement agency which has continued jurisdiction to investigate criminal activity affecting ongoing U.S. foreign assistance programs, including those administered by ADF. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sungtae Kang and former Assistant Chief Kyle Hankey of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section. 

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.  Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. 

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WASHINGTON – Michael Fenwick, 35, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison in connection with his unlawful possession of a loaded firearm discovered after leading police on a foot chase, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“A repeat offender with a decades‑long history of gun violence, Fenwick was once again illegally armed and fleeing from police,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This sentence underscores that those who persist in carrying illegal firearms and putting the public at risk will face firm and decisive federal action.” 

Fenwick pleaded guilty on Jan. 14, 2025, before Judge Amir H. Ali to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 30-month prison term, Judge Ali ordered Fenwick to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 51-month prison term. 

According to court documents, on June 11, 2025, Prince George’s County police responded to reports of retail thefts in District Heights and in Temple Hills, Maryland. Witnesses reported that the suspects fled in a white Toyota RAV4. 

Officers located the vehicle, which Fenwick was driving. When police attempted a stop, Fenwick fled the RAV4 on foot. Officers detained Fenwick on the 1300 block of Barnaby Terrace SE, where officers recovered a loaded Beretta APX pistol from his waistband. The pistol had one round in the chamber and 15 additional rounds in its magazine. 

Fenwick was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions. In 2021, he was convicted and sentenced to 50 months in prison for robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. In 2019, He was convicted of second-degree assault and fourth-degree burglary and sentenced to 10 years in prison with four years suspended. In 2014, he was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and sentenced to 20 months. Fenwick was convicted of obstructing justice in 2012 and sentenced to 60 months, suspended, and a five-year term of supervised release. 

This investigation was conducted by the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Washington Field Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole. 

This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Initiative. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful exists to support President Trump’s Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 

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WASHINGTON – Ramanan Pathmanathan, 40, of Toronto, Canada, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 33 years in federal prison in connection with a prolific sextortion scheme that targeted more than 100 children across the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Pathmanathan pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2026, before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg to one count of production of child pornography and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor.  

“This defendant spent years methodically hunting children online. He targeted more than 145 victims, some as young as six, and subjected them to horrors no child should ever experience,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The United States will not allow international borders to serve as a refuge for those who prey on children, and I am grateful to our Canadian partners for ensuring this predator faced justice on both sides of the border.” 

In addition to the 396-month prison term, Chief Judge Boasberg ordered Pathmanathan to serve 10 years of supervised release and register as a sex offender. The prison term will run consecutively to the 12-year sentence that Pathmanathan is serving in Canada. 

According to court documents, Pathmanathan used multiple social media accounts, primarily Instagram and Facebook Messenger, to establish contact with at least 145 young girls and boys. Between at least March 2014 up until the day of his arrest on March 10, 2021, Pathmanathan posed as a teenage boy from New Jersey. 

Pathmanathan demanded the minor victims engage in sexually explicit conduct while they participated in video chats with him. He directed them to expose their genitals, and to engage in sexual acts with dogs, siblings, and other relatives. In almost all the video chats with his minor victims, Pathmanathan sent the children images of adults engaged in sexual acts to show them how to do what he was requesting.    

Pathmanathan recorded his victims’ sexually explicit conduct and saved the files on his desktop computer. Some of the victims were as young as six years old. When the minor victims would decline to continue to engage in sexually explicit conduct or blocked Pathmanathan’s social media accounts, he threatened to send images to the children’s friends or family. 

On Oct. 27, 2022, Pathmanathan pleaded guilty to similar offenses in Canada, and was later sentenced to 12 years in prison.  

The Department of Justice is grateful to the Toronto Police Service and the Crown Operations Office, Ministry of Attorney General (Canada) for their invaluable assistance. 

This case was investigated by the FBI Houston Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division secured the temporary surrender of Pathmanathan from Canada. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Shinskie for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. 

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 – Javan King, 42, of Laurel, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 12 months and one day in prison in connection with his theft of more than 4,800 government cell phones when he worked for the Department of Justice, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

King pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2026, before Judge Jia M. Cobb to one count of mail fraud. In addition to the 12-month prison term, Judge Cobb ordered King to serve two years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $1,319,172.85 in restitution. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison term of 24 months. 

“King’s theft of thousands of government phones was a brazen betrayal of the public trust that drained taxpayers of more than a million dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He then squandered the stolen money on gambling, luxury vacations, and a high‑end vehicle. He will now be required to repay the very funds he siphoned from the American taxpayer and serve a prison sentence for his crimes. "

Between 2021 and 2025 King worked as an information technology contractor for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice (DOJ). During that period, he defrauded DOJ out of more than $1.3 million by successfully requesting that DOJ order thousands of mobile devices that the Department did not need.  

After the phones were shipped to King at DOJ, he sent them to phone reselling businesses. In total, the businesses paid him more than $1.3 million for the phones. He spent the proceeds on a variety of things, including gambling at MGM casinos and on FanDuel, vacations, private school tuition, and a down payment on a $92,000 Range Rover SUV. 

The scheme came to light when a private citizen in Kentucky contacted the DOJ in late August 2025 noting that she had learned that an iPhone that she had purchased online belonged to the Department. 

King acknowledged that his scheme caused the Department of Justice to suffer an actual loss of more than $1.3 million because of fees that it paid AT&T for the unnecessary phone lines and phones.  

This case was investigated by the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman. 

26cr15 

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WASHINGTON – A three-count indictment filed May 22 charges Paris Simmons, 26, in connection with the alleged January 2026 armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service carrier, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Simmons, of the District of Columbia, is charged with postal robbery, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He is currently being held at the District’s Central Detention Facility. 

“An armed robbery of a postal worker is a brazen act that endangers not just the victim, but every member of the community whose mail and financial information can be exploited through a stolen arrow key,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “A single key can unlock hundreds of mailboxes along a carrier’s route, giving criminals access to checks, personal data, and entire clusters of residential mail. Those who commit violence against letter carriers and attempt to profit from these crimes will be met with aggressive federal prosecution.” 

On Jan. 12, 2026, about 4:55 p.m., Simmons parked his vehicle near the corner of 16th and Hamlin Street, NW, exited his vehicle and waited on the sidewalk. About 4:57 p.m., a U.S. Postal Service carrier who was delivering mail in the area walked west on Hamlin Street and turned south onto 16th Street.  

Simmons allegedly approached the postal carrier from behind and shoved an object into the carrier’s back. According to the indictment, Simmons then threatened to shoot the carrier and demanded the carrier’s postal arrow key. Simmons fled the area with the victim’s arrow key.  

Postal arrow keys, which provide access to mailboxes, mail collection boxes and apartment buildings, can be used in furtherance of financial crimes, such as bank fraud, check fraud, identity theft, and other criminal schemes.   

Law enforcement arrested Simmons on Jan. 18, 2026. 

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The matter is being prosecuted by the Federal Major Crimes Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.  

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WASHINGTON – Anthony Del Cid-Morales, 18, of the District of Columbia, was indicted this week on 69 charges in connection with a January 2026 mass shooting, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Del Cid-Morales is charged with Assault with Intent to Kill While Armed, Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, and Aggravated Assault While Armed, and related counts. The indictment includes multiple enhancements for committing crimes of violence against Metro Transit passengers. Superior Court Judge Jason Park scheduled a detention hearing for July 10. 

According to the Government’s evidence, on Jan. 22, 2026, about 5:40 p.m., Del Cid-Morales allegedly sexually assaulted a juvenile victim on a bus which led to a physical altercation between them. When the bus arrived at a stop a short time later, the juvenile victim and her group of friends exited the rear of the bus and Del Cid-Morales exited from the front.  

As Del Cid-Morales exited the bus, he allegedly drew a handgun, racked the slide, and fired five rounds into the crowd of more than 15 people who were standing at the bus stop near 16th Street NW and Missouri Avenue NW. 

Five people were struck by gunfire. Three of the victims had been with the juvenile victim on the bus. One victim was waiting at the bus stop to go home. The last victim was taking an evening walk. After allegedly firing into the crowd, Del Cid-Morales fled on foot.  

Joining in the announcement were ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Washington Field Office and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Washington Field Office and the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network.  

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

2026 CF1 007691 

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WASHINGTON – Tywan Morris, 30, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison in the 2021 murder of a woman at a Southeast gas station, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

A Superior Court jury found Morris guilty on Nov. 12, 2025, of one count of second-degree murder while armed. In addition to the 20-year prison sentence, the Honorable Michael Ryan ordered Morris to serve five years of supervised release. 

According to the government’s evidence, at 5:03 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2021, Danielle Stuckey, 27, and her 12-year-old child walked through the BP gas station at 2801 Alabama Avenue SE to a nearby bus stop.  

A short time later, Morris pulled into the gas station with his girlfriend and child and parked. While Morris was pumping gas, the victim approached him, and a brief argument ensued between the victim, Morris, and Morris’s girlfriend.  

Despite the victim walking back to the bus stop, Morris retrieved a knife with brass knuckles attached. Initially, Morris gave the knife to his girlfriend. The girlfriend attempted to stab the victim. Morris then retrieved the knife and charged at the victim. The victim attempted to back away, but Morris pursued her. He tripped her to the ground and kicked her in the head. While the victim was on the ground, Morris stabbed her in the left thigh transecting her femoral artery and vein and killing her. Morris then fled the scene with his girlfriend. 

Morris was arrested the same day. He has been in custody since November 2023. 

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ariel Dean and Daniel Bromwich who prosecuted the case. 

2021 CF1 005953, 2023 CF2 008570 

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WASHINGTON - Sidney Rogers, 35, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 48 months in prison in connection with the unlawful possession of a ghost gun while fleeing police on an all-terrain vehicle through a busy Southeast Washington neighborhood, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Rogers pleaded guilty on Sept. 22, 2025,  to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In addition to the 48-month prison term, Judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered Rogers to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 57-month prison term. 

According to court papers, on June 4, 2025, at about 5:56 p.m., a Metropolitan Police Department officer observed Rogers operating a black and neon yellow ATV through the intersection of Morris Road SE and Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE in violation of traffic laws. When the officer approached, Rogers accelerated the ATV forward, crashing it into a parked vehicle before fleeing on foot with a firearm in his waistband. 

Image of Rogers running from officers with a firearm in his waistband.  

During the foot chase, Rogers dropped a loaded magazine containing 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition, which scattered across the street near a bus stop at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and W Street SE. Officers apprehended Rogers and recovered a loaded ghost gun, a privately manufactured firearm bearing no serial number and untraceable by law enforcement. 

Police recovered this “ghost gun” from Rogers. 

Rogers was on supervised release for a prior firearms offense at the time of the incident. In 2022, he was convicted in D.C. Superior Court of unlawful possession of a firearm after a similar flight from police in which he drove a vehicle into a cement barrier and discarded a firearm out the window. 

Rogers dropped a loaded magazine containing 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition, which scattered across the street near a bus stop. 

This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. 

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

The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caelainn Carney. 

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U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia
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WASHINGTON – Makhi Inge, 23, of the District of Columbia, was found guilty today in connection with his assault on the mother of his child in October 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

A Superior Court jury found Inge guilty of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (Prior Conviction), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (Obliterated Serial Number), and Carrying a Pistol Without a License. 

 According to the government’s evidence, on Oct. 26, 2025, Inge went to the victim’s apartment in Northwest to see her and his son. Inge argued with the victim and punched her. The victim attempted to de-escalate the situation and briefly left the apartment. When she returned, Inge started another argument and insisted the victim owed him money. Inge then pointed a firearm at the victim and told her that he would have shot her if she was not holding his son. The victim pleaded with Inge to allow her to leave to go to an ATM to pay him. 

Once Inge allowed the victim to leave, she took her son and went to the corner store where she asked the clerk for help and called 911. While the victim was on the phone with the 911 operator, Inge came to the store, took the boy, and headed back to her apartment. The victim pretended to go back with Inge but then waited in an alleyway for police. When police arrived, they went to the victim’s apartment where they found Inge and the victim’s son. After searching the apartment, police found Inge’s firearm that he had hidden in the victim’s laundry. 

Inge has previous convictions for multiple felony offenses and crimes of violence involving firearms. Inge faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 21, 2026, before Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean. 

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S.  Attorneys Anne Cotter and Monisha Rao.   

2025 FD3 014290 

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WASHINGTON — Yana Leonova, 33, a Belarusian citizen most recently residing in Russia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with procuring and illicitly exporting numerous avionics and other aircraft equipment from the United States to Russia, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Leonova, aka “Yana Liavonava,” pleaded guilty before the Honorable Loren L. AliKahn to violating the Export Control Reform Act. Following the plea hearing, Judge AliKahn scheduled sentencing for Aug. 10, 2026.  

“Anyone who thinks they can exploit U.S. supply chains to arm our adversaries should look carefully at what happened to Yana Leonova,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Leonova used shell companies, false paperwork, and foreign intermediaries to conceal the unlawful export of U.S.-origin aircraft components to Russia. Investigators traced the scheme across multiple jurisdictions and brought her to justice. There is no distance far enough to protect those who threaten our national security interests.” 

“No matter where you are, the FBI will not stop to ensure you face justice when you violate U.S. laws,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeff Berkebile of the Kansas City, Mo., Field Office. “Today’s actions in federal court ensure that the defendant will be held accountable for their actions in skirting our laws for their own benefit. We thank all parties and partners involved in this case and commend their efforts to ensure justice has been done.”  

According to court documents and admissions during the plea hearing, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in May 2022, Leonova and her U.S. and Armenian co-conspirators illicitly procured aircraft components from U.S.-based distributors.  

Leonova and her co-conspirators repeatedly concealed and misstated the true end users and end destinations of the aircraft components ordered by Leonova by submitting false information on documents. 

Using companies located in Armenia and elsewhere, Leonova and her co-conspirators transshipped the components to Russia without the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce, in violation of federal law. In addition, Leonova, her former Russian employer, and her co-conspirators caused payments in U.S. dollars to be transmitted from foreign bank accounts to bank accounts in the United States. 

The exported items were for use on private aircraft operated or maintained by Leonova’s former employer, a company identified on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List for engaging in or enabling activities contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.

In November 2025, Leonova was extradited to the United States from France in connection with this case.  

This case is being investigated by FBI Kansas City and BIS/OEE Atlanta and New York. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emma Dinan Ellenrieder and John W. Borchert of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Acting Deputy Chief Sean R. Heiden of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.  Significant assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart D. Allen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

Further significant assistance on the extradition was provided by French authorities and the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs. The Department expresses deep appreciation for the support of our French allies.  

24cr421 

WASHINGTON – Thierno Barry, 23, a previously convicted felon who resided in Queens, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 77 months in federal prison in the March 2025 multijurisdictional crime spree that included a high-speed police chase, the swatting of a random Northwest residence and a subsequent carjacking of an elderly couple the same day at Union Station, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Barry, aka “Usman Barrie,” pleaded guilty on January 22, 2026, to one count of carjacking, to one count of interstate transport of a stolen vehicle, and to making false alarms and reports. In addition to the 77-month prison term, Judge Reggie B. Walton ordered Barry to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison term of 102 months. 

“Thierno Barry led police on a 120-mile-per-hour chase while live-streaming the pursuit, filed a false shooting report that sent officers rushing to a sleeping family’s home, and carjacked an elderly couple on their way to the hospital,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This violent and reckless conduct put countless lives at risk. Our office will continue to hold accountable anyone who treats the District as a playground for violence and lawlessness.” 

According to court documents, at about midnight on March 31, 2025, Barry was being pursued by Virginia State Police when he drove into the District. During the chase which reach speeds over 120 m.p.h., Barry used his cellphone to post to social media, including an Instagram selfie with the caption “Run or pull over like a ?bitch” at 11:41 p.m. At 11:52 p.m., Barry posted a video narrating the pursuit, saying: “ . . . I’m talking about five state troopers on my a** bro! I swear to god . . .” 

Barry abandoned the Volkswagen SUV he was driving in an alley behind 4300 block of Reno Road, NW. Metropolitan Police officers responded to the area at 12:21 a.m., recovered the vehicle, but were unable to locate Barry. 

At 1:30 a.m., Barry called 911 and falsely reported to the operator that his ex-husband had shot his wife in the face and chest. He indicated that the shooter had driven away. Barry provided an address on Brandywine Street NW where he claimed the shooting had occurred. At the time Barry made the report, he knew that it was false. A few minutes after Barry made the call,  911 operators attempted to call back the phone number that had made the report but were sent to voicemail. The voicemail mailbox recording stated that the mailbox belonged to “Thierno Barry.” 

MPD responded to the address of the reported shooting and made contact with the residents of the house, who were asleep when MPD arrived. 

Barry remained in the area until 2:30 a.m., when video footage showed him at the 4200 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW boarding a WMATA bus. 3:11 a.m. he switched to another bus in the 2100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue NW.   

Barry boards the second WMATA bus. 

Shortly after getting off of the bus, Barry entered Union Station. Security guards reported that an individual matching Barry’s description was kicked out of station about 3:30 a.m. after making threats to commit a shooting there. 

At 3:37 a.m., Barry approached a Buick sedan occupied by an 88-year-old man and an 87-year-old woman who had been stopped directly in front of the station.  

Barry approached the driver’s side, then reached into the open window and opened the driver’s side door. Barry ordered the couple out of the car repeatedly, stating “Get out of the car! If you don’t, I’m gonna kill you.” Barry told the victims that he had a gun and held his hand in the pocket of his sweatshirt to imitate a firearm.  

Surveillance photo shows Barry behind the wheel of the Buick sedan, as the 88-year-old man (CW-3) attempts to get up from the street where Barry had thrown him to the ground. 

The victims told Barry that they could not give him the car because they were on their way to the hospital, but Barry continued to threaten them and demand the car. 

With the driver’s door still opened, Barry grabbed hold of the driver’s upper body,  physically wrenched him out of the vehicle, and threw him to the ground. Barry stepped over the man and climbed into the driver’s seat. The woman passenger got out of the car. With the doors still open, Barry drove away, eventually reaching a gas station in Greenbelt, Maryland. During that drive, images of the car were captured by a speed camera. Barry only stopped driving after the car suffered a flat tire. 

The Greenbelt Police Department apprehended Barry, who initially identified himself as with the alias “Usaman Barrie.”  

Barry has two prior felony convictions and has seven other open cases outside of this jurisdiction. 

This case was investigated by the MPD, the FBI Washington Field Office, and the Greenbelt Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan. 

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WASHINGTON – Rashim Johnson, 30, a previously convicted felon residing in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today in connection with his possession of a Glock 19 semiautomatic pistol with a 31 round capacity magazine, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Johnson pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Judge Mehta scheduled sentencing for October 2.  

According to court documents, on Aug. 10, 2025, about 12:13 a.m., Johnson was loitering in the middle of the 4800 block of Sherrif Road, NE, when Metro Transit Police Department officers on patrol entered the block. Johnson sprinted away as the officers exited their vehicle. An officer pursued Johnson and observed Johnson take a black object from his waistband and toss it over a chain-link fence bordering a property on the 1000 block of 48th Street, NE. There was no one on the property when Johnson threw the object. The officer apprehended Johnson about 10 seconds later and subsequently recovered a 9mm Glock 19 pistol nearby.  

The pistol was equipped with an extended magazine loaded with 31 rounds plus one round in the chamber. Additionally, the firearm was equipped with a laser attachment below the barrel, and the serial number was obliterated. Due to his status as a previously convicted felon, Johnson was prohibited from possessing any firearm. 

This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative.  

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

This case was investigated by officers with the Metropolitan Transit Police Department, Metropolitan Police Department, and agents with the United States Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Washington Field Office. 

The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Travis Wolf.  

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25cr287 

WASHINGTON – Khalid Claggett, 42, of Washington, DC was sentenced Friday to 10.5 years in prison for killing 30-year-old Isaac Aull, Jr., on June 11, 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Claggett was found guilty by a D.C. Superior Court jury of one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed, one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and one count of offenses committed during release following a trial in February of 2026.

            On May 15, 2026, a sentencing hearing was held before Judge Neal Kravitz. Under the DC Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines, Claggett’s sentencing range was 10.5 to approximately 33 years. The government requested a 21-year sentence, noting the particular cruelty of Claggett’s actions,  but his sentencing was at the bottom end of the guidelines. 

            On the date of this killing, Claggett was on release for two separate criminal charges. Evidence presented by the government, at sentencing, further showed that Claggett possessed multiple guns while on release, in disregard for court orders prohibiting his possession of a gun.

            At trial, the government presented evidence that on June 11, 2021, a preliminary hearing was held in the case United States v. John Young, where Young was charged with the murder of Dewayne Shorter III, who is the brother of Isaac Aull, Jr. After viewing the preliminary hearing virtually, Mr. Aull and another male went to the parking lot of Walgreens located at 1401 Rhode Island Avenue and shot at a car belonging to Young’s brother, Richard Young. Khalid Claggett, who was a close friend of John Young, was sitting in the passenger’s seat of the car at the time. After shots hit the car, Claggett exited the car and ran after Mr. Aull and his friend to the 1600 block of Franklin Street. While on Franklin Street, Claggett fired six shots at Mr. Aull, causing a bullet to lodge in the back of Mr. Aull’s head. Mr. Aull fell into the street and was unarmed, and unable to move. Claggett then left the scene.

            In the intervening time, an ambulance had arrived at Franklin Street and was parked in front of Mr. Aull. Dash camera video from the ambulance showed that Claggett changed his appearance – putting on a mask, removing his sweatshirt, and retrieving a new gun – drove back to Frankin Street, and attempted to shoot at the unarmed Mr. Aull. At that point, Claggett’s gun jammed and he walked away. Once he was able to fix the jam in his gun he returned to where Mr. Aull lay helplessly, stood directly above him, and fired seven shots into his body. 

            Claggett was arrested on June 25, 2021, and has been in custody since. 

           Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rashmika Nedungadi and Daniel Seidel, who prosecuted the case.

2021 CF1 003577

WASHINGTON – Norman Morris, 45, a career drug dealer residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 121 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation that distributed PCP and fentanyl in the District, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Morris, aka “Fibble,” was found guilty by a federal jury on June 3, 2025, of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP). In addition to the 121-month prison term Judge Dabney L. Friedrich ordered Morris to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison term of 240 months. 

“Norman Morris helped fuel the distribution of dangerous narcotics, including PCP and fentanyl, throughout the District of Columbia for years. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that individuals who profit from poisoning our communities will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “I commend the DEA and FBI for their relentless work dismantling this trafficking operation and helping make our neighborhoods safer.” 

According to court documents and testimony at trial, the DEA and the FBI began a criminal investigation in September 2023 of local PCP and fentanyl distributors, a group that included Morris and co-defendants Lamont M. Langston, Kelvin Sanker, and Jamar Bennett. 

Morris conducted drug transactions outside of the residence he shared with his mother on the 200 block of 58th Street NE, Washington, DC. One regular customer of the Morris’s testified that Morris sold him fentanyl “pretty much daily” for an extended period going back to the pandemic. The transactions were monitored by law enforcement from November 2023 to March 2024. During this same period, Bennett and Langston were observed meeting at Morris’s residence to exchange suspected narcotics and cash. 

During the investigation, Bennett sold more than two kilograms of PCP to undercover officers over the course of nine transactions. The PCP was supplied by Langston and was stored and prepared by Sanker at Sanker’s home. Morris also retrieved 32 ounces of PCP from Sanker at the request of Langston after Langston was arrested with PCP and two firearms. Sixteen ounces of the PCP retrieved by Morris was sold to an undercover officer by Bennett. 

Morris, Bennett and Langston exchanging PCP outside Morris’ home on Nov. 14, 2023.  

Morris has several prior drug convictions for distribution, possession with intent to distribute, and attempted distribution of cocaine and heroin. He also has a prior conviction for escape. 

Bennett, 46, of the District, pleaded guilty Apr. 11, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was also sentenced to 121 months in prison. 

Sanker, 44, of the District, pleaded guilty Oct. 22, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute PCP and was sentencing to 65 months in prison. 

 Langston, 45, of the District, pleaded guilty Dec. 19, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP and was sentenced to 138 months. 

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were DEA Special Agent in Charge Chris Goumenis of the Washington Division and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. 

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, DEA’s Washington Division, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Roman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Stempel. 

PCP seized during the investigation of the drug trafficking organization.  

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced a more aggressive enforcement approach to address “teen takeover” gatherings that threaten public safety in the District of Columbia.

            “Teen takeovers have disrupted neighborhoods, forced businesses to close temporarily, and diverted valuable law enforcement resources from the residents of the District,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “These incidents have become increasingly common in areas such as Navy Yard and NoMa and are often accompanied by criminal conduct, including assaults, robberies, fights, and other disorderly behavior. Even with the juvenile curfew being enforced by Mayor Muriel Bowser, there is still action that must be taken immediately. The D.C. Council refuses to deal with the problem, and their lack of action creates an extremely dangerous situation for the people of the District and the teens themselves. Law abiding taxpayers should not subsidize chaos caused by parental neglect. Parents do your job, or we will do ours.”

            As part of this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will increase enforcement of existing laws addressing parental responsibility when minors engage in criminal conduct in the District. Under the District’s curfew law and D.C. Code § 22-811 (Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor), adults who facilitate, enable, or knowingly permit a minor to engage in delinquent acts may face criminal penalties of up to six months of incarceration. Charges may be pursued regardless of whether the juvenile is separately prosecuted.

            The Office will work with its Metropolitan Police Department partners to seek parental citations when a minor’s curfew violation is connected to a takeover-related incident. These enforcement actions may include mandatory parental notification, court-ordered parenting classes, or family counseling as part of the resolution of the case.

WASHINGTON – Vance McIlwain, 34, and Kenneth Johnson, 33, both of Washington, D.C., were sentenced today to ten years and six years in prison, respectively, for charges stemming from a daytime shooting in a residential neighborhood in southeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            McIlwain pleaded guilty to aggravated assault while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence on March 16, 2026, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Today, Judge Jason Park sentenced McIlwain to serve ten years of incarceration, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Co-defendant Johnson also pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to six years of incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release. 

            On November 8, 2024, at about 3:50 p.m., McIlwain and Johnson were captured on CCTV conspiring to shoot the victim. Inside of an apartment building hallway, Johnson was captured on video passing a cross-body bag to McIlwain, which contained a gun. They both made their way to the apartment building’s entryway landing. McIlwain stepped out of the building and removed the gun from the bag but then returned to the entryway and handed the gun to Johnson. Johnson re-racked the gun and gave it back to McIlwain. McIlwain walked down the alley, turned the corner, and began firing over 15 rounds of ammunition at the victim, who was sitting on a front porch. McIlwain shot the victim seven times, including in the chest, the lower back, and the knee. He was transported to the hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries and survived. A stray bullet also went into a neighbor’s house, and another was found on the front porch.

            Following the attack, McIlwain ran back to the apartment building and handed the gun to Johnson. McIlwain then continued to run from the scene. Johnson entered one of the apartment units. Johnson was found inside the apartment unit and was arrested. McIlwain was arrested about an hour and a half later in the area. Both have been in custody since their respective arrests.

            Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, especially the Seventh District Special Mission Unit. They also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance. They acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erica Rudolf and Amanda Claire Hoover, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

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WASHINGTON – Keon Preston, 19, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in Superior Court today to eight years in prison for his participation in an armed carjacking which took place on March 23, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

            “It is only by the grace of God that the victim in this case is still alive.  These violent teen criminals fired over 30 rounds at the victim and it’s a miracle that this was not a homicide,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Their shooting and carjacking spree shows their lack of regard for human beings, and one wonders whether they should be a part of a civilized society.” 

            Preston pleaded guilty on September 19, 2025, to assault with intent to kill, possession of a machine gun, and carjacking. His co-defendant, Mekhi Greene, 19, who was seventeen years old at the time of the carjacking and charged under Title 16, pleaded guilty the same day to carjacking. The Honorable Judge Deborah Israel sentenced Preston to eight years of incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised probation. Greene is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, 2026. 

            According to the government’s evidence, on the afternoon of March 23, 2025, in the 4600 block of G Street Southeast, Preston and two other unidentified suspects fired approximately 30 rounds at a victim as the victim exited his house to walk towards a bus stop. Although the victim was not hit, multiple rounds struck the victim’s house and car. 

            Later that evening, Preston, Greene, and two unidentified suspects, approached the 3500 block of East Capitol Street, Northeast, wearing masks and dark clothing, and carjacked a victim at gunpoint. After Metropolitan Police Department officers attempted to stop the stolen vehicle, the vehicle abruptly pulled into a dead end on the corner of 33rd Street Southeast and C Street Southeast and the defendants fled on foot. Officers recovered two illegal firearms from the vehicle, one of which had an automatic conversion switch. Preston and Greene were arrested at the scene and have been in custody since. 

            Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Green. 

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WASHINGTON – Jeffrey Birth, 45, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 13 and a half years in prison in connection with the January 3, 2025, robbery of a victim in Northwest, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

            Following a jury trial, Birth was found guilty on March 10, 2026, on six counts, including burglary, robbery, assault with intent to commit robbery, unlawful possession of ammunition, and contempt. On March 31, 2026, Birth pleaded guilty to three additional counts of possession of a controlled substance, contempt, and a violation of the Bail Reform Act for failing to appear in court.  

            In the early morning of January 3, 2025, Birth, who was barred from the apartment building, knocked on the door of a resident inside 1221 M St. NW. When the occupant opened the door, the defendant pushed his way inside and threatened to kill the occupant.  Birth demanded money and, when the occupant did not give him money, Birth took phones, a wallet, an iPad, and the occupant’s dog before leaving. Several hours later, MPD officers located the dog in an apartment linked to Birth. A search of the apartment revealed several debit cards in the occupant’s name and two mobile phones belonging to the occupant. When Birth was arrested, he was found in possession of bullets for an unlicensed handgun.   

            Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). They acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorney Nickolas Reck and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kraig Ahalt, who prosecuted the case. 

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WASHINGTON – Michael Manley, 24, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for shooting his 32-year-old girlfriend in April 2025, while she sat in her car, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            “Today’s sentence cannot undo the pain the victim has endured, but it sends a clear message that acts of violence against intimate partners will be met with serious consequences here in the District,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Our office is committed to standing up for survivors and ensuring that justice is served.”

            Manley pleaded guilty on December 16, 2025, to one count each of assault with intent to kill while armed, unlawful discharge of a firearm and destruction of property. Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe ordered Manley to serve the 10-year prison term to be followed by five years of supervised release. 

            According to the government’s evidence, Manley and the victim were in a romantic relationship for several months. On April 11, 2025, the victim was sitting in her car in front of her residence when the defendant approached her vehicle and shot at her through the driver’s side window. This was not the only time that Manley was violent towards her. On other occasions, he destroyed her property, shot at her apartment building, and repeatedly returned to her residence in violation of a court-issued stay away. 

           Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department.

            Finally, they thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia Hinerfeld and Ariel Lieberman, who prosecuted the case.

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WASHINGTON - Marcus Devonta Williams, 47, of Brookeville, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 70 months in connection with his role as the Washington, D.C.-area distributor in a large-scale cocaine trafficking conspiracy that funneled multi-kilogram quantities of the drug from New York into the Washington metropolitan area, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Marcus Williams played a central role in a cocaine trafficking pipeline that moved multi-kilogram quantities of dangerous drugs from New York into the Washington metropolitan area,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He distributed cocaine to re-sellers throughout the region and profited substantially from that criminal activity. Today’s sentence reflects the serious harm caused by large-scale drug trafficking and demonstrates our commitment to holding accountable those who flood our communities with illegal narcotics.” 

Williams pleaded guilty before Judge Amir H. Ali on Feb. 4, 2026, to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. In addition to the 70-month prison sentence, Judge Ali ordered Williams to serve five years of supervised release and to pay a $150,000 money judgment. Federal prosecutors had requested a 78-month prison term.  

According to court papers, beginning in the summer of 2024, the FBI investigated a large-scale cocaine conspiracy operating in the Washington, D.C., area, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. Williams served as the D.C.-area point person for the conspiracy, receiving multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine transported from New York by co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree. Williams then distributed it to re-sellers and individual buyers throughout the region. 

Between February and April 2025, law enforcement made four controlled purchases of cocaine from Williams. During that same period, surveillance documented Williams meeting with Smith-Winfree in Wilmington, Delaware, in a manner consistent with drug supply transactions. 

On March 24, 2025, GPS tracking data placed Williams' vehicle in a Walmart parking lot in Wilmington, where surveillance footage showed Smith-Winfree's vehicle pull alongside. Williams entered Smith-Winfree's vehicle briefly, then returned to his own truck carrying a brown paper bag.  

The following day, Williams met co-defendant Tavon Valentine Lee in a Silver Spring, Maryland, parking lot. Lee entered Williams' vehicle empty-handed and departed two minutes later carrying a brown paper bag, which he deposited in a trash receptacle. Law enforcement recovered the bag, which contained packaging consistent with a kilo of cocaine, cocaine residue on cutting and mixing instruments, and a parking receipt bearing Williams' vehicle's license plate number. Montgomery County police stopped Lee shortly after and recovered about 257 grams of cocaine and a loaded firearm from his vehicle. 

Later that day, law enforcement stopped Williams and recovered more than $33,000 in cash from his vehicle. On June 3, 2025, federal agents executed search warrants at Williams' Brookeville, Maryland, residence and a construction trailer associated with him, recovering about five to six ounces of cocaine, about $31,000 in cash, a money counter, and drug packaging materials. That same day, Howard County police stopped Smith-Winfree en route to resupply Williams and recovered about three kilograms of cocaine hidden in his vehicle. 

The $31,000 in cash recovered from Williams’ residence. 

A warrant for Smith-Winfree's iCloud account revealed digital ledgers tracking cocaine quantities supplied to Williams totaling 5.5 kilograms between January and February 2025. Williams agreed he was accountable for at least five kilograms of cocaine. 

Smith-Winfree, 44, pleaded guilty on January 28 before Judge Ali to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 96 months in prison. 

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Howard County Police Department, and the Arlington County Police Department. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Scarpelli and Michael L. Barclay. 

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WASHINGTON – Maurice Spears, 34, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury for charges stemming from the sexual abuse of two different women, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

            Spears was found guilty of six counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of felony threats, and one count of misdemeanor sexual abuse. The verdict was returned today, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Jason Park scheduled sentencing for July 21, 2026. 

            According to the government’s evidence, on April 15, 2024, Spears went on a single date with the first victim. They ended up back in the defendant’s storage unit, where he was living. Inside the storage unit, the defendant threatened to kill the victim and her children if she left. Spears told her that he planned to force her into prostitution and that he had law enforcement in his pocket, even showing her a fake police badge. The defendant forced the victim to spend the next three days with him, walking her all over the District of Columbia. The defendant twice sexually assaulted the victim inside his storage unit. He later took her to Virginia and kept her in a motel room. Eventually, the victim’s family was able to learn the defendant’s identity and track him to the motel room, where they rescued her and took her to the hospital.  

            On July 26, 2024, the second victim met Spears when they were both at a services provider for homeless individuals. The defendant promised to help the victim get some shoes. When the victim ran into Spears the next day, he started to follow her around and refused to leave her tent when she asked him to. Eventually the defendant started threatening her, telling her that he was connected to law enforcement and that he had people who would harm her if he told them to. For the next five days, Spears refused to let the victim out of his sight. He repeatedly sexually assaulted her, including in her tent and at a storage facility where she rented a unit. Eventually, the victim was able to call 911 and escape from the defendant.  

            Spears was arrested on September 9, 2024, and has been in custody since. 

            Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Swanson and Sarah Roessler. 

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WASHINGTON – Saul Castillo-Crespo, 28, an illegal alien from Mexico and a previously convicted sex offender, was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States after deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Saul Castillo-Crespo committed a brutal sexual assault against a defenseless woman on the streets of the District, was deported after serving his sentence, and then illegally returned to the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He apparently believed that using a new name would make him invisible. He was wrong. Following his prison sentence, he will again be deported.” 

Castillo-Crespo pleaded guilty on Jan. 8, 2026, before U.S. District Court Timothy J. Kelly to one count of unlawful re-entry of a previously deported alien. In addition to the 30-month prison sentence, Judge Kelly ordered Castillo-Crespo to serve three years of supervised release and to submit to any deportation order.  

According to court papers, on May 7, 2017, Castillo-Crespo encountered a woman in the early morning hours on a sidewalk near Lafayette Square in downtown Washington. The woman was extremely intoxicated and unable to walk on her own. She told Castillo-Crespo she wanted to go home. Instead, Castillo-Crespo hailed a cab and took her to his apartment building in the 1700 block of Seventh Street NW. 

Once inside, the woman refused to enter Castillo-Crespo’s fourth-floor apartment and repeated that she wanted to go home. Castillo-Crespo carried her to a staircase and sexually assaulted her. The assault was captured on the building’s surveillance cameras. 

In August 2017, Castillo-Crespo was convicted in D.C. Superior Court and sentenced to five years in prison for the kidnapping and sexual assault. 

In January 2023, Castillo-Crespo was deported to Mexico. Two years later, he illegally re-entered the United States in March 2025 and failed to register as a sex offender as required by law. 

On June 27, 2025, Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested Castillo-Crespo on unrelated charges. Although he initially identified himself to officers using the alias “David Crespo,” law enforcement fingerprinted him after his arrest, which confirmed his true identity. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also confirmed that his fingerprints matched those of a previously deported alien. 

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter. 

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WASHINGTON – Jamil Whitley, 38, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty yesterday in D.C. Superior Court, for charges related to the shooting death of 32-year-old Kevin Redd in the alley behind 4722 Jay Street, Northeast, on June 11, 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Whitley was found guilty by a jury on May 12, 2026, after a nearly month-long trial, on one count of second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson scheduled sentencing for July 17, 2026.

            According to the government’s evidence, on June 11, 2020, at approximately 1:36 a.m., the victim, Kevin Redd, dropped off at the Shell Gas Station located at 4321 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE. According to gas station surveillance video, three minutes earlier the defendant had arrived at the gas station as the rear passenger of a four-door, white vehicle. The surveillance video, that had no audio, captured the two men speaking. Eventually, Whitley returned to the rear passenger area of the white vehicle and was driven from the gas station while Mr. Redd remained.   

            Thirteen minutes later, the defendant returned to the gas station driving an older two-door, white vehicle with a sunroof and tinted windows. Whitley was wearing the same clothes, but his face was now covered with a surgical mask. The defendant exited the vehicle and approached Mr. Redd.  The defendant returned to his car with Mr. Redd following behind him. As Whitley entered the driver’s door, he quickly pulled a small object from his pants. Then, Mr. Redd entered the passenger door and before he could fully close it, the defendant sped off causing a vehicle to swerve to avoid hitting him. Just over a minute later, a residential security camera captured the defendant’s vehicle entering the alley leading to the rear of 4722 Jay Street, N.E., where within seconds two gunshots rang out. Approximately 17 seconds later, a business security camera captured the defendant fleeing the alley and the area. Subsequently, Sixth District police officers responded to the alley where they found Mr. Redd suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.  He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. At the time of Mr. Redd’s murder, he was a father of three with a fourth child born within weeks of his murder.

            Whitley was arrested on August 25, 2021, and has been in custody since.

            Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. 

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

            It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle D. Jackson and Negar Kordestani.

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WASHINGTON – A 27-count Indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court charging four men in connection with a conspiracy that used the “Jaws of Life” to commit robberies of convenience store ATMs in Maryland and the District, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Jeff Crews, 35, David Walker, 40, Maurice Roots, 35, and Kevin Bing, 31 – all residents of the District of Columbia – are charged with Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery) and an array of other counts relating to stolen vehicles. 

“Violent, organized crews who treat our neighborhoods as targets and use rescue tools designed to save lives to instead tear open ATMs and terrorize businesses will be met with relentless prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This indictment reflects a sustained law enforcement effort to dismantle a coordinated robbery ring that endangered employees, destroyed property, and repeatedly struck communities across Maryland and the District of Columbia.” 

According to the Indictment, the conspiracy operated during the first three months of 2025. Members of the conspiracy acquired a “Jaws of Life” – the powerful hydraulic rescue tool typically used by first responders to extract victims from the wreckage of car crashes – and used it to tear open automated teller machines and steal the cash inside them.  

The men acquired stolen vehicles, wore masks, and executed most of the robberies during the early-morning hours. They would meet at a predetermined location, transfer their robbery tools into the robbery vehicle, and drive to the targeted convenience store. After arriving at the convenience store, members divided up tasks. One member sometimes remained in the vehicle as a getaway driver. At least one other member was tasked with subduing the store employees, as another attempted to destroy the store’s surveillance video and network equipment.  Another used the “Jaws of Life” tool or other levering tool to rip open the ATM and remove its cassettes containing the cash. 

On Jan. 3, 2025, members of the conspiracy robbed an ATM on the 9900 block of Greenbelt Road, Lanham. On Jan. 4, 2025, members of the conspiracy robbed stores on the 6000 block of Sandy Spring Road, in Laurel, and the 900 block of Chillum Road, Hyattsville. On Jan. 7, 2025, members robbed a store on the 7700 block of Crain Highway, Upper Marlboro. On Jan. 8, 2025, members of the conspiracy attempted to rob an ATM on Route 3 in Gambrills. On Jan. 12, 2025, members of the conspiracy ignited and burned a black Lexus sedan, which had been used to facilitate a robbery.  

On Jan. 22, 2025, members robbed an ATM in a store on the 7400 block of Annapolis Road, Hyattsville. On Jan. 29, 2025, members robbed a store on the 11000 block of Cherry Hill Road, Beltsville, and robbed an ATM inside a store on the unit block of Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro. 

On Feb. 1, 2025, members robbed an ATM within a store on the 7900 block of Good Luck Road, Lanham.  On Feb. 6, 2025, members robbed an ATM on the 6100 block of Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill. On Feb. 19, 2025, members robbed an ATM in a store on the 11000 block of Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, On Feb. 22, 2025, members robbed an ATM in a store on the 9400 block of Lanham Severn Road, Lanham.  

On Feb. 28, 2025, members robbed an ATM on the 1000 block of Crain Hwy N, Gambrills, and robbed another ATM on the 600 block of University Boulevard, Silver Spring. On March 11, 2025, members robbed a store on the 6500 block of Coventry Way, Clinton, and struck another ATM the same day on the 8900 block of Rhode Island Avenue, College Park.  

On March 19, 2025, members of the conspiracy attempted to rob an ATM at a store on the 9500 block of Ruby Lockhart Boulevard, Bowie, before they robbed an ATM on the 5200 block of 3rd St. NE, Washington D.C. Later that day, members burned a silver Lexus sedan which had been used to facilitate a robbery. 

This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Greenbelt Police Department, and the Metropolitan Police Department. 

This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.  

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WASHINGTON – Darryl James, 22, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on Friday, May 1, 2026, to 15 years in prison for his participation in a spree of armed robberies of luxury watches and other goods in the Summer of 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            James pleaded guilty to three counts of armed robbery, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. His two co-conspirators, Isaiah Boyd, 24, and Issac Ingraham, 20, were sentenced on February 13, 2026 for their participation. Boyd pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery and one count of attempted robbery, while Ingraham pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of carrying a pistol without a license.

            According to the government’s evidence, in the Summer of 2024, there were a number of similar-style armed robberies that were committed in busy nightlife areas of the Northwest quadrant of the District of Columbia, fitting a similar modus operandi: a stolen car would pull up to a pedestrian or make a U-Turn before pulling up to a pedestrian, one or more masked men would jump out of the car and brandish a gun, and one or more of those men would rob a luxury watch at gunpoint. James participated in at least eight of these armed robberies, culminating in the last one on July 26, 2024, when James led law enforcement on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle throughout the District, ultimately discarding stolen property and two handguns along the way. James, Boyd, and Ingraham were able to flee successfully that day, but James was arrested about two weeks later with another handgun. Law enforcement eventually identified Boyd and Ingraham as being participants, alongside James, and they were arrested in December 2024 and January 2025, respectively. All three have been detained since their arrest.

            Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department.

            Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

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WASHINGTON - Phil Darkwah, 32, a previously convicted felon, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 24 months in prison in connection with his illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition during a police foot chase in the Navy Yard neighborhood, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Darkwah pleaded guilty on Nov. 14, 2025 before Judge Loren L. AliKhan to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In addition to the 24-month prison term, Judge AliKhan ordered Darkwah to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 37-month prison term. 

According to court papers, on May 6, 2025, at about 4 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department officers conducting mobile traffic enforcement in the Navy Yard area observed a black BMW sedan without a required front license plate and initiated a traffic stop in the 100 block of I Street SE. 

Before officers could approach, Darkwah exited the passenger side and ignored commands to remain in the vehicle. He then fled on foot, clutching his waistband as he ran. 

Officers pursued Darkwah toward an apartment building in the 800 block of New Jersey Ave. SE. Surveillance footage captured images of Darkwah discarding an object consistent with a firearm into a planter near the building’s entrance. A civilian witness subsequently located the firearm and directed officers to it.

Police recovered a loaded .40 caliber Glock 27 handgun from the planter. DNA testing later linked Darkwah to the gun’s magazine. 

Darkwah previously was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in June 2023 in connection with a 2022 shooting in Fairfax County, Virginia, that killed another person. He had been released from custody in April 2024 and was on probation at the time of this offense. 

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

The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Horan. 

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WASHINGTON – London Teeter, 22, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 32 months in prison for her role in a series of seven inside-job robberies of the Chinatown drug store where she was employed as a store manager, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Teeter pleaded guilty Feb. 13, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery). In addition to the 32-month prison term, Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Teeter to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 100-month prison sentence. 

“London Teeter was a key architect of a seven-month scheme that repeatedly turned her own workplace into a crime scene,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The sentencing guidelines called for 87-to-108 months. This sentence, which is significantly lighter, does little to protect the citizens of the District.”  

According to court documents, Teeter, and three co-conspirators devised a scheme to carry out armed robberies of the Walgreens store in Chinatown nearly once a month, beginning in July 2023, when either she or her co-conspirator were working. As a store manager, Teeter knew the timing of cash transfers within the business. In each robbery, a masked gunman entered the store, forced an employee into the manager’s office or accessed the manager’s office using a code provided by Teeter or her co-conspirator. The gunman then robbed the employees and fled through a rear exit. Teeter and her co-conspirator took turns pretending to be the victim manager on duty, knowing that the robberies would be captured on internal surveillance.  

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. Teeter was present in the manager’s office and pretended to be the victim of a robbery during the July 18, 2023, and Jan. 9, 2024, robberies. 

In response to the robberies, the Chinatown Walgreens hired armed Special Police Officers to protect the business. Teeter was aware that armed Special Police Officers would be present during the robberies and that a co-conspirator robbed the officers of their firearms during the robberies that occurred on Dec. 4, 2023, and Feb. 11, 2024. 

In the plea agreement, Teeter admitted that the co-conspirators stole and split at least $28,983. She also acknowledged that she reviewed surveillance footage from the Aug. 2, 2023, robbery during which a co-conspirator briefly placed his firearm on a chair Teeter acknowledged that she sent a co-conspirator a text message stating: “the vid looks so bad,” “idk why he put the gun down,” and “he can’t do it next time [not gonna lie].”  

Law enforcement arrested Teeter on Feb. 22, 2024. During the search of her home that preceded her arrest, law enforcement recovered a loaded Glock 45 pistol loaded with 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition.  

Co-defendant Michael Robinson, 35, who was also a Walgreen’s store manager, was sentenced to 147 months in prison. Co-defendant Kamanye Williams, 26, who acted as the gunman, was sentenced to 198 months. Gianni Robinson, 28, who is Michael Robinson’s nephew, was sentenced to 126 months. 

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force with assistance from the MPD.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin.   

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WASHINGTON - Eleven defendants are charged in a five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in connection with a sprawling, transnational drug trafficking organization that imported massive quantities of methamphetamine from California and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) from South Korea for distribution in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere along the East Coast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order.

“This long-term investigation peeled back the layers of a sophisticated drug trafficking empire—one that recruited well-educated operatives, laundered its proceeds through sham beauty companies, and flooded our streets with two of the most dangerous and lethal drug combinations available,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “As part of President Trump’s Homeland Security Taskforce and its whole-of-government approach, this case reflects the coordinated efforts of law enforcement and national security partners across jurisdictions and borders. From a storage unit in Northeast Washington to a warehouse in Seoul, we followed the supply chain end-to-end—and we’ve shut it down.”

“Drug traffickers only care about making a profit and living ‘the good life.’ This investigation started after a fatal poisoning of a DMV resident. The DEA, alongside federal, state, and local partners, are committed to a safer capital,” said Christopher Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge- DEA Washington Division. “The operation highlighted today by Judge Pirro removed dangerous individuals and poisonous substances from the streets and serves as a great example of our partnership, as well as a testament to our collective efforts to protect American citizens.” 

“Today's announcement demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to disrupting the illicit flow of money that enables narcotics traffickers to launder millions in illegal proceeds,” said Kareem Carter, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (CI), Washington D.C. “IRS-CI special agents will continue to proactively leverage our knowledge and unique skills for the betterment of our communities. Whether it is money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act violations, complex financial fraud, or leveraging our tax authority, we will continue working alongside our federal partners to take criminals off the street and dismantle transnational criminal organizations.” 

“This investigation disrupted a drug trafficking network that was allegedly pumping highly addictive, dangerous drugs into our Nation’s Capital,” said Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, Washington, D.C. “Working alongside our federal, local, and global partners, we traced the supply chain from an international parcel to a local distributor, and ultimately to a broader transnational criminal organization. It cannot be overstated: every drug seizure means less poison on our streets and in our neighborhoods. Together with our Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) counterparts, HSI will not allow criminals to profit by endangering our communities, undermining our safety, or threatening our livelihoods.”

The indictment charges Artemio Jacobo-Magana, Aaron James Landry, Matthew Thomas Kent, Colton Keet Huthsing, Rene Alexander Acosta, Joshua Glen Taylor, Robert David Fitch, Michael Robert Spitzer, Scott Patrick Morgan (aka “Scotty Rox”), and Kenneth Harold Archer with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine (actual), and a detectable amount of GBL. 

Three defendants — Spitzer, Morgan, and another individual — are additionally charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with their drug trafficking activity. Kent also faces three counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) for specific transactions in the District of Columbia. A twelfth defendant, Gregory Wallace, is separately charged by complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and GBL, and with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Chief Judge James E. Boasberg is presiding over the case. All defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years to life in prison.

According to court documents, from at least January 2023 through April 2026, the defendants and their co-conspirators operated a multi-layered drug trafficking network stretching along the Northeast Corridor from New York City to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. The conspiracy had active expansion efforts underway into Chicago, Florida, and Southern California. The organization sourced methamphetamine in California and imported GBL from South Korea, distributing both substances to an established customer base while actively recruiting new markets.

The conspiracy operated with a defined division of labor. Upstream suppliers sourced narcotics in bulk; regional distributors stored, repackaged, and moved product; and downstream distributors sold to customers while collecting and concealing proceeds. Members used encrypted messaging applications, coded language, commercial parcel services, stash locations, and shell business entities to facilitate and conceal operations. The conspiracy accepted drug payments through peer-to-peer payment platforms and laundered the funds through business accounts designed to disguise the proceeds as legitimate income.

The Drug Combination: Meth and GBL

GBL is an industrial solvent with legitimate commercial applications as a paint remover, adhesive, and nail polish remover. When illegally sold for human use, it is a Schedule I controlled substance. The body rapidly metabolizes GBL into GHB, one of the most pervasive date rape drugs currently available. GBL is sometimes called “Liquid Ecstasy” and is abused as a euphoria-inducing club drug. GBL has a dangerously narrow safety margin: a small increase in dosage can produce unconsciousness, seizures, slowed heart rate, severe respiratory depression, coma, or death.

The organization distributed methamphetamine and GBL together for simultaneous consumption in a poly-drug combination known as “sexchem.” The pairing is considered lethal and unpredictable. The investigation identified that local D.C.-based distributors were selling the drugs together as party drugs, compounding the risk to users.

The Network: From Seoul to the Northeast Corridor

The GBL supply chain traced back to South Korea, where a businesswoman and exporter, Sohyeon An, was shipping GBL in enormous quantities to destinations in Australia, Europe, and the United States. To facilitate the importation, members of the conspiracy established sham beauty product companies in New York and Washington, D.C. and used the companies to import GBL from South Korea at a rate of about 600 liters per month at the organization’s peak. The conspiracy falsely declared the shipments of GBL shipments as cleaning solutions and beauty supplies. On multiple occasions, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted the shipments.

Working with South Korean law enforcement, U.S. prosecutors and agents traveled to Seoul to identify GBL exporters and disrupt the supply chain at its source. That bilateral cooperation resulted in the arrest of five South Korean nationals by South Korean authorities and, in September 2025, the seizure of approximately 1.5 metric tons of GBL — the largest domestic seizure of a controlled substance ever recorded in South Korea.

Methamphetamine, sourced in California, was shipped in distribution-weight quantities across state lines using commercial parcel services including UPS and the U.S. Postal Service, with shipments coordinated through encrypted applications. Nearly all methamphetamine seizures in this case exceeded 90% purity.

The D.C.-Based Defendants

According to court documents, Matthew Thomas Kent, 40, served as a primary distributor in the District of Columbia, acquiring multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine and kilogram quantities of GBL for redistribution from stash locations in Northeast Washington, D.C. Kent was arrested in March 2024 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, where law enforcement recovered approximately 480 grams of methamphetamine from his vehicle. In June 2024, agents executed a search warrant at his residence in Northeast D.C. and recovered approximately 210 grams of methamphetamine and a Glock 9mm pistol. 

Kent continued trafficking after his arrest: in April 2025, he directed a controlled purchase of approximately 221 grams of methamphetamine, which tested at 98% purity, at his residence in the District. In July 2025, he was found at Union Station in possession of approximately 400 grams of methamphetamine at 97% purity that he had transported from Philadelphia by train. A drug ledger shared between Kent and co-defendant Huthsing, recovered from Kent's phone, included a transaction record, written in coded language, detailing the narcotics the two were allegedly trafficking.

Colton Keet Huthsing, 30, of Washington, D.C., operated as a distributor and organizer, coordinating with other members to obtain and distribute methamphetamine and GBL, maintaining drug ledgers, and directing subordinate participants. Following the September 2025 South Korean seizures and arrests, Huthsing attempted to fill the resulting void in the U.S.-based GBL market by incorporating a shell corporation and importing bulk quantities of GBL from abroad. In February 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a parcel destined for Huthsing’s Washington, D.C. apartment. The package contained more than six kilograms of GBL. Law enforcement searched Huthsing’s apartment on April 29, 2026, and recovered large quantities of narcotics, packaging materials, a money counter, multiple digital scales, and flight records reflecting international travel to Switzerland and other destinations.

Joshua Glen Taylor, 47, of Washington, D.C., was a supplier and redistributor of large quantities of methamphetamine in the District of Columbia. Financial records for Taylor obtained over the course of the investigation reflect hundreds of thousands of dollars in transactions consistent with narcotics trafficking. Agents arrested Taylor on April 29, 2026, at a hotel in Short Pump, Virginia, where approximately a half pound of methamphetamine and a half ounce of fentanyl were recovered from his room.

Also charged as members of the conspiracy were Robert David Fitch, 40, of Baltimore, Maryland; Michael Robert Spitzer, 52, of New York City; Scott Patrick Morgan, 44, of New York City; Kenneth Harold Archer, 46, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Rene Alexander Acosta, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland; Aaron James Landry, 39, of Los Angeles; and Artemio Jacobo-Magana, 26, of Santa Ana, California. 

The Takedown

On April 29, 2026, law enforcement arrested eight of the East Coast-based defendants and executed search warrants across eight federal judicial districts, including the District of Columbia, the District of Maryland, the Eastern District of Virginia, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of New York, the Northern District of New York, and the Southern District of Florida. 

This morning, May 7, 2026, law enforcement arrested two California-based defendants, Jacobo-Magana and Landry, and executed two additional search warrants in Central District of California.

During the two takedowns, law enforcement recovered approximately 7.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, about 24 kilograms of GBL, additional narcotics including cocaine and pills, and more than $150,000 in cash. 

Over the full course of the investigation and prior to takedown, law enforcement seized more than 35 kilograms of high-purity methamphetamine. Agents recovered about 800 kilos of GBL in the United States, one of the largest seizures of GBL in the East Coast. More than 1.5 metric tons of GBL was seized in South Korea. 

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were DEA Special Agent in Charge Christopher Goumenis of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; HSI Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of Homeland Security Investigations Washington D.C.;   IRS-CI Asst. Special Agent in Charge Cynthia Hearn of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; and Assistant Inspector in Charge Charles Wickersham of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division.  

This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; Homeland Security Investigation Washington Field Office; the DEA New York Division Office; the DEA Seoul Country Office; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Metropolitan Police Department and Arlington County Police provided valuable assistance.

The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey, George P. Eliopoulos, and Solomon S. Eppel of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking (VCNT) Section for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Washington D.C. comprises agents and officers from the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations,  U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, IRS Criminal Investigations and others with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

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

GBL seized by investigators at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

GBL seized by investigators in Seoul, South Korea.

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WASHINGTON - Marlon Ferro, 20, of Santa Ana, California, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 78 months in prison in connection with his role in a sprawling social engineering conspiracy that stole well over $250 million in cryptocurrency from victims across the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Marlon Ferro served as the criminal enterprise’s instrument of last resort. When his co-conspirators couldn’t deceive victims into handing over access to their cryptocurrency or hack their way into digital accounts, they turned to Ferro to break into homes and steal hardware wallets outright,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This scheme blended sophisticated online fraud with old-fashioned burglary to drain victims of millions of dollars in digital assets. Today’s sentence sends a clear message: cryptocurrency fraud is not a victimless, consequence-free crime carried out safely behind a screen—it is serious criminal conduct that will lead to federal prison.” 

Ferro, aka “GothFerrari,” pleaded guilty on Oct. 17, 2025, before Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeer influenced and corrupt organization. In addition to the 78-month prison sentence, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ordered Ferro to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $2.5 million in restitution.  

According to court documents, a multi-year federal investigation uncovered a social engineering enterprise that defrauded victims of more than $250 million in cryptocurrency between late 2023 and early 2025. Members of the enterprise — based in California, Connecticut, New York, Florida, and abroad — played specialized roles that included database hacking, target identification, fraudulent phone calls, money laundering, and residential burglary. 

Members and associates of the social engineering enterprise used stolen virtual currency to purchase, among other things, nightclub services ranging up to $500,000 per evening, luxury handbags valued in the tens of thousands of dollars which were given away at nightclub parties, luxury watches valued between $100,000 up to over $500,000, luxury clothing valued in the tens of thousands of dollars, rental homes in Los Angeles, the Hamptons, and Miami, private jet rentals for travel, a team of private security guards, and a fleet of exotic cars, ranging in value from $100,000 up to $3,800,000.   

The conspiracy’s operatives typically targeted individuals believed to hold significant cryptocurrency holdings. Its members manipulated victims into surrendering access to their digital wallets through elaborate fraud schemes. When victims stored their cryptocurrency in hardware wallets, physical devices that cannot be accessed remotely, the enterprise turned to Ferro. 

In February 2024, Ferro traveled to Winnsboro, Texas, broke into a victim’s home, and stole a hardware wallet containing about 100 bitcoin, at the time valued at more than $5 million. He then laundered the stolen funds through cryptocurrency exchanges. 

After relocating to California in early 2024, Ferro connected with enterprise members and ingratiated himself with his co-conspirators, including the leaders of the racketeering conspiracy, offering his residential burglary services for future cryptocurrency thefts.  

Surveillance photo of Ferro after he used a brick to break into a victim’s home in New Mexico. 

In July 2024, Ferro flew to New Mexico, where he surveilled a residence for several days, positioning a cell phone outside the home to monitor the victim’s movements. When co-conspirators tracking the victim’s location through his iCloud account indicated he had left, Ferro broke into the home by smashing a window with a brick and searched for the target hardware wallet. He was captured on the victim’s home surveillance camera. 

Ferro was not only the enterprise’s burglar, he was also a key money launderer. He used fraudulent identification documents obtained from a foreign national to open a digital payment card account at a geo-blocked platform, allowing enterprise members to spend stolen cryptocurrency at retail locations and nightclubs in Miami and elsewhere. He purchased more than $255,000 in designer clothing on behalf of his co-conspirators using stolen funds. 

One of the Hermès Birkin bags Ferro obtained for a co-conspirator's girlfriend.  

After a leader of the conspiracy was arrested and jailed in September 2024, Ferro continued to assist him from the outside. He collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency from other enterprise members, converted it to cash through illicit exchanges, and used the proceeds to pay the conspiracy leader’s attorneys. Ferro also arranged the purchase and shipment of Hermès Birkin bags for the co-conspirator's girlfriend.  

Ferro was arrested on May 13, 2025, and found to be in possession of two firearms and a fake identification document.

Law enforcement recovered this 9mm black rifle from Ferro.

The Glock 19 9mm pistol  that law enforcement recovered from Ferro. 

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI Washington Field Office, and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington Field Office. Significant investigative and operational support was provided by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Miami field offices. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Howland and David Liss. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Hart provided valuable assistance. 

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WASHINGTON - Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, was charged today in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in connection with a May 4 shooting near the Washington Monument on the National Mall in which a civilian bystander was struck by gunfire, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“We will prove this defendant carried an illegal firearm into the heart of Washington, D.C., opened fire at Secret Service officers near a crowded intersection, and shot an innocent bystander who was simply crossing the street with his family,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My office will pursue the most serious charges available against anyone who brings gun violence to our streets, particularly when that violence unfolds steps from the seat of our government and the path of the Vice President of the United States.” 

Marx faces three federal charges: assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon, using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

According to court papers, on May 4, 2026, about 3:40 p.m., a plainclothes U.S. Secret Service agent observed a man, later identified as Marx, appearing to conceal a firearm on the right side of his body near 15th Street and Madison Drive NW. The agent alerted the Secret Service Joint Operations Center and requested uniformed backup. 

At the same time, the motorcade for Vice President J.D. Vance was departing the White House, passing through the area of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW.  

Uniformed Secret Service officers responded and located Marx along the path of the Vice President's motorcade. As officers approached, Marx walked toward a group of civilians crossing the street. 

Officers issued verbal commands. Marx fled east on Independence Avenue SW. As officers pursued him, Marx drew a firearm from his waistband while running through the crosswalk toward bystanders. 

When Marx reached the sidewalk, he turned and fired at one of the pursuing officers. A civilian witness standing behind the officer was wounded in his leg. Officers returned fire, striking Marx in the hand, left arm, and upper abdomen. 

Marx collapsed at the intersection of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW, where officers rendered aid. He was identified through a Texas driver's license found on his person. Law enforcement also identified aliases including Patrick Michael and Michael Zavici. Marx was transported to George Washington University Hospital. While in the ambulance, he allegedly made statements to officers including “F--- the White House” and “Kill me, kill me, kill me.” 

Investigators recovered a Sig Sauer P365 handgun loaded with 9mm ammunition from the area where Marx fell. Law enforcement confirmed Marx does not hold a license to carry a handgun in the District of Columbia.  

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caelainn Carney the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

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