District of Kansas
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Kansas man gets prison time for secretly recording child in a bathroomRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 264 months in prison for clandestinely recording a minor under the age of 12 through a crack in a wall to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Jeffrey T. Lyons, 33, of Olathe pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child.
In 2018, Lyons began secretly taking nude photos and videos of a child from a room adjacent to a bathroom through a gap in the wall. For several years, Lyons secretly recorded the minor victim partially or completely unclothed in the bathroom.
In October 2023, a relative of Lyons reported him to law enforcement. When officers approached Lyons, they had to forcefully take his cellphone because he refused to give it to them. A forensic exam on the phone uncovered the sexual exploitation videos he had taken of the minor victim and screenshots from those videos, along with almost 900 erotic photos of the child while clothed. Lyons also possessed over 2,800 CSAM photos and videos that did not involve the minor child.
“Children are innocent, defenseless, and rely on responsible adults to advocate on their behalf and shield them from predators,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “If you become aware of child abuse, you have an ethical obligation to contact law enforcement immediately. It doesn’t matter if the perpetrator is a friend or a relative. The victim’s welfare should always be the highest priority.”
“Mr. Lyons’ actions were both abhorrent and stomach-churning. The sentence ensures that a dangerous predator spends more than two decades behind bars and an additional 12 years of supervised release. The FBI remains committed to finding and bringing to justice anyone who dares to exploit or harm children,” stated Chris Ormerod, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Homeland Security Task Force investigation leads to prison sentence for member of Kansas City drug trafficking ring tied to MexicoRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 167 months in prison for his role in a transnational drug trafficking organization with ties to a Mexican cartel. The sentence follows a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation which has so far led to convictions of approximately a dozen defendants.
According to court documents, Joel Rodriguez, 30, of Kansas City, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In February 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating a drug trafficking ring in the Kansas City metro area headed by Jose Antonio Heredia-Chang. Heredia-Chang, 34, is an illegal alien from Sinaloa, Mexico, who had been living in Phoenix, Arizona. The trafficking ring distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and other narcotics. ATF and DEA investigators determined that buyers/distributors in Kansas City placed orders with Heredia-Chang then he dispatched drivers to deliver the narcotics.
Investigators observed Heredia-Chang’s drivers visiting the home of Joel Rodriguez in Kansas City, Kansas. Agents intercepted calls between Rodriguez and Heredia-Chang discussing drug and firearms trafficking in which Rodriguez provided Heredia-Chang his home address for delivery. Agents observed subsequent deliveries to Rodriguez’s house.
After Heredia-Chang's arrest in September 2023, evidence extracted from his phones showed photographs of firearms and messages about firearm purchases. Further evidence proved Heredia-Chang was collaborating with individuals in Sinaloa, Mexico, to acquire and transport methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin, and that Heredia-Chang operated other distribution bases in Seattle, Washington, and Denver, Colorado.
In November 2025, Heredia-Chang pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He is awaiting sentencing.
“The Heredia-Chang drug trafficking ring was a complex and highly structured operation based on a model that in essence worked the same as if you ordered a pizza. Instead of food, these delivery drivers showed up at your doorstep with meth and cocaine,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “We are fortunate our federal agencies have the investigative skills and tools to root out these networks. Our skilled prosecutors are committed to convincing judges that these perpetrators should serve time behind bars.”
"This defendant helped move meth for the Heredia-Chang trafficking network and discussed firearms trafficking with the man who ran it," said Special Agent in Charge Bernard "Butch" Hansen of the ATF Kansas City Field Division. "Firearms are the currency that keeps these drug networks running, and ATF will follow that trade wherever it leads. Now he will spend nearly 14 years in federal prison. The investigation is not over. ATF will continue to stand with our partners to hold violent offenders accountable."
“One-by-one, our agents and those of ATF are dismantling Mexican-sourced drug trafficking organizations responsible for pushing poisons into our midwestern communities,” DEA St. Louis Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin Dickey said. “This investigation is a tremendous example of federal agencies working together to bring the full force of the law against violent poly-drug traffickers who use threats and intimidation to maintain control. Fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine have no place on our streets, and the DEA will continue to take down the organizations threading their way into the heartland.”
So far, 10 other co-defendants have pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with the Heredia-Chang drug trafficking network. They include Noel Rios-Salazar, Jesus Villaverde, Jose Cervantes-Valenzuela, Jessica Solano, Gennelle Glackin, Kelly Gray, Marnie Lynn, Christopher Martens, Robert Hicks, and Chad Haviland.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.
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USAO-KS gives “comfort donations” to charity that helps abused childrenRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – In the spirit of Freedom 250, a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country are taking part in charity drives to benefit their local communities. In the District of Kansas (USAO-KS), we sought to give small tokens of joy to Kansas children struggling emotionally after physical and/or sexual abuse by donating to a non-profit agency which helps abused children.
The Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas (CAC) supports 19 local child advocacy centers throughout the state of Kansas. CAC’s mission is to provide an immediate and compassionate response for child abuse victims by facilitating coordination among law enforcement, child protection services, mental health providers, as well as parents and caregivers.
USAO-KS organized a collection drive for CAC. Staff in the Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City, Kansas offices bought books, toys, blankets, snacks and other items which will be given to children who arrive at the centers.
“When they come to a CAC, they are kind of handling some of the harshest days in the midst of crisis,” said Klarissa Ponce of the CAC. “To be able to greet them with either a snack or leave them with an item of appreciation for their time, just brings that moment of joy back to a sensitive and really traumatic experience for them. We’re very excited that we are able to have some fun items to bring back that childhood spirit.”
“I would like to thank USAO employees for their generosity in helping the CAC accomplish its important work on behalf of the children of Kansas,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Placing service above self is one of the pillars on which our nation was founded 250 years ago, and I’m proud to see our staff continue that legacy.”
If you want to learn more about the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas and the invaluable services it provides, click on this link https://www.kscac.org/
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The Department of Justice Reaches a Proposed Consent Decree with Kansas to Enjoin the State from Enforcing its Unconstitutional In-State Tuition and Scholarship Programs for Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, the United States filed a complaint against Kansas and joined with the State in filing a proposed consent decree to permanently enjoin Kansas laws that provide in-state tuition for illegal aliens.
The proposed consent decree, which must still be approved by the court, would resolve the Department’s claims that Kansas’s laws unconstitutionally discriminate against American citizens in favor of illegal aliens. Specifically, Kansas’s challenged laws grant reduced tuition to illegal aliens over U.S. citizens, which not only violates federal law but also incentivizes illegal immigration and rewards illegal immigrants with scholarship benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for.
“For decades, the Kansas legislature gave preferential treatment to illegal aliens over American citizens,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “We encourage all States to follow the commonsense correction of Attorney General Kobach, ceasing any policy that rewards illegal entry into our nation with educational opportunities not available to U.S. citizens.”
“Kansas’s unconstitutional and un-American laws should never have been passed in the first place and are prohibited by federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice has won on this exact issue in Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Nebraska, and we will take this fight to any states that fail to put American citizens first.”
“This proposed consent decree demonstrates the quality of partnership between Kansas state leaders and the Department of Justice for the shared purpose of ensuring that federal tax dollars are not used to discriminate against Kansas’s lawful citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas.
The motion came just hours after the Justice Department filed a complaint in the District of Kansas against the state of Kansas seeking to enjoin the state from enforcing laws that require colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition rates to all aliens who maintain Kansas residency, regardless of whether those aliens are lawfully present in the United States.
This is the 10th lawsuit in a series of actions the department has filed to fulfill President Trump’s commitment to ensure that illegal aliens are not obtaining taxpayer benefits or preferential treatment. These efforts have already delivered wins for the American people, as three similar lawsuits in Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Nebraska have resulted favorable orders permanently enjoining and declaring unconstitutional analogous laws that gave reduced tuition to illegal aliens. Lawsuits against other states that similarly put illegal aliens ahead of U.S. citizens are pending across the country in Illinois, Minnesota, Virginia, California, and New Jersey.
Wichita man admits to distributing child pornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to using a messaging application to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Zachery Leslie, 25, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.
Zachery Leslie used a messaging app to send and receive CSAM including nine files in July 2024, which included images of prepubescent children subjected to sexual acts. He utilized his phone and the Internet to distribute the images.
Leslie is scheduled to be sentenced on September 14, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15thRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas joins the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC) and other government agencies and organizations across the country to spread the word about government and business imposter scams. The EJCC’s Never EVER campaign is a nationwide effort to create awareness about imposter scams.
These scammers pretend to be someone they’re not — including government agencies and well-known businesses — to trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or get your personal information.
June is also National Elder Fraud Awareness Month. USAO-KS hosted an Elder Fraud Bingo event in Overland Park to help educate seniors citizens about scammers and various tactics they use to defraud victims, including government imposter scams.
“Elder fraud is a cruel and heartbreaking crime. Seniors, who have spent a lifetime earning and saving, should never see their retirement stolen by criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Losing money to fraud is hard at any age, but it’s especially devastating for older people with limited ability to replace their lost income. These victims have done nothing wrong except trust the wrong person or be fooled by a scam. My office is fully committed to aggressively prosecuting these offenders and strengthening education efforts to protect older adults from scams.”
In December 2025, a federal grand jury in Wichita indicted two defendants for allegedly defrauding a victim as part of a scheme that involved co-conspirators posing as federal law enforcement agents. They are accused of falsely convincing the individual to purchase $255,287 in gold and give it to them for safekeeping. The members of this conspiracy, including the indicted men, allegedly primarily target elderly retired individuals, falsely asserting they are with a government agency and telling victims that their identity has been compromised in ways that could result in jail time and major financial loss for victims.
Government imposter scams are a serious problem: in 2025, the FTC received more than 375,000 reports about government imposters, with reported losses of $917 million.
These imposter scammers lie and pretend to be someone they’re not. Their goal? Trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or your personal information. They make up complicated stories about so-called emergencies, so you’ll panic and act quickly before you have time to think about what to do or talk to someone you trust.
One common scam starts with an unexpected call from someone who says they’re from a well-known business, saying there’s suspicious activity on your account.
To “help” you, they transfer you to someone who says they’re from the government. This so-called helper, who claims to be from the FBI, the FTC, or some other law enforcement agency, urges you to move your money to “protect it” — maybe by transferring it to an account they give you, depositing it in a “government account” or crypto ATM for “safekeeping,” or getting cash or gold and giving it to a courier. But it’s all a lie. No one from the government will ever ask you to do these things. Only scammers will.
Other lies might involve a “suspended Social Security number” or supposed eligibility for government benefits. In all cases, that scammer will go to great lengths to convince you they’re with the government: fake caller ID or official-looking letters, for example. The agency name might be real or made up (but real-sounding), and some scammers might show you an employee ID or badge — all to seem more real. But they’re not.
To recognize and avoid a government imposter, the “Never EVER” campaign asks you to keep these things in mind:
• Never ever will someone from the government say: “Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it.” Only a scammer will.
• Never ever will someone from the government threaten to suspend your government benefits if you don’t pay immediately. Only a scammer will.
• Never ever will someone from the government demand that you pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards.Talk to someone you trust if you’re worried about a problem with your account or identity — especially if the stranger says they’re from the government or the situation is serious or involves a crime. Visit ejcc.acl.gov/imposters for more on imposter scams. And if you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
###Former Kansas business executive and Latvian broker sentenced to prison for violating U.S. export laws by smuggling avionics equipment to RussiaRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A former executive of a Kansas-based avionics company was sentenced to 32 months in prison for circumventing United States export laws to sell advanced aviation technology to Russian end users.
According to court documents, Douglas Edward Robertson, 58, of Olathe, Kansas, the former vice president of KanRus Trading Company Inc., pleaded guilty to export control and money laundering violations.
After Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. government tightened export controls concerning Russia. Robertson and two codefendants continued to purchase, sell, and export sophisticated and controlled avionics equipment to customers in Russia without the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Robertson was arrested in March 2023 for smuggling U.S. avionics to Russia by lying about the exports’ value, end users, and end destinations.
Oleg Chistyakov, a/k/a Olegs Čitsjakovs, 56, of the Republic of Latvia, acted as a broker for KanRus. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison after pleading guilty to his part in the conspiracy.
Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 63, of Lawrence, the former President and owner of KanRus, is awaiting sentencing. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering, and he consented to the forfeiture of over $450,000 worth of avionics equipment and accessories and a $50,000 personal forfeiture judgment.
“The U.S. changed trade restrictions with Russia after its invasion of Ukraine for a reason. These defendants put money over country and considered themselves more clever than Customs officials. They thought they could circumvent the restrictions without being detected, but they were wrong,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Smugglers can’t fly under the radar without federal investigators ultimately uncovering their criminal activities.”
“The sentencing marks another milestone in the government’s successful effort to hold those accountable who conspire to circumvent and bypass U.S. regulations. The individuals in this case conspired to illegally purchase, sell and export sophisticated aviation equipment to Russia. Robertson’s fraudulent actions were willful and substantial. The sentencing should provide assurance to the public: the FBI will investigate and arrest those who wish to violate our nation’s laws,” said Chris Ormerod, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement investigated the case. The Latvian authorities assisted in the investigation while U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided substantial assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Ryan Huschka for the District of Kansas as well as Adam Barry, a former trial attorney of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance.
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District of Kansas releases quarterly update on child exploitation cases prosecuted under Project Safe ChildhoodRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) gives an update on cases prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood (PSC) during the months of March, April and May. PSC is a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
As part of USAO-KS’s commitment to prosecuting cases related to child sexual abuse and exploitation, offices in Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City, Kansas, are staffed with federal prosecutors who specialize in seeking justice in these types of offenses.
In March, April, and May, USAO-KS indicted multiple defendants on child exploitation related offenses while achieving substantial sentences for defendants who had been convicted.
Indictment
Ryan Brungardt, 37, of Salina was indicted on three counts of production of child pornography and one count of attempted production of child pornography. The former high school wrestling coach was initially charged through complaint on three criminal counts then prosecutors pursued an additional count at indictment after the discovery of a fourth alleged victim.
Dennis D. Dees, 39, of WaKeeney was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act.
Joshua David Kolb, 43, of Independence, Missouri, was indicted on one count of production of child pornography, one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, two counts of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and one count of interstate communications with a threat to injure.
Jesse William Laws, 46, of Leavenworth was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography. At the time of the alleged offense, Laws was a registered sex offender with two prior federal child pornography convictions.
Nicolas Perez-Paxtor, 40, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation and one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
Devin Rich, 40, of Kansas City, Kansas, was indicted on six counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Sentencing
Matthew William Brewer, 44, of Salina was sentenced to 240 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor - receipt of child pornography.
Frank Castro, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas was sentenced to 110 months in prison after being convicted of one count of receipt of child pornography following a bench trial.
Douglas Harpster, 53, of Salina was sentenced to 78 months in prison and a ten-year term of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possession of child sexual abuse material.
Eric Holloway, 53, of Clay Center was sentenced to 135 months in prison and a lifetime term of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possession of child sexual abuse material, with statutory sentencing enhancement as the defendant has a prior conviction for a crime of sexual violence.
Jacob Navarrette, 34, of Wichita was sentenced to 120 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
Addilynn Jean Onuffer, 22, of Haysville was sentenced to 160 months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of child pornography.
Michael Pinkerton, 48, of Topeka was sentenced to 137 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possession of child pornography. Pinkerton, a previously convicted sex offender, possessed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while he was on supervised release for similar offenses.
https://www.justice.gov/psc
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Alleged “Red Legs” member charged with having Molotov CocktailsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man suspected as being part of a violent extremist group is scheduled to appear before a federal judge after being charged through criminal complaint in Kansas City, Kansas, for illegally possessing explosive devices.
According to court documents, Jarred G. Gilliam, 31, of Kansas City, Kansas, is charged with possessing destructive devices.
The exact starting date is unknown, but from about June 3, 2025, and continuing until about June 3, 2026, Gilliam is accused of having three destructive devices commonly known as Molotov Cocktails.
According to court documents, Gilliam is a suspected member of Red Legs, a group which promotes committing violent attacks on government agencies and the military. Gilliam is accused of using an encrypted messaging application to communicate with other suspected Red Legs members to plan assaults using incendiary devices. The proposed targets include local and federal government entities and property, particularly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Missouri National Guard, and political groups.
According to the complaint against Gilliam, the following are communications sent through the messaging app:
• “If ice moves to kc, thoughts on an armed response”
• “It wouldn’t make sense to panic now, the time for panicking has long passed. Now we must make our peace, arm ourselves, and prepare to do what is necessary”
• “After we build our ranks and adequately arm ourselves, we can look into escalation”
• “I recommend we start slow at first. Maybe some basic sabotage… We should locate abandoned warehouses where we could potentially secure seized armor… First, we need to find a way to track military shipments, we don’t want to derail the wrong train”
• “What are the chances we could get away with using drones to drop incendiary’s [sic] to demolish key infrastructure”
• “I like the idea of using drones carrying cocktails to demolish key structures…Frozen water areas.”The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance Monday, June 8, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Jennifer B. Wieland of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
During this investigation, several other alleged Red Legs members were identified including Lake Ethan Roberts, 26, of Kansas City, Missouri, who is being federally prosecuted for possession of unregistered destructive devices by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Union Leaders Convicted of Racketeering, Fraud, and Embezzlement of Union DuesRead the Press Release
Today a federal jury convicted a North Carolina couple, a Missouri man, and an Ohio man in relation to a scheme involving theft of union-member dues through the award of no-show jobs, lavish travels and dinners charged to the union, unearned vacation payouts, and an unauthorized $7 million loan made to a union-related bank.
The jury convicted Newton Jones, 72, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the former President of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Forgers, and Helpers (Boilermakers Union), his wife Kateryna Jones, 33, of Chapel Hill, and the former Secretary Treasurer, William Creeden, 78 of Kearney, Missouri, of violation of the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act. Those defendants, as well as one of the Boilermaker Union’s former Vice Presidents, Lawrence McManamon, 78, of Rocky River, Ohio were convicted of embezzlement from the Union through various means, including:
- Taking elaborate foreign trips that were not related to Union business – all defendants;
- Charging personal expenses to the Union, including shopping trips and dinners out – Newton Jones and Kateryna Jones;
- Paying or overpaying unearned salary and relocation expenses for Newton Jones’s family members – Newton Jones and Creeden;
- Paying out of unearned vacation – Newton Jones and Creeden;
- Paying for unauthorized surveillance of Union employees – Newton Jones and Creeden;
- Making an unlawful $7M loan to a bank at which Newton Jones and Creeden were employed – Newton Jones and Creeden;
- Theft from the Union retirement plan – Newton Jones and Creeden;
- Health care fraud relating to unearned benefits provided to Kateryna Jones – Newton Jones, Kateryna Jones, and Creeden; and
- Wire fraud relating to failure to disclose required payments, outside employment, and conflicts of interest – Newton Jones and Creeden.
“The Boilermakers Union members were supposed to get representation out of their hard-earned money used to pay union dues,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “What they got instead is their money wasted on lavish trips and dinners, and unearned vacation payouts for the union leadership. Union dues must be handled with care and used for the benefit of the dues paying members. Union leadership that steals from the American worker will face prosecution, conviction, and prison time.”
“The absolute hubris and entitlement with which these defendants stole from American workers is disgraceful,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “While union members were faithfully clocking-in and out of their jobs, these defendants thought they were unaccountable and were callously gallivanting on extravagant trips that spared no expense. With these convictions comes a reckoning, and we will be asking the Court to hold these defendants accountable for their criminal conduct and impose appropriate sentences of incarceration.”
“By using union funds for their private benefit, the fraud committed by these defendants strikes at the very confidence union members place in their leaders to represent their interests,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Omerod of the FBI Kansas City Field Office. “The evidence presented in trial demonstrated an elaborate and willful deceit of the Boilermakers Union to fund the lavish lifestyle of their former leaders. The FBI will not tolerate this level of financial exploitation against hard working Americans.”
“These union officials clearly violated LMRDA fiduciary requirements with their excessive and extravagant spending and caused great harm to their organization and its members,” said Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Labor-Management Standards Director Elisabeth Messenger. “The conviction of these individuals serves as a strong warning to those who abuse their responsibilities that such violations of union members’ trust will lead to serious repercussions. The department’s new reporting requirements for large unions will go a long way in protecting the financial integrity of labor unions.”
“Investigating corruption and ensuring the financial integrity of private health and pension plans, including union plans, is a priority for EBSA,” said DOL Employee Benefits Security Administration Assistant Secretary Daniel Aronowitz. “In this case, Boilermakers officials put their own interests first and misused funds entrusted to them to provide retirement and health benefits for union members and their families. EBSA will pursue those who engage in criminal schemes to defraud private sector benefit plans. We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners.”
According to evidence presented at trial, over a 15-year period, the defendants, led by Newton Jones and Creeden, embezzled the funds of the Boilermakers Union including:
- Over $5 million in unnecessary luxury international travel;
- Nearly $2 million in salary and benefits to Kateryna Jones and others for no-show jobs, at which they were not required to work, including payment of two years of salary to Kateryna Jones for a period when she resided in Ukraine and was dating Newton Jones;
- Over $100,000 in tuition, rent, and relocation expenses for members of the family of Newton Jones;
- Hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash payments relating to fraudulently claimed vacation time;
- Over $100,000 in restaurant charges by Newton Jones and Kateryna Jones in their hometown;
- Money spent in unauthorized email surveillance of union employees to defend Newton Jones and McManamon from internal union charges; and
- $7 million in unauthorized loans from the Boilermakers Union to the bank at which Newton Jones and Creeden had supposed full-time jobs that required little work and were each paid nearly $500,000 per year while they were also being paid a full-time salary from the union.
Trial evidence showed that Newton Jones hired his wife Kateryna Jones for a job in which she performed little to no work and received nearly $1.8 million in salary over the course of nine years. Newton and Kateryna Jones also embezzled over $160,000 for date night meals in their hometown of Chapel Hill. Newton Jones and William Creeden embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary and benefits for three of Newton Jones’ family members. These defendants also embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars in the form of improper vacation payouts.
In addition, the couple embezzled millions of dollars in unnecessary and lavish international travel from the dues of union members, including conducting executive meetings for no apparent purpose in extravagant hotels in cities like Paris, France and Rome, Italy.
The hotel in Paris, France, where the defendants held an executive council meeting for the Kansas-based Boilermaker Union.Creeden and Newton Jones also used their executive positions in the Boilermakers Union to obtain high-level positions at the Bank of Labor, where the union is the majority shareholder. Earning a full-time salary at the bank while supposedly working full-time at the union, Jones and Creeden were paid nearly $4 million in salary and $1.4 million in retirement benefits from the bank.
A sentencing date has been set for Sept. 1. Lawrence McManamon faces a maximum of penalty of five years in prison on each count. William Creeden, Newton Jones, and Kateryna Jones each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Department of Labor and the FBI investigated the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Vincent Falvo and Trial Attorney Alexandra Swain of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Faiza Alhambra and Jabari Wamble for the District of Kansas prosecuted the case.
Kansas man indicted for murder threat & child pornography possessionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas returned an indictment charging a Kansas man for threatening to rape and kill a victim and charging him with various offenses related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Christian Page, 24, of Tonganoxie was indicted on one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, two counts of possession and access with intent to view child pornography, and one count of interstate communications with a threat to injure.
On multiple occasions in 2025 and 2026, Page allegedly received, possessed, and distributed CSAM. He is also accused of using an electronic device to threaten to physically injure a victim.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Audrey McCormick are prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.OTHER INDICTMENTS
Rosendo Aguirre-Arreola, 42, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry by a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case.
Victor Alamilla-Juarez, 46 an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry by a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case.
Pedro Antonio-Perez, 30, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Jose Manuel Barrara-Acevez, 47, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Ralfeal E. Carr, 46, of Topeka was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham is prosecuting the case.
Mario Del Toro-Sandoval, 46, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indited on one count of illegal reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Zenon Garcia Basurto, 36, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug is prosecuting the case.
Gustavo Adolfo Guardado-Menjivar, 39, an illegal alien from El Salvador, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Mario Perez-Morales, 48, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.
Jamin Pitchford, 54, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham is prosecuting the case.
Henry Ramirez-Nicolas, 34, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of illegal reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case.
Noe Rodriguez-Navarro, 36, an illegal alien from Honduras, was indicted on one count of reentry by a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case.
Yimy Francisco Reyes-Guzman, 45, an illegal alien from Honduras, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Miguel Angel Toledo-Landa, 45 and illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Kansas woman sentenced to prison for stealing deceased relative’s identity to fraudulently receive federal and state benefitsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas woman was sentenced to 15 months in prison for fraudulently receiving approximately $450,000 by simultaneously collecting federal and state government benefits in her own name and through identity theft.
According to court documents, Tamera Ruth Powers, 68, of Tonganoxie pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Tamera Ruth Powers stole the identity of her relative, Minda Sue Rakestraw, who died in 1977. Powers used Rakestraw's identity to obtain a Kansas identification card and to marry a man by the last name Landis. Powers then began using the name Minda Sue Landis. Powers defrauded the U.S. government and the State of Kansas by receiving benefits under separate identities. Powers maintained accounts at two different banks to receive payments under her name and the alias Minda Sue Landis.
In April 2005, Powers applied for Social Security Administration (SSA) Disability benefits under the name of Minda Sue Landis. In August 2012, Powers applied for SSA disability benefits in her actual name, falsely stating on the application she had not previously applied for SSA benefits.
In August 2013, Powers applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits using her real name. In the SSI application, she lied about her marital status and failed to disclose previously using another name and social security number.
Also in August 2013, Powers applied for assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through the State of Kansas. She didn’t report she was married or her spouse’s income on the application while led to her receiving more than to which she was entitled.
In December 2013, she began receiving Medicaid benefits through the State of Kansas. She did not disclose her marriage, true household income, or that she had used other names which would have made her ineligible for any Medicaid benefits.
In June 2023, Powers applied for Retirement Insurance Benefits through SSA. In the application she falsely stated that she was not married, and she failed to disclose that she had used other names.
Based upon Powers’ scheme, which is estimated to have gone on for 10 years, the United States suffered loss in the amount of $137,839 and the State of Kansas suffered losses in the amount of $315,257.
“Public benefits provide a safety net to those who need and legally qualify for the assistance. Defrauding the system by misappropriating taxpayer money is a violation of public trust, and it’s only a matter of time until we find the perpetrators and hold them accountable,” said U.S Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “To reduce the risk of identity theft following the passing of a loved one, we encourage all next of kin or estate executors to report the death to the Social Security Administration and all major credit reporting agencies.”
As part of the sentence, a federal judge ordered Powers to pay approximately $452,097 in restitution.
“This sentencing sends a strong message that schemes to defraud the Medicaid, SNAP, LIEAP, and Social Security Disability programs will not be tolerated,” stated Steven D. Anderson, Kansas Inspector General. “The Office of Inspector General will continue to work cooperatively with our law enforcement partners to aid in the identification and prosecution of individuals engaged in these types of crimes.”
The Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, Office of the Kansas Inspector General, Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF), and Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Oakley prosecuted the case.
National Fraud Enforcement Division
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.
###Justice Department announces grants for improvements to Kansas forensic laboratoriesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The U.S. Department of Justice through the Department’s Office of Justice Programs -Bureau of Justice Assistance announced awarding the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) a $500,000 federal grant and the State of Kansas a $211,367 federal grant to improve forensic science capabilities.
“Law enforcement depends heavily on forensic evidence in criminal investigations as the results can provide evidence of a suspect’s guilt or innocence. To protect Constitutional rights to due process and a speedy trial, prosecutors need access to forensic test results in a timely manner,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “These grants are a demonstration of the federal government’s commitment to expanding the capabilities of state and local laboratories by helping them gain access to modern forensic technology and equipment.”
The KBI Forensic Laboratory in Topeka, Kansas, provides accredited forensic toxicology testing for 104 of the 105 Kansas counties. The laboratory supports KBI investigations as well as coroners and law enforcement across the state. According to the KBI, novel psychoactive substances (NPS) and opioids are becoming increasingly common in Kansas. KBI toxicology testing provides results for NPS and opioids on behalf of law enforcement investigating impaired driving, deaths, sexual assault, and violent crime. KBI plans to use the federal grant to purchase two liquid chromatograph tandem mass spectrometers (LC/MSMS) to improve the quality and timeliness of toxicology testing. The instrumentation provides increased sensitivity and specificity in testing for NPS and opioids, which is expected to lead to a shorter turnaround time for final results.
"This critical federal investment allows the KBI to upgrade laboratory technology with advanced instrumentation, directly improving the speed and precision of our toxicology testing," said KBI Director Tony Mattivi. "By enhancing our ability to detect dangerous opioids and novel psychoactive substances, we are strengthening support for local law enforcement and public health partners. Ultimately, this funding translates into quicker answers for investigators, safer highways, and a more robust response to the overdose crisis in Kansas."The $211,367 grant to the State of Kansas is to fund improvements at KBI regional laboratories as well as at Johnson County Crime Lab and Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center. The laboratories will receive upgraded equipment and workstations, and forensic tool software maintenance and support. The goal is to reduce turn-around time for completing casework, improve workflow efficiency, and reduce the backlog of cases with pending forensic analysis.
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Two Mexican nationals indicted on cocaine chargesRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment charging two Mexican nationals with drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Victor Alfonso Martinez-Hernandez, 36, and Cesar Alejandro Madrid-Candelas, 19, were each indicted on one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Martinez-Hernandez and Madrid-Candelas are accused of possessing cocaine on May 20, 2026, with the intention of distributing it. Both defendants are from the City of Juarez in Mexico.
The Wichita Police Department is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Patricia Rodriguez-Chavez, 46, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Identity thief sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Florida woman guilty of identity theft was sentenced to 42 months in prison and ordered to pay approximately $118,000 in restitution to compensate her victim.
According to court documents, Marlo Y. Quinones, 57, of Port Richey, Florida, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated identity theft.
Twice in February 2022, Quinones used the identity of another person to petition the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Kansas to issue her unclaimed funds belonging to the victim. The victim didn’t give Quinones consent to make these filings.
“When criminals use personal information to falsely impersonate you, they often steal not only your money, but also your peace of mind by turning your life upside down. Many victims spend years dealing with the havoc left in the aftermath of identity theft,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “We want people to know the federal government is actively working to prevent identity theft and to prosecute offenders when it happens.”
“The bankruptcy system in this country was meant to help people get back on their feet and not to exploit it. The defendant deliberately and willfully took money for personal gain through fraud and deception,” said FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Chris Ormerod. “This sentencing should serve as a reminder that the FBI will relentlessly pursue those who design schemes to defraud our government.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Trustee Program investigated the case.
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FBI seeks information in case involving drug and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is asking the public to provide information for an investigation into a Kansas man facing drug trafficking and weapons violations.
On May 27, 2026, a federal grand jury in Topeka returned a superseding indictment charging Danny Ray Stano, Jr, 44, of Topeka with two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In March 2021, Stano allegedly conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine. In 2023 and in 2025, Stano is accused of possessing numerous firearms after having been convicted of a previous felony.
Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to call the Shawnee County Crime Stoppers Anonymous tipline at 785-234-0007 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. People can also report a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov/home.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Topeka Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an agovllegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Wichita bank robber sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 21 years in prison for using a firearm to rob three banks during which he pointed the gun at employees.
According to court documents, Zane Tilcock, 21, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of brandishing and using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence and to two counts of bank robbery.
• On December 11, 2024, Tilcock entered Intrust Bank on South Webb Road in Wichita wearing a black mask and carrying a semi-automatic handgun. He pointed the firearm at bank employees and demanded money. They handed him money, and he left.
• On December 16, 2024, Tilcock entered Emprise Bank on East Harry Street in Wichita with a handgun and pointed it at the tellers. He told them to put their hands in the air and give him all the money. Tilcock asked for large bills and no dye packs or bait money. The tellers removed cash from their drawers and handed it to Tilcock.
• On December 27, 2024, Tilcock, entered Sunflower Bank in Junction City carrying a silver handgun. He pointed the firearm at customers and ordered them to stand to the side of the lobby. He then pointed the gun at tellers and demanded they empty their cash drawers. The money Tilcock took included bait bills.Law enforcement determined through investigation that the vehicle used in the crimes to be a gray Volkswagen Jetta belonging to Tilcock’s girlfriend.
On December 28, 2024, investigators conducting surveillance observed Tilcock shopping and using a large amount of cash. Days later, investigators followed Tilcock to the Sedgwick County Tag Office where Tilcock paid for a tag in cash. Investigators obtained the money he spent at the Tag Office and identified three of the bills as bait bills taken during the Sunflower Bank robbery. Tilcock was arrested and admitted to the bank robberies. Investigators found additional evidence while executing search warrants on the Jetta and the apartment where Tilcock lived.
“This case sounds like something out of the 1930s with these repeated and unhinged, dangerous bank robberies. Mr. Tilcock robbed banks to get fast cash until he was stopped by law enforcement. Nonetheless, during his crime spree, he inflicted terror by pointing a gun at innocent people who unlike himself were simply trying to make an honest living.” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.
“Yesterday, victims stood in a federal court room and delivered powerful testimony on the impact of the violent nature of these crimes. Mr. Tilcock has received a lengthy prison sentence because of the brave work of the victims, the prosecutors and the men and women in law enforcement who are committed to ensuring justice in these matters. The public should know it takes a dedicated team to see these cases to their resolution, and the FBI is fully invested in securing justice for victims of these crimes," said Jeff Berkebile, FBI Kansas City Acting Special Agent in Charge.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Wichita Police Department, Junction City Police Department, and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kari Burks and Aaron Smith prosecuted the case.
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Former USPS postmaster pleads guilty to theftRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee pleaded guilty to using her position as postmaster to steal tens of thousands of dollars in government funds.
According to court documents, Joyce L. Smith, 51, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of theft by government employee.
Smith previously worked as the postmaster for a post office in Scott City, Kansas. Between January 2023 and February 2025, Smith embezzled approximately $57,400 from the USPS.An audit revealed Smith stole approximately $10,600 in cash payments from customers and issued herself approximately $3,700 in money orders. Smith also embezzled approximately $3,400 that customers paid for their post office boxes.
Some customers made regular check payments for permits or mass mailings. Smith accepted the checks and provided the services to customers, but she did not log the receipts into USPS records. The USPS cannot account for checks for a total of $16,788 issued by the City of Scott City, $5,850 in checks issued by Scott County Landfill, and $17,108 in checks issued by a local newspaper.
“As postmaster, Joyce Smith likely thought her position would allow her to continue to fill her pockets with money that didn’t belong her without getting caught or facing any consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Her behavior reminds us of why audits and other forms of government oversight of financial records are necessarily.”
“This guilty plea represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG Special Agents working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges on this financial fraud investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop, U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, remain committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.”
The U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General (USPS- OIG) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting the case.
National Fraud Enforcement Division
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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Kechi man indicted for arsonRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with arson and firearms offenses and charging a woman for assisting him to commit a crime.
According to court documents, Johnny E. Griffith, 34, of Kechi was indicted on one count of arson, three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.
Serenity O. Napier, 22, of Wichita was indicted on one count of aiding and abetting possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Griffith allegedly intentionally and maliciously damaged duplexes on South Victoria Road in Wichita, Kansas, in October 2025. He is also accused of various crimes related to firearms. Napier allegedly assisted Griffith in possessing a firearm while knowing he is prohibited from legally possessing firearms based on a prior felony conviction.The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Wichita Police Department, and the Wichita Fire Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Salvador Bermudez-Herrera, 39, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien and one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Marcus S. Castillo, 45, of Wichita was indicted on four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Jesseca M. Granados-Diaz, 40, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case.
Jose Juarez-Gutierez, 40, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry by a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Hines is prosecuting the case.
Vincent Michael Knackstedt, 37, of Wichita was indicted on one count of theft of government property and one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. The Wichita Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###USAO-KS honors Wichita police detective as Hometown HeroRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) announces a Wichita Police Department (WPD) detective, who dedicates himself to improving public safety by working to eradicate communities of drug trafficking, as a recipient of the Hometown Hero award.
The Hometown Hero award commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. It honors the enduring ideals of Liberty, Service, and Civic Responsibility. Across the country, the U.S. Department of Justice is recognizing members of law enforcement who exhibit a steadfast commitment to these ideals and embody the spirit upon which our nation was founded.
USAO-KS selected Detective Kevin D. Real as the honoree for the District of Kansas. U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser presented him with an award certificate and a challenge coin on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
Real is a 29-year veteran of the Wichita Police Department, and in 2024, was named the Kansas Narcotics Officers Association’s Officer of the Year. Through his expertise in research and surveillance and keen deductive reasoning skills, Real has successfully facilitated the arrests of suspects directly connected to organized criminal networks involved in trafficking methamphetamine and heroin, and in firearms smuggling. His efforts have significantly disrupted trafficking operations, and to date, Real has seized over 400 pounds of methamphetamine intended for distribution on the streets of Wichita.
“Detective Real goes into drug houses and dangerously comes face-to-face with individuals who have a propensity for violence. This work requires courage, skill, and resilience,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “We are grateful for his efforts in holding drug traffickers accountable and ensuring communities are safer for everyone.”
“Detective Kevin Real represents the best of the Wichita Police Department,” said Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan. “For nearly three decades, he has taken on dangerous work that most people never see, but our community feels the impact of every day. The hard work he’s done has removed drugs, guns and violent offenders from Wichita neighborhoods, and this recognition from the U.S. Attorney’s Office is well deserved.”
Real has experience working with local, state, and federal agencies. He formerly served as an FBI-credentialed Project Safe Streets Task Force Officer where he worked on investigations that were complex, time-intensive, involved multiple interviews and search warrants, and included evidence collection across several jurisdictions.
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Haysville husband and wife admit to possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA – A Kansas couple admitted culpability in crimes related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Addilynn Jean Onuffer, 22, of Haysville was sentenced to 160 months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of child pornography.
Her husband and co-defendant Gavin Onuffer, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced August 3, 2026.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cyber tip about CSAM from an IP address connected to the home of Gavin and Addilynn Onuffer. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Gavin’s cell phone and found files containing images of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Evidence showed his wife sent him the images.
“In her plea agreement, Addilynn said she sent her husband CSAM images simply because he wanted them,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “We all have a duty to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. Instead of holding each other accountable and stopping perverse activity, this couple engaged in their prurient interests together. There is no excuse for this behavior.”
The Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and Wichita Police Department investigated the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Alabama man sentenced after found with 3,000 fentanyl pills in traffic stopRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – An Alabama man was sentenced to 72 months in prison after law enforcement discovered fentanyl and firearms in his vehicle.
According to court documents, Russell Scott IV, 38, of Gulf Shores, Alabama, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
In September 2023, a Wichita police detective saw Scott speeding on Interstate 35 and made a traffic stop. During a probable cause search, law enforcement found approximately 3,000 fentanyl-laced pills and nine firearms in Scott’s vehicle.
“Although deaths caused by fentanyl overdoses are down from record highs, this poison continues to put lives at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The defendant admitted his intention before his arrest was to distribute thousands of fentanyl pills. I would like to thank the Wichita Police Department for helping to keep so much of this potentially deadly substance off our streets.”
The Wichita Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi prosecuted the case.
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Registered sex offender charged with possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a convicted sex offender with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Jesse William Laws, 46, of Leavenworth was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography.
Laws is accused of knowingly viewing or accessing CSAM in November 2025 and therefore allegedly a violation of his terms of release related to a previous conviction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana for receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography in 2006, and a conviction in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri for possession of child pornography in 2017.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.OTHER INDICTMENTS
Adrian German Marrufo-Morales, 43, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
James D. Hall, 35, of Kansas City, Kansas, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.
Raul Leyva-Ramirez, 45, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Sergio Manuel Martinez-Sanchez, 53, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry by a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Hines is prosecuting the case.
Obed Rocha-Flores, 41, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Illegal alien sentenced for kidnapping-for-hire plot to collect drug debtRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Mexican national was sentenced to 120 months in prison for orchestrating a kidnapping-for-hire plot to collect on a drug debt.
According to court documents, Carlos Niebla-Machado, 51, who was illegally residing in Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted kidnapping.
In February 2024, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) learned from confidential sources that Niebla-Machado was allegedly selling large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California in the Kansas City metro area. Niebla-Machado told the KBI sources he wanted to have a person kidnapped who owed him a $300,000 drug debt.
In June 2024, an undercover KBI agent met with Niebla-Machado. Niebla-Machado provided the agent with the victim’s full name, age, home address, photographs, and background information. Niebla-Machado said he wanted the victim’s fingers cut off and a torch used on the victim’s face to coerce the victim to sign over property. Niebla-Machado gave the agent a firearm and a 2004 Dodge Ram truck as a down payment for the kidnapping. The agent asked Niebla-Machado if he wanted to be involved in torturing the victim. The defendant said he was too old for that, but he wanted to visit the rural Kansas location where the victim would be held. There, the defendant planned to question the victim about the locations of houses he wanted the victim to sign over.
Investigators contacted the victim and disclosed the kidnapping-for-hire plot. The victim agreed to cooperate and talked about having given Niebla-Machado home furniture, electronics, $20,000 in cash, a Dodge pickup truck, and a tow truck towards an approximate $100,000 debt. The victim said the defendant kept adding interest to the debt.
On July 1, 2024, the undercover agent informed Niebla-Machado that the victim had been kidnapped and was being held captive. The agent picked up Niebla-Machado in Missouri and drove him to a location in rural Kansas. Once they arrived at the location, KBI agents arrested the defendant.
“Unfortunately, there are people in our country who view violence as a way of life and have no problem inflicting torture,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “After listening to the gruesome details of the torment Niebla-Machado planned for the kidnapping victim, it’s apparent that had he been speaking with a willing violent criminal rather than an undercover agent, this case would have likely ended in tragedy.”
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trent Krug and Christopher Oakley prosecuted the case.
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Four defendants sentenced to prison for kidnappingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Four defendants in a kidnapping received prison sentences in a crime where the victim was bound and blindfolded for approximately 10 hours.
According to court documents, Tahreon L. Allen, 23, of Lawrence, Kansas, Jean Willy Petit Frere, 26, of Lawrence, Kansas, Mustafa D. Muhammad-Springs, 22, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Tamara U. Jackson, 25, of Kansas City, Missouri, all pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping.
Allen was sentenced to 262 months in prison.
Muhammad-Springs was sentenced to 204 months in prison.
Petit Free sentenced to 135 months in prison.
Jackson was sentenced to 54 months in prison.
In May 2023, Tahreon L. Allen, Jean Willy Petit Frere, and a third suspect forced a 65-year-old man from his home in Lawrence, Kansas, at gunpoint and demanded he give them money. They bound the victim’s hands with duct tape and put a pillowcase over his head. The kidnappers stole money from the victim and stole two vehicles. They transported him to various locations before eventually meeting up with Muhammad-Springs in Kansas City, Kansas, where Petit Frere and the third suspect withdrew from the conspiracy. The victim was driven back to his home in Lawrence, where a third vehicle was stolen.
After returning with the victim to the Kansas City area, Muhammad-Springs called Tamara Jackson and asked her to find a place where the victim could be concealed. She orchestrated putting the victim into the basement of the apartment where she was residing in Kansas City, Missouri. As Muhammad-Springs and a co-conspirator attempted to transfer the victim, who still had the pillowcase over his head, back into one of the victim’s stolen vehicles, they were confronted by bystanders, who physically removed the victim from the vehicle. Muhammad-Springs and the co-conspirator then fled in the stolen vehicle, which was later found abandoned in Kansas City, Missouri.
Allen was arrested later that day after he drove one of the victim’s vehicles to his place of employment.
“The victim spent hours bound, blindfolded, and in mental anguish fearing that at any moment his captors would end his life, but the perpetrators didn’t care. Their utter depravity means our society is safer with them behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.
The Lawrence Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel prosecuted the case.
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Missouri man indicted for creating child pornographyRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment charging a Missouri man with producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Joshua David Kolb, 43, of Independence, Missouri, was indicted on one count of production of child pornography, one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, two counts of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and one count of interstate communications with a threat to injure.
Kolb allegedly directed a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to create visual depictions. He is also accused of traveling from Missouri to Kansas on multiple occasions for the purpose of having sex with a minor.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.OTHER INDICTMENTS
Noah Luke Atteberry, 30, of Kansas City, Kansas, was indicted on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Mitchell J. Garlach, 38, of Olathe was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.
Eric Marcell Thomas Jr, 20, of Kansas City, Missouri, was indicted on one count of illegal possession of a machine gun. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two Kansas men sentenced for sexual exploitation of a minor in separate criminal casesRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – Two Kansas men received prison sentences following separate Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigations into reports of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Douglas Harpster, 53, of Salina pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possession of child sexual abuse material.
Harpster was sentenced to 78 months in prison and a ten-year term of supervised release.
In October of 2022, the FBI received a tip that a computer IP address with a geolocation in Salina was downloading known CSAM files using an Internet files haring platform. The user was identified as Harpster. FBI agents executed a search warrant on Harpster’s home and seized multiple electronic devices and electronic storage devices. A review confirmed his files contained over 1,500 thumbnails or cached images depicting minors, including those under the age of 12, engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
In a separate case, according to court documents, Eric Holloway, 53, of Clay Center pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possession of child sexual abuse material, with statutory sentencing enhancement as the defendant has a prior conviction for a crime of sexual violence.
Holloway was sentenced to 135 months in prison and a lifetime term of supervised release.
“Child sexual abuse material is a plague on our communities. If you possess, create, and/or distribute these perverse images you should expect to be prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Walton prosecuted the cases.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Homeland Security Task Force Investigation leads to seven defendants sentenced to prison in methamphetamine trafficking ring tied to MexicoRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation into a drug trafficking ring connected to a Mexican drug cartel resulted in convictions and prison sentences for defendants in the Kansas City metro area.
In January 2020, federal agents opened an investigation into a methamphetamine trafficking operation headed by Jose Santos Macias-Roman, 46, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States after overstaying his visa. Investigators learned that Macias Roman arranged the transportation of liquid methamphetamine from Sinaloa, Mexico to the Kansas City, Kansas area. Between February 2020 and July 2023, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled methamphetamine purchases from Macias Roman and members of his drug trafficking organization. Investigators learned the traffickers converted the methamphetamine from liquid into crystal form before distributing the finished product to customers.
Over time, law enforcement identified several members of the drug trafficking network and their stash houses, two of which contained active methamphetamine conversion labs. As a result of the investigation, law enforcement seized over 70 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately $35,000 in cash, and three firearms.
“The Homeland Security Task Force model is directly focused on targeting transnational criminal organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “This case is a perfect example of coordinated law enforcement resources to achieve justice. We will continue to build collaborative relationships with state, local, and federal partners to eliminate transnational and other threats to our communities here in Kansas and elsewhere.”
Macias Roman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 300 months in prison.
Juan Ramirez-Gonzalez, 37, an illegal alien from Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 300 months in prison.
Ezequil Castro-Aviles, 40, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States after overstaying his visa, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 172 months in prison.
Manuel Alexis Soltero-Alvarez, 31, an illegal alien from Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 168 months in prison.
Manuel Arturo Faudoa, 26, of Dodge City, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 144 months in prison.
Gerardo Sierra-Martinez, 21, an illegal alien from Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of money laundering. He was sentenced to 97 months in prison.
Marcos Antonio Valencia, Jr., 35, of Kansas City, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 72 months in prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Jackson County, Missouri Drug Task Force, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Nebraska Highway Patrol, and the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug prosecuted the case.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 Kansas City comprises agents and officers from FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.
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Former USPS employee pleads guilty to stealing and hiding mailRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A former employee at a Kansas post office pleaded guilty to illegally taking mail that was supposed to be delivered to customers.
According to court documents, Gayli Harman, 44, of Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado, formerly of Manhattan, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of mail.
Harman worked for the U. S. Postal Service in Westmoreland in the Sales, Service, and Distribution department. Between June 2021 and March 2023, Harman opened mail that wasn’t addressed to her and removed items from some of the packages. She also hid mail causing it not to be delivered. Investigators found 16 pieces of mail hidden throughout the Westmoreland Post Office. Harman also issued herself a post office box without paying.
The estimated loss value to customers is approximately $530.00.
“Even with the heavy usage of email, Americans still depend on the mail system numerous ways in their daily lives. Although the total dollar amount here might not be overwhelming, the damaged trust in our mail system cannot be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “We encourage customers to report when their packages don’t arrive or items are missing, because the follow up investigations can help to root out bad actors for prosecution.”
The U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough is prosecuting the case.
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Man sentenced after selling fully automatic machine gun to undercover agentRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Colorado man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for selling a fully automatic weapon to a Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) agent who was working undercover.
According to court documents, Kyle Simmonds, 35, of Fort Morgan, Colorado, pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a machine gun.
In August 2025, the KBI began investigating Simmonds on suspicion of distributing narcotics and firearms. During a text message exchange with an undercover agent, Simmonds discussed selling an illegal machine gun and sent photos of a firearm. Simmonds and co-defendant Damien Zamora then traveled from Colorado to Decatur County, Kansas, to meet with the undercover agent. The agent saw a Heckler & Koch, model MP7 A2, 4.6x30 caliber machine gun in their vehicle which the agent recognized from the photos Simmonds sent.
Zamora confirmed the firearm was fully automatic and that he builds these guns. Simmonds told the agent it was illegal to own this weapon. The agent gave Simmonds money for the firearm and for narcotics.
Zamora pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a machine gun and is awaiting sentencing.
“Make no mistake. I am a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “However, because I understand the damage these weapons can inflict, I know that guns, particularly automatic weapons, and selling drugs do not mix well. We will hold anyone selling illegal firearms accountable. These criminals have no regard for the possible loss of life when cavalierly selling fully automatic weapons to whoever is willing to pay their prices.”
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler prosecuted the case.
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Illegal alien indicted for attempting to coerce a minor into prostitutionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging an illegal alien from Guatemala for allegedly trying to lure a minor into engaging in criminal sexual conduct.
According to court documents, Nicolas Perez-Paxtor, 40, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation and one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
In February 2026, Perez-Paxtor is accused of attempting to persuade or coerce a minor under the age of 18 years old to engage in prostitution.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are investigating the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Ramiro Erik Flores-Hernandez, 44, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on four counts of distribution of cocaine and two counts of attempt to commit possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Kansas Highway Patrol are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Samuel Juarez-Leal, 23, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case.
Luis Luna-Magdaleno, 51, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of reentry by a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Inocencio Rodriguez-Antonio, 30, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of reentry by a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Juventino Hernandez-Zalazar, 37, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Dennis D. Dees, 39, of WaKeeney was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and the U.S. Secret Service are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###USAO-KS marks National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser of the District of Kansas champions National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), an initiative to raise awareness about the importance of providing crime victims with resources and support. Since 1981, U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime has designated this time to challenge the nation to confront and remove barriers to achieving justice for victims of crime. The theme for 2026 is:
While NCVRW applies to all victims of crime, U.S. Attorney Kriegshauser is drawing added attention to those victims whose images were used to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM) either as actual images or through generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). USAO-KS wants the public to know that federal, state, and local agencies are actively working to bring those who produce, share and/or possess CSAM before a court of law.“Whether the image is real or fake, creating, sharing, and possessing CSAM is a crime. It’s our job to prosecute these offenses, and we will work diligently so that the people engaging in this behavior are convicted and sentenced to federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Kriegshauser.
U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser speaks during a press conference in Kansas City, Kansas.USAO-KS is committed to educating the public about the legal parameters surrounding the use of GenAI. In 2025, Congress passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act to protect victims from the nonconsensual online publication of intimate visual depictions of individuals, both authentic and computer-generated digital forgeries. This Act includes enhanced criminal penalties when the victim is a minor.
“When it comes to the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes, our office is filing an increasing number of cases against defendants under the age of 25,” said Kriegshauser. “We are encouraging parents to talk to their teenagers and young adult children so that they understand this behavior is not a joke. It’s a felony.”
This week, U.S. Attorney Kriegshauser gave interviews warning of the dangers of CSAM on morning talk radio shows in Wichita and Kansas City. The USAO-KS also held a joint press conference with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) in Kansas City, Kansas. The topics included trends in the numbers of CSAM cases reported to law enforcement and sextortion. Sextortion is when an online predator coaxes victims into providing sexually explicit content then blackmails them by threatening to share this content with the public.
“Thousands of FBI agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff work daily to combat the threat of child exploitation,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeff Berkebile of the FBI-Kansas City Office. “Collectively, these crimes contribute to one of the most pervasive and urgent problems facing our world today: children being targeted and abused online. We must all work together to stop it. What we do, and how we teach our children to recognize and avoid this danger, will make all the difference.”
U.S. Attorney Kriegshauser also voiced a public service announcement on NCVRW that was sent to college radio stations throughout Kansas.
Here are some resources that parents and other trusted adults can use to help protect our children from predators.
- https://www.dhs.gov/know2protect/training
- https://icactaskforce.org/OCEPI#:~:text=The%20Online%20Child%20Exploitation%20Prevention,online%20sexual%20exploitation%20and%20abuse.
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Topeka man uses federal grant funds as shopping moneyRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A former employee of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (PBPN) pleaded guilty to misapplying thousands of dollars the tribe received in federal grants and using the money to purchase sports memorabilia.
According to court documents, Matthew Waits, 41, of Topeka pleaded guilty to one count of misapplication of federal grant funds.
Waits previously worked for the PBPN as manager and program director of the Diabetes Prevention Program. In January 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) / Indian Health Service awarded federal grants and assistance to the tribe. Waits misapplied more than $5,000 in grant money by using it to buy sports memorabilia, which is not an authorized purchase under the rules of the grant and in violation of federal law.He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“Diabetes patients are susceptible to long-term damage to their heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. It was the defendant’s job to teach people how to avoid this chronic disease. Waits took money intended to help save lives and used it to purchase materials to enhance his hobby shop that sold collectables such as Pokemon cards and sports memorabilia,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (HHS – OIG) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Maag and Lindsey Debenham are prosecuting the case.
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Sex offender sentenced to prison for possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A convicted sex offender was sentenced to 120 months in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Jacob Navarrette, 34, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
In April 2020, a federal judge in the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma sentenced Navarrette for possession of child pornography. As part of his sentence, Navarrette went to stay at a transitional center in Wichita, Kansas. In 2024, a staff member found a contraband cellphone under Navarrette's mattress. The phone contained an instant messaging app and messages between the defendant and a person who self-identified as a 17-year-old minor. This minor sent explicit photos of himself at Navarrette's request. Navarrette later admitted to installing the app and using it to speak sexually with many people, including minors.“Unfortunately, Navarrette was back to committing child sex abuse crimes before he finished serving time for the offense that landed him in prison in the first place,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “This case is an example of why continued monitoring of sex offenders is crucial to protect our society and our children.”
Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigated the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Illegal alien indicted for gun possessionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging an illegal alien from Mexico with having a firearm.
According to court documents, Luis Estrada-Andrade, 22, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Alfredo Bustamante-Pineda, 46, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Francisco Javier Gandarilla-Baray, 35, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Alexis Guzman-Olea, 22, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of reentry of previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting the case.
Apolonio Melesio-Rios, 48, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Edgar Montoya-Jakes, 45, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien convicted of an aggravated felony. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case.
Santiago Ramos-Zeferino, 37, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Kansas woman caught with 115,000 fentanyl pills sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas woman was sentenced to 240 months in prison after being caught with a massive quantity of fentanyl pills that she admitted she intended to sell.
According to court documents, Mana Elena Reyes, 51, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Between April 2023 and May 2023, Reyes had multiple discussions about purchasing and selling methamphetamine and fentanyl with an individual she was unaware was an undercover officer with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office (SGSO). Deputies then followed her as she drove from Kansas to Oklahoma and back. The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) conducted a traffic stop and a search of Reyes’ vehicle yielded approximately 115,000 fentanyl pills and more than 4,000 grams of methamphetamine along with heroin, fentanyl powder, and cocaine.
“The United States Sentencing Commission reports that arrests for fentanyl trafficking have steadily increased over the past few years. Upon conviction, the average prison sentence handed down is 74 months, so this defendant will serve more than three times that average,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Our office is extremely pleased with the outcome in this case and will continue to seek stiff penalties for drug trafficking. Illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl and methamphetamine, are a scourge and will not be tolerated in our communities.”
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office (SGSO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case with assistance from the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak prosecuted the case.
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Four gang members sentenced to prison after “Operation Sob Story” investigates an illegal drugs/firearms networkRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A partnership of federal and local law enforcement taking part in “Operation Sob Story”, an investigation by the Homeland Security Task Force, resulted in prison sentences for four Topeka area gang members for offenses such as drug trafficking and illegal firearms trafficking.
According to court documents, in 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) launched a joint investigation into several known members of the Crips.
The individuals include:
• Marcos Esteban Arredondo, 25,
• Pedro Galicia-Hernandez Jr, 35,
• Daequan Rayton, 28, and
• Elijah Eugene Wilson, 23.Marcos Arredondo pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Arredondo sold cocaine, fentanyl, and a firearm to a confidential source acting on behalf of law enforcement. He was sentenced to 123 months in prison.
Pedro Galicia-Hernandez Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced to 151 months in prison. A confidential source made multiple controlled buys of fentanyl from Galicia-Hernandez in amounts of between 500 and 1,500 pills. Law enforcement received a tip that Galicia-Hernandez was returning to Kansas after a trip out of state and informed the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP). During a traffic stop, a state trooper found a bag in the vehicle Galicia-Hernadez was in with what was later determined be 16,246 fentanyl pills.
Daequan Rayton pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a machine gun and two counts of illegal possession and transfer of machine guns. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison.
Elijah Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession and transfer of machine guns, two counts of failure to register as a dealer and manufacturer of machine guns, and one count of unlawful trafficking in firearms. He was sentenced to 45 months in prison.
A confidential informant bought machine guns from Rayton on two occasions. Subsequent evidence collected by investigators showed a connection between Rayton and Wilson. While executing a search warrant on Wilson’s home, agents found a 3D printer capable of producing firearms and silencers, machine conversion devices, hand tools for making firearms and silencers, a machine gun, and a silencer.
In February 2024, the SCSO responded to a call involving “shots fired” at a park in Topeka. Witness information led authorities to Rayton. In his vehicle, law enforcement found a privately manufactured pistol that had an extended magazine loaded with “full metal jacket” rounds. The firearm had no serial number, and deputies took Rayton into custody.
Forensic lab tests later showed Wilson’s DNA inside the weapons Rayton sold to the confidential informant and analysis showed the weapon in Rayton’s possession when he was arrested was made using Wilson’s equipment.
“During my tenure as U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, I have been focused on enhancing state and federal collaboration.” Said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “This operation serves as an example of the great achievements that are possible with seamless law enforcement collaboration through the Homeland Security Task Force. We will continue to work tirelessly to dismantle criminal networks to make our communities safer.”
“The sentences send a clear message that those who traffic drugs and machine guns will face serious federal consequences,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge, Bernard “Butch” Hansen, of the Kansas City Field Division. “This HSTF-led, multi-agency effort reflects the strength of intelligence-driven coordination between ATF, our law enforcement partners, and the United States Attorney’s Office. I commend the outstanding work of our agents and task force officers whose efforts helped dismantle a dangerous criminal operation and deliver a strong deterrent to others.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force 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 U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes these organizations commit, 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 Kansas City comprises agents and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security investigations; FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas leading the prosecution.
###Kansas farmer pleads guilty to crop insurance fraudRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by falsely claiming severe weather destroyed crops that he had actually sold instead.
According to court documents, David L. Mongeau, 54, of Holcomb pleaded guilty to one count of false statements related to crop insurance and one count of bank fraud/attempted bank fraud.
Mongeau owned Mongeau Enterprises, a farming operation in western Kansas. In 2019, he obtained a crop insurance policy through the USDA’s Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) which is subsidized by the federal government. In January 2020, Mongeau submitted a claim indicating he lost a portion of his corn crop in Rooks County, Kansas, due to hail and excess wind. He failed to disclose having sold more than 33,000 bushels of corn to agricultural commodity traders. The sales included corn that he indicated as a loss when filing a crop insurance claim. As a result, Mongeau received an overpayment, causing $241,645 in losses for the FCIP.
Mongeau obtained farm loans from the First National Bank of Syracuse (now doing business as Dream First Bank of Garden City). He pledged numerous pieces of farm equipment along with crops as collateral to secure the loans. Mongeau either traded in or sold collateral and failed to notify the bank about the dispositions. As a result, the bank did not know the collateral was no longer available, and the bank suffered more than $300,000 in losses.
“Kansas is part of the ‘Breadbasket of America’ because of the important role our farmers play in feeding the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “We all know that farming is a challenging profession with a litany of potential obstacles, so the Federal Crop Insurance Program serves as a safety net through difficult times. Mr. Mongeau took what was supposed to be a helping hand and exploited that generosity for his own personal gain.”
“Fraud against federal crop insurance programs is a direct abuse of taxpayer-funded support intended to help farmers recover from legitimate losses,” said Inspector General John Walk for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. “As alleged, the defendant sought to profit by falsely claiming losses while selling the same crops, undermining the integrity of a program that producers depend on. USDA OIG will continue to pursue those who attempt to exploit these programs and work with our law enforcement partners to ensure they are held accountable. We thank the United States Attorney’s Office and HSI for their continued collaboration in this case.”
Mongeau is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, 2026.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General is investigating the case.
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Aviation company employee attempted to take proprietary information to ChinaRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty after lying to U.S. customs officials while attempting to board a flight to the People’s Republic of China with proprietary information belonging to his employer.
According to court documents, Junjie Zhang, also known as Jeff Zhang, 57, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement.
Zhang, a naturalized United States citizen originally from China, worked for an aviation company in Wichita. His position as a senior material and process engineer provided him access to confidential data and proprietary information. In 2018, Zhang’s employer reported him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after an incident during a work trip to China where he displayed suspicious behavior.
In September 2019, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stopped Zhang at an airport in Dallas, Texas, as he was attempting to board a flight to China. During an interview, agents asked if he had any work-related information on his electronic devices to which he responded, “no”. Zhang told the agents the thumb drive and laptop he carried only contained personal information. However, when CBP agents examined the devices, they discovered documents belonging to Zhang’s employer marked “Proprietary” and “Confidential” along with graphs and blueprints associated with the aviation company’s work. Zhang then changed his story to say that his employer had given him permission to have the documents.
CBP alerted the FBI who contacted Zhang’s employer. The company informed the FBI that Zhang was not authorized to have confidential documents on his personal devices or to leave the country with that information.
“Americans invest heavily into technological research and development. Intellectual property theft causes U.S. companies across numerous sectors to lose billions of dollars a year. Often that cost ultimately falls on consumers. Not only are Internet hackers a risk for this theft but so are insider threats from rouge employees,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The Department of Justice works tirelessly to safeguard the hard-earned intellectual property of Americans and their companies from theft.”
The proprietary data on Zhang’s devices is estimated to be valued at more than $100,000.
Zhang is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Taylor Hines are prosecuting the case.
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Pharmacist indicted for stealing drugs from employerRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas pharmacist for allegedly taking prescription drugs from a former employer for his personal use.
According to court documents, Logan Marshall Abbott, 33, of Maize was indicted on one count of acquiring and obtaining a controlled substance by deception/subterfuge.
Abbott is accused of using his position as a pharmacist to illegally acquire amphetamine (Adderall), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and oxycodone from his employer without authorization.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Marcus S. Castillo, 45, of Wichita was indicted on three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Wichita Police Department is investigating the case.
Ramiro M. Ciprian-De La Cruz, 32, an illegal alien from Guatemala was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
David Colorado-Loredo. 47, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Brooklyn Edward McKnight, 28, of Marquette was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Wichita man recently released from state prison sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for selling methamphetamine to an undercover police officer.
According to court documents, Wayne F. Fleming, 41, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
In May 2021, Fleming sold drugs multiple times to an undercover officer with the Wichita Police Department. Testing by the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center showed the total amount Fleming sold to the officer to be more than 200 grams of pure methamphetamine.
“Mr. Fleming was federally indicted in 2021, but before a plea agreement was reached, Mr. Fleming went to state prison to serve time for offenses unrelated to the federal case,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The Department of Justice doesn’t forget. Not long after his release from a state prison, Mr. Fleming is now an inmate in a federal prison.”
The Wichita Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak prosecuted the case.
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Kansas man sentenced to prison for receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 110 months in prison for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) images sent to him over the Internet from a man later convicted of child sexual abuse crimes.
According to court documents, a federal judge found Frank Castro, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas, guilty of one count of receipt of child pornography after a bench trial.
In September 2020, Castro exchanged social media messages with Antonio Galicia in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Galicia offered to send Castro a video himself sexually abusing a young child. Galicia sent Castro a video file containing CSAM which Castro viewed.
While the Milwaukee Police Department was investigating Galicia for a series of child sex crimes, officers found evidence of the video transmission to Castro and passed the information on to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his sentence, a federal judge ordered Castro pay a $10,000 special assessment to a government fund designated to assist victims of CSAM because of the harm done to them.
“Predators who molest children inflict further trauma when they capture then share images of the abuse over the Internet, thereby making victims feel repeatedly exploited,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The Defined Monetary Assistance Victims Reserve helps victims trying to rebuild their lives, and the money comes from financial penalties imposed by the courts on convicted sex offenders.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Audrey McCormick and Scott Rask prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Former wrestling coach indicted for child pornography productionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with creating child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). The former high school wrestling coach was initially charged through complaint on three criminal counts then prosecutors pursued an additional count at indictment after the discovery of a fourth alleged victim.
According to court documents, Ryan Brungardt, 37, of Salina is charged with three counts of production of child pornography and one count of attempted production of child pornography.
Brungardt is a former wrestling coach for Salina Central High School in Salina. Brungardt is accused of clandestinely using a cellphone to record minors while they showered in a locker room during the Tournament of Champions, a wrestling tournament which was held at Newton High School in Newton, Kansas, in January 2024.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Salina Police Department, and Newton Police Department are investigating the case.
Investigators are reviewing additional seized cellphone videos suspected to have been recorded at wrestling meets and tournaments in Newton, Hays, Garden City, and Salina, Kansas during the 2023-2024 wrestling season. Anyone who believes they witnessed crimes or suspicious activity at these events is asked to contact the KBI at (785) 600-8790 or report at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Lawrence man who smuggled drugs into a prison is sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 96 months in prison after smuggling contraband into a prison.
According to court documents, Jermel Fleming, 33, of Lawrence pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
In February 2024, Fleming and an accomplice drove to the Hutchinson Correctional Facility in Hutchinson, Kansas. Fleming threw a package containing a controlled substance over the prison wall then left. A lab test showed the substance to be approximately 247 grams of pure methamphetamine.
“Illegal drugs threaten the security of correctional staff and inmates because of the elevated risk of violence and overdoses,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Offenders caught smuggling contraband into prisons are vehemently prosecuted. If you decide to give drugs to someone who is behind bars, then you are likely to end up in a cell as well.”
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak prosecuted the case.
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Jury convicts Kansas City-based music artist of illegal firearm possessionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal jury convicted a Kansas man of illegally having a firearm as a convicted felon. Federal law enforcement initiated a criminal investigation after seeing photos posted on social media of him holding weapons.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Joseph R. Isaac, 28, of Kansas City, Kansas, was found guilty of one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
Isaac, a rap artist known professionally as SleazyWorld Go, is not legally allowed to possess firearms following a previous conviction for armed robbery in Kent County, Michigan, in 2016. On Friday, March 13, 2026, a jury found him guilty of knowingly possessing a Romarm/Cugir 7.62x39mm pistol.
Isaac is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Hines are prosecuting the case.
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Sex offender sentenced to prison after found in possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A previously convicted sex offender was sentenced to 137 months in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while he was on supervised release for similar offenses.According to court documents, Michael Pinkerton, 48, of Topeka pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possession of child pornography.
In September 2010, a U.S. District Court judge in the Western District of Missouri sentenced Pinkerton to 120 months in prison followed by 60 months of supervised release after convictions for attempted receipt of child pornography and attempted possession of child of pornography.
In April 2024, while Pinkerton was living in Kansas on supervised release, two U.S Probation Office officers went to his home in Topeka. They observed Pinkerton attempting to hide something and asked him what it was. Pinkerton admitted to having an unauthorized smartphone that contained saved images of CSAM. Investigators later confirmed the phone contained CSAM.
“After child sex offenders complete their prison sentences, tools like supervised release and registries are used to monitor them and try to keep our communities safe from deviant behavior. These mechanisms worked in this case thanks to the proactive work of our probation officers,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Probation Office, and Topeka Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Walton prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Wichita woman sentenced to prison for trafficking fentanylRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas woman was sentenced to 48 months in prison for drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Shakorra D. Bonds, 36, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
In March 2024, the Kansas Bureau of lnvestigation (KBI) received information that Bonds was selling fentanyl in Wichita. Agents coordinated a purchase of controlled substances from Bonds which resulted in the sale of 1,000 fentanyl pills. In her plea agreement, Bonds admitted to selling pills that she knew contained fentanyl.
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 44, with fentanyl as a major culprit in causing many lives to be tragically cut short,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “We at the Department of Justice are grateful for our state and local law enforcement partners who work hand in hand with us to try to rid our communities of this toxic substance.”
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak prosecuted the case.
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Honduran nationals illegally residing in the U.S. indicted in firearms casesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned two separate indictments involving firearms against Honduran nationals illegally residing in the United States.
According to court documents, Joni Javier Claro-Rivera, 30, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien and one count of illegal possession of a machine gun. Claro-Rivera is accused of possessing four firearms and ammunition.
In a separate case, according to court documents, Francisco Perez-Perez, 51, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Perez-Perez is accused of having two firearms and ammunition.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the cases.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Jose Manuel Garcia-Cartagena, 45, an El Salvadorian national illegally residing in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case.
Julio Cesar Lopez-Cruz, 33, a Guatemalan national illegally residing in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting this case.
Edy Adolfo Pacheco-Arita, 40, a Guatemalan national illegally residing in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Delfino Rojas-Morgas, 48, a Mexican national illegally residing in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Kansas man indicted on meth trafficking and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with offenses related to drug trafficking and illegal firearms.
According to court documents, Danny Ray Stano Jr., 44, of Topeka was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Stano allegedly had five firearms that he is not allowed by law to possess, and he is also accused of conspiring to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Former Kansas high school coach charged with producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A former Kansas wrestling coach was charged through criminal complaint for allegedly creating child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) by clandestinely filming minors showering during a high school sporting event.
According to court documents, Ryan Brungardt, 37, of Salina is charged with two counts of production of child pornography and one count of attempted production of child pornography.
Brungardt is a former employee at Lakewood Middle School and former wrestling coach for Salina Central High School in Salina. Brungardt is accused of using a cellphone to record three minors while they showered in a locker room during the Tournament of Champions, a wrestling tournament which was held at Newton High School in Newton, Kansas, in January 2024.
The defendant made his initial court appearance for the criminal complaint on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooks G. Severson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. A detention hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2026.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Salina Police Department, and Newton Police Department are investigating the case.
Investigators are in the process of reviewing additional seized cellphone videos in this case that are suspected to have been recorded at wrestling meets and tournaments in Newton, Hays, Garden City and Salina, Kansas during the 2023-2024 wrestling season. Anyone who believes they witnessed crimes or any suspicious activity at these events is asked to contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (785) 600-8790 or report at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.