District of Nebraska

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Paul J. Gray, 51, of Kearney, Nebraska, was sentenced on October 7, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Gray to a total of 300 months’ imprisonment on the two counts. There is no parole in the federal system. After Gray’s release from prison, he will begin a lifetime term of supervised release. Gray was additionally ordered to pay $5,000 which will contribute to funds established for victims of these types of cases. Gray committed these crimes while he was on supervised release for a federal conviction for failure to register as a sex offender. District Judge Bazis sentenced Gray to 21 months’ imprisonment for violating the terms of his supervised release in that case. His sentences on the two cases were ordered to run consecutive for a total of 321 months’ imprisonment.

Gray is a sex offender who has had several prior convictions. Gray was previously convicted in June of 1996 for two counts of third-degree sexual assault without consent in Lincoln County, Nebraska. Both victims in that case were minors. On March 4, 2008, he was convicted for one count of production of child pornography involving a different minor. He was sentenced to 216 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release on that case. Lastly, on April 10, 2024, he was convicted for one count of failure to register as a sex offender and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment with ten years of supervised release to follow. He began supervised release for that conviction at the end of December 2025. 

On August 4, 2025, Gray’s probation officer conducted a visit and search at his apartment in Kearney. The probation officer located an unauthorized smart phone within Gray’s apartment. During a preview of the phone, the probation officer observed sexually explicit files of children. Gray’s unauthorized and authorized phones were seized and provided to the Kearney Police Department who received a search warrant to further examine the devices. 

Investigators reviewed the devices. Device data for the unauthorized phone revealed it had been in Gray’s possession since June of 2025. Investigators found more than 7,300 images and more than 80 videos of child pornography on his unauthorized smart phone. In addition to the files, Gray’s web history on that phone contained more than 700 URLs relating to child pornography. 

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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kearney Police Department.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Joshua Hollum, 47, of Yankton, South Dakota, was sentenced on September 24, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Hollum to a total of 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hollum’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. 

On February 4, 2025, Nebraska State Troopers responded to reports of a hit and run on Interstate-80 in Buffalo County.  They found a silver vehicle with heavy front-end damage and smoke coming out of its engine. Hollum was identified as the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.  When directed to exit the vehicle, he had a loaded syringe sticking out of the breast pocket on his t-shirt.  The syringe was seized and the liquid inside tested positive for methamphetamine.

Troopers arrested Hollum and his vehicle was searched. Troopers found a backpack on the passenger seat, which contained methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, 9 clonazepam pills, 8 buprenorphine pills, marijuana, a loaded Sig Sauer P320 handgun with an extended magazine containing 17 9mm rounds, an additional extended magazine containing 30 9mm rounds, unused plastic bags, and a digital scale with drug residue on it.

The controlled substances were sent to the State Patrol Crime Laboratory.  The lab confirmed at least 400 grams of methamphetamine actual, 0.9 grams of cocaine, 1.2 grams of heroin, and 4 grams of fentanyl.

This case was investigated by the TRIDENT and CODE Task Forces which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Ogallala Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Maria Asuncion Gonzalez, 41, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on October 2, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Gonzalez to 130 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Gonzalez is released from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.  She will also forfeit to the United States $890.00 in drug proceeds.

Gonzalez was charged as a result of her involvement with a Mexico source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa, areas with methamphetamine via a local network of drug couriers. Customers order drugs from the source who then sends them to meet with a local courier who delivers the drugs to the customers.

On February 20, 2025, investigators utilized a cooperating witness who ordered a quantity of methamphetamine from the Mexican source who sent the cooperator to Gonzalez’s Omaha residence where she delivered approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine to the cooperator.

On March 11, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Gonzalez’s residence, where 1,217 grams of methamphetamine, phones, and $890.00 in drug proceeds were seized. 

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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska. 

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that on September 30, 2026, Brian Baldonado-Belmontes, 24, a Mexican man unlawfully in the United States, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm. Because Baldonado-Belmontes is a citizen of Mexico and was unlawfully in the United States, it was illegal for him to possess a firearm.

On March 22, 2026, the Omaha Police Department monitored a social media account belonging to a juvenile, which appeared to show the juvenile discharging a rifle in Omaha. After officers discovered the area of the shooting, they found approximately 23 spent .22 caliber cartridge cases and two live .22 caliber rounds. They also found a truck that had been struck by bullets about six times. While officers were processing the scene, Baldonado-Belmontes approached officers and admitted that he shot the truck. He later admitted that he shot the truck while riding as a passenger in the juvenile’s vehicle. He advised officers that the firearm was at his residence in Bellevue. Officers went to the residence and recovered the firearm, which was a Smith and Wesson, M&P 15-22, .22 caliber rifle. Attached to the rifle was a magazine, marked for 25 round capacity of .22LR ammunition.Just a few feet from the rifle, officers located an extended magazine for 9 mm ammunition.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Omaha Police Department, and the Bellevue Police Department.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that on September 30, 2026, Marvin Amilcar Cermeno-Perez, 28, a Guatemalan man unlawfully in the United States, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and illegal reentry of a removed alien.

On October 6, 2025, Omaha police officers stopped Cermeno-Perez’s vehicle in Omaha. Officers searched the vehicle and located marijuana and approximately 25 small zip lock bags, collectively containing about 11.3 grams of cocaine. Officers also located a Taurus, model TX, .22 caliber pistol in the center console. Cermeno-Perez admitted to possessing the firearm and purchasing the cocaine, which he intended to distribute. Because Cermeno-Perez was unlawfully in the United States, he was not permitted to possess firearms. Before illegally reentering the United States, Cermeno-Perez was removed to Guatemala in 2019.

This case was investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Omaha Police Department.

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced the apprehension of Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre also known as “Prometheus” and “The Engineer,” 50, of Venezuela. Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre was added to the FBI’s “Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives” list in March of 2026. Canelon Aguirre was the first cyber criminal and the 540th individual to be added to the Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list. 

“Since President Trump designated Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization, the Department of Justice has charged nearly 350 of its members and associates with brutal violent crimes,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The capture and arrest of Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre marks yet another success for the Homeland Security Task Force and Joint Task Force Vulcan. We will continue to break up narcoterrorist finance networks, prosecute violent criminals, and keep American neighborhoods safe.”

“There is nowhere that a terrorist indicted in the District of Nebraska can safely hide from justice,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods for the District of Nebraska. “We will never stop pursuing those who do harm to the United States for the financial benefit of criminal organizations that are in the full-time business of torture, murder, and trafficking human beings.”

“Anibal Canelon Aguirre served as a key architect of sophisticated malware used to drain ATMs of cash across the United States — technology that helped fuel the criminal operations of the violent transnational organization Tren de Aragua,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His apprehension sends a clear message: the Criminal Division and our partners will pursue those who attack our financial institutions to support foreign terrorist organizations, wherever they reside across the world.”

“Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre is the 10th member of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List captured by this FBI since the beginning of the Trump administration – more than 2.5 times the total captured during the previous four years combined, and the first ever Cyber fugitive,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Now Aguirre is back in the United States to face justice, thanks to brilliant work from the FBI’s Cyber Division and Critical Incident Response Group. This fugitive’s return to the United States is the latest in the FBI’s record success manhunting fugitives across the globe, with 107 foreign transfers of custody from 43 countries the last 18 months – an over 90% increase – showing this FBI is using super charged horsepower to chase down violent criminals no matter where they try to hide.”

“This case underscores the serious and evolving threat posed by transnational criminal organizations that use sophisticated financial and cyber-enabled schemes to fund violence and destabilize communities,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. “Canelon Aguirre is alleged to have developed technology that enabled criminals to target American financial institutions and generate illicit proceeds for a violent transnational organization. Through the Homeland Security Task Force, HSI and our federal, state, local, and international partners are combining capabilities to pursue the networks, facilitators, and leaders behind these crimes. No border, false identity, or digital disguise will shield those who threaten the safety and security of the American people.”

“The capture of Aguirre demonstrates our relentless focus on bringing to justice those who target Americans. FBI Omaha will continue working side-by-side with our local, state, and federal partners to dismantle and disrupt the activities of TdA in our communities,” said FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel. “We are going after the entire jackpotting network, from ringleaders and malware developers to crews in the U.S. We will continue to follow the money and surge resources to arrest and apprehend TdA members and leadership.”

Canelon Aguirre was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Nebraska in December 2025, and is charged with the following counts:

Canelon Aguirre made his initial appearance on October 2, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson and entered not guilty pleas to the counts charged. He will remain detained in the District of Nebraska while pending trial. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher and U.S. Magistrate Judge Ryan C. Carson are presiding over Canelon Aguirre’s case.

An ATM jackpotting attack is a type of cyberattack where criminals exploit vulnerabilities in an ATM by using malware to force the ATMs to dispense cash without debiting an account. Malware is an abbreviated term for “malicious software” and refers to software programs designed to damage or do other unwanted actions on a computer system. “Ploutus” is a specific type of malware designed to be used in ATM jackpotting to force an ATM to dispense cash. 

Canelon Aguirre is alleged to be the developer of the Ploutus malware and one of the principal leaders of ATM jackpotting conspiracy. Ploutus malware consisted of, among other things, files that contained anti-analysis measures to hinder forensic review, specifically software protection utilities to prevent reverse-engineering and debugging. The malware also contained other files that served the function of deleting the malware from the system in an effort to conceal, create a false impression, mislead, or otherwise deceive employees of the financial institution from learning about the deployment of the malware on the ATM. 

Canelon Aguirre’s indictment is part of a coordinated investigation and prosecution by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska in conjunction with the Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) of the Department’s Criminal Division and Joint Task Force Vulcan along with the lead investigative agencies the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). This investigation and prosecution are focused on a widespread ATM Jackpotting conspiracy that has been tied to the designated foreign terrorist organization TdA. To date, 120 defendants have been charged in the District of Nebraska for their role in this conspiracy. Three of these defendants have been sentenced in the District of Nebraska: 

The investigation has established extensive direct and indirect links between the indicted co-conspirators and TdA. According to court documents, TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities range from drug trafficking and firearms trafficking to commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other violent acts to advance the organization’s criminal activities. TdA has also developed an additional source of revenue stream through financial crimes that target financial institutions throughout the United States, including using ATM jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in cash. The investigation has revealed that the conspiracy has targeted or carried out ATM jackpotting attacks in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and several foreign nations. 

The Justice Department’s Judicial Attaché in Bogotá and Office of International Affairs, along with the United States Secret Service, have provided significant assistance in this matter. 

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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and has now expanded to target TdA. JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Western District of Virginia; Middle and Southern Districts of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; District of Nevada; and the District of Arizona, as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Criminal Division, and the Office of Judicial Attaché and DEA partners in Bogotá, Colombia. Additionally, the FBI, HSI, ATF, USMS, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.

CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.

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

The Justice Department announced the apprehension of Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre also known as “Prometheus” and “The Engineer,” 50, of Venezuela. Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre was added to the FBI’s “Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives” list in March of 2026. Canelon Aguirre was the first cyber criminal and the 540th individual to be added to the Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list.

“Since President Trump designated Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization, the Department of Justice has charged nearly 350 of its members and associates with brutal violent crimes,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The capture and arrest of Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre marks yet another success for the Homeland Security Task Force and Joint Task Force Vulcan. We will continue to break up narcoterrorist finance networks, prosecute violent criminals, and keep American neighborhoods safe.”

“Anibal Canelon Aguirre served as a key architect of sophisticated malware used to drain ATMs of cash across the United States — technology that helped fuel the criminal operations of the violent transnational organization Tren de Aragua (TdA),” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His apprehension sends a clear message: the Criminal Division and our partners will pursue those who attack our financial institutions to support foreign terrorist organizations, wherever they reside across the world.”

“Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre is the 10th member of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List captured by this FBI since the beginning of the Trump administration – more than 2.5 times the total captured during the previous four years combined, and the first ever Cyber fugitive,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Now Aguirre is back in the United States to face justice, thanks to brilliant work from the FBI’s Cyber Division and Critical Incident Response Group. This fugitive’s return to the United States is the latest in the FBI’s record success manhunting fugitives across the globe, with 107 foreign transfers of custody from 43 countries the last 18 months – an over 90% increase – showing this FBI is using super charged horsepower to chase down violent criminals no matter where they try to hide.”

“There is nowhere that a terrorist indicted in the District of Nebraska can safely hide from justice,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods for the District of Nebraska. “We will never stop pursuing those who do harm to the United States for the financial benefit of criminal organizations that are in the full-time business of torture, murder, and trafficking human beings.”

“This case underscores the serious and evolving threat posed by transnational criminal organizations that use sophisticated financial and cyber-enabled schemes to fund violence and destabilize communities,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. “Canelon Aguirre is alleged to have developed technology that enabled criminals to target American financial institutions and generate illicit proceeds for a violent transnational organization. Through the Homeland Security Task Force, HSI and our federal, state, local, and international partners are combining capabilities to pursue the networks, facilitators, and leaders behind these crimes. No border, false identity, or digital disguise will shield those who threaten the safety and security of the American people.”

Canelon Aguirre was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Nebraska in December 2025, and is charged with the following counts:

Canelon Aguirre made his initial appearance on Oct. 2 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson and entered not guilty pleas to the counts charged. He will remain detained in the District of Nebraska while pending trial. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher and U.S. Magistrate Judge Ryan C. Carson are presiding over Canelon Aguirre’s case.

An ATM jackpotting attack is a type of cyberattack where criminals exploit vulnerabilities in an ATM by using malware to force the ATMs to dispense cash without debiting an account. Malware is an abbreviated term for “malicious software” and refers to software programs designed to damage or do other unwanted actions on a computer system. “Ploutus” is a specific type of malware designed to be used in ATM jackpotting to force an ATM to dispense cash.

Canelon Aguirre is alleged to be the developer of the Ploutus malware and one of the principal leaders of ATM jackpotting conspiracy. Ploutus malware consisted of, among other things, files that contained anti-analysis measures to hinder forensic review, specifically software protection utilities to prevent reverse-engineering and debugging. The malware also contained other files that served the function of deleting the malware from the system in an effort to conceal, create a false impression, mislead, or otherwise deceive employees of the financial institution from learning about the deployment of the malware on the ATM.

Canelon Aguirre’s indictment is part of a coordinated investigation and prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska in conjunction with the Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) of the Department’s Criminal Division and Joint Task Force Vulcan along with the lead investigative agencies the FBI and HSI. This investigation and prosecution are focused on a widespread ATM Jackpotting conspiracy that has been tied to the designated foreign terrorist organization TdA. To date, 120 defendants have been charged in the District of Nebraska for their role in this conspiracy. Three of these defendants have been sentenced in the District of Nebraska:

The investigation has established extensive direct and indirect links between the indicted co-conspirators and TdA. According to court documents, TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities range from drug trafficking and firearms trafficking to commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other violent acts to advance the organization’s criminal activities. TdA has also developed an additional source of revenue stream through financial crimes that target financial institutions throughout the United States, including using ATM jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in cash. The investigation has revealed that the conspiracy has targeted or carried out ATM jackpotting attacks in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and several foreign nations. 

On Sept. 30, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Canelon Aguirre.

The Justice Department’s Judicial Attaché in Bogotá and Office of International Affairs, along with the U.S. Secret Service, have provided significant assistance in this matter.

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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the IRS Criminal Investigation.

Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and has now expanded to target TdA. JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Western District of Virginia; Middle and Southern Districts of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; District of Nevada; and the District of Arizona, as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Criminal Division, and the Office of Judicial Attaché and DEA partners in Bogotá, Colombia. Additionally, the FBI, HSI, ATF, USMS, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.

CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.

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

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that David Samuel Leibbrandt, 44, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 24, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual between August 1, 2025, and October 10, 2025. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Leibbrandt to 135 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Leibbrandt’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. 

On October 10, 2025, investigators with the Lincoln Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force were conducting surveillance on Leibbrandt’s Lincoln residence.  They saw a U.S. Postal Service truck arrive and the driver left a package on the porch. A short time later, someone came out of the house and retrieved the package.  About an hour later, Leibbrandt’s co-defendant, Jessie Feaster, Jr., arrived at Leibbrandt’s residence and went inside.  After a few minutes, Feaster returned to his vehicle and left.  Investigators followed Feaster to another location in Lincoln where Feaster was contacted and he agreed to let them search his car.  A sandwich bag was found on the front passenger seat which contained approximately one pound of methamphetamine.  Purity testing at the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab showed at least 410 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.

Later that same day, investigators executed a search warrant at Leibbrandt’s residence.  During that search, they found seven bags containing methamphetamine with a total weight of more than 2.7 kilograms.  Purity testing on one of the packages showed at least 1.8 kilograms of actual methamphetamine.  Leibbrandt was arrested and agreed to talk to investigators.  He admitted receiving 10 pounds of methamphetamine earlier that day and said he had already sold more than three pounds from that quantity, including the pound he sold to his co-defendant. 

Feaster pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual. His sentencing is set for October 15, 2026, before Judge Bazis in Lincoln.

This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force. 

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 12 unsealed Indictments charging 12 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

John Deal, age 46, of North Platte, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges Deal with receipt of child pornography beginning on at least October 21, 2011, and continuing to at least December 29, 2024.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Deal with possession of child pornography on or about August 4, 2026.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.  

Miguel Angel Bartolo-Juan, age 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges Bartolo-Juan with travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct between on or about August 17, 2024, and on or about August 30, 2024.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges Bartolo-Juan with production or attempted production of child pornography beginning on or about February 16, 2024, through on or about August 14, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.    

Dontae Middlebrook, age 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about August 19, 2026.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 4 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.   

The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: 

Noe Polanco-Flores, age 42

Juan Pacheco-Perez, age 54

Ronald Ezequiel Rivas Sibrian, age 38

Jairo Reyes-Guardado, age 44 

The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: 

Rigoberto Barrera Mendoza, age 42 

Hector Curiel-Galindo, age 64 

Jose Natividad Lopez-Delgado, age 53

Macario Solis Morales, age 43

The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment

The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following an aggravated felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: 

Elvis Vargas-Murillo, age 38

The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Bruce J. Dortch, 31, Delonta McKnight, 34, and Dontae D. Orduna, 36, all of Omaha, Nebraska, were sentenced in federal court in Omaha for their roles in an armed bank robbery. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Dortch on August 17, 2026, and Orduna on August 31, 2026, to 204 months’ imprisonment: 120 months for bank robbery and 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. McKnight was sentenced on August 31, 2026, to 60 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit bank robbery. McKnight’s sentence will be served consecutive to concurrent 96-month sentences imposed in U.S. District Court of Nebraska and U.S. District Court of Northern Georgia. 

There is no parole in the federal system. After Dortch and Orduna are released from prison, they will begin five-year terms of supervised release. McKnight will serve a three-year term of supervised release concurrent to the other terms of supervised release ordered in his prior cases. All were ordered to pay restitution to Community State Bank in the amount of $71,097. 

Between October 3 and November 7, 2023, McKnight and Dortch had a group chat where they agreed to “get money” and began plotting. At that time, McKnight was incarcerated at FCI Pollock because of a prior federal bank robbery conviction.  McKnight utilized a smuggled phone to initiate the group chat.

On January 14, 2025, Orduna and Dortch were captured on video surveillance arriving at Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska, and ultimately drove to the Community State Bank, where they were captured on video surveillance entering the bank wearing disguises to include realistic human face masks with handguns drawn. 

They pointed handguns at the bank employees and demanded money.  Dortch grabbed an employee, led her to the vault at gunpoint, and demanded she place the money in a bag.  Dortch and Orduna directed bank employees to spread bills to ensure there were no dye packs. Orduna took the money from the teller drawers, then Dortch and Orduna zip-tied the bank employees, instructed them to lie on the floor of the vault, and then closed the vault with the employees inside.

Dortch and Orduna left the bank with $71,097.00, including bait bills. 

Beginning on January 25, 2025, McKnight, while still in prison, searched eBay for realistic, silicone human face masks and saved maps to various banks in Nebraska and Iowa with a smuggled phone and subsequently used the phone to email Dortch about banks that presented good robbery prospects. He advised Dortch about multiple banks in rural towns outside of Omaha, estimated their cash on hand, the amount of law enforcement presence in those towns, expected law enforcement response times to those banks, and he provided maps to the banks.  McKnight specifically identified a bank in Modale, Iowa.

On March 7, 2025, GPS tracking information taken in combination with records from Dortch and Orduna’s phone providers showed that Orduna and Dortch met up and travelled approximately 35 minutes together to Modale, Iowa, where they drove by the Community Bank to “case” it.

On March 12, 2025, law enforcement foiled their apparent plans and arrested Dortch and Orduna at their respective residences and executed search warrants. At Orduna’s residence, law enforcement recovered $5,520 and a firearm. At Dortch’s residence, law enforcement recovered $11,210 including the Community State Bank bait bills, two firearms, the masks worn by Dortch and Orduna, and clothing worn during the robbery. 

“These sentences demonstrate that violence does not pay,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. “If you take a gun into a business and assault innocent employees who are simply doing their job, the United States Attorney’s Office will hold you maximumly accountable in federal court for those choices.  The deputies and police officers that recovered the stolen money and the firearm performed a great public service in this case, and I thank them for it.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Omaha Police Department, and Saunders County Sheriff’s Office.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Khyre Holbert, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 3, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Holbert to 109 months’ imprisonment on the felon in possession charge and 46 months for violating his supervised release of a prior federal conviction, for a total of 155 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Holbert is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

On October 4, 2025, at 0134 hours, an Omaha Police officer was patrolling The Old Market when he was alerted to a “person with a gun” located “up the street”.  The officer exited his cruiser at which time he heard a single gunshot. A short time later, officers located Victim 1 who was suffering from a gunshot wound to his right hip. A description of the shooter was provided along with his path of travel. Officers located an individual matching the suspect’s description near 13th and Farnam streets, identifying him as Holbert. 

Officers canvassed the area and located a single spent 9mm casing stamped “Aguila 9mm luger” at 12th and Howard streets. Officers canvassed the path of Holbert’s travel and located a discarded firearm directly in front of 1210 Howard Street. The firearm was located underneath a black Chevrolet SUV and identified as a Glock 43x 9mm handgun. The firearm was equipped with an extended high-capacity magazine that contained several rounds of “Aguila 9mm luger” live ammunition. 

Officers reviewed video surveillance footage and noted Holbert appeared at approximately 0136 hours walking north on South 13th Street. During this time, Holbert appeared to observe a marked police cruiser at which time he began running north out of the camera view toward the Gene Leahy Mall. At 0150 hours, Holbert can be seen returning to the north facing entrance of an area hotel. Holbert remained in this area until he was taken into custody.

Officers obtained additional video surveillance from area businesses.  The videos show Victim 1 and Holbert engaged in a verbal altercation on the corner of 13th and Howard streets. Holbert can be seen clutching his waistband repeatedly, as if concealing an item hidden underneath his clothing. Holbert and the victim then walk out of camera view to the southwest before a single gunshot is heard on the video. Holbert is then seen running east on Howard Street out of the camera view. The path of travel for Holbert was also noted to be the path where the firearm was located by officers.

The spent 9mm casing stamped “Aguila 9mm luger” recovered on scene was determined to have been fired from the recovered Glock Model 43X 9mm firearm. Two fingerprints were recovered from the firearm’s internal magazine. A senior forensic technician with the Omaha Police Forensic Investigations Unit identified the fingerprints as belonging to Holbert. 

Holbert has multiple prior felony convictions for Carrying a Concealed Weapon -2nd offense, possession of a firearm by felon, both in the District Court for Douglas County, Nebraska. 

Holbert was arrested in 2017 as part of Operation Brass Catcher, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives-led operation targeting Crips gang members.  Holbert was indicted on 10 counts, including four counts of distributing crack cocaine, three counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Holbert pleaded guilty to several counts and was sentenced to 240 months’ custody in the Bureau of Prisons.  

On January 21, 2025, Holbert, along with several thousand inmates, was granted Executive Clemency by the Biden administration and released after serving just 100 months of his original 240-month sentence. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Curtis Soester, 49, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 27, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Soester to 262 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Soester’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. 

On August 28, 2025, Soester’s parole officer received information that Soester was selling drugs while at work. Lincoln Police Officers went to his workplace and spoke with him. Soester admitted he had methamphetamine and turned over a pouch containing approximately 16 grams of methamphetamine packaged in several bags. Soester also admitted he had methamphetamine in his car. Investigators searched his car and found approximately 62 grams of methamphetamine, multiple unused baggies, and a digital scale. At the time, Soester was on parole for drug distribution. His sentence was enhanced because of his prior felony convictions for drug distribution and robbery. 

This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department and the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF).

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Kenneth Ray Beams, 41, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 27, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for production or attempted production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Beams to 360 months’ imprisonment on the production count and 120 months’ imprisonment on the possession count. The sentences will be served concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. After Beams’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Judge Rossiter ordered Beams to pay a $2,500 special assessment on each count pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. 

In May 2025, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies assisted serving an arrest warrant on Beams for an unrelated felony charge at a residence in Omaha. While law enforcement was at the residence, multiple parties expressed concern to the officers about children in the home being physically and sexually abused. At the time, the residence’s owner permitted Beams to live at the home where the 15-year-old Minor Victim also resided. Minor Victim was forensically interviewed at Project Harmony. Minor Victim disclosed the sexual abuse she endured at the hands of Beams. Beams sexually assaulted Minor Victim on numerous occasions. Concerns reported to Minor Victim’s parent were ignored and Beams’s abuse of Minor Victim was permitted to continue. Investigators forensically examined Beams’s cell phone and found images and videos of Beams and Minor Victim. Beams recorded himself sexually abusing Minor victim and exposing Minor Victim to methamphetamine.  

“This appropriate and just sentence will provide the community with the protection it deserves from a predator like Beams,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. “The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and FBI did the community an exceptional service with this investigation, and the federal prosecutor fought for and obtained a righteous conviction and sentence that will keep Nebraska safer for the next 30 years.” 

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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Ever Cano Ruacho, 36, and Jimmie Collazo, Jr., 35, both of St. Paul, Minnesota, were sentenced on August 20 and August 27, 2026, respectively, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Ruacho to 188 months’ imprisonment and Collazo, Jr. to 125 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ruacho’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. After Collazo, Jr.’s release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release. 

On October 16, 2025, a Lincoln Police Officer made a traffic stop of a Chevy pickup driven by Ruacho for a traffic violation on Interstate 80 in Lancaster County.  Collazo, Jr. was in the front passenger seat. Both passengers consented to a search of the pickup. The arresting officer found approximately 120 pounds of methamphetamine packaged in 40, three-pound packages hidden in factory voids throughout the pickup. A cigarette container holding .8 grams methamphetamine was located in the center console. Ruacho said they were traveling from Colorado to Minneapolis. Collazo, Jr. said they were traveling from Colorado to Chicago.

One of the three-pound packages of suspected methamphetamine was sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab. A forensic scientist there found the package to contain at least 1,200 grams of pure methamphetamine. 

Investigators found four cell phones in the vehicle. Ruacho and Collazo, Jr. consented to a search of their cell phones. Data on the cell phones showed communications between Ruacho and Collazo, Jr., as well as messages and photos consistent with narcotics use, narcotics trafficking, and the exchange of money and/or narcotics dating back to approximately May 20, 2025, and continuing up through the date of their arrest.

“Anyone who tries to traffic this amount of narcotics through Nebraska and on Interstate 80 in particular is going to have a very hard time getting past the Lincoln and Lancaster County Task Force! They are always on the job, keeping us all safer,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is grateful to them for their tireless efforts.” 

This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF).

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that on August 26, 2026, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Juan Carlos Cardenas Portugal, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. The verdicts followed a two-and-a-half-day trial in front of United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2026. Cardenas Portugal faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.

Cardenas Portugal’s charges stem from his involvement with a Mexico source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa areas with methamphetamine via a local network of drug couriers. Customers contact the source via Telegram, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger and order the drugs. The source then sends a local courier previously supplied with drugs to meet the customer and complete the transaction.

The evidence at trial established that in February 2025, an undercover officer ordered one pound of methamphetamine from the Mexican source of supply. The same day the source sent the undercover to Cardenas Portugal’s Omaha residence where Cardenas Portugal sold the officer one pound of methamphetamine. A few weeks later officers executed a search warrant on the residence and seized approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine and evidence of drug trafficking. 

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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska. 

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Jeremiah Thurman, 43, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 20, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for receipt of child pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Thurman to a total of 260 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Thurman’s release from prison, he will begin a 20-year term of supervised release. Thurman was additionally ordered to pay $3,000 which will contribute to funds established for victims of these types of cases.

This case began in March of 2024 when the Clarinda Police Department in Iowa received a report of a minor female (Victim 1) having inappropriate conversations with adult men online Thurman was identified as having sexually explicit conversations with Victim 1 and receiving sexually explicit photos and videos of her. The initial investigation revealed Thurman was on the Nebraska Sex Offender registry for a prior crime. 

The FBI executed a search warrant for Thurman’s residence on April 12, 2024. During the search, Thurman admitted to sending money to Victim 1 in exchange for nude pictures. A review of texts between Victim 1 and Thurman revealed phone calls and chat communications. Thurman would request explicit photos and videos from Victim 1. Thurman and Victim 1 also discussed how she was still in high school and living with family. As communications came to an end, Thurman discussed meeting up with Victim 1 and suggested getting a motel room. His plans did not occur due to the messages being discovered and police report being made. 

“There are an alarming number of child predators online targeting Nebraska’s children, and we will not stop pursuing every single one of them until each is locked up behind bars where they cannot do harm to Nebraska’s children,” said United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods

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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Frank Tonini, 41, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 20, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for receipt of child pornography after having been convicted of possession of child pornography previously. District Court Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Tonini to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Tonini’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Tonini was ordered to pay $10,000 which will contribute to funds established for victims of these types of cases.

Tonini was on a five-year term of supervised release after being sentenced in 2017 to 56 months’ imprisonment in the District of Nebraska for possession of child pornography. As part of his supervision, he participated in a routine polygraph examination. After multiple exams with significant responses, United States Probation Office did a search of Tonini’s residence. The search yielded three unauthorized cell phones. 

Law enforcement searched the three phones. On a phone located under Tonini’s mattress, law enforcement located 60 images of child pornography and five videos of child pornography. Included in the illegal files were images and videos of prepubescent and pubescent children, vaginal, digital and object penetration and violence. 

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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Dakota Parrott, 33, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 20, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Parrott to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Parrott’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. 

On March 24, 2025, a traffic stop was initiated on a vehicle driven by Parrott for a traffic violation by a Nebraska State Patrol trooper in Lincoln.  Parrott was the sole occupant of the vehicle.  The trooper conducted a K9 sniff of the vehicle and the K9 alerted to the presence of narcotics.  After the alert, troopers began a search of the vehicle, which resulted in the NSP troopers finding marijuana, a large amount of methamphetamine, and a box of 9mm ammunition.  The methamphetamine was sent to the State Patrol Crime Laboratory, where it was confirmed to weigh 898 grams, with at least 820 grams of it being pure.

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF).

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Devon Rice, 29, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 20, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for attempted production of child pornography. District Court Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Rice to 180 months’ imprisonment to be served consecutive to his 2025 conviction for receipt of child pornography. The total time of imprisonment for Rice is 250 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Rice’s release from prison, he will begin a 15-year term of supervised release. 

Rice was pending sentencing in the District Court of Nebraska for a conviction of receipt of child pornography. While out on pre-trial release in that case, Rice began communicating via Kik messenger application with an undercover officer with the Lincoln Police Department. The undercover officer identified himself as a 14-year-old female from Lincoln. 

The conversation quickly turned sexual. Rice asked on numerous occasions for the purported 14-year-old to send “nudes” and “sexy pics.” In June 2025, the conversation involved requests by Rice to meet the purported 14-year-old for sex. Additional requests were made by Rice to the purported 14-year-old for explicit photos. 

Eventually, Rice made plans to meet up with the purported 14-year-old at a coffee shop in Lincoln that was within walking distance of the fictitious apartment address the undercover officer had provided to Rice. Investigators with the Lincoln Police Department were waiting at the coffee shop and arrested Rice as he was exiting his vehicle. 

Rice was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment on August 21, 2025, for receipt of child pornography.

“The Lincoln Police Department is to be commended for this incredible undercover investigative work that will provide the community protection from this insatiable sexual predator long into the future,” said United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods. “Nebraska is safer thanks to this judgement and conviction.” 

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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera, 27, originally of Venezuela, was sentenced on August 20, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his role in a conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions of dollars from ATMs in the United States, a crime commonly referred to as “ATM jackpotting.”  Chief United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Gouveia-Aguilera to 96 months’ imprisonment, a 5-year term of supervised release, and $500 in special assessments. Gouveia-Aguilera was also ordered to pay restitution as part of his sentence. 

The Court found Gouveia-Aguilera to be responsible for more than $3.5 million in losses and this sentence is believed to be the longest federal sentence imposed for an individual’s role in ATM jackpotting. Specifically, Gouveia-Aguilera was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank burglary and fraud in connection with computers, bank fraud, bank burglary, and fraud in connection with computers following a guilty plea. 

“The Court’s sentence of Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera reflects the severity of his criminal conduct,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He participated in a scheme to hack ATMs across the United States, the result of which forced them to dispense substantial amounts of cash – known as jackpotting. These malware schemes help fund the operations of violent transnational criminal organizations, such as Tren de Aragua (TdA).  We will continue to safeguard the security of our financial institutions and disrupt this network with our law enforcement partners and the District of Nebraska.” 

“Today’s sentence is one of many yet to come in this case, and the United States Attorney’s Office looks forward to the day when the leaders and architects of this nationwide conspiracy to victimize American banks to fill the coffers of a terrorist organization are held accountable in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods. “This appropriate and just sentence is only the beginning of the justice that will be doled out across the entire conspiracy before this case concludes.”

“TdA poses a direct threat to our communities both here in the Midwest and across our country. This violent terrorist organization relies on a wide range of criminal activities to generate revenue supporting their campaigns of violence and terror,” said FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel. “This case highlights TdA’s plot to deploy sophisticated malware targeting financial institutions across the U.S., syphoning millions of dollars from American banks to fund acts of terrorism. As criminal enterprises change tactics, we surge resources and adapt accordingly to protect the American people.”

“Gouveia-Aguilera and his alleged co-conspirators thought they could hack American ATMs, drain financial institutions, and funnel money to a violent transnational criminal organization without consequence. They were wrong,” said HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Rick Sabatini. “This 8-year sentence is a warning to every criminal network targeting our financial systems: HSI and our partners will hunt you down, dismantle your operations, and put you in federal prison.”

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska in conjunction with the Department of Justice’s Cyber Crimes and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Joint Task Force Vulcan is investigating and prosecuting a widespread ATM Jackpotting conspiracy that has been tied to designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA).  To date, 119 defendants have been charged in the District of Nebraska for their role in this conspiracy. Gouveia-Aguilera is the third defendant to be sentenced in the District of Nebraska for crimes in connection with this conspiracy. Two prior defendants were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Susan M. Bazis in Lincoln, Nebraska, in June:

The investigation has established extensive direct and indirect links between the indicted co-conspirators and TdA. According to court documents, TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities range from drug trafficking and firearms trafficking to commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other violent acts to advance the organization’s criminal activities. TdA has also developed an additional source of revenue stream through financial crimes that target financial institutions throughout the United States, including using ATM jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in cash. The investigation has revealed that the conspiracy has targeted or carried out ATM jackpotting attacks in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and several foreign nations. 

FBI’s Omaha Field Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Omaha are investigating the case, with assistance from FBI’s Denver, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, Oklahoma, Sacramento, Seattle, and Springfield Field Offices, and the United States Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General, Financial Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, and a significant number of local law enforcement entities across the country. 

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Kansas, Western District of Washington, Eastern District of California, Southern District of New York, Northern District of Illinois, Central District of Illinois, Eastern District of Oklahoma, Northern District of Oklahoma, Southern District of Mississippi, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Missouri, Western District of Missouri, Middle District of Louisiana, Middle District of Georgia, Middle District of Wisconsin, and Eastern District of Wisconsin, as well as the Larimer County Attorney’s Office, Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 9th District Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 5th District Attorney General’s Office, and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office have provided significant assistance.

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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, and the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division.

Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and has now expanded to target TdA. JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada, as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, HSI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), USMS, and the Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.

CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.

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United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Philip D. Ausherman, 44, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 18, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Ausherman to 235 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ausherman’s release from prison, he will serve a 5-year term of supervised release. Ausherman was found guilty of the conspiracy charge by a federal jury in April.

Ausherman was charged because of his involvement with a Mexican source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa, areas. Ausherman was arrested on January 29, 2025, after a Deputy Douglas County Sheriff conducted a traffic stop after observing Ausherman commit a traffic infraction. During the traffic stop, a drug detecting canine was called to the scene and indicated to the odor of narcotics coming from within Ausherman’s vehicle. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed approximately 8 grams of methamphetamine. During a post-arrest interview, Ausherman admitted receiving more than 17 kilograms of methamphetamine from his Mexican source of supply during the previous six months.

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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska. 

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 15 unsealed Indictments charging 16 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

David Barrera Jr., age 48, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges Barrera Jr. with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about September 16, 2025.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges Barrera Jr. with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about October 1, 2025.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Barrera Jr. with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about December 10, 2025.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges Barrera Jr. with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about December 10, 2025.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.    

Gurarppan Singh Gill, age 23, of Seward, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine on or about May 27, 2026.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years and up to life of imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.     

John M. Dubray, III, age 40, and Jill C. Dubray, age 40, of Columbus, Nebraska, are charged in a six-count Indictment.  Count I charges John Dubray and Jill Dubray with conspiracy to commit bank fraud beginning on October 1, 2015, through on or about August 31, 2022.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 30 years of imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges John Dubray and Jill Dubray with bank fraud on or about October 1, 2015, through on or about December 31, 2017. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 30 years of imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges John Dubray and Jill Dubray with bank fraud on or about January 1, 2019, through on or about December 31, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 30 years of imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges John Dubray and Jill Dubray with credit union fraud on or about February 1, 2020, through on or about September 30, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 30 years of imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count V charges John Dubray with theft, embezzlement and misapplication by a bank officer on October 1, 2015, through on or about May 30, 2022.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 30 years of imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count VI charges John Dubray with bank bribery on or about October 1, 2015, through on or about May 30, 2022.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 30 years of imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Jennifer Marie Harlow, age 48, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about July 8, 2026.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 4 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. 

Jose Gerardo Ruiz Alonso, age 37, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Ruiz Alonso with being an alien in possession of a firearm on or about July 10, 2026.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Ruiz Alonso with being an alien in possession of a firearm on or about July 21, 2026.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: 

Josue Isaac Ayala Melgar, age 40

Oscar Aguilar-Pablo, age 41

Luis Antonio Chavez Portillo, age 40

Abraham Gonzalez-Garcia, age 48 

Migel Silvas-Ledesma, age 40

Jairo Garcia Murillo, age 44

Andres Ambrocio Perez, age 30

The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: 

Salvador Mora Cisneros, age 45 

Antonio Manuel Lucero Reyes, age 63 

The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment

The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following an aggravated felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: 

Francisco Javier Ledesma Santa Cruz, age 36

The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Khalil Robinson, 20, of Pearland, Texas, was sentenced on August 13, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Robinson to 70 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Robinson’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Judge Rossiter ordered Robinson to pay $147,520.20 in restitution to identified victims of the bank fraud conspiracy. 

Between February 2024 and April 2025, Robinson and others, conspired to steal mail from United States Postal Service (USPS) blue collection boxes around the United States. Checks taken from the stolen mail were resold on Telegram or altered and deposited into bank accounts created by individuals recruited into the conspiracy. In September 2024, USPS Inspectors began receiving reports of mail being placed in blue collection boxes at the Elmwood Post Office and Saddle Creek Post Office in Omaha and not arriving at its intended destination. The Lincoln, Nebraska postmaster also reported multiple blue boxes being pried into and multiple arrow lock keys stolen throughout Lincoln. On January 13, 2025, Omaha police officers found Robinson in possession of stolen mail and recovered a counterfeit key from the blue collection box Robinson broke into. On Robinson’s phone and social media accounts, postal inspectors found evidence of Robinson manufacturing arrow lock keys, recruiting individuals to open bank accounts, and images of checks from Nebraska, Virginia, and Kentucky totaling $167,000. The total value of checks postal inspectors can attribute to the bank fraud conspiracy is approximately $1,968,868. The actual loss attributable to the conspiracy is $813,458. 

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Deron Lewis-Payne, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 13, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for one charge of bank robbery and a second charge of brandishing a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun during a crime of violence. District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Lewis-Payne to 121 months’ imprisonment: 37 months for the robbery charge and 84 months on the brandishing charge to be served consecutively. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lewis-Payne’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. 

On February 10, 2026, Lewis-Payne, entered the i3Bank at 15645 Spaulding St. in Omaha and robbed the bank while brandishing a black semi-automatic handgun and demanding money from two bank employees. 

He pointed the handgun at the tellers and told them he would kill them if they did not comply, prompted them to empty their cash drawers, and warned them not to include any dye packs with the cash. The tellers complied and Lewis-Payne took approximately $9,175.00 in cash before fleeing.

i3 Bank surveillance captured his unmasked face and distinctive outfit, including red Nike slides.  The footage clearly depicted his face and the handgun used.  Residential surveillance cameras located near the bank captured the vehicle he used, including the plates and distinctive features to include a toolbox and particular rust spots. 

After the robbery, video surveillance footage and transaction records from multiple retailers at Westroads Mall showed that Lewis-Payne went on shopping spree in which he used cash to buy shoes and clothing apparel. When officers located him near one of his residences, he ran abandoning banded cash in his wake. A search of his residences revealed another currency band, the vehicle used, and most of the outfit he wore during the robbery, including the distinctive red Nike slides. 

Lewis-Payne admitted to driving the vehicle, but denied involvement with the bank robbery. He consented to a search of his phone. Officers examined the contents and determined Lewis-Payne used ChatGPT to plan the robbery, including advice on law enforcement response times, how to strip and repair a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun, and for advice on obtaining ammunition as a felon. Additionally, his Google maps history showed he had most recently searched for directions to i3 Bank. 

The handgun was never recovered. Officers recovered $2,397.00 of the $9,175.00 taken during the robbery. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that a three-day undercover operation led by HSI resulted in the arrest and indictment of five men in Omaha, Nebraska, last week. The defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Nebraska with the following charges:

• Jocsan Aparicio-Santos, 39, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child and Penalties for Registered Sex Offenders. 
• Logan Trigg, 29, of Omaha, was charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child and Penalties for Registered Sex Offenders.
• Bryan E. Dady, 48, of Omaha, was charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child and Penalties for Registered Sex Offenders.
• Tillian Hutton, 25, of Omaha, was charged with was charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child.
• Law Eh, 39, of Omaha, was charged with was charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child and Possession of Child Pornography.

The possible penalties for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child is a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, supervised release of five years to life, and a special assessment of $5,000. The penalties for the charge of Penalties for Registered Sex Offenders are 10 years’ consecutive to the underlying sentence. The maximum possible penalties for Possession of Child Pornography are 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, supervised release of five years to life, and special assessments totaling of $26,928.

Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Over the course of August 12 through August 14, 2026, the operation utilized online advertisements about sexual acts for sale. Investigators acting in an undercover capacity communicated with interested individuals seeking sex acts with minors.  The subjects charged in the operation showed up to an agreed upon location to allegedly engage in sexual acts with a 14-year-old. Investigators encountered dozens of additional individuals who communicated about sexually exploiting minors. However, these individuals did not appear in person. 

These cases are under investigation by HSI. The following agencies assisted HSI with this operation: HSI Denver, Kansas City, Wichita, and Sioux City; the Omaha Police Department; the Colorado Bureau of Investigation; and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. 

The Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign designed to educate the public, law enforcement, and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking.

If you see something, say something. The public can provide tips to the HSI tipline at 1-866-347-2423.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Tyler Foreman, 32, formerly of Honey Creek, Iowa, was sentenced on August 10, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for Distribution of Methamphetamine Resulting in Death. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Foreman to 240 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Foreman’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. 

On September 10, 2024, at the Court Apartments in Omaha, Nebraska, the defendant provided a combination of methamphetamine and Alka-Seltzer known as a “meth bomb” to the Victim. The Victim ingested the drug causing an overdose.  First responders took the Victim to the hospital and attempted life-saving measures. The Victim died of acute methamphetamine intoxication at the hospital.  As part of the investigation, Omaha Police Officers contacted the defendant and located in his backpack 12 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and six Alka-Seltzer packages. 

“Anyone who gives a dangerous controlled substance to another human being is taking a chance that person will lose his or her life due to a drug overdose,” said United States Attorney Lesley Woods. “If you take that chance in Nebraska, you can expect the same result that the defendant got in this case because the mandatory minimum penalty applies in every case.”

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Brian L. Garges, 63, of Fremont, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 13, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for production or attempted production of child pornography and receipt of child pornography. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Garges to 348 months’ imprisonment on the production count and 240 months’ imprisonment on the receipt count. The sentences will be served concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. After Garges’s release from prison, he will begin a ten-year term of supervised release. Judge Rossiter ordered Garges to pay a total of $8,000 in special assessments that support the Defined Monetary Assistance Victims Reserve to provide compensation for victims of child sexual abuse material.

In June 2025, while checking Minor Victim 1’s (MV1) cell phone device to monitor MV1’s blood sugar, counselors at a summer camp found concerning communications between MV1 and an adult male. The camp director reported these communications to the FBI. After obtaining consent to search the MV1’s cell phone, an FBI investigator observed MV1 communicating with Garges. At the time, MV1 was 15 years old. In their conversations, Garges directs MV1 to send him sexually explicit photos of herself, which she does. When federal agents executed a search warrant at Garges’s residence in July 2025, Garges admitted to engaging in sexually explicit conversations with MV1 via WhatsApp and Signal. The investigation revealed Garges began sexually abusing MV1 when she was 10 years old. The abuse continued and escalated until the communications on MV1’s phone were discovered in June 2025. 

“It is unthinkable that someone the defendant’s age would prey on a minor in this manner. This sentence fits the crime, and now it is certain that no other children will endure sexual abuse by this predator,” said United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods.  “Finding and stopping the sexual offenders that target Nebraska’s children is and will be a top priority of the United States Attorney’s Office and no resource or effort will be spared in holding them appropriately accountable in federal court.”

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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that James Dennise Barratt, 40, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 6, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for receipt of child pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Barratt to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Barratt is released from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Barratt was also ordered to pay a total of $9,000 in restitution to the identified victims. 

Between August 28, 2023, and November 4, 2023, Verizon reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children five Cybertips of a user uploading child pornography. A Nebraska State Patrol investigation led to the identification of Barratt as the individual responsible. 

A residential search warrant was executed at Barratt’s Lincoln home on March 21, 2024, and for Barratt’s cloud-based storage account. Law enforcement located 660 images of child pornography on Barratt’s cell phone, and 17 images and 9 videos of child pornography on Barratt’s cloud-based storage account. 

Barratt was interviewed and admitted to looking at child pornography for about five years prior to getting caught. 

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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Tyrece D. Thomas, 25, of Macy, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 30, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for one count of Abusive Sexual Contact. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Thomas to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Thomas’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. 

On June 8, 2020, while Victim 1 was walking home on the Omaha Nation Indian Reservation, an unknown male, later identified as Thomas, struck her in the head and took her cell phone. Thomas offered to return Victim 1’s cell phone if she had sex with him. When Victim 1 refused and attempted to walk away, Thomas struck Victim 1 again. Victim 1 fell to the ground and Thomas sexually assaulted her. Victim 1 did not know Thomas. Victim 1 went to the hospital after the assault and underwent a Sexual Assault Nurse Examination (SANE), during which a SANE nurse collected forensic evidence from Victim 1’s body. Victim 1’s SANE kit was sent to the FBI Laboratory. An FBI forensic scientist identified unknown, male DNA on swabs collected from Victim 1 during her SANE exam. The FBI submitted the male DNA to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) but received no potential matches at the time.

On October 4, 2024, the FBI Laboratory notified local FBI agents that a routine CODIS search yielded a possible DNA match between the male DNA collected from Victim 1 and a federal arrestee, Tyrece D. Thomas. The FBI obtained a search warrant and obtained a known sample of Thomas’s DNA. The FBI laboratory confirmed the male DNA collected during Victim 1’s SANE exam was, in fact, Tyrece D. Thomas’s DNA.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Omaha Nation Law Enforcement Services.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Jennifer Suing, 49, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 30, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual with two prior convictions for a serious drug felony. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Suing to a total of 300 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Suing’s release from prison, she will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. 

In February 2025, the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF) performed three controlled buys on Suing who has previously been known as Jennifer Loving and Jennifer Lovings. All of the buys were performed by a Confidential Informant (CI) in Lincoln.  The first buy occurred on February 10, 2025, and the CI purchased approximately 6 grams of methamphetamine from Suing.  The final controlled buy occurred on February 26, 2025, and the CI purchased approximately 12 grams of methamphetamine actual.

Following the third controlled buy, LLCNTF served a court-authorized search warrant for Suing’s hotel room.  During the search of the room, law enforcement found drug paraphernalia, 40 grams of marijuana, and approximately five ounces of methamphetamine, which lab-tested to contain at least 130 grams of methamphetamine actual.

Suing had multiple prior convictions for serious drug felonies in which she served more than 12 months’ imprisonment and was released within 15 years of the commencement of this offense.  Specifically, she had been convicted for Conspiracy to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska under case numbers 8:13CR271 and 8:05CR250.

This case was investigated by the LLCNTF.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Nicholas Vollertsen, 41, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 30, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of receipt of child pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Vollertsen to a total of 84 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Vollertsen’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Vollertsen was ordered to pay $21,000 in restitution.

This case began when several cybertips were made online regarding an online cloud storage company. The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) received a search warrant for the online account.  The return contained 111 files of child pornography, which depicted images and videos of prepubescent and pubescent children engaged in sexual acts. After further investigation, law enforcement was able to identify Vollertsen as the suspect for the case. NSP conducted a search warrant at Vollertsen’s residence, where they seized approximately 32 electronic devices. Those devices were extracted and reviewed by law enforcement.  At least nine of the devices contained child pornography files.  The total number of child pornography files located on Vollertsen’s devices was 189,805.

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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Manuel Enrique Corona-Ramirez, 52, of Lexington, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 23, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Corona-Ramirez to a total of 125 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Corona-Ramirez’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. 

In 2023, Corona-Ramirez was arrested with Joette Romero in Hall County after an individual called in a terroristic threat at their residence. Corona-Ramirez and Romero arrived at the residence with a gun and demanded money from the individual over a drug debt. This arrest prompted further investigation which later revealed that Corona-Ramirez was working with others to distribute methamphetamine around the central Nebraska area. Over the course of his drug dealing, Corona-Ramirez was responsible for more than 3 kilograms of methamphetamine. He also possessed a firearm and threatened others in furtherance of that drug dealing.

Joette Romero was indicted separately for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. She was sentenced on September 22, 2025, to 87 months’ imprisonment with 4 years of supervised release to follow.

This case was investigated by the CODE Task Force which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes federal partners with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, and Army National Guard Counter Drug Unit. 

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 20 unsealed Indictments charging 21 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

Steven R. Harper, age 57, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with possession of child pornography with a prior conviction on or about October 30, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years and up to 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.    

Scott Wellensiek, age 53, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with possession of child pornography with a prior conviction beginning on or about an unknown date, and continuing until on or about May 8, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years and up to 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.     

Diego J. Vigil, age 45, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with failure to register as a sex offender from at least on or about May 26, 2026, continuing to on or about June 26, 2026.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.

Jose Alfredo Sandoval-Huitzil, age 27, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about May 14, 2026.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years and up to life of imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.

Aaron Torres, age 28, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about March 17, 2026.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years and up to 40 years of imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 4 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.

Joel Lopez-Franco, age 32, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about May 6, 2026.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years and up to life of imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.

Jermaine Lewis, age 27, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of obstruction of justice on or about June 30, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl is 20 years of imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 3 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. The maximum possible penalty if convicted of obstruction of justice is 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Peter Lam, age 31, of Garden Grove, California, and Trong Tran, age 23, of Garden Grove, California, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine beginning on or about November 2025, and continuing to on or about June 15, 2026.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years and up to life of imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.  

The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States and were found in the United States, without the Acting Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: 

Eli Daniel Rascon-Balderas, age 50

Alberto Antonio Ramos, age 45

Yosimar Cortez-Diaz, age 32

Gerson Mejia-Arenibar, age 28 

Rafael Lopez-Miranda, age 30

Pascual Lopez-Coc, age 39

Pedro Ornelas-Soto, age 30 

Adolfo Garcia-Luna, age 36 

Jose Luis Godinez Chepillo, age 31 

The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Acting Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: 

Manuel Zavala-Balderas, age 39 

The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment

The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following an aggravated felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Acting Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: 

Angel Heredia-Linares, age 60

Osman Naun Meza-Romero, age 36

The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Jose Gerardo Ruiz Alonso, 36, of Mexico, was charged in a criminal complaint in federal court in the District of Nebraska for being an alien unlawfully in the United States in possession of firearms. On July 22, 2026, Ruiz Alonso appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson and was detained pending trial. 

Per the criminal complaint, on July 21, 2026, the FBI executed search warrants on Ruiz Alonso’s Omaha residence and business. As a result of the search warrants, law enforcement seized approximately 71 firearms and several hundred rounds of ammunition from the business. Law enforcement seized two additional firearms and ammunition from his residence. Ruiz Alonso is not a United States citizen and was not legally in the United States. It is illegal under federal law for an alien unlawfully in the United States to possess a firearm.  

The case is being investigated by the FBI, ATF, DEA, ICE, Omaha Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Bellevue Police Department, La Vista Police Department, and Council Bluffs, Iowa Police Department.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Eduardo Jose Perdomo, 38, of Venezuela, was sentenced on July 20, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for sex trafficking of two minors by force, fraud, or coercion. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Perdomo to 240 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Perdomo’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Perdomo entered the United States illegally in 2021. Senior Judge Bataillon ordered Perdomo to pay a total of $5,400 in restitution to the minor victims.

On January 6, 2025, the Omaha Police Department received a report of a theft at an Omaha hotel. Responding officers identified indicia of sex trafficking. The Omaha Police Department-Homeland Security Investigations Human Trafficking Task Force immediately began investigating and recovered two minor females, aged 15 and 16, who had been brought to a hotel in Omaha by Perdomo from out of state to be sold for commercial sex. 

Perdomo arranged for co-defendant Alfredo Manuel Zambrano-Hurtado to transport Perdomo and the minor victims to Nebraska. Perdomo agreed with co-defendant Michel Martinez-Gonzalez on a plan to both advertise the minor victims online for commercial sex and both correspond to potential sex buyers. Perdomo also arranged a deal with hotel staff allowing staff to have sex with the minor victims in exchange for allowing them to stay at the hotel and engage in commercial sex sales. The minor victims engaged in sex acts at Perdomo’s direction and after buyers paid the minor victims, they would give the money to Perdomo.

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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Omaha Police Department with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that on July 21, 2026, Clifford Jost pleaded guilty in United States District Court in Omaha, Nebraska, to committing burglary in Indian Country. Jost faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 14, 2026. 

In December 2025, Jost took part in a string of burglaries in Knox and Cedar counties, including within the Santee Sioux Reservation. On about December 22, 2025, Jost unlawfully and without authority entered a garage in Bloomfield, Nebraska, which was within the Santee Sioux Reservation. Jost was involved in stealing numerous items from the residence, including a game camera, deer mounts, and two utility terrain vehicles. As part of the investigation, law enforcement obtained and analyzed surveillance footage, Snapchat data, Facebook data, and Verizon data. Surveillance footage from a gas station in Santee and from the residence showed Jost’s role in the crime. Snapchat messages reflect Jost discussing the stolen utility terrain vehicles.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, and the Santee Sioux Nation Police Department. 

United States Attorney Lesley Woods announced that Levi McAlevy, 37, of Cozad, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 17, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for one count of distribution of at least 5 grams of actual methamphetamine and one count of distribution of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. McAlevy was convicted of both counts following an April 2026 four-day jury trial in Lincoln. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced McAlevy to a total of 360 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After McAlevy’s release from prison, he will begin a 7-year term of supervised release.

McAlevy sold methamphetamine to a Confidential Informant (CI) working with the CODE drug task force on two occasions in 2024. The first buy occurred on September 19, 2024. McAlevy and the CI traveled to various locations before McAlevy sold the methamphetamine. The Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory confirmed the substance was at least 5.3 grams of actual methamphetamine. The second buy—which involved at least 2.8 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine—occurred on October 2, 2024. Again, McAlevy and the CI traveled to various locations before McAlevy sold the methamphetamine. 

Although McAlevy sold smaller amounts of methamphetamine to the CI, the evidence at trial demonstrated that McAlevy was responsible for selling more than 25 kilograms of methamphetamine in central and western Nebraska. The evidence showed that McAlevy used firearms and threats to discourage others from notifying law enforcement about his drug dealing.

This case was investigated by the CODE Task Force which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Ogallala Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Tamara Ricceri-Wolf, 60, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 8, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for one count of wire fraud. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Ricceri-Wolf to 18 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ricceri-Wolf’s release from prison, she will begin a three-year term of supervised release. Judge Buescher ordered Ricceri-Wolf to pay restitution in the amount of $635,935.05.

An investigation conducted by the FBI determined that between 2018 and December 2022, Ricceri-Wolf, as the Financial Manager for an Omaha company, had access to the company’s financial information and bank accounts. Beginning in 2019 and continuing through at least 2022, Ricceri-Wolf devised a scheme to defraud or to obtain money from the Omaha company, which involved opening American Express credit cards in the name of both the company and company’s owner without knowledge or authorization. After opening the American Express credit cards, Ricceri-Wolf made personal purchases using the credit cards for her own benefit and without authorization. Ricceri-Wolf would use her position as a Financial Manager to make payments from the company’s bank accounts on balances associated with the American Express credit cards. Ricceri-Wolf caused to be made approximately 106 unauthorized payments to American Express totaling at least $538,428.26.  

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Ricardo Gutierrez-Castillo, Eric Luviano-Cabrera and Heleodoro Luviano-Castillo were sentenced in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced all three to 168 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After their release from prison, all will begin a five-year term of supervised release. 

On January 2, 2025, investigators with the Omaha Police Department received a tip from the owner of a South Omaha Airbnb who observed suspicious behavior from the renters, including bringing in large pots and pans, large bags of what looked like salt, and fans. On January 3, investigators observed two individuals loading large totes from the Airbnb into a vehicle. Investigators stopped the vehicle and identified Gutierrez-Castillo, 25, of Elkin, North Carolina, as the driver.  Inside the vehicle, 33 kilograms of pure methamphetamine were found in the totes.

After Gutierrez-Castillo was arrested, investigators took Eric Luviano-Cabrera, 41, and Heleodoro Luviano-Castillo, 41, both of Mexico and illegally present in the U.S., into custody. A search warrant on the Airbnb found a makeshift laboratory intended to separate methamphetamine concealed within other compounds. They also found an additional 15 kilograms of pure methamphetamine. 

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods said, “Methamphetamine is a toxic poison undermining the safety and strength of our communities, and the Omaha Police Department should be commended for tearing down this criminal organization and disrupting the flow of this hazard substance into Nebraska from Mexico.” 

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Leonel DeLeon, 64, of Wahoo, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 10, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced DeLeon to 188 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After DeLeon’s release from prison, he will serve a 10-year term of supervised release.

DeLeon was charged as a result of his involvement with a Mexico source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa, areas with methamphetamine via a local network of drug couriers. Between February 8, 2024, and June 21, 2024, law enforcement utilized cooperating witnesses who contacted the Mexican source and ordered quantities of methamphetamine. On May 29, 2024, after an order was placed with the source, Deleon delivered more than 50 grams of methamphetamine to a cooperating witness at an Omaha location. The investigation revealed that on four other occasions Deleon delivered additional quantities of methamphetamine to cooperators at Omaha locations.

On July 2, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Deleon’s Omaha apartment and seized 60 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm. 

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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska. 

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Peter Jacobsson, 39, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 9, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual and 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine with a prior conviction and one count of use or carry of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Jacobsson to a total of 244 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Jacobsson’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. 

Jacobsson was a member of a conspiracy to sell methamphetamine in the Lincoln and Omaha areas between February 2022 and March 2025. In September 2024, an undercover officer (UC) made three controlled purchases from Jacobsson.  On September 9, 2024, the UC purchased 47 grams of methamphetamine actual.  On September 12, 2024, the same UC purchased 52 grams of methamphetamine actual. Lastly, on September 19, 2024, the UC purchased another 51 grams of methamphetamine actual.

On October 16, 2024, Jacobsson was arrested for driving a stolen vehicle. He had 41.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine and a 9mm handgun in his possession.  Jacobsson’s cell phone was seized and searched pursuant to a search warrant.  The phone contained text messages, owe notes, and other communications with co-defendant Ramon Gaytan and others which were consistent with drug distribution.

Co-defendant Gaytan pleaded guilty to similar charges and is currently scheduled for sentencing on October 15, 2026, before United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis.

An additional co-defendant is currently scheduled for a status conference on July 24, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Jacqueline M. DeLuca.

This case was investigated by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Vallene Marie Bell, 35, of Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced on July 9, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Bell to 168 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bell is released from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. 

This case involves a Mexico source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa, areas with methamphetamine via a local network of drug couriers. Customers order the drugs from the source who then sends a courier to meet them and complete the transaction. The defendants named in the indictment are local couriers, organizers, and customers operating in Nebraska and Iowa who distribute and buy the source’s drugs.

On September 9, 2024, law enforcement, while conducting surveillance, observed the defendant and co-defendant Michelle Renee Horton meet with co-defendant Emerson Reyes-Andrade at an Omaha location and conduct what officers believed was a drug transaction. Following the transaction, Iowa State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle the defendant and Horton were riding in after they traveled into Iowa. A canine unit arrived during the stop and Horton consented to the canine’s deployment which resulted in a positive indication to the odor of narcotics coming from within the vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of one pound of methamphetamine.

Horton was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment on May 19, 2026. Reyes-Andrade was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment on July 2, 2026. 

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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska. 

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Aaron T. Luneke, 44, of Columbus, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 13, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after being convicted by a federal jury of committing bank fraud and attempted bank fraud in connection with loans he sought to build and operate a Legacy Express Wash, a car wash in Columbus. United States District Brian C. Buescher sentenced Luneke to 36 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Luneke will begin a five-year term of supervised release. Judge Buescher ordered Luneke to pay a $10,000 fine.

The jury found that Luneke attempted to defraud Stearns Bank, located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, by using fraudulent and inflated contractor invoices to artificially inflate the valuation of the car wash property in pursuit of a $3.5 million refinancing loan. Further evidence at trial established that Luneke failed to disclose significant personal debts owed to family members in connection with the Stearns Bank loan application. The jury also found that Luneke defrauded Bank of the Valley by submitting fraudulent and inflated invoices from contractors as the basis for additional construction loan proceeds, obtaining two loans totaling approximately $4,320,000.

At the sentencing, Judge Buescher found that Luneke’s abuse of his position as Chief Financial Officer at Bank of the Valley significantly facilitated the commission and concealment of the fraud against the victim bank. The Court further determined that Luneke employed sophisticated means to carry out the scheme; served an aggravating role by organizing, leading, managing, or supervising others in executing aspects of the fraud; obstructed justice by providing false testimony during trial; and caused a victim to suffer substantial financial hardship. 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Omaha Field Office; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General; and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Office of Inspector General.

The case was investigated and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sean Lynch and Sarah Hinrichs and tried with the assistance of Special Assistant United States Attorney Alejandro A. Abreu.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Fernando Hernandez, 45, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced on July 10, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after having been found guilty by a jury trial of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Hernandez to 235 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hernandez’s release from prison, he will serve a ten-year term of supervised release. Additionally, Hernandez forfeited any claim to more than $30,000 and a vehicle seized during the investigation.

Hernandez was charged because of his involvement with a Mexican source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs areas. Hernandez was a local courier who was distributing the methamphetamine in Nebraska and Iowa. On October 2, 2025, law enforcement utilized a cooperating witness who ordered one pound of methamphetamine from the Mexican source who sent the cooperator to an Omaha location where Hernandez delivered one pound of methamphetamine. After the delivery, Hernandez was seen meeting with other parties who were later stopped and found in possession of one pound of methamphetamine and $4,000. 

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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska. 

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Collin D. Jerabek, 29, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 14, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for one count of production of child pornography and one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Jerabek to 360 months’ imprisonment on the production count and 240 months’ imprisonment on the receipt and distribution count. The sentences will run concurrent to each other. There is no parole in the federal system. After Jerabek’s release from prison, he will begin a ten-year term of supervised release.  

From on or about December 9, 2023, through on or about January 19, 2024, Jerabek posed as a teenage girl on Snapchat to induce four Minor Victims to provide Jerabek with sexually explicit material. Jerabek collected sexually explicit images of teenage girls from the internet and sent those images to the Minor Victims to convince them Jerabek was a similar-aged female. The Minor Victims each produced for and sent to Jerabek, while he was posing as a teenage girl, visual depictions of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including masturbating and, in at least two instances, anal penetration by an object. In a mirandized interview, Jerabek admitted to knowing the Minor Victims were all under the age of 18. The Minor Victims ranged from 11 to 15 years of age. Jerabek distributed the sexually explicit images sent to him by the Minor Victims to third parties on Snapchat, and in at least one instance, back to the Minor Victim who had sent the image to Jerabek.

“Any sex offender that targets Nebraska’s children can expect the same level of prosecution as Mr. Jerabek, which is to say the maximum authorized under the law for these offenses,” vowed U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. “ Children need more protection now than ever from this type of online predator.  We stand ready to provide it.”

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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Noah Hale, 21, of Norfolk, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 9, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for one count of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Hale to a total of 420 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hale’s release from prison, he will begin a lifetime term of supervised release. Hale was additionally ordered to pay $3,460 in restitution and $3,000 which will contribute to funds established for victims of these types of cases.

In February 2024, FBI Omaha was contacted regarding an investigation into a trend where individuals groom and subsequently entice victims, often minors, into a variety of concerning behaviors. These behaviors included engaging in and recording self-harm and producing sexually explicit images of themselves at the request of the predator. Noah Hale was identified as a suspect during the investigation. The FBI received several tips that associated Hale using various social media accounts where he requested, posted, and/or sent child pornography. 

A search warrant for Hale’s residence and his devices was executed on February 29, 2024. A review of those devices revealed approximately 2,300 media files that were flagged as files of interest. Most of these files appeared to be original content created by females Hale victimized. The files depicted females, a majority of whom were apparent minors, engaged in various circumstances to include: self-harm and self-mutilating behavior, child pornography, and “fan signs” which are files in which the female had written names associated with Hale on their body or on a sign. 

FBI underwent extensive efforts to locate the females identified in these files. Thirty minor females, between the ages of 11 and 17, from across the United States and in at least one other country were able to be identified from the 2,300 files. It was discovered that Hale would use various tactics of enticing, love bombing or threatening these minors with physical and sexual harm in order to convince them to produce images or videos of themselves for Hale. The files produced at Hale’s request were often sadistic and degrading.

“Hale is every parent’s worst nightmare: the type of predator who can gain access to their children even when they are in their own homes with their loved ones all around them,” said United States Attorney Lesley Woods.  “This type of predator grooms, manipulates, and threatens children and by the time they realize what is going on, the predator has them convinced of the lie that they have to comply with his sick demands. Hale deserves every minute of his federal prison time.  May he never talk to another child online so long as he lives.” 

After the sentencing, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “Criminals like Noah Hale are a horrific and chilling example of how child predators use technology to locate and victimize the most vulnerable members of our community. We will never stop using every investigative resource we have to identify and apprehend subjects like Hale and ensure he will not be in a position to harm another child for a very long time. We appreciate all the work of our law enforcement partners in this case to help bring some measure of justice on behalf of those victimized.”

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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Britain Snyder, 23, of Macy, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 2, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for assaulting a federal officer. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Snyder to one year and one day imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Snyder will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

On or about October 26, 2024, Victim I was a police officer with the Omaha Nation Law Enforcement Services who was in the performance of her official duties. Victim l's contract with the Omaha Nation Law Enforcement Services was federally funded. Victim 1 was called to assist with removing Snyder from a residence on the Omaha Nation Indian Reservation in Macy, Nebraska. Snyder fled and hid. Victim 1 located Snyder and in the process of taking him into custody, Snyder resisted arrest and assaulted Victim 1 by headbutting Victim l in the head.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Marlon Leiva-Orellana, of Honduras, was sentenced on June 30, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for illegal reentry and unlawfully possessing a firearm. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Leiva-Orellana to concurrent terms of 18 months’ imprisonment on both charges. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he faces deportation to Honduras. It is unlawful under federal law for an alien unlawfully in the United States, such as Leiva-Orellana, to possess a firearm.  

On January 13, 2026, the Omaha Police Department responded to a location near Camden Avenue in Omaha concerning gun shots. Officers arrived and located a Nissan truck with North Carolina license plates. Leiva-Orellana, also known as Marlon Leiva-Orellaha, was the only occupant of the truck. Officers observed a .22 caliber pistol inside the truck. Leiva-Orellana admitted that he had discharged the pistol. The officers arrested him. 

In addition to being convicted of unlawfully possessing a firearm, Leiva-Orellana was convicted for illegally reentering the United States. Despite being previously removed from the United States in November of 2023, Leiva-Orellana returned without lawful authority. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Omaha Police Department, and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Steven Potter, 54, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced on June 26, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Potter to 168 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Potter’s release from prison, he will serve a five-year term of supervised release. Potter also forfeited any claim to more than $30,000 and a vehicle seized during the investigation.

Potter was charged as a result of his involvement with a Mexico source of supply of methamphetamine known to supply the Omaha and Council Bluffs areas with methamphetamine via a local network of drug couriers. Potter was a local courier operating in Nebraska and Iowa who distributed the Mexican source’s drugs. On March 7, 2024, law enforcement observed Potter meet with suspected drug couriers at an Omaha location while conducting surveillance. Directly following the meetup, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle occupied by Potter. A search of the vehicle revealed more than 900 grams of methamphetamine. During a post-arrest interview, Potter admitted to delivering pound quantities of methamphetamine for the Mexican source for the past 8 months. 

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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska. 

A Nevada man and a Canadian and British national were sentenced today to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and 136 months in prison and three years of supervised release, respectively, for participating in a scheme to defraud thousands of investors of tens of millions of dollars between 2018 and 2022. 

According to court documents, Neil Suresh Chandran, 54, a foreign national residing in Nevada and California, created companies that he falsely claimed were about to be purchased by a consortium of billionaires at extraordinary valuations. Chandran and others solicited more than $45 million from over 10,000 investors based on these false representations. 

Bryan Lee, 60, of Las Vegas, was the nominee owner and sole officer of ViMarket, a company controlled by Chandran, which received millions in investor funds. Lee knew the funds came from individual investors and knew that the representations made to those investors were false. Nonetheless, Chandran and Lee used investor funds for their own personal benefit, purchasing luxury cars and real estate. 

“Neil Chandran and Bryan Lee deceived thousands of investors, exploited their trust, and stole their money,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Those who deceive investors, lie, and steal will be investigated and prosecuted. These two fraudsters deserve the sentence imposed. Their victims suffered because of their greed.”

“Schemes to defraud individual investors like the one carried out by Bryan Lee and Neil Suresh Chandran are personal crimes that have devastating consequences to the victims’ lives that last long after the crime is committed, and the money is spent,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods for the District of Nebraska. “It takes a particularly cold and calculating criminal to perpetrate these schemes and to continue to lie to victims to keep the scheme alive. Individuals who defraud victims in Nebraska and elsewhere will be held accountable under federal law.”

“Chandran and Lee treated investor funds as their own personal piggy bank, using the money to purchase multiple houses and dozens of luxury vehicles,” said Assistant Director in Charge Darren Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Their sentences reflect the commitment of the agents and prosecutors who fought for justice for the thousands of investors whom the defendants swindled out of millions.”

In April 2026, Chandran pleaded guilty to mail fraud and Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. 

The FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Adam L.D. Stempel, Anna Forgie, and Tian Huang of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section; Chelsea Rooney and Adrienne Rosen of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Kleine for the District of Nebraska prosecuted the case.