Southern District of Ohio
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Local cell phone store employee pleads guilty to child pornography crimesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Grove City man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to receiving and possessing child pornography.
Neil R. Brown, 41, worked at multiple cell phone stores in Columbus and, in addition to receiving child pornography files, Brown admitted that he also captured nude photos and videos from customers’ phones.
A cyber tipline report received in January 2025 led investigators to search Brown’s digital accounts and devices.
Investigators discovered more than 75 images and videos of child pornography on Brown’s cell phone, including child sexual abuse material of prepubescent minors approximately 7 to 9 years old. Brown paid virtual currency on an app to receive videos of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, Brown was employed by Cellular Sales and would take the phones of female customers and search through them for sexual or illicit content. Brown then captured the content on his own phone.
Agents also recovered 59 sexual images and videos of Cellular Sales customers that Brown had captured on his phone.
Brown was charged federally in December 2025.
Receipt of child pornography is a federal crime punishable by five to 20 years in prison and possessing child pornography carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.
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Cincinnati man admits to sexually exploiting teenager, 7-year-oldRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Kyle Rist, 39, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to two child exploitation crimes involving online conduct with a teenager and in-person conduct with a 7-year-old.
Rist admitted to coercion and enticement and sexual exploitation of children and faces 15 to 30 years in prison.
According to court documents, in September 2023, the grandparents of a teenaged victim alerted law enforcement in Oregon that their granddaughter had been sending and receiving sexually explicit videos of herself and of Rist through Facebook and SnapChat.
Rist referred to himself as daddy to the victim and told the victim they were in a relationship. Rist – pretending to be another man by the name of Jeremy Hadley – had ongoing online discussions with the same teenage victim.
Between August and November 2024, Rist sexually exploited a 7-year-old child by creating videos and images of the victim engaging in and assisting another person in sexually explicit conduct.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux and Kyle J. Healey are representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.
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Fairfield County man sentenced to prison for receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Lancaster man was sentenced in federal court today to 80 months in prison for receiving child pornography.
Carson A. Bigham, 24, was originally arrested on federal charges in May 2025. Bigham was charged in a bill of information filed in January 2026 with receipt of child pornography.
According to court documents, law enforcement received two separate Cybertips from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) related to a Columbus man who was charged with federal child pornography crimes in March 2025, including exploitation of a minor.
As part of their investigation, devices were seized from the Columbus man. Law enforcement’s forensic review of the devices revealed conversations between the Columbus man and Bigham. The conversations between the two men were sexual in nature and included discussions about engaging in sex with minors. Between August 2024 and May 2025, Bigham received child pornography during these discussions, including files that depicted prepubescent minors engaged in sex acts with adults. He also solicited the Columbus man for images of a fictitious female minor Bigham believed existed.
Law enforcement officers learned that Bigham was at the time employed as a Columbus firefighter and photographs of Bigham match those sent to the Columbus man during their conversations.
Bigham pleaded guilty in February.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin; other members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force; and officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Columbus Airport Group and Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Columbus registered sex offender sentenced to 22 years in prison for child pornography crimesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ryan C. Driscoll, 42, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 264 months in prison for distributing and receiving child pornography.
According to court documents, in June 2025, HSI Columbus received a tip from HSI Hague regarding Driscoll, who was communicating online with the username “diaperundiesdude.” Driscoll was a registered sex offender at the time and was a member of multiple online groups dedicated to the distribution of child sexual abuse material.
Driscoll’s online activity involved child pornography depicting infants, toddlers and young children, as well as a category known as “hurtcore.”
A forensic review of Driscoll’s cell phone revealed more than 1,000 videos and 800 images of child sexual abuse.
Driscoll also had a former federal conviction in the Southern District of Ohio for possessing child pornography. He was sentenced in 2012 to five years in prison. Driscoll was under federal supervised release at the time of his new offense. As such, he was sentenced to an additional 10 months in prison for violating the rules of his supervised release to be served consecutively to the 22-year term of imprisonment.
The defendant was charged in this current case in July 2025 and pleaded guilty in November 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.
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Previously convicted felon arrested as part of Cincinnati violent crime reduction initiative pleads guilty to gun crimeRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man who was arrested in March as part of a federal, state and local violent crime reduction initiative pleaded guilty in federal court here to illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.
Austin Fowler, 46, has previous convictions for aggravated robbery, drug possession, drug trafficking and weapons under disability.
According to court documents, Cincinnati police officers were conducting an investigation into a high-crime area in November 2025 when they saw Fowler commit a pedestrian violation. When an officer attempted to contact Fowler, Fowler ran and attempted to jump a fence to avoid capture. The defendant was apprehended and had a loaded pistol in his jacket pocket.
Fowler was arrested on March 9 and remains in custody pending sentencing.
Possessing a firearm or ammunition as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie announced the guilty plea entered on Aug. 12 before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Brucato is representing the United States in this case.
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Grand jury indicts Butler County sex offender for sex crimes involving 10-year-oldRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has indicted a Butler County registered sex offender who allegedly committed aggravated sexual abuse against a 10-year-old victim.
Adam Kendel, 43, of Fairfield Township, was arrested on related local charges in April. He was indicted federally in late July and taken into federal custody on Aug. 12. Kendel is due to appear in U.S. District Court on Aug. 18 for a detention hearing.
According to charging documents, on Feb. 28, Kendel crossed a state line with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor when he allegedly traveled from Ohio to Kentucky to engage in sexual conduct with the child victim. The indictment also alleges that, from August 2025 through March 2026, Kendel coerced and enticed the 10-year-old Kentucky girl to engage in sexual activity and produce child pornography. The final count in the indictment charges Kendel with committing new sex crimes while already registered as a sex offender.
Aggravated sexual abuse is punishable at least 30 years and up to life in prison. Coercion and enticement carries a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Committing these crimes while registered as a sex offender adds a mandatory 10-year prison sentence to any other sentence imposed.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and the Ashland, Kentucky, and Fairfield Township police departments announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle J. Healey and Ryan A. Keefe are representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.
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Delaware County man sentenced to nearly 27 years in prison for crimes involving bulk narcotics hauled in vehicle to Polaris Fashion PlaceRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A defendant convicted at trial in February of six counts of drug and gun crimes related to 28 kilograms of drugs found stashed in hidden compartments of a vehicle being hauled from California to Polaris Fashion Place was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 322 months in prison.
The case against Terrance Colvin, 39, of Columbus, Ohio, involved 27 kilograms of narcotics.
According to court documents and trial testimony, in May 2024, local HSI agents were notified by HSI Albuquerque that the New Mexico State Police stopped a commercial car hauler. One of the vehicles was to be delivered to Polaris Fashion Place in Delaware County. That vehicle had two hidden compartments and inside, investigators discovered 21 kilograms of methamphetamine and six kilograms of cocaine.
Federal and local law enforcement officials arranged for the controlled delivery of the vehicle to the Polaris mall parking lot.
Colvin took an Uber to Polaris Fashion Place to retrieve the vehicle upon delivery and drove the vehicle to his apartment in the 801 Polaris Apartments. Colvin parked the vehicle in a private parking garage next to a 2015 Cadillac Escalade and accessed the hidden compartments to transfer the narcotics, which law enforcement had primarily replaced with sham narcotics, into a duffel bag before being apprehended by law enforcement.
In a subsequent search of Colvin’s apartment, agents discovered and seized additional bulk amounts of narcotics, including fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. They also seized three loaded firearms.
As a previously convicted felon, Colvin is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. His criminal history includes arrests and convictions for various narcotics and weapons-related charges, kidnapping, receiving stolen property, driving under the influence, obstructing justice and disorderly conduct.
Colvin was originally indicted in June 2024.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and officials with the Delaware County Drug Task Force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin W. Kelley represented the United States in this case.
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Bellefontaine husband & wife plead guilty to federal narcotics crimeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A couple from Logan County pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a narcotics conspiracy involving bulk amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the mail.
Justin Salsburey, 44, pleaded guilty today, and Ruthann Rankin, 39, pleaded guilty last week.
According to court documents, in early November 2025, the Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force received information from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office that Salsburey was receiving parcels of bulk narcotics at his residence in Bellefontaine and that his wife was involved in the narcotics trafficking.
Further investigation revealed that between August 2024 and December 2025, the husband and wife received in the mail approximately 260 parcels from throughout the United States.
Law enforcement surveillance showed Salsburey and Rankin retrieving the parcels and then placing drugs in a cooler on their porch for pickup. Salsburey also drove to a Post Office in Dublin to mail fentanyl and methamphetamine pills out to customers. For example, he sent 52 parcels from addresses in Bellefontaine to a man in Middleburg Heights.
When law enforcement officials conducted a search warrant at the couple’s residence, they discovered bulk fentanyl and methamphetamine pills, suspected steroid virals and 12 firearms.
Rankin told authorities she assisted Salsburey in selling steroids and “Adderall” pills and that her husband started selling steroids and progressed to other drugs.
Salsburey and Rankin each pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and at least 40 grams of fentanyl, which carries a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; David Cunningham, Acting Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Logan County Sheriff Randall J. Dodds announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
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Previously convicted felon pleads guilty to illegally possessing firearm shown in social media postsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A repeat offender pleaded guilty in federal court here today to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Terrill Hill, 21, of Cincinnati, was previously convicted of a local firearms felony in 2025 and sentenced to 24 months of community control. He was charged federally in February 2026.
According to his plea documents, in November and December 2025, photos on Instagram showed Hill possessing a unique firearm. The firearm was a Glock with an extended magazine, a switch on the back, and a flashlight/laser pointer under the barrel. A switch is a metal device that effectively converts semi-automatic firearms into machineguns.
Agents executed a search warrant at a residence used by Hill and recovered the same firearm Hill had been seen holding in social media posts.
Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) announced the guilty plea entered today before Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney Frederic C. Shadley is representing the United States in this case.
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Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation leads to dismantling of dark web drug trafficking organizationRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Three defendants were convicted and sentenced in the Southern District of Ohio as part of a law enforcement operation against a dark web drug trafficking organization.
The coordinated multinational operation led to arrests of key members of the group in Florida, North Carolina, and Medellin, Colombia.
Between July 2017 and May 2023, the Undertaker45 drug trafficking organization operated as a sophisticated, transnational criminal enterprise that used the dark web marketplaces DarkMarket, White House, Dark0de, Dark0de Reborn and ASAP, along with encrypted messaging platforms like Wickr and Telegram, to distribute: (1) counterfeit OxyContin pills that actually contained fentanyl; and (2) counterfeit Adderall pills that actually contained methamphetamine. The organization was led from Medellín, Colombia, and supported by U.S.-based cell leaders in Miami, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
In Cincinnati, Cesar Augusto Olmos Usaquen, 51; Juan Carlos Carroll Borrero, 43; and Eduardo Villarroel Bellorin, 37; were prosecuted for participating in the drug and money laundering conspiracies.
According to court documents, Olmos Usaquen led the organization from Medellin, Colombia, where he ran the organization’s dark web presence. This included taking orders over the dark web and coordinating the shipment of counterfeit pills with his co-defendants.
In Miami, Carroll Borrero was responsible for receiving bulk shipments of counterfeit pills and then distributing those pills throughout the United States to the organization’s clients. The pills were commonly shipped in old DVD cases to avoid detection.
Villaroel Bellorin worked in North Carolina. There, he received bulk pill shipments and provided them to Carroll Borrero for further distribution. Villaroel Bellorin also coordinated the group’s money laundering efforts. The group received payments in cryptocurrency, largely bitcoin, before moving those funds through a variety of wallets to avoid law enforcement detection and eventually withdraw the funds in fiat currency.
In all, the group sold approximately 40 kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills and laundered $2.5 million in drug proceeds.
Usaquen and Borrero were each sentenced to 90 months in prison. Bellorin received a term of imprisonment of 38 months in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division; Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and Mason Police Chief Levi Wells; and officials with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, Colombian National Police and DEA Colombia announced the sentences imposed. Assistant United States Attorney Frederic C. Shadley is representing the United States in this case.
This case 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 Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
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Felon on supervised release pleads guilty to possessing machinegun device, drugs while causing high-speed chaseRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted felon currently on federal supervised release pleaded guilty in federal court here today to new gun and drug crimes.
Jashon Tatum, 29, of Columbus, led Columbus police officers on a high-speed chase in August 2024, striking another vehicle, before ultimately being caught with a firearm and machinegun conversion device and narcotics. He admitted in court today to possessing a machinegun, possessing ammunition as a previously convicted felon and possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances.
According to court documents, on Aug. 28, 2024, Columbus police officers used a phone ping to locate Tatum near Sullivant and South Wayne avenues as Tatum had active felony warrants. Officers observed Tatum driving a Mercedes Benz with the license plate “2BLK4U.” A police helicopter was deployed.
Tatum began to drive erratically on I-71, almost causing several accidents. He exited near 11th Avenue and struck another car. After crashing, Tatum then attempted to flee on foot, throwing things as CPD SWAT and task force officers with the ATF pursued him. He was ultimately taken into custody.
Investigators discovered a pistol with an attached machinegun conversion device, a magazine with ammunition and narcotics containing fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine base.
Tatum admitted to having fentanyl and crack cocaine but told officers he cut his fentanyl with sugar to make it less dangerous. He said he had been selling drugs to make money to pay for legal counsel in his other criminal cases.
Tatum was indicted and arrested in this case in July 2025.
Possessing a machinegun conversion device is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Possessing ammunition as a previously convicted felon carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison. The narcotics charge in this case involves a prison term of five to 40 years. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the guilty plea offered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Courter M. Shimeall. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty is representing the United States in this case.
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Jury finds Columbus man guilty of drug crime within Marietta school zone, firearms crimesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted Stephen Sullens, 29, of Columbus, on all counts as charged, finding him guilty of three drug and gun crimes.
The verdict was announced today following a trial that began on Aug. 4 before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.
According to court documents and trial testimony, on July 18, 2024, Sullens possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl within 1,000 feet of Saint Mary’s Catholic School. Marietta police officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. Sullens was in the vehicle in an alley behind a residence on 5th Street. When officers encountered the vehicle and its occupants, a police canine alerted, and officers discovered fentanyl and a pistol with a loaded magazine.
As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Sullens was originally indicted in this case in June 2025. He was convicted of three counts as charged in a superseding indictment in July 2026.
Sullens faces at least six years and up to life in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Marietta Police Chief Katherine Warden; and officials with the Southeast Major Crimes Task Force announced today’s verdict. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Nicole Pakiz are representing the United States in this case.
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Mexican illegal alien pleads guilty in fentanyl conspiracyRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – An illegal alien from Mexico pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to participating in a narcotics conspiracy that involved approximately a kilogram of fentanyl being brought to the Dayton area from Philadelphia. He separately pleaded to an immigration offense charging him with eluding inspection of immigration authorities.
Luis Gomez-Andres, 27, and Jonathan Salomon-Muguel, 22, of Dayton, were caught traveling with approximately a kilogram of fentanyl they obtained in Philadelphia to bring back to Dayton.
According to charging documents, in September 2025, Gomez-Andres was stopped for a traffic violation by law enforcement in Dayton, Ohio, and discovered to be illegally in the United States. Soon thereafter, immigration authorities returned Gomez-Andres to his country of citizenship.
Four months later, in January 2026, law enforcement developed information that Gomez-Andres illegally had returned to the United States. Based on that information, federal agents obtained an arrest warrant against Gomez-Andres for a criminal immigration offense and began to search for him in the community.
On Jan. 21, 2026, as federal agents continued their search, Gomez-Andres was stopped in a vehicle for a traffic violation in the state of Delaware. Salomon-Muguel was with him. During a search of their vehicle, officers discovered hidden within it a black metal safe containing bulk fentanyl bound for Dayton, Ohio.
The narcotics conspiracy in this case is punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Charges remain pending against Salomon-Muguel.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Painter is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Mexican citizen/local bar owner pleads guilty to cocaine, stolen vehicle crimesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Mexican citizen living in West Chester with an expired visa, who owned bars in Cincinnati and Middletown, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to distribute drugs from the businesses. The defendant also participated in the buying and selling of stolen vehicles.
Sergio Velasco-Cortes, 42, also known as Piojo, Gordo, and Bruno, was a member of a drug trafficking organization that distributed kilogram shipments of cocaine throughout the Southern District of Ohio, including the Cincinnati area. He owned and operated Ibiza Restaurant and Lounge in Cincinnati and Bar Bunny in Middletown.
In fall 2024, Velasco-Cortes purchased Ibiza from another drug trafficking organization member for $250,000 in cash. Velasco-Cortes admitted to engaging in drug trafficking activity at both bar locations.
In December 2024 and January 2025, Velasco-Cortes drove to a mechanic shop in Indianapolis to buy bulk amounts of narcotics to bring back to southern Ohio. The defendant was also connected to a coconspirator obtaining shipments of cocaine from Puerto Rico. The coconspirator delivered drugs to Velasco-Cortes at Bar Bunny in February 2025.
When executing search warrants in March and April 2025, agents discovered seven stolen vehicles at Velasco-Cortes’s residence. Several of the vehicles had falsified VINs. Further investigation revealed Velasco-Cortes and others discussed buying, “cleaning,” and selling stolen cars.
Velasco-Cortes and five others were charged federally on April 1, 2025.
Velasco-Cortes faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the guilty plea entered on Aug. 4 before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney David P. Dornette is representing the United States in this case.
This case 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 Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
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Perry County man sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually exploiting 4 minorsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Shannon “Michael” McTighe, 46, formerly of Thornville, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 480 months in prison for sexually exploiting at least four minor victims.
“McTighe committed horrific hands-on offenses against four young girls and amassed hundreds of thousands of videos and images of child sexual abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Putting this defendant in federal prison for the next 40 years protects these victims from further abuse and online exploitation.”
According to court documents, McTighe possessed 300,000 images and videos of child pornography on his electronic devices. The content also included newly created material which depicted McTighe sexually abusing four minor victims to whom he had access. The abuse of one victim began when she was 7 years old.
McTighe was arrested by FBI agents in Canton, Ohio, on June 12, 2025. At the time of his arrest, agents recovered numerous digital media devices and three pairs of female juvenile underwear in a safe in McTighe’s residence. His cell phone history included terms like underage, jailbait girls and extremely young.
McTighe pleaded guilty in February 2026 to sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.
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Illegal alien couple sentenced to 10 years in prison for cocaine, gun crimesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two illegal aliens from Mexico were sentenced in federal court here to 10 years in prison for cocaine and gun crimes.
Laura Reyes Esquivel, 49, and Mario Gamino Sanchez, 30, both of Lewis Center, possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possessed a firearm in furtherance of their drug trafficking crimes. Reyes Esquivel was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Sanchez was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.
According to court documents, in June 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop in which the couple were the sole occupants of the vehicle. Officers discovered more than two kilograms of cocaine and a loaded handgun inside the car. The couple planned to distribute the cocaine in the Columbus area for personal profit.
Sanchez and Reyes Esquivel were both charged in June 2025. Sanchez pleaded guilty in December 2025 and Reyes Esquivel in April 2026.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentences imposed. Assistant United States Attorney Sheila G. Lafferty is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Illegal alien from Guatemala who caused head-on collision pleads guilty to illegally reentering United StatesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – An illegal alien who was convicted locally of causing a head-on car crash that injured a Cincinnati Children’s Hospital nurse pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to illegally reentering the United States.
Johan Perez-Ventura, 27, was deported from the United States in February 2019 near Houston, Texas.
In November 2025, he was found by law enforcement in Butler County. Perez-Ventura was arrested on local charges after driving left of center and colliding with another vehicle. He was convicted at the local level in May 2026 of aggravated vehicular assault and sentenced to 54 months in prison.
The defendant has also been convicted of several other offenses, including assault and two convictions for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs in October 2024 and September 2023.
Illegally reentering the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to two years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Kevin Raycroft, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Federal grand jury indicts father whose toddler fatally shot himselfRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted felon whose toddler died by gunshot wound from an unsecured gun was indicted by a federal grand jury today for illegally possessing the firearm.
Deshawn Levelle Butler, 35, of Columbus, was arrested by federal agents on July 16 after originally being charged by criminal complaint.
According to charging documents, on July 11, Columbus police officers responded to a report of a shooting on Quinby Drive in Columbus. When officers arrived, they located a 21-month-old child suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and were told the child had accidentally shot himself. The victim was transported to Mount Carmel East Hospital and later pronounced deceased.
An affidavit details that Butler was allegedly with the child during the shooting and had fled the scene prior to law enforcement officials’ arrival.
Butler turned himself in the next morning to Columbus police headquarters, where he allegedly told officers his son had discovered Butler’s 9mm handgun in an open safe in a bedroom.
Butler was previously convicted of aggravated burglary and, as a result, is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Butler also had outstanding warrants for misdemeanor domestic violence charges.
Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Lawrence County man sentenced to 30 years in prison for creating child pornography of sexual abuse of toddlerRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Robert Grimmett, 25, of South Point, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 360 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for creating child pornography of his sexual abuse of a toddler.
“Thanks to swift work and international coordination by our HSI colleagues, this defendant—who posed an active threat to a toddler—was in handcuffs in a matter of hours,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “I am grateful to the agents of HSI and to our prosecution team for saving this child from further abuse at the hands of Grimmett, who will now serve 30 years behind bars.”
According to court documents, on May 28, 2025, HSI Netherlands received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding newly produced child sexual abuse materials.
Account data for the Kik application used to distribute the child pornography led investigators to Grimmett. His Facebook photos also confirmed his identity as the same man featured in the child sexual abuse materials.
Within one day of HSI Netherlands receiving the cyber tip, HSI Cincinnati obtained and executed a search warrant at Grimmett’s home and Grimmett was subsequently arrested.
Grimmett pleaded guilty in September 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.
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Hamilton man convicted at trial of federal drug crimesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal jury has convicted Marico Keeling, 36, of Hamilton, Ohio, with three counts of narcotics crimes. Keeling was a drug dealer who distributed narcotics and conspired with others to distribute large quantities of narcotics into communities in the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere.
Specifically, Keeling was found guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distributing methamphetamine and distributing fentanyl. The verdict was announced yesterday afternoon following a trial that began on July 20 before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole.
According to court documents and trial testimony, from at least August 2023 through October 2024, Keeling participated in a narcotics conspiracy.
Keeling had been the source of supply of nearly two pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl discovered during an undercover drug operation in Wisconsin on Dec. 19, 2023.
In Cincinnati, Keeling often met other drug dealers at Dewey Avenue, where Keeling’s co-defendant brother lived.
While executing search warrants of his brother’s residence on Dewey Avenue as well as Keeling’s vehicle and residence in October 2024, investigators discovered both fentanyl and methamphetamine.
The government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Keeling was responsible for the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He faces at least five years and up to 40 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Keeling was arrested and charged federally in October 2024.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit, announced the verdict. The DEA Cincinnati Resident Office was assisted in this investigation by members of the DEA Green Bay Resident Office, the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group, the Sharonville Police Department, the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, the Covington Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Springer and Ebunoluwa Taiwo are representing the United States in this case.
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New York man pleads guilty to transporting Colerain teenager with intent to engage in sexual activityRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Kyle D. Lawrence, 43, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court in Cincinnati today to transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Lawrence was arrested in late February after investigation into a missing Colerain teenager revealed he was previously involved with the minor.
Transporting a minor with the intent to engage in sexual activity is punishable by at least 10 years in prison.
According to court documents, on Feb. 16, Colerain Township police began investigating the circumstances surrounding a missing teenager. Officers reviewed video surveillance from the minor’s home and discovered that in January, the teenager entered a black Jeep Grand Cherokee with New York license plates. License plate readers and receipts confirm that Lawrence rented the vehicle and that he and the minor stayed at a Cincinnati hotel together on Jan. 31.
It was discovered that Lawrence was the subject of a report to the FBI in May 2024. Lawrence was confronted by a citizen vigilante group while in Canada for traveling to Canada to have sexual contact with a purported 15-year-old girl. Agents in Buffalo had previously been in contact with Lawrence in response to the report.
Further investigation by the FBI revealed two cyber tip reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding Lawrence’s Snapchat account and child exploitation activity.
On Feb. 26, FBI agents in Buffalo executed a federal search warrant at Lawrence’s residence and seized several electronic devices, which contained child sexual abuse material.
Court documents detail that Lawrence told agents he communicated with the minor from Colerain on Snapchat and traveled to the Cincinnati area twice in January to meet up. He used the location services on Snapchat to locate the minor when he picked her up.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Colerain Township Police Chief Edwin C. Cordie III and Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland.
This was a joint investigation being conducted by the FBI divisions in Cincinnati and Buffalo, Colerain Township Police Department, New York State Police and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Cincinnati man sentenced to federal prison for $6.5 million fraud schemeRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A local man was sentenced in federal court here today to 40 months in prison for defrauding victims out of more than $6.5 million through an online laundry and dry-cleaning pickup and delivery business.
Benjamin Cantey, 43, of Cincinnati, lied to investors and potential investors about his business’s financial stability, growth, and potential growth, and he lied about his business experience and prior business success.
According to court documents, in 2019, Cantey started Carbon IQ Inc., doing business as Rumby, as a Delaware corporation that he operated out of Cincinnati. Rumby was a venture-backed startup that purported to provide an e-commerce platform for pickup and delivery of laundry and dry cleaning. Cantey sought to raise investment money as the founder and CEO of the company.
From 2020 through 2022, Cantey communicated false information that overstated Rumby’s revenue, profits, bank balance, growth and potential growth. He sent false presentation decks to victims.
For example, Cantey claimed that Rumby ended May 2022 with a $1.5 million bank balance when in reality the account had a negative balance of approximately -$53,000.
The defendant spent $850,000 in investor money to help purchase a 5,000-square-feet, $1.7 million home on Garden Place in Cincinnati.
Cantey was indicted in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to wire fraud.
Vipal J. Patel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Singer is representing the United States in this case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Ohio Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison for Creating and Distributing Videos Depicting Monkey Torture and MutilationRead the Press Release
An Ohio man was sentenced to prison today in connection with his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.
Nicholas T. Dryden, of Cincinnati, was sentenced to 108 months in prison and three years of supervised release for creating so-called “animal crush videos,” and for conspiring to create and distribute animal crush videos.
According to court documents, in 2023 Dryden paid a minor residing in Indonesia to create videos of monkeys being tortured and abused. Dryden sold the resulting videos through various online groups which he administered to numerous other individuals.
According to statements of facts signed by Dryden, the videos in question included depictions of baby and adolescent monkeys being tortured in a multitude of ways, including having their genitals burned and cut off.
“The conduct perpetrated by these defendants was reprehensible,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Congress has said clearly that this conduct has no place in our society, and the Department of Justice stands ready to prosecute those who engaged in these heinous practices to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Dryden, who resided in Cincinnati, paid a minor on the other side of the world to film the torture and abuse of monkeys and then sold those videos to others,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. “This sadistic and obscene conduct is unacceptable in any civilized society and Dryden will rightfully spend time in prison for his actions.”
“This was an extraordinarily disturbing and heinous case of animal cruelty,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement. “Orchestrating the deliberate torture and murder of baby primates is unconscionable. Our agents worked tirelessly to support the pursuit of justice. Today’s sentencing reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable and sends a clear warning to anyone who would commit such acts: we will find you, and you will be held accountable.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FBI investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Adam C. Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section is prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Oakley for the Southern District of Ohio also helped prosecute the case.
Father whose toddler fatally shot himself charged federally for illegally possessing firearm as previously convicted felonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted felon whose toddler died by gunshot wound from an unsecured gun now faces a federal charge for illegally possessing a firearm.
Deshawn Levelle Butler, 35, of Columbus, was arrested by federal agents earlier today and appeared in federal court in Columbus at 1:30pm.
“As a previously convicted felon, Butler was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition at the time of this incident,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Nothing can bring back the toddler who tragically died at the hands of Butler’s weapon, but we will use every federal tool at our disposal to ensure justice is accomplished in this matter.”
According to charging documents, on July 11, Columbus police officers responded to a report of a shooting on Quinby Drive in Columbus. When officers arrived, they located a 21-month-old child suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and were told the child had accidentally shot himself. The victim was transported to Mount Carmel East Hospital and later pronounced deceased.
An affidavit details that Butler was allegedly with the child during the shooting and had fled the scene prior to law enforcement officials’ arrival.
Butler turned himself in the next morning to Columbus police headquarters, where he allegedly told officers his son had discovered Butler’s 9mm handgun in an open safe in a bedroom.
Butler was previously convicted of aggravated burglary and, as a result, is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Butler also had outstanding warrants for misdemeanor domestic violence charges.
Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Cincinnati man sentenced to life in prison for ordering murder of family member, running drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A local man who ordered the murder of his own uncle during the summer of 2021 was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to life plus a mandatory consecutive 10 years in prison.
Jamal Binford, 34, of Dallas and Cincinnati, was convicted following a jury trial in February 2025.
“The evidence at trial proved that Binford ordered the cold-blooded execution of his own uncle and he did so simply to protect his drug trafficking organization,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “The defendant may not have pulled the trigger, but he ordered the execution and is equally responsible for the murder. A sentence of life in prison reflects the seriousness of Binford’s offenses and is just punishment.”
According to court documents and trial testimony, Binford purported to manage two co-defendants as boxers, presenting himself as a successful boxing promoter aiding young men he wanted to help off the streets. Binford sold young boxers on the dream of becoming pro fighters. Instead, used them as his soldiers in his drug trafficking enterprise.
Between May and November 2021, Binford sold kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine and hundreds of pounds of marijuana. To protect his drug trafficking operation, he ordered co-defendants Antwan Coach, Jr., 23, of Cincinnati, and Markel Hardy, 24, of Cincinnati, to murder his own uncle, Deonte Nuckols.
As the government outlined at trial, Binford paid the two other men $2,000 total to kill Mr. Nuckols, who had had been texting Binford that day about Binford paying a drug debt.
Binford also assisted the co-defendants after the July 2021 robbery and murder of Kamar Williams in North College Hill. Mr. Williams was robbed of marijuana and a firearm and shot to death. Binford helped Hardy flee the scene.
Binford was found guilty at trial of participating in the narcotics conspiracy, being an accessory after the fact, murder in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy, use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and use of a firearm to commit murder.
Binford was arrested in February 2023 at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie; North College Hill Interim Police Chief Craig Chaney; and St. Bernard Police Chief Michael Simos announced the sentence imposed today Senior by U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division also aided during the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley N. Brucato and Frederic C. Shadley represented the United States in this case.
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Venezuelan illegal alien pleads guilty to assaulting federal officerRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – An illegal alien from Venezuela pleaded guilty in federal court here today to assaulting a federal officer.
Kendry Jose Cubian-Perez, 40, admitted to punching a federal officer during apprehension.
According to court documents, on May 8, law enforcement officials were conducting surveillance of a residence in Powell, attempting to apprehend a known criminal alien. Cubian-Perez exited the residence and entered a vehicle registered to the target of the enforcement operation.
When an apprehension team officer turned on their emergency vehicle lights, Cubian-Perez attempted to flee. The defendant encountered an Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officer and punched the officer in the face, causing the officer’s tooth to puncture his bottom lip. Cubian-Perez tried to escape as the officer and others on scene responded to apprehend him and place him in handcuffs.
Cubian-Perez was charged by criminal complaint on May 8 and indicted by a federal grand jury the same month.
Assault of a federal officer inflicting bodily injury is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Kevin Raycroft, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Defendant who continued to traffic drugs after federal indictment sentenced to more than 14 years in prisonRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Georgia man who continued to traffic drugs after being indicted federally was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 170 months in prison.
David Gullatte, 39, of Lithonia, Georgia, was a prolific drug trafficker who brought bulk amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine into the Southern District of Ohio from a source of supply in California.
According to court documents, between 2020 and 2021, law enforcement intercepted multiple kilograms of narcotics being mailed to Gullatte. Gullatte would buy the drugs from California then arrange for the supplier to mail the drugs to homes in Atlanta and Dayton. Upon receiving the drug shipments, Gullatte resold them in southern Ohio and elsewhere.
For example, in September 2020, Gullatte obtained a drug shipment of more than 20 kilograms of methamphetamine in Atlanta and then arranged for another person to transport the drugs for delivery and resale in Dayton.
While under indictment for this conduct and pending trial, investigators caught Gullatte supplying cocaine and other drugs to a drug trafficking ring in Xenia.
Throughout the drug conspiracies, Gullatte was responsible for the trafficking of more than 30 kilograms of various controlled substances including cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.
Gullatte was originally indicted in May 2024. He was charged for his continued drug trafficking in March 2025. He pleaded guilty in both cases in September 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Walter H. Rice. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi, Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith and Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth McCormick are representing the United States in these cases.
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Champaign County man pleads guilty to distributing child pornographyRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Christopher Creamer, 40, of Urbana, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to distributing child pornography.
The plea agreement includes a recommended sentence of between 60 and 210 months in prison.
According to court documents, from June to August 2025, Creamer communicated online with who he believed to be a Telegram user but was actually an FBI agent. Creamer admitted to sending two images and 16 videos of child pornography to the agent. He also discussed his interest in the sexual abuse of children.
In a subsequent search of Creamer’s electronic devices, agents discovered more than 3,000 images and 130 videos depicting child pornography, including images of the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers and sadomasochistic abuse.
Creamer was arrested and charged by federal criminal complaint in March 2026.
Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Christina E. Mahy is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.
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Repeat sex offender sentenced to nearly 33 years in prison for sexually exploiting 8-year-oldRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Approximately two years after he was released from prison for starving, beating and locking a 5-year-old child in a room for months, Timothi L. Cramer, 45, of Columbus, sexually exploited an 8-year-old. Cramer was sentenced in federal court here on July 10 to 393 months in prison.
According to court documents, cyber tips were received regarding Cramer uploading hundreds of child pornography files in February and March 2024.
Metadata for one image was flagged as “newly produced content” and indicated it had been created in February 2024 at or near the Baymont Inn in Columbus. The explicit photo depicted an 8-year-old victim. Cramer admitted to asking the child to pull down her pants for him for the photo.
Subsequent investigation of images and videos in Cramer’s Gmail accounts revealed that Cramer seemed to have regular access to at least three minors.
In addition, investigation of his electronics showed that Cramer had obtained a voluminous catalog of child sexual abuse images and videos from the internet, including of toddlers and videos that depicted minors engaged in bestiality and subjected to sadistic and masochistic abuse.
The defendant was previously convicted in 2006 in Lake County, Florida, of Cruelty Toward Child Aggravated Child Abuse Torture and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with credit for 504 days served. He was released from prison in 2022.
Cramer pleaded guilty in this case in February 2025 to sexually exploiting a minor and possessing child pornography.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.
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Final fugitives charged as part of ‘Operation Fly City’ enforcement operation arrestedRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – The final of four fugitives charged in June as part of “Operation Fly City” were arrested by federal agents yesterday evening.
U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II announced on June 22 with federal law enforcement partners the results of an eight-week operation to fight gun violence and drug trafficking in Dayton. Forty-seven defendants face federal charges.
During the operation, which began on April 27, agents seized 176 firearms, as well as machinegun conversion devices and kilogram quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
At the time of the announcement, four defendants remained at large: Isaiah Chancellor, 25, of Dayton; Anthony Scott, 23, of Dayton; Eucelf Taste Sr., 46, of Trotwood; and Eucelf Taste Jr., 22, of Dayton.
Father and son Taste Sr. and Taste Jr. were arrested yesterday by officials with the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST), which is led by the United States Marshals Service. SOFAST arrested Taste Sr. and Taste Jr. in the parking lot of a business complex in Oakwood.
Taste Jr. allegedly sold fentanyl and a machinegun to undercover officers. He told officers he was a member of the 41 Boyz, a violent drug trafficking organization that law enforcement knows to offer protection services to other drug dealers. Charging documents detail that Taste Jr. allegedly offered these services to undercover officers, saying he and others would willingly provide armed security at a five-kilogram drug deal. Taste Jr. allegedly showed up to the purported deal site on June 9, armed, and brought with him two other associates who were also armed.
Taste Jr. also allegedly discussed his father, saying his father was a major drug trafficker with direct drug connections to Mexico.
Taste Sr. allegedly received kilograms of narcotics every month from his drug source. The son showed undercover officers a June 8 photo of his father holding up a trash bag purportedly filled with half a million dollars in cash from drug sales. Through an introduction from Taste Jr., Taste Sr. then allegedly sold a kilogram of fentanyl to an undercover officer.
The two other fugitives were taken into custody last month. Chancellor was arrested June 23. He is charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Scott, who was arrested on June 30, is charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The charges against all 47 defendants were brought via 20 federal indictments and three federal criminal complaints. Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi, Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith, Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Rossi, Elizabeth L. McCormick, Rob Painter, Brendan Sullivan, Erica D. Lunderman, Christina E. Mahy and Ryan A. Saunders and Special Assistant United States attorney Allison Oswall are representing the United States in these cases.
These cases are 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 Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
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Dayton man sentenced to federal prison after shootout on University of Dayton campusRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Dylan Hiner, 20, of Dayton, was sentenced in federal court here to 27 months in prison for illegally receiving a firearm or ammunition while under indictment for another felony crime.
According to court documents, Hiner was attending a Halloween party on Nov. 1, 2025, at the University of Dayton. While at the party, Hiner participated in a shootout. The defendant fired multiple rounds of ammunition into the air. A student was shot in the leg by another suspect who was also firing a weapon.
The Dayton Police Department and University of Dayton Police Department arrived on scene and discovered multiple rounds of ammunition and observed home surveillance footage. Video surveillance shows Hiner discharging a firearm between houses on Evanston Avenue.
At the time of this incident, Hiner was under indictment in Montgomery County for allegedly carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and therefore was prohibited by federal law from receiving a firearm or ammunition.
Hiner has been suspected of multiple shootings and other acts of violence in 2025. The United States detailed in its sentencing memorandum that Hiner was captured on surveillance and in Instagram posts possessing and firing weapons.
Hiner was arrested and charged federally on Nov. 10, 2025. He pleaded guilty in this federal case in February.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Dayton Police Chief Eric Henderson and University of Dayton Police Chief Steve Durian announced the sentence imposed on July 14 by U.S. District Judge Michal J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Federal grand jury indicts 8 men in conspiracies related to plot to attack UFC Freedom 250 event at White House, kill government officialsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A total of eight defendants now face federal charges related to the alleged plot to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 event held at the White House on June 14. All eight men were charged together in a two-count indictment returned in Columbus today.
The indictment stems from an initial investigation and criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Ohio against Tycen C. Proper 19, of Danville, Ohio. Proper and four others charged federally by criminal complaint in Missouri, Nebraska and California were arrested the weekend of the UFC event. Two more defendants were charged by criminal complaint and arrested by the FBI approximately one week later in Washington and Missouri.
This week, an eighth defendant, Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, was taken into custody in West Virginia. Scaggs was allegedly assigned to be one of the snipers in the plotted attack. An affidavit details that Scaggs was to be picked up by Proper to travel to Washington, D.C. Scaggs and others lost contact with Proper upon Proper’s arrest, but Scaggs allegedly indicated to the group that he was still willing to participate in the attack and made new plans for another coconspirator to pick him up to travel to the UFC Freedom 250 event.
A full list of those charged in the indictment includes:
NameAlso Known AsAgeCity of ResidenceAbraham H. AlvarezShepherd31Omaha, NebraskaDaniel K. EskridgeFulcrum32Hamilton, MissouriWilliam L. S. FalknerPepsi21Belfair, WashingtonTycen J. ProperProx19Danville, OhioJordan W. RinckerShriveled Shlong28St. Joseph, MissouriBryan O. RoaNoble25Calimesa, CaliforniaChandler D. ScaggsViper of the S.O.G.21Chapmanville, West VirginiaMichael A. ThomasWhiskey Six32Pinon Hills, CaliforniaThe indictment charges all eight men in two conspiracies: conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official. The indictment replaces the initial charges filed in criminal complaints in various Districts across the country.
According to the indictment, starting in May 2026, the defendants conspired to provide material support and resources to terrorists in the form of money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical equipment, communication equipment, personnel and other services.
The eight men allegedly participated in online chat groups and forums on Signal, SimpleX, Discord, TikTok and Instagram. Throughout these communications, they allegedly developed plans for attacks, recruited members and encouraged each other to prepare for attacks, including the attack on UFC Freedom 250.
The indictment details that, as part of their conspiracy, the defendants created a tier system to classify participants. Tier one conspirators allegedly committed to put themselves “in harms [sic] way, break the law, and potentially go into hiding.”
Besides amassing weapons, ammunition, tactical gear and other supplies, the defendants also allegedly engaged in marksmanship and combat training, agreed on targets for the UFC Freedom 250 event and created operational plans to commit the attack and escape after the attack.
Count two of the indictment charges a second conspiracy, namely, conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official.
As part of this conspiracy, the defendants allegedly planned to murder the President of the United States, Vice President of the United States, other federal officials, the Prime Minister of Israel, Elon Musk and “other high value targets” at UFC Freedom 250.
Conspiring to provide material support to terrorists is punishable by up to 15 years of imprisonment. Conspiring to commit murder carries a potential penalty of up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio, Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice National Security Division John A. Eisenberg, FBI Cincinnati Division Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Jason Rees, Knox County Sheriff Daniel J. Weckesser, Danville Police Chief Monte L. Vance and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the indictment. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Nebraska, Western District of Missouri, Central District of California and Western District of Washington, as well as law enforcement partners in those jurisdictions, investigated and charged the previous related criminal complaints.
Assistant United States Attorneys Damoun Delaviz and David J. Twombly and Department of Justice National Security Trial Attorney James Donnelly are representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts 8 Men in Conspiracies Related to Plot to Attack UFC Freedom 250 Event at White House, Kill Government OfficialsRead the Press Release
A total of eight defendants now face federal charges related to the alleged plot to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 event held at the White House on June 14. All eight men were charged together in a two-count indictment returned in Columbus today.
The indictment stems from an initial investigation and criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Ohio against Tycen C. Proper 19, of Danville, Ohio. Proper and four others charged federally by criminal complaint in Missouri, Nebraska and California were arrested the weekend of the UFC event. Two more defendants were charged by criminal complaint and arrested by the FBI approximately one week later in Washington and Missouri.
This week, an eighth defendant, Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, was taken into custody in West Virginia. Scaggs was allegedly assigned to be one of the snipers in the plotted attack. An affidavit details that Scaggs was to be picked up by Proper to travel to Washington, D.C. Scaggs and others lost contact with Proper upon Proper’s arrest, but Scaggs allegedly indicated to the group that he was still willing to participate in the attack and made new plans for another coconspirator to pick him up to travel to the UFC Freedom 250 event.
A full list of those charged in the indictment includes:
NameAlso Known AsAgeCity of ResidenceAbraham H. AlvarezShepherd31Omaha, NebraskaDaniel K. EskridgeFulcrum32Hamilton, MissouriWilliam L. S. FalknerPepsi21Belfair, WashingtonTycen J. ProperProx19Danville, OhioJordan W. RinckerShriveled Shlong28St. Joseph, MissouriBryan O. RoaNoble25Calimesa, CaliforniaChandler D. ScaggsViper of the S.O.G.21Chapmanville, West VirginiaMichael A. ThomasWhiskey Six32Pinon Hills, CaliforniaThe indictment charges all eight men in two conspiracies: conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official. The indictment replaces the initial charges filed in criminal complaints in various Districts across the country.
According to the indictment, starting in May 2026, the defendants conspired to provide material support and resources to terrorists in the form of money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical equipment, communication equipment, personnel and other services.
The eight men allegedly participated in online chat groups and forums on Signal, SimpleX, Discord, TikTok and Instagram. Throughout these communications, they allegedly developed plans for attacks, recruited members and encouraged each other to prepare for attacks, including the attack on UFC Freedom 250.
The indictment details that, as part of their conspiracy, the defendants created a tier system to classify participants. Tier one conspirators allegedly committed to put themselves “in harms [sic] way, break the law, and potentially go into hiding.”
Besides amassing weapons, ammunition, tactical gear and other supplies, the defendants also allegedly engaged in marksmanship and combat training, agreed on targets for the UFC Freedom 250 event and created operational plans to commit the attack and escape after the attack.
Count two of the indictment charges a second conspiracy, namely, conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official.
As part of this conspiracy, the defendants allegedly planned to murder the President of the United States, Vice President of the United States, other federal officials, the Prime Minister of Israel, Elon Musk and “other high value targets” at UFC Freedom 250.
Conspiring to provide material support to terrorists is punishable by up to 15 years of imprisonment. Conspiring to commit murder carries a potential penalty of up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio, Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice National Security Division John A. Eisenberg, Acting Assistant Director Coult Markovsky of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, FBI Cincinnati Division Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Jason Rees, Knox County Sheriff Daniel J. Weckesser, Danville Police Chief Monte L. Vance and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the indictment. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Nebraska, Western District of Missouri, Central District of California and Western District of Washington, as well as law enforcement partners in those jurisdictions, investigated and charged the previous related criminal complaints.
Assistant United States Attorneys Damoun Delaviz and David J. Twombly and Department of Justice National Security Trial Attorney James Donnelly are representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Dublin man who sexually abused minors in Ohio & Utah pleads guilty, faces up to life in prisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Dublin, Ohio, man arrested in Utah in November 2025 pleaded guilty in federal court here today to coercion and enticement of a minor, an offense that carries a mandatory-minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Wade S. Christofferson, 73, admitted to coercing and enticing minors under the age of 10.
In November 2025, Christofferson was overheard on a sexually explicit FaceTime call with a minor victim. He had sent coded letters to the victim’s Utah home that referenced sexual activity for approximately six months.
A few weeks after the FaceTime call occurred, the Dublin Police Department received a report regarding the alleged sexual abuse of an Ohio minor by Christofferson that occurred when the victim was approximately 7 and 8 years old.
The defendant committed hands-on sexual abuse of the child in Utah and the second victim in Ohio approximately 20 times.
In his letters and calls, Christofferson taught the 7-year-old Utah victim code words like “snow” for vagina, “friends” for nipples, “asterisk (*)” for naked, a drawn “smiley face” for rubs and “SS” for “Secret Spanks.” He was overheard on a FaceTime call asking the victim if he could see her “snow” and “friends.” Christofferson wrote the victim “Top Secret” hand-written messages and advised they were only for the victim to read.
Dublin police officers executed a search warrant at Christofferson’s home in mid-November and seized his electronic devices. The FBI completed a forensic examination of Christofferson’s phone and discovered search history for “criminal defense attorneys sex crimes columbus ohio” and “In Ohio do clergy have to report child abuse confessions” as well as information about leaving the country.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Dublin Police Chief Justin Paez and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
U.S. Attorney Gerace commended the significant contributions to this case by the FBI Salt Lake City Division, the Payson, Utah Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.
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Cincinnati man allegedly involved in Northside shooting indicted by federal grand juryRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has indicted a Cincinnati man who was allegedly involved in the May 26 shooting at the Northside transit center for illegally possessing a firearm.
Yecowniyah Beal, 26, is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. He allegedly possessed a rifle.
According to police reports of the May 26 incident, Beal was present at the shootings and was seen on surveillance videos brandishing his weapon. He was one of four individuals injured.
Beal’s prior criminal history includes attempted felonious assault with a weapon resulting from an incident in which Beal shot a victim in the leg outside of a nightclub and then shot into the air. He also has two other previous firearms or weapons convictions.
“We continue to track all shootings in Cincinnati and will bring federal charges against those involved whenever we can,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Our determination to reduce violent crime in this city remains steadfast.”
Illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie announced the charges. Special Assistant United States Attorney Allison B. Oswall from Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson’s office is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Blue Ash man who placed hidden cameras in minor victims’ home pleads guilty to sexual exploitationRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Blue Ash man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to sexual exploitation of children for hiding spy cameras in the home of minor victims.
David Mitsnefes, 32, faces a term of imprisonment of 15 to 30 years. Mitsnefes admitted to surreptitiously capturing videos of a minor in their bedroom in various states of undress without their knowledge and attempting to capture videos of another minor.
According to court documents, between 2021 and 2025, on multiple occasions, the family of the teenaged victims found hidden cameras in the minors’ bedrooms. Mitsnefes used wifi to save videos of the minors to his iPhone. He also took the victims’ underwear and kept them in his bedroom.
In November 2025, the family’s Ring security camera caught an image of the suspect wearing a dark hoodie and pants entering the home while the family was out of town. A subsequent search of Mitsnefes’s electronic devices revealed videos of the victims as well as numerous images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material obtained over the internet. He possessed more than 5,000 images and 3,000 videos of child pornography on his electronic devices.
Mistnefes was charged federally and arrested in December 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Blue Ash Police Chief Roger Pohlman and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.
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Columbus repeat felon pleads guilty to firearms crime on same day jury trial was to commenceRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus repeat felon whose jury trial was scheduled to begin on Monday pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to a firearms crime.
Antonio Triplett, 47, pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Triplett, who is also known as “Trip,” has at least six prior convictions that prohibit him from possessing a firearm, including robbery and domestic violence.
According to court documents, on July 12, 2025, Columbus police officers were dispatched to Stevens Avenue in response to a 911 call about an armed man threatening a woman. Triplett was present at the property despite requests that he leave.
Officers discovered a pistol under an inflatable mattress in the residence’s living room. Triplett told officers he had been staying at the home and spending most of his time in the living room. He also told officers that if his DNA was on the firearm, it was because he picked it up while cleaning the house. Lab results issued on Dec. 31, 2025, showed Triplett’s DNA on the firearm in at least three areas.
The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2026.
Triplett faces up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the guilty plea entered on July 6 before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
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Man who fraudulently received $32 million business tax refund check sentenced to 3 years in prisonRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – An Atlanta-area man who was found guilty of wire fraud and theft of public funds following a March bench trial was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 36 months in prison.
Christopher Dowtin, 49, of Jonesboro, Georgia, fraudulently converted two businesses’ IRS accounts to his name and address. The defendant received tax refund checks – including one for more than $32 million – that were to be paid out to these two businesses. He was sentenced on June 26.
Today in federal court in Dayton, Bondary McCall, 64, of Lithia Springs, Georgia, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for filing a false, retaliatory lien against the federal judge originally assigned to Dowtin’s case.
Two months after Dowtin’s arrest on the tax crimes, McCall filed a false lien in the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation claiming that Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose owed Dowtin $32 million. Judge Rose was originally presiding over Dowtin’s fraud case.
According to court documents and trial testimony, Dowtin fraudulently submitted IRS forms claiming to be the responsible party for two separate companies.
In December 2024, the IRS processed eight Change of Address or Responsible Party-Business forms associated with Dowtin. Dowtin’s requests for changes were completed and accepted. He ultimately received two tax refund checks for those companies: one in the amount of $32,495,888.58 and one in the amount of $26,156.50.
Dowtin traveled from Georgia to Ohio with the two checks to open an account in the Southern District of Ohio.
On Feb. 13, 2025, Dowtin took the checks to a Morgan Stanley office in Beavercreek, Ohio, and attempted to negotiate the funds into a brokerage account in a trust in his name. Dowtin told the Morgan Stanley financial advisor that the two companies were paying him for illegally using his “personhood.” He said the payments owed to him had been transferred to him from the IRS. The financial advisor verified that the checks were valid U.S. Treasury checks.
On Feb. 19, 2025, an executive director at Morgan Stanley contacted the United States Secret Service and IRS Criminal Investigation regarding the suspicious nature of the checks and Dowtin’s supporting paperwork. The checks were seized by law enforcement.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Robert Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Jason Rees, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service; announced the sentences imposed by Senior U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith and Assistant United States Attorney Erica D. Lunderman are representing the United States in the cases.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Federal grand jury indicts 11 Venezuelan & Colombian illegal aliens for sex, drug, firearm traffickingRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Eleven illegal aliens from Venezuela and Colombia have been charged federally in a case involving the sex trafficking of a minor and an adult, drug trafficking, and firearms trafficking. Ten were arrested today in Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida.
“These defendants—ten of whom are currently illegally present in this country—allegedly engaged in a panoply of illicit trafficking activity, from drugs to firearms to human beings,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “We have no tolerance for anybody who commits such crimes in our communities and we will prosecute them to fullest extent of the law.”
“We will continue to work hard to keep Ohio safe and get narcotics, firearms, and violent criminals off the streets,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie. “These indictments would not be possible without the strong partnerships with our state, local, and federal partners.”
“Today’s enforcement actions are the result of continued coordination with our law enforcement partners to investigate networks of criminals who illegally possess and sell firearms,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jorge Rosendo. “The ATF will continue to hold accountable those who violate federal firearms laws.”
“This indictment demonstrates the Homeland Security Task Force’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from transnational criminal organizations that profit from exploiting vulnerable individuals and trafficking dangerous drugs and firearms,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “HSI, working alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and dismantle criminal networks that threaten public safety.”
A Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation led to the 30-count indictment that was returned on June 11 and unsealed today.
According to the indictment, from July through August 2025, four of the defendants conspired to sex traffic a minor between the ages of 14 and 18 years old and an adult victim. The charging document details that, in relation to this alleged conspiracy, defendants traveled interstate to promote prostitution. Additional charges included creating online commercial sex advertisements in the central Ohio area.
From at least May 2025 until April 2026, defendants allegedly participated in a narcotics conspiracy involving MDMA or ecstasy. Finally, the indictment alleges that some of the defendants unlawfully possessed firearms as illegal aliens and illegally trafficked at least nine firearms.
Those indicted and a list of their charges includes:
NameAgeResidenceNationalityJean Pierre Alejandro Guillen Salcedo30Hilliard, OhioVenezuelanBriyi Daniela Ordonez-Iter21Hilliard, OhioColombianKeivar Elian Guillen Salcedo26Charlotte, NCVenezuelanDervin Alejandro Colmenares Quintero29MexicoVenezuelanTaidin Adreina Ferrer Guillen34Hilliard, OhioVenezuelanJohn Alexandre Fajardo-Ulzcategui27Smyrna, TennesseeVenezuelanPedro Angel Colls-Flores34Columbus, OhioVenezuelanJulian David Patino Pena33Columbus, OhioColombianJose Ruben Sanchez-Pena34Smyrna, TennesseeVenezuelanAlismar Daniela Contreras-Arevalo20Columbus, OhioVenezuelanTherry Brayant Leon Gavida34Jacksonville, FloridaVenezuelanDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit announced the charges. The Columbus Division of Police, DEA, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and United States Marshals Service have provided significant assistance in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Sheila G. Lafferty and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States.
This case 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 Columbus comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Jury finds Arizona man guilty of leading bulk cocaine, money laundering conspiracies tied to CincinnatiRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal jury found an Arizona man guilty on all counts for his role in leading narcotics and money laundering conspiracies. The government has seized more than 162 kilograms of cocaine, three kilograms of fentanyl and $1.4 million of bulk cash in total.
Cesar Cervantes, 52, of Tucson, Arizona, was convicted of participating in drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies and of distributing five kilograms or more of cocaine. He faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
The verdict was announced following a trial that began on June 9 before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland.
According to court documents and trial testimony, for several years, Cervantes supplied between 25 and 50 kilograms of cocaine bi-weekly to coconspirators. Cervantes used a network of couriers to deliver the drugs that originated from Mexico to multiple locations, including to designated couriers in Cincinnati. The drug trafficking conspiracy operated from at least July 2018 until August 2023.
Cervantes used Colombian and Chinese money launderers to funnel the drug proceeds back to Mexico. For example, in July and August 2023, Cesar had other coconspirators deliver approximately $300,000 in drug proceeds to two separate money launderers, one who worked for a sophisticated China-based money laundering organization, and the other who worked for a separate sophisticated Colombia-based money laundering organization.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit, announced the verdict. Assistant United States Attorneys David P. Dornette and Frederic C. Shadley are representing the United States in this case.
These cases are 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 Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
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47 defendants charged as part of ‘Operation Fly City’ Homeland Security Task Force enforcement operationRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II announced today with federal law enforcement partners the results of an eight-week operation to fight gun violence and drug trafficking in Dayton. Forty-seven defendants face federal charges, and 43 individuals are in federal custody following arrests last week. During the operation, which began on April 27, agents seized 176 firearms, as well as machinegun conversion devices and kilogram quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
“The goal of this operation was simple: to get guns and drugs off the street and out of the hands of the most violent and habitual offenders,” said U.S. Attorney Gerace. “Law enforcement at all levels took that mission seriously and I thank them for making our streets safer. I also thank the prosecutors in my office for the dedication and skill that it took to support this large operation. We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to maintain law and order and keep our communities safe.”
Special Agent in Charge Jorge A. Rosendo stated “I’m proud of the women and men of the ATF’s Columbus Field Division and all they accomplished in such a short period of time. Their dedication to duty and unwavering commitment to the citizens of Dayton, Ohio were truly remarkable throughout this operation. It is our sincere desire that our collective efforts will have a lasting and positive impact on their community for years to come.”
“Operation Fly City is a testament to the strength of the Homeland Security Task Force and HSI’s unwavering commitment to making our communities safer,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “By working together with our federal, state, and local partners, we were able to disrupt dangerous criminal activity and remove illegal firearms and narcotics from the streets of Dayton. HSI remains dedicated to protecting the public and ensuring that those who threaten our neighborhoods are held accountable.”
“This operation is another example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies work together toward a common goal,” said Dayton Police Chief Eric Henderson. “By targeting individuals responsible for violent crime, illegal firearms, and drug trafficking, we are making our neighborhoods safer and sending a clear message that those who threaten our community will be held accountable. I want to thank our officers and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment throughout this operation. The Dayton Police Department remains committed to reducing gun violence and improving the quality of life for everyone who lives, works, and visits our city.”
“The arrests and seizures announced today are the result of extensive investigative efforts focused on identifying those responsible for drug trafficking, illegal firearms offenses, and other criminal activity,” said Sheriff Rob Streck. “This operation highlights the impact of strong partnerships and a shared commitment to addressing the criminal activity that affects our communities.”
The charges were brought via 20 federal indictments and three federal criminal complaints in Dayton over the past few weeks. Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi, Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith, Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Rossi, Elizabeth L. McCormick, Rob Painter, Brendan Sullivan, Erica D. Lunderman, Christina E. Mahy and Ryan A. Saunders and Special Assistant United States attorney Allison Oswall are representing the United States in these cases.
A complete list of those charged includes:
Operation Fly City Defendants
NameAgeCity of ResidenceChargesTerrence Berry38DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Mark Jones42DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Marshall Disney36Huber HeightsDistribution of cocaineDavid Cohorn42DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime
Dealing in firearms without a license
Brandon Dunn42DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Robert Everhart42DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Raymond Garvin 43DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Brian Gee38DaytonDistribution of cocaineGeoffrey Hobson52DaytonConspiracy to distribute methamphetamine
Distribution of methamphetamine
Daviontay Travis Hunter22DaytonFelon in possessionMarlin Robinson33CincinnatiFelon in possessionKevin Julious47DaytonDistribution of cocaine
Felon in possession
Brenda Mann55MoraineDistribution of methamphetaminePatrell Miller28DaytonDistribution of fentanylAngel Santos-Rodas 27DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Transfer of a firearm for use in a drug trafficking crime
Alien in possession of a firearm
Distribution of methamphetamine
Distribution of cocaine
Brandon Heisle34DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Transfer of a firearm for use in a drug trafficking crime
Felon in possession of a firearm
Jeremy Wright30DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Transfer of a firearm for use in a drug trafficking crime
Felon in possession of a firearm
Nathan Smith37Huber HeightsConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Marcus Lockett37DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Austin Womble31DaytonConspiracy to distribute 500+ grams meth and 40+ grams fentanyl
Distribution of various amounts of meth and fentanyl
Use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime
Felon in possession of a firearm
Trafficking in firearms
Pete Craft45DaytonConspiracy to distribute 500+ grams methamphetamine and 40+ grams fentanyl
Distribution of various amounts of meth and fentanyl
Felon in possession of a firearm
Trafficking in firearms
Ra’Che Amos26DaytonDistribution of fentanyl
Use and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime
Conspiracy to traffic in firearms
Conspiracy to transfer a firearm for use in a drug crime
Felon in possession of a firearm
Possession of a machinegun
Dereon Caudill24DaytonConspiracy to traffic in firearms
Conspiracy to transfer a firearm for use in a drug crime
*Isaiah Chancellor25DaytonConspiracy to distribute fentanyl
Distribution of 40+ grams fentanyl
Dalontay Martin24DaytonConspiracy to distribute fentanyl
Distribution of fentanyl
Conspiracy to traffic in firearms
Conspiracy to transfer a firearm for use in a drug crime
Julian Heisle36DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine Distribution of cocaine
Conspiracy to traffic in firearms
Conspiracy to transfer a firearm for use in a drug crime
Karon Clark19DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Conspiracy to transfer of a firearm for use in a drug crime
Dealing in firearms without a license
Ja’leon Hayes19DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Transfer of a firearm for use in a drug crime
Dealing in firearms without a license
Victor Coronado-Hernandez30DaytonDistribution of cocaineDakota Jones32DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Dealing in firearms without a license
Jaden Fuller20DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Dealing in firearms without a license
Donovan Printers23DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms Dealing in firearms without a licenseDeshon Fisher33DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Dealing in firearms without a license
Phillip Benson19DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms Dealing in firearms without a licenseKendall Jones30DaytonDistribution of cocaineDiontre Montgomery22DaytonConspiracy to distribute 40+ grams of fentanyl
Distribution of fentanyl
Conspiracy to traffic firearms
Conspiracy to transfer firearms for use in a drug crime
Possession of a machine gun
Darnell Clark27DaytonDistribution of fentanyl
Conspiracy to traffic firearms
Conspiracy to transfer firearms for use in a drug crime
Robert Williams27DaytonDistribution of fentanyl
Conspiracy to traffic firearms
Conspiracy to transfer firearms for use in a drug crime
*Eucelf Taste Jr.22DaytonDistribution of 40+ grams of fentanyl
Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5kg + cocaine
Possession of a machinegun
*Anthony Scott23DaytonConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5kg + cocaine
Possession of a machinegun
Tony Yates27DaytonConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5kg + cocaineDylan O’Quin34MiamisburgDealing in firearms without a license
Attempt to traffic firearms
Quasawn Taborn24DaytonDistribution of cocaineD’Shawn Russell25Huber HeightsDistribution of cocaineLaryan Brooks37DaytonDistribution of cocaine*Eucelf Taste Sr. 46TrotwoodConspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams + fentanyl
Distribution of fentanyl
Willie D. Spann42DaytonPossession with intent to distribute cocaine
Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine
*Defendants who are fugitives
If you have information on the whereabouts of any of the defendants at large, contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS or email [email protected]. ATF is offering a reward of $5,000 for information leading to the arrests of Eucelf Sr. and Jr.
These cases are 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 Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
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Dayton man pleads guilty to dealing drugs while on federal supervised releaseRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Marcus Gullatte, Sr., 38, of Dayton, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. He faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
Gullatte was on supervised release when he engaged in drug transactions. He has two prior federal drug trafficking convictions for which he was sentenced to 36 months and 60 months in prison respectively.
According to court documents, throughout the summer of 2024, Gullatte acquired bulk amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine from a source of supply in the Dayton area and then resold the drugs for cash.
Gullatte was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.
Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Deputy Criminal Chief Tabacchi is representing the United States in this case.
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Career offender sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for trafficking fentanylRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A career offender who coordinated drug sales over Facebook Messenger was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 200 months in prison.
This case marks the third federal conviction for Steven Waldon, 43, of Dayton. He was previously convicted in the Southern District of Ohio of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and distribution of fentanyl. In addition to these federal crimes, Waldon had also been convicted locally of trafficking heroin.
According to court documents, Waldon led a drug trafficking organization that sold fentanyl in the Dayton region. Between May and July 2024, law enforcement officers observed at least five drug sales from Waldon’s drug trafficking organization.
Conspirators stored drugs at a residence on Marburn Avenue in Dayton and Waldon had those drugs delivered to the sites of drug sales. Waldon also trafficked drugs from his residence on Porterfield Drive in Dayton. When agents searched both properties, they discovered trafficking quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, as well as more than $13,000 in cash.
Waldon was arrested in charged in the instant case in July 2024. He pleaded guilty in April 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Middletown Police Chief Earl Nelson announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly K. Rossi is representing the United States in this case.
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Five men arrested & charged in plot to attack & kill government officials, others attending Ultimate Fighting Championship at White HouseRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Justice Department announced today charges against five men for an alleged plot to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 event held at the White House last Sunday.
The FBI launched an investigation into the plot and identified a group of conspirators who procured weapons and made plans to carry out the attack. The FBI made arrests over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California. The investigation remains ongoing.
“The FBI, our law enforcement partners and our U.S. Attorneys did what they do every day to make America Safe through quick response and vigilance in investigating, disrupting, and dismantling this alleged plan before it could be carried out,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will take immediate and aggressive action to identify and prosecute those who incite and plan acts of violence.”
“On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region — and thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team — we are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens — particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight. That’s exactly what we did here. I want to thank our great agents and partners, this work remains ongoing and we will continue to update the public as permitted.”
U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said: “The investigation of this plot began on June 10 here in the Southern District of Ohio. Thanks to the urgent and diligent work of our AUSAs, our law enforcement partners, and our sister U.S. Attorney Offices, five men from around the country are now in custody for an alleged plan to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House on Sunday.
“As alleged in our complaint, the investigation revealed that a man from Knox County, Ohio, amassed weapons, ammunition and tactical gear at his home in Ohio, connected with like-minded individuals online & had identified targets for an attack.
“We are proud to have some of the Nation’s finest investigators and AUSAs in this District and are immensely grateful for their work to thwart this attack.”
“Protecting the President of the United States and the White House grounds is priority number one for the U.S. Secret Service,” said Director Sean M Curran of the U.S. Secret Service. “The landscape has changed, and as a result we have seen a dramatic rise in threats against our protectees. I am proud of the men and women of the Secret Service that vigorously monitor, investigate, and arrest those that plot to interfere with our protective mission. We are grateful for our extraordinary partnerships we share with DHS, DOJ, Acting Attorney General Blanche, FBI-JTTF, Park Police, and DC Police.”
According to the charges, Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio; Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of Calimesa, California; Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, conspired to plan and execute a mass casualty event targeting U.S. officials in attendance at UFC Freedom 250 hosted on the White House grounds. The conspirators allegedly planned to deploy drones armed with explosives in and around the UFC Freedom 250 event in order to force an evacuation of the event and then planned to deploy snipers to fire upon “high value targets” within the fleeing crowd.
Tycen Proper
According to filed complaints in the Southern District of Ohio, the Western District of Missouri, the District of Nebraska, and the Central District of California, investigators interviewed Proper at a medical facility on June 11. During the interview, he allegedly said he had planned with others a coordinated attack against the U.S. government during the UFC event at the White House. He said members of the group who wanted to participate in the attack began communicating with each other around March. More serious members of the group, including Proper, moved their communications to an encrypted chat app. They planned to fly small drones with explosives to detonate over the north side of the UFC arena, forcing high value targets to evacuate the premises; the group would then act as snipers and shoot these individuals. Before executing the plan, Proper and other conspirators allegedly planned to rendezvous in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Proper allegedly amassed firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and tactical gear at his home in Ohio, and he identified potential targets, including multiple members of Congress.
Bryan Roa
According to the complaint filed in the Central District of California, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Roa’s residence and vehicle where they allegedly seized a rifle, handgun, tactical belt, ammunition and a rifle magazine, a two-way radio, and an infrared laser target pointer. A search of Roa’s phone allegedly found messages in a group with Thomas, Proper, and others discussing an attack at the UFC event at the White House, with some users discussing using drones rigged with explosives to initiate the attack, with rooftop snipers killing individuals. Law enforcement also allegedly found Instagram videos Roa had posted of himself shooting guns.
Michael Thomas
According to the complaint filed in the Central District of California, Thomas allegedly participated in a group chat planning an attack at the UFC event at the White House. In a group chat, on June 7, he allegedly wrote “$1300 gets us the drones and the charges. Yes we should all pitch in and we need it asap…”
In another group chat, Thomas, under a pseudonym, allegedly described “tiers” of operators within their anti-government group, with tier 1 being operators on the ground, tier 2 being drivers and drone operators, tier 3 being logistical suppliers, and tier 4 being social media influencers. “Tier one status is not something to take lightly. … We will make sure they have…All the tier 2 support we can provide. We will try to break them out of jail if we need to.” In the same group chats, Thomas discussed meeting with Roa in person in Southern California in order to conduct “marksmen training” and reflected that the group needed to train for “gorilla style warfare.”
In a June 13 search warrant, FBI agents allegedly seized from Thomas’ residence a rifle, 30-round extended magazines for the rifle, 180 of rounds of ammunition, and a pistol.
Daniel Eskridge
Eskridge was charged with conspiracy to commit murder on White House grounds. According to an affidavit filed in the Western District of Missouri, the FBI identified Eskridge while reviewing electronic communications on Proper’s cell phone. The co-conspirators had electronic chats on encrypted social media platforms. In those chats, members of the group allegedly discussed assassinating several U.S. Senators, Representatives, and prominent business executives. Members of the group targeted some legislators based on the group’s perceived belief that the legislators accepted money from pro-Israel lobbies. When discussing potential targets, Eskridge indicated that the target was “big and someone a majority of the country knows.” In the discussions, power grids were also identified as potential targets. On May 22, Eskridge distributed a picture of tactical equipment, including a rifle, helmet, and ballistic vest.
Also according to the affidavit, in a separate chat group, a conversation took place in early June when Eskridge and some of the other chat group members discussed their plan to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event. Specifically, Thomas stated, “Pensilvania [sic] avenue.” Eskridge said the group should obtain $1,300 in U.S. currency and they needed “5 teams of 3 each team consisting of 1 sniper, 1 tier one operator as support/ look out, [and] one drone operator.” Eskridge said the money would provide them the funding to purchase “drones and charges,” and encouraged the group to all “pitch in.” On June 13, law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant of Eskridge’s residence. Agents recovered rifles, a shot gun, pistol, and other tactical gear.
Abraham Alvarez
According to the charges filed in Nebraska, the FBI identified Alvarez as the individual using the name “Shepherd” in an encrypted chat app that was used to plan an attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event scheduled to be held at the White House on June 14. The FBI assessed that Alvarez, also known as “Shepherd,” was responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the planned attack, based on conversation excerpts in June when Shepherd posted, “This is the best action I see. Position your teams in the purple dots (counter sniper and drones) Long range (circled area) (great shot) Easy out into the river.” Shepherd also allegedly posted other messages including replying to another member on making drones with explosives, “As many and as deadly as we can get.”; that he was working on drones; and had one drone and was working on more.
The complaint further alleges that Shepherd provided a picture and directions for a safe zone at an old church in Nebraska. He instructed the other members to take back roads or the river down to the “pick up location.” Later that same evening, Shepherd also provided locations in the area for drone launch points and sniper positions.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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California man sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for Los Angeles-to-Dayton drug traffickingRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Ernesto Villalobos, 48, of Los Angeles, was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today to 150 months in prison distributing kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout the United States, including in the Southern District of Ohio.
According to court documents, Villalobos served as the hub of a multi-state drug conspiracy for at least three years. The defendant personally packaged and shipped the drugs from his home in Los Angeles. Since at least 2021 until 2024, Villalobos mailed kilograms of drugs to Dayton, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Charleston, West Virginia. The defendant worked with a drug trafficking organization in Dayton to locally traffic the narcotics he shipped.
Packages intercepted by law enforcement between January and April 2024 included three parcels bound for Dayton containing nearly five kilograms of pure methamphetamine and more than four kilograms of fentanyl.
Villalobos was charged federally in March 2025 and pleaded guilty in July 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Walter H. Rice. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi and Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth L. McCormick are representing the United States in this case.
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Previously convicted felon pleads guilty to running straw-purchasing firearms conspiracyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted felon pleaded guilty in federal court here to crimes related to a straw-purchasing firearms conspiracy involving more than 20 guns seized from criminals in other states.
Delonte Robertson, 33, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to conspiring to and making false statements during the acquisition of a firearm and to transferring firearms interstate.
According to court documents, between 2021 and 2023, Robertson devised a scheme to recruit women with no criminal records to purchase firearms and then provide the guns to Robertson. The defendant then provided the firearms to criminals in other states.
More than 20 firearms were recovered by law enforcement officers in Washington, D.C. and Maryland that were purchased in Ohio as part of Robertson’s conspiracy.
Making false statements during the acquisition of a firearm carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Conspiring to make false statements during the acquisition of a firearm and transferring firearms out-of-state are federal crimes punishable by up to five years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced the guilty plea offered on June 11 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Geraghty is representing the United States in this case.
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Columbus man pleads guilty to defrauding COVID-19 relief programsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sonny Madumelu, 70, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to committing COVID-19 relief fraud.
Specifically, Madumelu pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering.
Madumelu admitted to submitting at least seven false applications for COVID-19 relief loans between June 2020 and September 2021. He filed for at least two Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and at least five Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. In total, the defendant sought approximately $405,000 in government aid and received more than $250,000.
Court documents detail that Madumelu used the business names Uncle Sonny Traveling and Shipping, Uncle Sonny Traveling + Shipping LTD, Sonny Star Cleaners and Transworld Travel & Transportation to submit fraudulent applications. He claimed to be a shipping agent who brokered the shipment of shipping containers and that he had a cleaning business to clean offices. In reality, he did not operate such businesses and used fictitious financial figures in his applications.
Wire fraud and money laundering are punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the guilty plea entered on June 11 before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. The case was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Nine coconspirators convicted in drug, money laundering, $4.5 million COVID-19 relief fraud conspiraciesRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Nine defendants are now convicted in a case involving drug trafficking, money laundering and COVID-19 relief fraud conspiracies after the lead defendant pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here.
Alex Garnett, 49, of Mason, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, as well as wire fraud.
According to court documents, between September 2022 and March 2024, Garnett operated a drug trafficking organization, obtaining kilogram quantities of fentanyl and cocaine from co-defendant sources of supply and providing the drugs to other co-conspirators for resale.
Garnett and others deposited their drug proceeds into bank accounts in the name of fictitious businesses.
Co-defendant Kimberly Hubbard, 50, of Griffin, Georgia, conspired with other defendants to prepare materially false and fraudulent claims for COVID-19 relief funds, namely Employee Retention Credits (ERC). In total, Hubbard filed 26 fraudulent IRS forms claiming more than $4.5 million in ERC. The IRS disbursed approximately $207,000 of the fraudulent claims.
The others convicted include:
NameAgeCityChristopher Perkins53CincinnatiMarvious Hester45Decatur, GeorgiaJorge Peraza36MexicoMarkail Smith28CincinnatiRichard Watson III27Batavia, OhioAdrian Myles25CincinnatiTierra Womack42Duluth, GeorgiaThe defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024.
This case 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 Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); announced the guilty plea entered on June 5 before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith and Assistant United States Attorney Christina E. Mahy are representing the United States in this case.
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Dayton man who trafficked fentanyl near local high school sentenced to 12 years in prisonRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Clifford Bernard, 48, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 144 months in prison for dealing drugs within 1,000 feet of a public high school.
According to court documents, between July and September 2024, Bernard possessed and distributed approximately one kilogram of fentanyl. Bernard sold the fentanyl at his residence on Angier Drive which is within 1,000 feet of Paul Dunbar High School.
Bernard was arrested in October 2024. At the time of his arrest, he had $5,000 in cash on his person. When agents searched Bernard’s home, they seized nearly one kilogram of fentanyl, a loaded firearm and luxury items like jewelry and a vintage Pontiac Firebird.
Bernard pleaded guilty in February 2026 to possessing with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl within a school zone.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed on June 5 by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Rossi is representing the United States in this case.
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Jury finds previously convicted felon guilty of 3 armed robberiesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal jury found a previously convicted felon guilty of seven federal robbery and firearms charges.
James Lockridge, 40, of Cincinnati, committed three armed robberies in February 2024.
“Lockridge fired shots during each robbery, endangering lives and terrorizing the workers and customers in the gas stations he robbed,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “My Office will not tolerate such violence in our communities. We will continue to aggressively prosecute—and win trials against—defendants like Lockridge. Thank you to the prosecutors and investigators on this case for their excellent work.”
The verdict was announced today following a trial that began on June 1 before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole.
According to court documents and trial testimony, on Feb. 5, Feb. 10 and Feb. 21, 2024, Lockridge robbed a Cincinnati Marathon gas station. The first and third armed robberies occurred on Gilbert Avenue and the second robbery took place on Montgomery Road.
At each of the robberies, Lockridge was masked and brandished the same silver firearm. He fired his weapon and pointed it at store clerks. He also wore the same boots during each robbery and fled on foot towards a nearby apartment complex after the first and third robberies.
Lockridge was arrested 11 minutes after the third robbery. Officers discovered the firearm in his waistband.
After his arrest, officers located the boots, gloves and other clothing items used during the robberies, as well as a cash register, in and around the space where Lockridge had been residing.
As a previously convicted felon, Lockridge is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Lockridge was convicted of three counts of robbery, three counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces up to 20 years in prison for reach robbery and an additional 10 years in prison for using a firearm during the robberies. Illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) announced today’s verdict. Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley N. Brucato and Danielle E. Margeaux are representing the United States in this case.
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