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Friday 29 May 2026
Former DuBois City Employee Pleads Guilty to Helping to Embezzle and Launder $1.5 Million from City FundsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A former employee of the City of DuBois, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of federal program theft and money laundering, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Roberta Shaffer, 61, of DuBois pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines on May 27, 2026.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from 2010 until 2022, Shaffer was employed as assistant to the City Manager of DuBois, which received federal assistance through grants, subsidies, loans, guarantees, insurance, and other forms in excess of $10,000 in each of the calendar years from 2008 to 2022. In her role as assistant, Shaffer and then-City Manager John Suplizio opened four secret bank accounts that were neither approved nor signed for by the appropriate City officials as required under Pennsylvania law, with Shaffer instead signing the account opening documents at Suplizio’s direction.
Suplizio then diverted approximately $1.5 million that should have been deposited into accounts controlled by the City into the secret accounts, from which Suplizio used the stolen money to make payments on his personal credit card and to pay for various personal expenses, as well as for substantial cash withdrawals made for Suplizio’s benefit. Shaffer wrote and signed many of the checks that paid for the credit card bills and resulted in the cash withdrawals. The secret accounts were also used to pay for donations to local politicians, a fundraiser dinner for a local judge, and a City employee’s wedding reception. In addition, several cashier’s checks purchased through withdrawals from the secret accounts, as well as numerous large cash deposits, were later deposited into Suplizio’s personal banking accounts.
Judge Haines scheduled Shaffer’s sentencing for September 22, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Suplizio’s trial is scheduled to begin October 5, 2026.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway and Special Assistant United States Attorney Summer Carroll (Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General) are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Shaffer.
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.
Former Des Moines Superintendent & Guyanese Citizen Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Firearm and False Statement ChargesRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – The former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent was sentenced to two years in federal prison today for false statement for employment and illegal alien in possession of firearms.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Ian Andre Roberts, 54, a Guyanese citizen, falsely stated that he was a United States citizen on employment paperwork related to his position at the Des Moines Public Schools in June 2023. Roberts was not and has never been a United States citizen. Roberts was not authorized to work in the United States except for an 18-month period between July 2018 and February 2020.
On September 26, 2025, Roberts knowingly possessed a loaded Glock pistol in his vehicle while knowing that he was unlawfully present in the United States. On the same day, Roberts also possessed three additional firearms at his residence, including a loaded pistol, a loaded rifle, and a shotgun. Underneath a floor mat in his personal vehicle, law enforcement also located a copy of the May 2025 order directing his removal from the United States to Guyana.
After completing his prison sentence, Roberts will serve a three-year term of supervised release, which will be non-reporting if he is removed from the United States. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Today’s sentence holds Ian Andre Roberts accountable for his criminal conduct and repeated violations of federal law,” said United States Attorney David C. Waterman. “By his own admission, Roberts falsely represented himself as a United States citizen in order to obtain positions of public trust and unlawfully possessed multiple firearms. That conduct undermined the integrity of our public institutions and the legal requirements designed to protect the public.”
Waterman added, “The Court carefully considered the facts, the applicable law, and the circumstances of the case in imposing its sentence. This outcome reinforces the principle that federal law applies equally to all who violate it. I commend our law enforcement partners for their professionalism, diligence, and commitment throughout this investigation and prosecution. Our office remains committed to enforcing the law fairly, impartially, and without fear or favor.”
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, investigated this case, with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Iowa State Patrol.
Florida Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Biofuel Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
The owner of a company that produced and sold renewable fuel and fuel credits was sentenced today to serve 18 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, and to pay $2,857,029 in restitution and a $150,000 fine, for his role in a scheme that generated over $7 million in fraudulent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuel credits and sought over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits connected to the purported production of biodiesel.
According to court documents, Christopher Burdett owned a biofuel company based in Fort Pierce, Florida, that claimed to turn various feedstocks into biodiesel. However, when reporting the number of gallons they produced to the IRS and EPA, Burdett and General Manager Royce Gillham vastly overstated their production volume to generate more credits. When auditors sought more information from the company, Burdett and Gillham provided false information about their fuel production and customers.
Burdett previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to file false claims. For his role in the scheme, Gillham was previously sentenced to 37 months in prison.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Attorney Jason A Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, and Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Florida Field Office made the announcement.
The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and IRS-CI investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Funk for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on 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.
Federal grand jury indicts two Canadian men for conspiracy to commit bank fraudRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging James Rasmussen, 44, of Westmount, Quebec, Canada, and John Shestowsky, 51, of Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada, with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. In addition, defendant Rasmussen is charged with trafficking in unauthorized access devices and aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, between April 2018, and July 2020, Rasmussen and Shestowsky conspired with others to defraud financial institutions by false and fraudulent pretenses. In furtherance of the scheme, Shestowsky emailed Rasmussen the personal information, including bank account numbers, of various individuals without their knowledge or permission. On April 5, 2018, and January 2, 2019, Shestowsky emailed Rasmussen a listing of nine individuals, their addresses, phone numbers, and, for each individual, a bank name, bank account number, and note indicating a dollar amount in the bank account.
On March 26, 2019, Rasmussen, using the online name “chiefbanker,” established a vendor page on the “Nightmare” marketplace on the Darknet, advertising for sale “high value” bank accounts for “Fraud.” Between June 12, 2019, and January 4, 2020, Rasmussen exchanged a series of email communications concerning the sale of bank account numbers with an individual located in Buffalo, NY. During this time, Rasmussen emailed approximately 52 bank account numbers, along with associated personal identifying information of the account owners, to the individual in Buffalo, requesting payment in the form of Bitcoin. In exchange for bank account numbers, Rasmussen received Bitcoin payments totaling approximately $9,526.31.
In addition, Rasmussen incorporated a fictious business called “First America Solutions Corp.,” and then opened business checking accounts at Bank of America and Wells Fargo. He deposited 65 fraudulent checks totaling approximately $25,080.00 into the accounts. The checks were made using bank account numbers of 65 individuals, including a victim from Savannah, NY, in the Western District of New York.
James Rasmussen was arraigned this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was held pending a detention hearing on June 8, 2026.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance with securing the arrest and May 28 extradition from Canada of Rasmussen to the United States.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment Charging Four Defendants with Robbery, Kidnapping, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Providence- A federal grand jury in Rhode Island has returned an indictment charging Alberto Rivera, 26, of Cranston; Richard Robinson, 35, of Providence; Brian Medina, 30, of Providence; and Nelson Gomes Goncalves, 25, of East Providence, with Hobbs Act Robbery, conspiracy, kidnapping, and firearms offenses related to the alleged armed robbery and abduction of a victim in November 2022.
According to the indictment, on or about November 23, 2022, the defendants allegedly conspired to rob a victim of a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and U.S. currency by means of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury.
The indictment further alleges that the defendants kidnapped and transported the victim from Massachusetts to Rhode Island. The indictment also charges the defendants with carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
Eight Charged with Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Eight individuals have been charged for allegedly participating in a drug and firearms trafficking conspiracy operating in and around Worcester, Mass.
The following defendants were arrested yesterday and remain detained following initial appearances in federal court in Worcester:
- Alisa Walsh, 34, of Oakham, Mass., was charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances;
- Osiris Berry-Vazquez, 23, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with distribution of controlled substances;
- Fendy Martinez, 35, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance;
- Luis Muniz, 33, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with distribution of controlled substances;
- Luis Dick Rivera, 39, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances;
- Fernando Valentin-Perez, 45, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances;
- Omar Ramos-Jimenez, 27, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with dealing in firearms without a license and distribution of a controlled substance; and
- Onix Aviles, 25, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with dealing in firearms without a license.
According to the charging documents, from March 2026 through April 2026, Walsh, Berry-Vazquez, Martinez, Muniz, Dick Rivera and Valentin-Perez allegedly sold controlled substances including cocaine, cocaine base (crack) and fentanyl to undercover law enforcement and confidential informants in and around Worcester.
It is further alleged that Aviles sold firearms without a license on two occasions, including a privately manufactured firearm. Ramos-Jimenez also allegedly sold several firearms and fentanyl to confidential informants in Worcester.
The charges of distribution of controlled substances and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years up to lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, six years of supervised release and a fine of up to $2 million. The charge of dealing in firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Special Agent Thomas A. Greco of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; t the Suffolk County Sherrif’s Department; and the Worcester District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen M. Noto, Brendan O’Shea and Zachary Stendig of the Worcester Branch Office are prosecuting the cases.
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 Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Eastern Washington Jury Convicts Three Defendants of Conspiring to Impede Federal Officers in the Execution of Their DutiesRead the Press Release
Spokane, WA – On May 28, 2026, a jury of twelve people from across the Eastern District of Washington convicted Defendants Jac Archer, Justice Forral, and Bajun Mavalwalla II of violating federal law by conspiring to impede law enforcement officers or injure property used in the execution of their duties. After 8 days of trial and over a day of deliberations, the jury found Defendants guilty, beyond a reasonable doubt, of the crime. Sentencing has not yet been set by United States District Judge Rebecca L. Pennell, who oversaw the trial.
In the summer of 2025, a federal Grand Jury made up of different members of this community returned an Indictment charging Archer, Forral, and Mavalwalla, along with six other Defendants with Conspiracy to Injure or Impede Officers of the United States. The charges arose from an event at an ICE facility in Spokane in June 2025. That day, defendants and others prevented law enforcement officers from engaging in their official duties of transporting individuals from a detention facility in Spokane to a detention facility and the immigration court near Tacoma. For more than nine hours that officers were denied the ability to transport the detainees. The charged defendants and uncharged co-conspirators destroyed property, blocked exits to prevent officers from safely leaving with the detainees. Several officers testified during the trial that they feared for their safety because of the actions taken by the defendants and other co-conspirators.
After the Grand Jury returned its Indictment, nearly a year of extensive litigation took place, with each defendant retaining or being appointed highly-experienced criminal defense counsel. The defense lawyers in this case ranged from the two leaders of the Federal Defender’s office and two former federal prosecutors, to multiple attorneys from a well-respected private law firm in Spokane. Those six attorneys, engaged in extensive pre-trial motion practice. Judge Pennel presided over several hearings, denying motions to dismiss and presiding over the scope and admissibility of evidence. The other six Defendants pleaded guilty during this time, leaving three at trial.
Those Defendants along with their six defense counsel and two Assistant United States Attorneys, selected the jury. The jury selection process took over a day to allow the parties and the Court, to extensively examine the potential jurors to ensure a fair and impartial jury was impaneled.
Throughout the trial, there were ongoing motions and evidentiary rulings which included the exclusion of additional evidence. Much of the Defendants’ conduct on June 11, 2025, was recorded on video. The United States called numerous witnesses. Two of the Defendants exercised their constitutional right to testify while the other exercised the constitutional right not to testify. Defense called additional witnesses and the case rested on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. For over a day, 12 jurors deliberated over the evidence admitted. On Thursday May 28, 2026, the jury unanimously found each Defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the charged offense.
“The United States Attorney’s Office has been encouraged to see so many members of the community engaged with this case. We look forward to the same level of public interest in all of our criminal cases against defendants charged with domestic violence and rape of children in Indian Country, human trafficking, fentanyl trafficking, violent felons with illegal arsenals, and the exploitation of children as young as infants and toddlers,” said Pete Serrano, First Assistant United States Attorney. “As our office has said from the beginning, everyone in this free country has the right to make their voices heard, and we encourage the exercise of that right. But no one has the right to cross the line into lawbreaking. We presented facts and evidence to a grand jury, made up of citizens from this district who found probable cause that crimes were committed. Upon being charged, these defendants were afforded their rights and represented by counsel throughout the process. For 250 years in this country, we have turned to juries to resolve those disagreements. Here, twelve individuals from across our community heard 8 days of evidence and concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that these three defendants committed the crime as charged, that they agreed to impede law enforcement officers and injure their property as they did their jobs.”
Mr. Serrano continued: “Just because the jury did not find in a way that some people wanted, does not negate the fact that a crime occurred. Our office’s sole motivation for the charging and prosecution of these individuals was to hold them accountable to the law as each attorney in this office has sworn an oath to support and defend the United States Constitution. This case was brought by my office, was agreed upon by the grand jury, and concluded with a multi-day trial by jury because the alleged crimes were committed. Statements made by current or former public officials who never set foot in the courtroom during the trial bear no relevance to these facts or the outcome of this case. There is no better system in the world for resolving conflicts than the jury system enshrined in our Constitution, and we should all cherish this right whether we agree with outcomes produced by our system. Had the jury’s verdict gone another way, the United States Attorney’s Office would be issuing this same statement today: the jury has rendered its verdict, let us all respect it.”
2:25-CR-00113-RLP
Dominican National Sentenced on Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national, living unlawfully in the United States, has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for unlawful possession of a firearm.
Luis Alberto De Los Santos, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to 12 months and one day imprisonment. De Los Santos pleaded guilty on February 5, 2026, to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. As part of his sentence, De Los Santo faces possible deportation charges.
According to information presented to the court, De Los Santos is a citizen of the Dominican Republic who entered the country on a travel visa in 2021 and was required to depart the U.S. in 2022.
On April 25, 2025, Providence Police observed De Los Santos with a group of individuals in the Hartford neighborhood. De Los Santos, who was wearing a ski mask, fled from police with the firearm before discarding the weapon behind a building and continuing to flee. Through their investigation, law enforcement discovered the defendant had been in possession of a .22 caliber pistol.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman.
The matter was investigated Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Providence Police Department.
This investigation 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.
District of Arizona Charges 331 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from May 23 through May 29, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 331 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 146 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 163 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 18 cases against 22 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Ismael Solis-Solis. On May 28, 2026, Ismael Solis-Solis was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Solis-Solis had been previously removed from the United States in 2025. In October 1997, Solis-Solis was convicted of Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor in the Superior Court of California, Tulare County, and was sentenced to 270 days in prison, followed by 36 months of probation. [Case number: 26-MJ-08154]
United States v. Joel Ibarra-Lara. On May 27, 2026, Joel Ibarra-Lara was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ibarra-Lara had been previously removed from the United States in 2009. In September of 2001, Ibarra-Lara was convicted of Attempted Possession of Narcotics for Sale in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County, and sentenced to five years of supervised probation. [Case Number: 26-MJ-08138]
United States v. Mario Alberto Varela. On May 22, 2026, Mario Alberto Varela was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On May 21, 2026, a Pinal County Officer stopped a black Ford Expedition for suspended registration. During the stop, the officer spoke to the driver, Mario Alberto Varela, and an assisting officer spoke to the three passengers. Due to conflicting statements from Varela and his passengers, the officers contacted U.S. Border Patrol for further assistance. Border Patrol determined that Varela was a U.S. citizen and that the three passengers were aliens unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-5235]
These cases are 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-087_May 29, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Carjacking and Robbery Spree in March 2025Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Damarco Jackson, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty Tuesday, for a spree of armed robberies, in March 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Jackson pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of armed robbery, two counts of robbery, and one count of first-degree theft, for the armed robberies. The defendant also pleaded guilty to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, for a stabbing he committed in jail. Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld scheduled sentencing for September 11, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 10:00 p.m., on March 11, 2025, the first victim parked her car in the 2300 block of Ainger Place, SE. When she returned to the location two days later, she found that her vehicle had been stolen.
On March 12, 2025, the second victim parked her vehicle, a light blue 2012 Hyundai Sonata, in the 4600 block of Livingston Road, SE. Three days later, she came back to where she parked it and found that it had been stolen. Video footage from an MPD camera captured Jackson and another individual in a blue sedan, which drove past the victim’s vehicle, turn around and park next to her vehicle.
On March 13, 2025, in the area of Oklahoma Avenue and E Streets, NE, a dark color sedan drove into the area and approached the third victim, a juvenile on a bike. The defendant brandished a handgun with a silver slide and robbed the juvenile of his black Moose Knuckle jacket. Within three minutes, Jackson, armed with a black Glock handgun with an extended magazine, approached a fourth victim while he was riding a Capital Bikeshare bicycle, in the 2100 block of D Street, NE. Jackson stated to the victim something to the effect of “run me that coat!” and robbed him of his black Moose Knuckle jacket.
Subsequently, on April 13, 2026, after his arrest and while in D.C. jail, Jackson and a fellow inmate were observed having a verbal argument in the common area of the jail. During the argument, the defendant was observed to have pulled out a sharp metal object from his pants and assault his fellow inmate. As a result of the attack, the victim inmate had puncture wounds/lacerations to his upper left arm and shoulder.
Jackson was presented on October 10, 2025, for the armed carjackings and robberies. This is the same day he was sentenced to 40 months in jail for crimes he committed in other separate cases. He has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Dal Lago, Rukiya Mohamed, and Emanuel Francone.
2025 CF3 013201; 2026 CF3 005670
D.C. Man Pleads Guilty in Armed Robbery of a Jersey Mike’sRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Alvin Ponson, 67, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with the armed robberies of two fast-food restaurants in Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Ponson pleaded guilty before Judge Tanya Chutkan to interference with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act). Judge Chutkan scheduled sentencing for Sept. 2, 2026.
According to the complaint, Ponson was carrying a black handgun when he entered the Chipotle restaurant on the 2300 block of Washington Place NE, just before 7 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2026. Ponson ordered a cashier to “open the register.” The cashier refused to comply. Ponson then walked away without any of the restaurant’s money.
Minutes later, Ponson walked into the adjacent Jersey Mike’s hoagie shop on the 2300 block of Washington Place NE. Ponson told the Jersey Mike’s cashier that he was picking up an order. The cashier went to look for the order. When the cashier returned, Ponson was pointing his handgun at her. The cashier ran to the back of the store. Ponson approached another employee and ordered “Give me all that sh---!” The employee handed over cash from the register and Ponson fled in the direction of the Rhode Island-Brentwood Metro Station.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Washington Metro Transit Police with the valuable assistance of theFederal Bureau of Investigation- Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand.
26cr0115
County Housing Official Sentenced for His Role in Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Receive Bribes from Hawaii Businessman and AttorneysRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – A former Hawaii County official, Alan Scott Rudo, 59, now of Cathedral City, California, was sentenced yesterday to 46 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to receive bribes in exchange for his official actions as a Housing Specialist at the Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD). The scheme involved affordable housing development agreements worth more than $11 million.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Paul Joseph Sulla, 79, of Hilo, Hawaii, and Gary Charles Zamber, 56, of Keaau, Hawaii, both attorneys living on the Big Island, and Rajesh Pankaj Budhabhatti, 65, now of Morro Bay, California, a private businessman on the Big Island, conspired to pay bribes and kickbacks to Rudo in exchange for Rudo’s agreement to use his official position to ensure the County approved three affordable housing agreements (AHAs) benefitting the defendants’ development companies, Luna Loa Developments LLC, West View Developments LLC and Plumeria at Waikoloa LLC. Although Rudo’s co-conspirators promised in the AHAs to build affordable housing for the citizens of Hawaii County, their development companies never built a single unit. Through the AHAs, the defendants fraudulently obtained more than $11 million worth of land and excess affordable housing credits (AHCs). From that amount, Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti paid or attempted to pay Rudo approximately $1,931,778 in bribes and kickbacks.
Zamber, Budhabhatti, and Sulla were charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and nine counts of honest services wire fraud. Sulla was also charged with money laundering. Rudo, who was charged separately with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, pleaded guilty and testified at the trial of his co-conspirators. On June 4, 2025, a federal jury in the District of Hawaii convicted Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti on all counts in a superseding indictment.
Earlier this year, the court sentenced Rudo’s co-conspirators in the bribery scheme. Zamber was sentenced to 70 months in prison on January 30; Budhabhatti was sentenced to 90 months in prison on February 6; and Sulla was sentenced to 60 months in prison on April 23. Zamber’s and Sulla’s law licenses are currently suspended, prohibiting them from practicing law in Hawaii.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii, and Special Agent in Charge David K. Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohammad Khatib and Margaret Nammar and Trial Attorney William J. Gullotta of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case.
County Housing Official Sentenced for His Role in Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Receive Bribes from Hawaii Businessman and AttorneysRead the Press Release
A former Hawaii County official, Alan Scott Rudo, 59, now of Cathedral City, California, was sentenced yesterday to 46 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to receive bribes in exchange for his official actions as a Housing Specialist at the Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD). The scheme involved affordable housing development agreements worth more than $11 million.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Paul Joseph Sulla, 79, of Hilo, Hawaii, and Gary Charles Zamber, 56, of Keaau, Hawaii, both attorneys living on the Big Island, and Rajesh Pankaj Budhabhatti, 65, now of Morro Bay, California, a private businessman on the Big Island, conspired to pay bribes and kickbacks to Rudo in exchange for Rudo’s agreement to use his official position to ensure the County approved three affordable housing agreements (AHAs) benefitting the defendants’ development companies, Luna Loa Developments LLC, West View Developments LLC and Plumeria at Waikoloa LLC. Although Rudo’s co-conspirators promised in the AHAs to build affordable housing for the citizens of Hawaii County, their development companies never built a single unit. Through the AHAs, the defendants fraudulently obtained more than $11 million worth of land and excess affordable housing credits (AHCs). From that amount, Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti paid or attempted to pay Rudo approximately $1,931,778 in bribes and kickbacks.
Zamber, Budhabhatti, and Sulla were charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and nine counts of honest services wire fraud. Sulla was also charged with money laundering. Rudo, who was charged separately with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, pleaded guilty and testified at the trial of his co-conspirators. On June 4, 2025, a federal jury in the District of Hawaii convicted Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti on all counts in a superseding indictment.
Earlier this year, the court sentenced Rudo’s co-conspirators in the bribery scheme. Zamber was sentenced on Jan. 30 to 70 months in prison; Budhabhatti was sentenced on Feb. 6 to 90 months in prison; and Sulla was sentenced on April 23 to 60 months in prison. Zamber’s and Sulla’s law licenses are currently suspended, prohibiting them from practicing law in Hawaii.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii, and Special Agent in Charge David K. Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Honolulu Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney William J. Gullotta of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohammad Khatib and Margaret Nammar for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case.
Convicted felons sentenced to federal prison for possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: Two previously convicted felons found in possession of a firearm face years in prison after sentencing in federal court.
- Laron Allen, 39, of Savannah, was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police found Allen in possession of a firearm after attempting to elude police officers in May 2024.
- Jeffrey Ronald Moyer, 42, of Augusta, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and a $1,500 fine, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Augusta University Police found Moyer in possession of a shotgun during a March 2025 traffic stop.
Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition. There is no parole in the federal system.
These cases were investigated by the Augusta University Police Department, Savannah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry W. Syms Jr and L. Alexander Hamner.
Convicted Felon Out on Parole is Sentenced Back to Prison for Paying Others to Purchase Firearms on His BehalfRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 46-year-old Cleveland man has been sentenced to prison again for paying others to buy firearms for him while he was out on parole for a separate offense.
Heath Turner was sentenced to 102 months (8.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty to:
- Making a False Statement in Acquisition of a Firearm, and
- Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm; previous convictions include Aggravated Burglary, Kidnapping, Aggravated Robbery, and Felonious Assault in 2015.
He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment.
According to court documents, investigators found that Turner enlisted the help of several individuals to illegally acquire firearms. Due to his status as a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from having firearms or ammunition in his possession. However, he collaborated with these individuals to make false statements on purchase applications to deceive federally licensed firearms dealers. After each purchase, these accomplices then transferred the firearms to Turner. During a search of Turner’s residence in June 2024 conducted by his parole officer, law enforcement found several firearms in his possession that others purchased for him including six pistols, two rifles, and a shotgun.
Three other defendants, also of Cleveland, have been sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in this case:
- Antwon Holt, 37, 37 months in prison; three years of supervised release.
- Cassandra Relik, 34, nine months in prison; three years of supervised release.
- Kristy Standen, 42, three years of probation.
This investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Wojtasik for the Northern District of Ohio.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Leading a Large Drug Trafficking Organization and Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jamar M. Purnell, 49, Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The prison sentence will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Purnell pleaded guilty to these charges on March 4, 2026.
In early 2024, law enforcement began investigating members of a drug trafficking organization operating in Dane County led by Purnell. During the investigation, officers worked with confidential informants to purchase significant quantities of drugs. Officers seized large quantities of drugs and firearms during search warrants executed at residences and vehicles associated with Purnell. For example, investigators found over 10,000 grams of methamphetamine, 166 grams of fentanyl, and a loaded handgun containing Purnell’s DNA in just one drug house operated by Purnell in Madison. Because Purnell had previously been convicted of a felony he could not legally possess a firearm.
Purnell also oversaw both the supply and distribution sides of the organization. On the supply side, he coordinated the transportation of methamphetamine and fentanyl from suppliers in Arizona and Chicago to Madison. On the distribution side, he frequently arranged drug sales and then sent distributors to complete the sales.
Based on seizures and intercepted communications between March 2024 and March 2025, investigators conservatively estimate that Purnell was responsible for distributing approximately 28 kilograms of methamphetamine and 3,500 grams of fentanyl. In an interview following his arrest, Purnell said it was normal for him to obtain 50 pounds of methamphetamine at a time every two weeks from his supplier in Arizona. At the time of the investigation, Purnell was on supervision in Georgia for a prior drug trafficking conviction.
At sentencing, Judge Conley called the amount of drugs Purnell and his organization trafficked staggering and devastating to the community. Noting Purnell’s numerous prior drug trafficking convictions, Judge Conley commented that Purnell had made a career of drug trafficking for financial gain. Judge Conley pointed to Purnell’s brazen decision to continue drug trafficking even after investigators searched his drug house in Madison as evidence of his dangerousness to the community.
Fifteen others were also charged with Purnell in connection with this drug trafficking organization. Shavarim J. Wicks, Keean V. Moore, Keean V. Moore Jr., Jimmie A. Leuaxay, James L. Dubois, James K. Land, and Travis J. Corrado have pleaded guilty for their roles and are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months. Cases against Dajuea M. Purnell, William M. Marshall, Treagir J. Sander, Kyle W. Haag, Anthony E. Hohenstein, Waylon R. Degenhardt, Alisha R. Lavine, and Yasir W. Stackhouse are still pending, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charges against Purnell were the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Wisconsin State Patrol, and Madison Police Department. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven P. Anderson and Kathryn Ginsberg prosecuted this case.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Program 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 federal 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.
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Cheyenne drug investigation results in Federal firearm and narcotics chargesRead the Press Release
A Cheyenne man has been sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm and the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. U.S. Attorney Darin Smith announced that Leonard Raymond Riffel, 52, will serve 120 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson on May 21 in Cheyenne. Riffel was remanded to custody.
According to court documents, in September 2025, a Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating Riffel for suspected drug trafficking. Detectives learned that Riffel traveled to Colorado to buy methamphetamine and fentanyl for redistribution in Cheyenne.
On October 23, 2025, Cheyenne Police Department (CPD) stopped a black SUV with Riffel seated in the rear passenger seat. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a black bag behind Riffel’s seat. The bag contained approximately 439 grams of methamphetamine, 10.5 grams of carfentanil pills (an ultra-potent synthetic form of fentanyl), a digital scale, and unused plastic baggies commonly associated with drug distribution. Riffel admitted the bag belonged to him and was arrested.
Afterhis arrest, CPD detectives executed a search warrant on the apartment where Riffel was staying. Detectives found a Springfield .40 caliber pistol and a box of ammunition in his room. Because Riffel was previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment, he cannot legally possess firearms.
“The facts of this case paint a troubling picture of someone traveling across state lines to bring methamphetamine and carfentanil into Cheyenne for distribution,” said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. “Carfentanil is so dangerous that even a tiny amount can be lethal. Cases like this are exactly why law enforcement remains focused on stopping traffickers before these substances reach our streets. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their outstanding work.”
Riffel was arrested on Oct. 23, 2025, on related, now dismissed, state charges; and brought into federal custody on December 16, 2025. He waived indictment and pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026. The DEA and CPD investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Naiman prosecuted the case.
Catonsville Man Facing Federal Charges for Carjacking and Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment, charging a Baltimore County man in connection with a violent carjacking.
Kylin Stubblefield, 41, of Catonsville, Maryland, is charged with carjacking, using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a prohibited person.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to the three-count indictment, in October 2025, Stubblefield committed a carjacking in Baltimore City. During the crime, Stubblefield used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm, seriously injuring the vehicle’s owner. Stubblefield is also charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm due to a prior felony conviction.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, Stubblefield faces a minimum sentence of seven years for brandishing a firearm during the carjacking, and a maximum life sentence in federal prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Hagan and John Mark Mastakas who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Career Prosecutor Thomas R. Govan, Jr. Sworn in as United States Attorney for the Middle District of AlabamaRead the Press Release
Thomas R. Govan, Jr. was sworn in as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama on May 29, 2026, following his nomination by President Donald Trump on October 21, 2025, and confirmation by the United States Senate on May 18, 2026. The oath of office was administered by Chief United States District Judge R. Austin Huffaker, Jr.
As United States Attorney, Govan serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Middle District of Alabama and is responsible for overseeing all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States within the district’s 23 counties.
“I am honored by the trust placed in me to serve as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama,” said U.S. Attorney Govan. “I look forward to working alongside our outstanding federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to uphold the rule of law, protect our communities, and faithfully serve the people of this district.”
U.S. Attorney Govan brings nearly twenty years of prosecutorial experience in federal, state, and military courts to the position. Before his appointment as United States Attorney, Govan served as Chief of the Criminal Trials Division in the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, where he oversaw the prosecution of violent crime cases across the State of Alabama. Prior to that role, Govan served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Alabama, prosecuting a broad range of federal criminal matters, including violent crime and fraud cases.
Govan began his legal career in the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, serving in both the Capital Litigation Division and White-Collar Crime Division. He later served as Chief of the Capital Litigation Division, where he directed the prosecution of capital appeals and post-conviction litigation in state and federal courts. In 2018, he argued a capital murder case before the Supreme Court of the United States.
In addition to his civilian legal service, U.S. Attorney Govan serves as a Judge Advocate General’s Corps officer in the United States Air Force Reserve with the rank of Major.
U.S. Attorney Govan earned both his undergraduate degree and Juris Doctor from The University of Alabama.
Govan succeeds Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson, who will continue serving the Middle District of Alabama as First Assistant United States Attorney.
California Man Sentenced to 65 Months in Prison for Trafficking at Least 1,700 Animals into the United States from MexicoRead the Press Release
A California man was sentenced yesterday to 65 months in prison for smuggling at least 1,700 reptiles into the United States from Mexico, Hong Kong, and elsewhere over a six-year period.
Jose Manuel Perez, of Oxnard, pleaded guilty in August 2022 to one count of smuggling goods into the United States and one count of wildlife trafficking. From January 2016 to February 2022, Perez and other co-conspirators smuggled wildlife into the United States without obtaining the permits required by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and without declaring any wildlife imported into the United States.
Perez and his co-conspirators used social media to buy and to negotiate the terms of the sale and delivery of wildlife in the United States. The defendants advertised for sale on social media the animals smuggled from Mexico into the United States, posting photos and video that depicted the animals being collected from the wild.
For the animals smuggled from Mexico, Perez’s co-conspirators retrieved the wildlife — which included Yucatán box turtles, Mexican box turtles, baby crocodiles, and Mexican beaded lizards — from Cuidad Juárez International Airport in Mexico and eventually shipped the animals by car to El Paso, Texas. Perez paid his co-conspirators a “crossing fee” for each border crossing, the amount of which depended on the number of animals transported, the size of the package, and the risk of being detected by the authorities.
On other occasions, Perez and a co-conspirator traveled to Mexico to purchase live animals that had been taken from the wild so that the animals could be smuggled into the United States. Once the animals had been shipped to the United States, they were transported to Perez’s residence (which was originally in Missouri and then in California after he moved).
In total, Perez caused the illegal smuggling and importation of at least 1,700 animals with a fair market value of more than $739,000.
Prior to today’s sentencing, Jose Perez had been serving a nine-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in May 2023 to three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. He is not legally permitted to possess firearms because his criminal record includes felony convictions in Ventura County Superior Court for street terrorism and assault with a deadly weapon.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli for the Central District of California, and Assistant Director Doug Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement.
USFWS investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, the ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security Investigations provided substantial assistance.
Senior Trial Attorney Gary Donner of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. O’Brien and Juan M. Rodriguez for the Central District of California prosecuted the case.
Bristol, Virginia Man Sentenced to 60 Months on Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Virginia man, who conspired with others to distribute more than 600 fentanyl pills, was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in federal prison.
Bobby John Arnett, 56, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Briar Stephens, 25, was sentenced on April 30, 2026, to 10 years in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy.
According to court documents, between September 2024 and October 2024, Arnett, Stephens, and others, conspired to distribute fentanyl. Specifically, over the course of the conspiracy, Stephens purchased fentanyl pills that he and Arnett further distributed in Washington County, Virginia within the Western District of Virginia, and elsewhere.
During a search of Arnett’s residence in September 2024, law enforcement officers found multiple fentanyl pills and powder at the residence, along with several firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Christopher Goumenis, DEA Washington Division Special Agent in Charge made the announcement.
The Elizabethton Tennessee Police Department, Washington County Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Holston River Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone is prosecuting the case.
Binghamton man pleads guilty to his role in narcotics conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jeryel Winfield, 52, of Binghamton, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum of 40 years.
Between 2019 and May 26, 2022, Winfield conspired with Joseph S. Zaso and others to sell heroin. Winfield was a source of supply for and associate of Joseph Zaso. Winfield distributed quantities of heroin and cocaine to Zaso. He also utilized Cash App and Facebook to facilitate his drug trafficking activities. Winfield admits that he received proceeds from his involvement in the drug conspiracy. Joseph Zaso was previously convicted.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 23, 2026, before Judge Arcara.
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Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Kentro Taylor, age 52, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison following his conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon. U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana further sentenced Taylor to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered the firearm involved be forfeited.
On September 17, 2021, Taylor was the driver and sole occupant of a BMW vehicle that was involved in a collision in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During a lawful search of the BMW following the collision, a Smith and Wesson SD9 was found on top of the front passenger seat within the reach and eyesight of Taylor. The firearm was equipped with an extended magazine and loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition.
Pursuant to Rule 20 consent to transfer jurisdiction, Taylor pled guilty in the Middle District of Louisiana. According to admissions made during his plea, on October 7, 2020, Taylor was the driver of a Dodge Dart, that was lawfully stopped for a traffic violation by an Illinois State Police trooper on Interstate 57 in Douglas County, Illinois. During a lawful search of the Dart, the trooper located a Smith and Wesson SD9 inside a camouflage bag. The firearm, which was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, and other contents of the camouflage bag belonged to Taylor.
For this conduct, Taylor was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison. This sentence was ordered to run concurrently with the sentence imposed for the charges in the Middle District of Louisiana. Taylor was previously convicted in the 19th Judicial District Court for East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, of two counts of attempted manslaughter in February 1992 - committed in May 1991 and August 1991, and armed robbery in April 1996. In July 2025, he was convicted in the 8th Judicial District Court for Clark County, Nevada, for attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon.
“Felons and firearms are a dangerous combination,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois Gregory M. Gilmore. “Prosecuting armed career criminals like the defendant for the unlawful possession of firearms is a critical part of our office’s commitment to public safety.”
“In our effort to disrupt violent gun crime in our community, ATF will continue to focus efforts on prohibited individuals who unlawfully possess firearms,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message that ATF will continue to work alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure these repeat violent offenders are removed from our communities and held fully accountable so we can keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
“The defendant’s extensive violent criminal history and repeated unlawful possession of firearms demonstrate a continued disregard for the law and public safety,” stated ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. “The lengthy sentence imposed in this case underscores the threat posed by armed career criminals. ATF does not stop at the state lines, and we remain committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to hold repeat violent offenders accountable.”
U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois State Police, and the Baton Rouge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli J. Abad (MDLA) and William Lynch (CDIL) led the prosecutions.
Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Kentro Taylor, age 52, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison following his conviction of felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick further sentenced Taylor to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered the firearm involved be forfeited.
On September 17, 2021, Taylor was the driver and sole occupant of a BMW vehicle that was involved in a collision in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During a lawful search of the BMW following the collision, a Smith and Wesson SD9 was found on top of the front passenger seat within the reach and eyesight of Taylor. The firearm was equipped with an extended magazine and loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition.
Pursuant to Rule 20 consent to transfer jurisdiction, Taylor pled guilty in the Middle District of Louisiana. According to admissions made during his plea, on October 7, 2020, Taylor was the driver of a Dodge Dart, that was lawfully stopped for a traffic violation by an Illinois State Police trooper on Interstate 57 in Douglas County, Illinois. During a lawful search of the Dart, the trooper located a Smith and Wesson SD9 inside a camouflage bag. The firearm, which was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, and other contents of the camouflage bag belonged to Taylor. For this conduct, Taylor was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison. This sentence was ordered to run concurrently with the sentence imposed for the charges in the Middle District of Louisiana.
Taylor was previously convicted in the 19th Judicial District Court for East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, of two counts of attempted manslaughter in February 1992 - committed in May 1991 and August 1991, and armed robbery in April 1996. In July 2025, he was convicted in the 8th Judicial District Court for Clark County, Nevada, for attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon.
“Felons and firearms are a dangerous combination,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois Gregory M. Gilmore. “Prosecuting armed career criminals like the defendant for the unlawful possession of firearms is a critical part of our office’s commitment to public safety.”
“In our effort to disrupt violent gun crime in our community, ATF will continue to focus efforts on prohibited individuals who unlawfully possess firearms,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message that ATF will continue to work alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure these repeat violent offenders are removed from our communities and held fully accountable so we can keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
“The defendant’s extensive violent criminal history and repeated unlawful possession of firearms demonstrate a continued disregard for the law and public safety,” stated ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. “The lengthy sentence imposed in this case underscores the threat posed by armed career criminals. ATF does not stop at the state lines, and we remain committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to hold repeat violent offenders accountable.”
U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois State Police, and the Baton Rouge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli J. Abad (MDLA) and William Lynch (CDIL) led the prosecutions.
Armed Johnson County Drug Dealers Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Kaven Lee Stephenson, 37, to 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to sell and possess with intent to sell fentanyl, possession with the intent to sell 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime. The Court already sentenced co-defendant Johnny Brian Guin, 47, to 14 years on March 23, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said, “Let this be a warning to all drug dealers. If you peddle poison for profit in our communities, we will take your freedom, your toys, your money, and maybe even your home. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill; Prison Awaits – Do Right.”
Between 2023 and 2024, law enforcement executed three search warrants at two homes Kaven Stephenson owned on Massengill Pond Road in Angier, NC. During the execution of the first search warrant in October of 2023, law enforcement located over 50 grams of fentanyl and methamphetamine, crack cocaine, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, more than $2,000 cash, an AR-15 rifle with a large capacity magazine, a M5 rifle with a large capacity magazine, a 12-gauge shotgun, and a stolen .22 rifle. Stephenson was arrested on state charges related to these crimes, but he made bail and bonded out just a month later.
Law enforcement executed a second search warrant in July of 2024 after receiving reports of an armed robbery occurring at Stephenson’s residence. Law enforcement discovered a hidden compartment, or “trap,” built into the dead space of a wall just outside the master bedroom. Inside the “trap,” they discovered 218 grams of methamphetamine, 279 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, a money counter, two 9mm pistols, and over $8,500 cash. In a search of Stephenson’s person and the master bedroom, law enforcement located over $2,500 cash, digital scales, and drug paraphernalia. Again, State law enforcement arrested Stephenson on state charges related to these crimes. Again, he made bail and bonded out.
In August of 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at another home owned by Stephenson on Massengill Pond Road. They found Stephenson and co-defendant Johnny Guin inside. During the search, law enforcement located over 115 grams of methamphetamine, multiple firearms, and more than $1,500 cash.
Pursuant to the judgment, all currency, firearms, and Kaven Stephenson’s properties on Massengill Pond Road were forfeited to the United States.
“Armed drug dealers present a dangerous mix of violence and lawlessness in our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “We’re fortunate to have solid partnerships in place with local, state and federal agencies that recognize these dangers and work to hold these violent offenders accountable.”
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, Raleigh Police Department, Cary Police Department, DEA, and the NCSBI collaborated on this investigation. Former Special Assistant United States Attorney Aria Merle and Assistant United States Attorney William Van Trigt prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-273D-001 and 5:24-CR-273D-003.
Armed Felon Charged after Allegedly Shooting Fort Lauderdale Police K-9Read the Press Release
MIAMI – A grand jury returned an indictment Thursday charging a Fort Lauderdale man with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after allegedly firing at a police K-9 during a pursuit in Fort Lauderdale.
According to court records, on April 18, law enforcement responded to a residential burglary in which a firearm had been stolen. Officers established a perimeter and, with assistance from aviation and K-9 units, located Christian Bouie, 30, of Fort Lauderdale, hiding in a tree in a nearby yard. When ordered to come down, Bouie fled, scaled a fence, and ran into an adjacent property.
As a police K-9 pursued him, Bouie allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired two rounds at the dog, striking the dog. Bouie continued fleeing before officers ultimately apprehended him. After taking Bouie into custody, officers recovered a firearm from his pocket.
“Police K-9s protect our officers, our neighborhoods, and our families,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This indictment alleges that a convicted felon unlawfully possessed a firearm and fired at a police K-9 during a pursuit in Fort Lauderdale. When armed felons allegedly endanger law enforcement and the public, our Office will prosecute those cases to the fullest extent of federal law.”
Bouie has prior felony convictions, including a conviction for robbery with a firearm, and is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.
If convicted, Bouie faces up to 15 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
ATF Miami Field Division is investigating the case, with assistance from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Ustynoski is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.gov, under case number 26-cr-60143.
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18th Street Gang Member Who Was Paid ‘Peace Ambassador’ for City Arrested for Illegally Possessing Body Armor Near MacArthur ParkRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A convicted murderer, whom law enforcement believes is an active member of the 18th Street gang while being paid with City of Los Angeles funds to work as a “Peace Ambassador,” was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with illegally possessing two body armor plates near the city’s drug-and-crime-infested MacArthur Park.
Michael Angel Alvarez, 41, a.k.a. “Diablo,” of Westlake, is charged with possession of body armor by a violent felon.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Alvarez is a convicted gang murderer who represents himself as working for Healing Urban Barrios, a Lincoln Heights-based organization that contracted with the city for its Peace Ambassador program that is run in the city’s Council District 1, which includes MacArthur Park. He has represented himself as a member of that organization through clothing he wears.
The Peace Ambassador program is described on a city website as “a new initiative to prevent violence before it starts and to support Angelenos in moments of crisis.”
Each Peace Ambassador team “consists of two unarmed workers who have lived experience in the justice or gang systems and are trained in violence prevention and trauma-informed care,” according to a city website.
The city has agreed to appropriate $450,000 from its general fund between June 2024 and May 2027 “[t]o defray operation costs of expenditures incurred with the unique services provided by Healing Urban Barrios for their services provided as Peace Ambassadors,” court documents state.
Also, according to the agreement, the city may immediately terminate the contract if a Peace Ambassador is convicted of an “Act of Moral Turpitude,” including “crimes involving weapons.”
Healing Urban Barrios paid Alvarez a total of $58,156 in 2025.
Alvarez’s criminal history includes a 2002 conviction for first-degree murder for which he was sentenced to 50 years to life in state prison, but was released after serving 24 years’ imprisonment, and an April 2025 felony conviction for being a prisoner in possession of a weapon.
Law enforcement believes Alvarez is still involved in gang activity because of jailhouse telephone calls in which he discussed assaulting individuals for breaking gang rules.
On May 18, two uniformed police officers responded to a call for backup related to a stolen vehicle investigation near MacArthur Park. As the officers were leaving, they noticed Alvarez standing on a corner looking at them and they believed he might be a wanted person.
Officers detained Alvarez, who later told them he was a “CRT,” which the officers believed was a reference to the Los Angeles Mayor’s Crisis Response Team. A search of Alvarez’s car resulted in the seizure of two body armor plates in the trunk. The plates are from Las Vegas and are marketed as “the highest protection level available on the civilian market,” the affidavit states.
A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Alvarez would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
The FBI is investigating this matter with the Los Angeles Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations providing assistance.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. 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. The HSTF utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
Assistant United States Attorney Jena A. MacCabe of the Major Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Thursday 28 May 2026
Woodburn Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Kill a U.S. SenatorRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Woodburn, Oregon, man pleaded guilty yesterday for threatening to kill a United States Senator.
Donald Leroy Smith, Jr., 51, pleaded guilty to retaliating against a federal official by threat.
According to court documents, on November 12, 2025, Smith left a voicemail for a U.S. Senator stating he was “coming to kill you,” that “you need to be dead,” and that he was going to “put a bullet in your head.”
On March 19, 2026, Smith was charged by information with threatening a federal official.
Smith faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on August 26, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
As part of the plea agreement, Smith has agreed to pay restitution in full.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from United States Capitol Police, United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Oregon State Police, and the Woodburn Police Department. First Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Narus and Assistant U.S. Attorney James A. Kilcup are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Reaches $7.9M in Settlements Connected to PPP Fraud Enforcement InitiativeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — United States Attorney Bryan P. Stirling announced today that the District of South Carolina entered multiple settlements with defendants for more than $7.9 million, resolving allegations that various companies violated the False Claims Act by providing false information to obtain over $5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for which they were not eligible.
“These settlements reflect our commitment to protecting taxpayers and holding those accountable who disregard program requirements in order to obtain federal funds they are not entitled to,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Our team secured these settlements in the first five months of 2026, and we’ll continue to aggressively pursue individuals or businesses who defraud our taxpayers.”
Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Secured Act (CARES Act) in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain approved expenses through the PPP, which the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) administered. The PPP provided for loans in two “draws”—first draw loans became available in March 2020, with a second draw announced in January 2021. To be eligible for PPP loans, businesses were required to certify on their loan applications that they met certain size standards based on, for example, the number of employees they, and their affiliated entities, collectively employed. In determining the number of employees, businesses generally were required to count all employees of U.S. and foreign affiliates. Businesses with more than 500 employees were not eligible for first draw loans, and businesses with more than 300 employees were not eligible for second draw loans.
The District of South Carolina has entered into settlement agreements with the following organizations to resolve allegations that they falsely certified eligibility for PPP loans by misrepresenting their total number of employees, including all affiliates, in violation of the False Claims Act (FCA).EuWe Eugen Wexler US Plastics Inc. is a company with a principal place of business in Williamston that specializes in the production of plastics parts used in automobiles. In 2021, EuWe Eugen US received a $1,627,947 second draw PPP loan. As part of the loan application, EuWe Eugen US certified that it had 169 employees, but in reality its employee headcount together with its German parent company, EuWe Eugen Wexler Holdings GmbH & Co. KG, and its subsidiaries, exceeded the 300-employee cap. EuWe Eugen US later sought and received forgiveness of the full amount of the loan, plus interest. EuWe Eugen US has agreed to pay $2,175,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the FCA by obtaining this PPP loan for which it was ineligible. The settlement resolves allegations brought in the qui tam action in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina captioned United States ex rel. GNGH2 Inc. v. EuWe Eugen Wexler US Plastics, Inc., No. 8:24-cv-05297-DCC. Relator GNGH2 received $217,500 as a share of the settlement amount.
Mankiewicz Coatings, LLC is a company with a principal place of business in Charleston that specializes in industrial coating systems. In 2021, Mankiewicz Coatings received a $1,221,263 first draw PPP loan. As part of the loan application, Mankiewicz Coatings certified that it had 80 employees, but in reality its employee headcount together with its German parent company, KG Erste Grau Vewaltungs-GmbH & Co., and its subsidiaries, exceeded the 500-employee cap. Mankiewicz Coatings later sought and received forgiveness of the full amount of the loan, plus interest. Mankiewicz Coatings has agreed to pay $1,850,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the FCA by obtaining this PPP loan for which it was ineligible.
Fukoku America, Inc. is a company with a principal place of business in Laurens that specializes in the production of rubber parts used in various vehicles and machines. In 2021, Fukoku America received a $1,212,950 second draw PPP loan. As part of the loan application, Fukoku America certified that it had 157 employees, but in reality its employee headcount together with its Japanese parent company, Fukoku Co. Ltd., and its subsidiaries, exceeded the 300-employee cap. Fukoku America later sought and received forgiveness of the full amount of the loan, plus interest. Fukoku America has agreed to pay $1,800,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the FCA by obtaining this PPP loan for which it was ineligible. The settlement resolves allegations brought in the qui tam action in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina captioned United States ex rel. Blockquote, Inc. v. Fukoku America, Inc., No. 6:24-cv-01579-DCC. Relator Blockquote received $180,000 as a share of the settlement amount.
AWL Automation, LLC is a company with a principal place of business in Spartanburg that specializes in the design and production of automated machines for use in manufacturing. In 2021, AWL Automation received a $741,185 second draw PPP loan. As part of the loan application, AWL Automation certified that it had 32 employees, but in reality its employee headcount together with its parent company, Nobel Future B.V., which is located in the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries, exceeded the 300-employee cap. AWL Automation later sought and received forgiveness of the full amount of the loan, plus interest. AWL Automation has agreed to pay $1,100,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the FCA by obtaining this PPP loan for which it was ineligible.
Stoba USA Corp. is a company with a principal place of business in Charleston that specializes in high-precision metal components. In 2021, Stoba USA received a $683,695 second draw PPP loan. As part of the loan application, Stoba USA certified that it had 39 employees, but in reality its employee headcount together with its German parent company, Stoba Holding GmbH Co Kg, and its subsidiaries, exceeded the 300-employee cap. Stoba USA later sought and received forgiveness of the full amount of the loan, plus interest. Stoba USA has agreed to pay $993,784.86 to resolve allegations that it violated the FCA by obtaining this PPP loan for which it was ineligible. The settlement resolves allegations brought in the qui tam action in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina captioned United States ex rel. Verity Investigations, LLC v. Stoba USA Corporation, No. 2:25-cv-03884-RMG. Relator Verity will receive a share of the settlement amount.
The government’s investigations were led by Assistant United States Attorneys Austin E. McCullough and James C. Leventis, Jr. The United States Attorney further wishes to commend attorney Kandace Zelaya of the SBA Office of the General Counsel for her assistance in the investigations.
The claims resolved by civil settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.###
Two Utah Residents Facing Federal Charges after Assisting Suspected Illegal Alien from Escaping Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – Two Salt Lake City residents are facing federal charges after they helped a suspected illegal alien escape from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in their vehicle, while the suspect was handcuffed. The duo allegedly used bolt cutters to remove his handcuffs and then bragged about the encounter on social media.
Kelzie Ryann Luna, 21, and George Sanchez-Juarez, 22, both of Salt Lake City, were charged by misdemeanor information on May 8, 2026.
According to allegations in court documents, on October 8, 2025, federal agents were attempting a targeted enforcement action at a Home Depot in Salt Lake City after they had identified four previously deported aliens. While federal agents were arresting one of the suspects, another suspected illegal alien, who was placed in handcuffs, escaped from the vehicle and fled on foot across the street where two people, later identified as Luna and Juarez, helped him evade arrest in a white Volkswagen Golf. Luna and Juarez then allegedly purchased bold cutters to remove the handcuffs and later bragged about helping the illegal alien escape from his lawful arrest while cursing ICE. Luna was identified by law enforcement as the passenger, and Sanchez-Juarez was the driver of the Volkswagen.
HSILuna and Sanchez Juarez are charged with theft, conversion, and disposal of government property, and aiding and abetting. Their initial appearance is scheduled for May 29, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI).
Assistant United States Attorney Todd C. Bouton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
A misdemeanor information is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tucson Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – A man who exploited multiple children was sentenced last week in federal court.
Nathan Dean Hinte, 36, of Tucson, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 40 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Hinte previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Production of Child Pornography.
“Every child deserves to be protected,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This 40-year sentence sends a clear message that federal law enforcement in Arizona is committed to pursuing justice for children. I commend Homeland Security Investigations for their outstanding work in uncovering the abuse and for teaming up with federal prosectors to ensure Hinte was held accountable for his heinous crimes.”
“Protecting and rescuing children remains one of Homeland Security Investigations highest priorities and this lengthy sentence demonstrates the seriousness of this reprehensible crime,” said Jason T. Stevens, special agent in charge for HSI Arizona. “Let this case serve as a warning to anyone who seeks to exploit or harm children. HSI will relentlessly pursue those who commit these heinous offenses, regardless of how long it takes to bring them to justice.”
According to the plea agreement, Hinte admitted he used his cell phone in March of 2024 and August of 2024 to create videos and images of the victims, two of whom were under the age of 12, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hinte also admitted that he used a computer and the Internet to access and view files depicting Child Sexual Abuse Material. Finally, Hinte further admitted that he distributed at least one image of a victim to another individual using the Internet.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
HSI Arizona conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Walters, District of Arizona, Tucson, prosecuted the case.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-6718
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-085_Hinte
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Tucson Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with ChildrenRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 26, 2026, Johney Lynn Hammond, 30, of Tucson, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez to 18 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Hammond previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child.
Between Jan. 1, 2014, and Oct. 25, 2017, Hammond, an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, molested two children under the ages of nine on the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Tucson, Arizona.
The Pascua Yaqui Police Department and the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Cassell, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-2720
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-086_Hammond
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Troutdale Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Discharging 500,000 Gallons of Pollutants in HillsboroRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Troutdale woman was sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to violate the Clean Water Act by receiving and discharging 500,000 gallons of industrial wastewater contaminated with hydrofluoric acid and toxic metals to the sanitary sewer without approval.
Kayla Hartley, 36, was sentenced to 5 months in federal prison, a $25,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, from February through September 2020, Hartley, as the Director of Operations at the Northwest Slurry Solutions and Hydro Excavation, LLC (“Northwest Slurry”) facility in Hillsboro, Oregon, marketed the company as able to accept and dispose of industrial wastewater, despite having no permit or authorization to discharge that type of waste. Under Hartley’s leadership, Northwest Slurry accepted approximately 500,000 gallons of industrial wastewater containing chemical pollutants including hydrofluoric acid, titanium, molybdenum, vanadium, arsenic, and other heavy metals. Northwest Slurry discharged those half-a-million gallons of pollution to the Hillsboro sanitary sewer.
When staff from Clean Water Services, which operates the sanitary sewer system in Hillsboro, visited Northwest Slurry’s facility, Hartley attempted to conceal the fact that her company was discharging industrial wastewater.
On July 15, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Hartley with conspiracy to violate and violating the Clean Water Act.
On January 21, 2026, Hartley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Clean Water Act.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the EPA Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from Clean Water Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew T. Ho and Special Assistant United States Attorney Gwendolyn Russell prosecuted the case.
This case was an Environmental Crimes Task Force (ECTF) investigation. ECTF is an initiative in the District of Oregon that identifies, investigates, and prosecutes significant environmental, public lands, and wildlife crimes. ECTF leverages the resources and effort of federal, state, and local regulatory agencies and law enforcement to protect human health, safeguard natural resources and wildlife, and hold violators accountable. If you witness an event that may lead to an immediate threat to human health or the environment, please call 9-1-1. After alerting local emergency authorities, please also report incidents to the EPA’s Report a Violation website (https://echo.epa.gov/report-environmental-violations) or by calling the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
Three Gang Members Charged in Connection with Execution-Style Murder on Bronx SidewalkRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Pete Gizas, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging three defendants in connection with the August 7, 2025, murder of Ralph Herrera, a/k/a “Chicken,” who was shot from point-blank range in the side of the head while standing on a Bronx sidewalk. The three defendants, JAHRID DAWKINS, KADIN WEST, a/k/a “Kay Backends,” and MILAN WRIGHT, a/k/a “BabyyThreat,” were arrested earlier today and were ordered detained. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
“As alleged, the defendants plotted a point-blank murder after a gang dispute and carried it out in cold blood on a busy Bronx sidewalk,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New Yorkers want us to do all we can to end targeted gang violence and, today, that is exactly what our Office and our law enforcement partners are delivering.”
“The defendants allegedly carried out a deliberate, point-blank killing on a Bronx sidewalk—a calculated act of gang violence that left Ralph Herrera ambushed and fatally shot in the street,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas. “HSI New York agents and task force officers worked lockstep with the NYPD to follow the evidence step-by-step and identify, investigate, and arrest these alleged killers. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to do whatever it takes to drive violent gangs out of our neighborhoods and protect the people we serve.”
As alleged in the Indictment, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:(1)
From at least 2023 through May 2026, DAWKINS, WEST, and WRIGHT were members and associates of the MacBallers, a violent gang whose members engage in drug trafficking, robbery, and systematic violence against rivals and anyone perceived to have disrespected the gang. Gang members also openly celebrate their criminal conduct through music and on social media.
On August 5, 2025, WEST, WRIGHT, and other gang members got into an altercation with Herrera, the victim, in front of a Bronx store. In the days that followed, WEST and WRIGHT discussed killing Herrera in retaliation for the perceived slight. On August 7, 2025, DAWKINS—wearing a mask and all-black clothing—approached Herrera on a busy sidewalk and shot him in the side of the head at point-blank range, killing him, before fleeing the scene. The murder is captured on video:
* * *
DAWKINS, 18, of Edison, New Jersey; WEST, 23, of the Bronx, New York; and WRIGHT, 19, of the Bronx, New York, are each charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison as to DAWKINS and WEST, and 20 years in prison as to WRIGHT. WEST and WRIGHT are also charged with conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Additionally, WEST is charged with murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life in prison, and a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison, and with a firearms offense, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The statutory maximum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick R. Moroney, Robert S. Ruff, and Joe Zabel are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
^
As the introductory phrase signifies, the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana Announces “Hometown Hero”Read the Press Release
HAMMOND – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana has selected FBI Indianapolis Staff Operations Specialist Susan Graff as its “Hometown Hero.” She was nominated by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Padula and selected by U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
The “Hometown Hero” award honors individuals who exemplify Liberty, Service, and Civic Responsibility. It recognizes a sustained commitment to these ideals and to public service in support of the community and the mission of justice.
“Susan Graff has served the Federal Bureau of Investigation for more than thirty years,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred. “She is currently assigned to the Indianapolis Division - Merrillville Resident Agency and is widely respected for her professionalism, institutional knowledge, and steady support to investigative teams. Her contributions have strengthened complex investigations and supported law enforcement efforts across a wide range of matters.”
Known for her behind-the-scenes work and dedication, Graff provides critical support to investigative efforts and plays an important role in helping advance cases. Those who work with her note that her contributions have repeatedly helped move investigations forward and that her work has had a meaningful impact across a wide range of matters.
Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Padula said, “Her work has been essential to supporting complex cases in this district. She consistently brings strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and a deep commitment to public service. We are fortunate to have her as part of the team.”
Teen Sentenced to 121 Months for Shooting on the Omaha Nation Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Charles Aldrich, 18, of the Omaha Nation Indian Reservation, was sentenced on May 27, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for assault with a dangerous weapon with the intent to do bodily harm and using, carrying, or brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Aldrich to 37 months’ imprisonment for the assault charge and a consecutive 84 months’ imprisonment for the use of a firearm during his crime of violence, for a total sentence of 121 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
On August 25, 2025, Omaha Nation Law Enforcement Services received a call regarding a shooting on Skunk Hollow, a location in the Omaha Nation Indian Reservation, and determined that a victim had been shot.
Before the shooting, Aldrich became involved in an argument with his next-door residents. Aldrich retrieved a handgun from a car that pulled up to the street. The argument continued, and Aldrich fired three shots from his driveway toward the next-door residents as they fled. Aldrich pursued and fired five more rounds at them. One was struck by gunfire.
Aldrich returned to his residence and remained there until he subsequently surrendered to law enforcement. Law enforcement searched the residence and recovered the handgun that had been used.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Nation Law Enforcement Services and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Sussex County Man Convicted for $2.1 Million COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A New Jersey man was found guilty by a jury for fraudulently obtaining more than $2.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and laundering the proceeds, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Nikenson Jean Mathurin, aka “Nik Mathurin,” aka “Jean Mathurin,” 46, of Sparta, New Jersey, was convicted of three counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering on May 21, 2026 following a four-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court. Sentencing is scheduled for October 6, 2026.
“Pandemic relief programs were created to help struggling businesses keep workers employed and survive a national emergency—not to serve as a personal payday for fraudsters. The evidence at trial showed that Mathurin submitted fraudulent loan applications packed with fake payroll records, false tax documents, and fabricated business information to obtain more than $2.1 million in federal relief funds. This Office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who stole taxpayer-funded emergency assistance for personal gain.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
“Individuals who exploit pandemic relief programs undermine the integrity of our financial system and divert vital resources intended to support Americans in times of crisis. Through deception and fraud, Mathurin stole more than $2 million from the very businesses these programs were created to help,” stated Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, IRS Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office. “This verdict underscores IRS-CI’s commitment to protecting taxpayer funds and holding those who abuse these programs accountable.”
According to documents in this case and evidence at trial:
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, Congress authorized emergency funding that small businesses could use to help keep their businesses afloat and employees on payroll.
Beginning in April 2020, Mathurin participated in a scheme to defraud lenders and the Small Business Administration to obtain federal COVID-19 emergency relief money by submitting fifteen fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications on behalf of businesses he claimed to own. Mathurin’s fraudulent applications included false information concerning, among other things, the applicant entities’ average monthly payroll, gross revenue, and number of employees, and fake supporting tax documents and payroll records. As a result of his fraudulent applications, Mathurin unlawfully obtained more than $2.1 million in federal COVID-19 emergency relief money.
Each wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and the money laundering charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Each charge also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited special agents the IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Stark and Fatime Meka Cano of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement 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.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Defense Counsel for Mathurin: Mark G. Davis, Esq.
mathurin.indictment.pdfStamford Woman Admits Selling Drugs, Firearm, While on Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that AMONDA MENDEZ, also known as “M-Dot” and “Dot,” 35, of Stamford, pleaded guilty yesterday in New Haven federal court to a narcotics trafficking offense and admitted that she violated the conditions of her supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2016, Mendez was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 10 years of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses. She was released from federal prison in January 2025. Between April and July 2025, law enforcement made multiple controlled purchases of crack cocaine and fentanyl, and one purchase of a loaded .40 caliber pistol, from Mendez. The pistol had been reported as stolen.
Mendez was arrested on July 28, 2025. On that date, a search of her person revealed approximately 48 grams of crack cocaine and $1,934 in cash, a search of her Stamford residence revealed approximately 163 grams of crack, and a search of another Stamford residence connected to Mendez revealed $2,456 in cash.
Mendez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”). At sentencing, due to enhanced penalties as a result of her prior federal conviction, Mendez faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
Mendez has been detained since her arrest.
This matter has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Stamford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham.
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.
Southern Utah Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah – A St. George drug dealer was sentenced today to 120 months’ imprisonment and four years of supervised release after law enforcement located fentanyl and methamphetamine inside his vehicle during a traffic violation in 2024.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, comes after John Andy Larson, 49, of St. George, pleaded guilty on January 22, 2026, to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
According to court documents and statements made at Larson’s sentencing and change of plea hearings, on November 7, 2024, a deputy with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation on the interstate. The driver was identified as Larson. A drug sniffing canine alerted positive to the smell of narcotics in the vehicle. Law enforcement searched and located a lockbox inside the vehicle which contained 63 grams of methamphetamine (three bags), 7.8 grams of fentanyl pills (52 pills/two bags), 1.5 grams of marijuana (one bag), and 2.5 grams of heroin (one bag). All the drugs field-tested positive.
“Larson’s sentence should serve as a deterrent to other drug traffickers—if you try to make a career out of peddling poison in Utah, you are looking at a significant amount of incarceration time,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “The safety of our communities is a top priority for my office and Larson’s sentence underscores the collaboration of our federal, state, and local partners in realizing that priority.”
The case was investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington County Drug Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Hood of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the 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.
Sentencing of McKeesport Man Who Pleaded Guilty to Theft of U.S. Government Helicopter Parts Includes $425,000 Judgment in Favor of the U.S.Read the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of theft of government property and was sentenced to six months of probation and ordered to pay a judgment to the United States of $425,000, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Douglas Zych, 70, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone and was sentenced on May 27, 2026.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Zych cannibalized parts of a Huey-1 helicopter entrusted to the care and custody of a museum and sold them. The museum had obtained the aircraft pursuant to the Federal Surplus Property Donation Program administered by the U.S. General Services Administration and which provides donees such as museums with surplus government property for use in a manner consistent with the donee’s mission. During the first five years of the donation, title to the property remains vested in the United States, with title then reverting to the donee after five years. The pilfering of the parts in this case occurred while the helicopter was vested in the United States.
“Douglas Zych stole property donated, and still owned, by the U.S. government in an attempt to profit from its sale,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “The conversion of government property for personal enrichment that has been donated and intended to benefit the public is a violation of the law. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who engage in such illegal activity.”
“The integrity of the GSA Federal Surplus Property Program depends on the integrity of its participants and their commitment to serving the public good. Any attempt to exploit the program for personal gain is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Elisa Pellegrini of the U.S. General Services Administration Office of Inspector General Mid-Atlantic Investigations Division. “GSA OIG remains committed to rooting out corruption and ensuring that taxpayer funded programs operate with the highest standards of honesty, accountability, and oversight.”
Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. Ivory prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Zych.
San Antonio Tow Company to Pay $280,000 for Illegally Auctioning Servicemember-Owned VehiclesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department today announced that San Antonio-based tow company Vehicle Management Solutions, Inc. (VMS) will pay $280,000 to resolve allegations that the company illegally sold or scrapped approximately 93 vehicles owned by U.S. servicemembers in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
“When members of our Armed Forces are called to fight for our country, they should not have to return home to find that their car has been illegally sold. Towing companies must comply with federal laws that protect servicemembers or face serious consequences,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice stands with our men and women in uniform and will vigorously defend their rights under the law.”
“The Western District of Texas is proud to be home to countless military members and their families, as well as many veterans of our Armed Forces. Deploying is hard enough. Worrying about the safety and security of one’s personal property while deployed is a concern no member of our military should carry,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “In the Western District of Texas, we will always fight for those that fight for us, both while they are home and while serving our country overseas. This case is an example of our resolve and commitment to that mission.”
The Department alleges that VMS engaged in a pattern or practice of auctioning or otherwise disposing of vehicles owned by SCRA-protected servicemembers without obtaining the required court orders. The Department began investigating VMS after receiving a complaint from a servicemember whose vehicle was towed and auctioned by VMS in 2024 while he was serving on an overseas deployment in Kosovo.
The SCRA is a federal law that provides a variety of financial and housing protections to members of the U.S. military. The law prohibits a towing company from selling a vehicle owned by an SCRA-protected servicemember unless the company first obtains a court order authorizing the sale.
Under the settlement, VMS will pay $220,000 in compensation to the affected servicemembers. VMS will also pay a $60,000 civil penalty to the U.S. Treasury and will be required to make policy and training changes to avoid committing future violations.
The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $489 million in monetary relief for over 152,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the Department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.
Note: Read the settlement here.
San Antonio Tow Company to Pay $280,000 for Illegally Auctioning Servicemember-Owned VehiclesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that San Antonio-based tow company Vehicle Management Solutions Inc. (VMS) will pay $280,000 to resolve allegations that the company illegally sold or scrapped approximately 93 vehicles owned by U.S. servicemembers in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
“When members of our Armed Forces are called to fight for our country, they should not have to return home to find that their car has been illegally sold. Towing companies must comply with federal laws that protect servicemembers or face serious consequences,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice stands with our men and women in uniform and will vigorously defend their rights under the law.”
“The Western District of Texas is proud to be home to countless military members and their families, as well as many veterans of our Armed Forces. Deploying is hard enough. Worrying about the safety and security of one’s personal property while deployed is a concern no member of our military should carry,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “In the Western District of Texas, we will always fight for those that fight for us, both while they are home and while serving our country overseas. This case is an example of our resolve and commitment to that mission.”
The Department alleges that VMS engaged in a pattern or practice of auctioning or otherwise disposing of vehicles owned by SCRA-protected servicemembers without obtaining the required court orders. The Department began investigating VMS after receiving a complaint from a servicemember whose vehicle was towed and auctioned by VMS in 2024 while he was serving on an overseas deployment in Kosovo.
The SCRA is a federal law that provides a variety of financial and housing protections to members of the U.S. military. The law prohibits a towing company from selling a vehicle owned by an SCRA-protected servicemember unless the company first obtains a court order authorizing the sale.
Under the settlement, VMS will pay $220,000 in compensation to the affected servicemembers. VMS will also pay a $60,000 civil penalty to the U.S. Treasury and will be required to make policy and training changes to avoid committing future violations.
The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $489 million in monetary relief for over 152,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the Department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.
Note: Read the settlement here.
Salem Man Charged with Kidnapping and Attempted Abusive Sexual Contact, Additional Victims SoughtRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— Gene Arnold McLenithan, 58, of Salem, Oregon, has been charged by criminal complaint with kidnapping and attempted abusive sexual contact in Tillamook County.
According to court documents and statements made in court, McLenithan allegedly kidnapped the two victims around midnight on July 4, 2024, camping along a public hiking trail in Tillamook County. McLenithan bound the victims, covered their eyes, and, after a period of time passed, told victims he had planned to sexually assault them.
Prior to the assault, the victims did not know McLenithan.
McLenithan made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. magistrate judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office and Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rochat is prosecuting the case.
If you have any reason to believe you or someone you know may be a victim or have additional information about other potential crimes involving McLenithan, please contact the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Rockford Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Drugs and Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to fourteen years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, and illegally possessing a firearm.
RISHAWN JONES admitted in a plea agreement that in May 2024 he possessed controlled substances in various locations, including his vehicle and a storage unit. The storage unit also contained a 9-millimeter pistol. This crime was committed while Jones was serving a term of court-supervised release following a prior federal prison sentence for distribution of heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime—a fact that the Court found to be an aggravating factor in sentencing Jones.
Jones, 40, pleaded guilty in 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, and more than 500 grams of cocaine, and illegally possessing a firearm. On May 21, 2026, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Jones to 14 years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Todd C. Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Winnebago County, Ill. Sheriff’s Office provided valuable assistance. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.
Roanoke Man Sentenced to 720 Months in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Cecil Spangler, 37 years old, formerly of Roanoke, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Children, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Spangler was sentenced to 720 months in prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Restitution will be imposed at a later date.
“A predator who used a minor to engage in sexual conduct and produced a visual depiction of that sexual conduct will spend the next 60 years in prison for his sick and depraved decisions. He did this over the period between June 2021 and August 2023. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Indiana State Police, the Huntington County Sheriff’s Office, the Roanoke Police Department, and Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery, along with support and coordination of the Huntington County Prosecutor’s Office led by Prosecutor Jeremy Nix and Chief Deputy Theresa Searles, the Defendant was arrested, prosecuted, convicted, sentenced, and locked up in a place where he can no longer harm children,” U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred said.
“Cecil Spangler’s horrific conduct has caused unimaginable physical and emotional trauma to children,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “I’m proud of our agents’ diligence and tenacity in facilitating this 60-year sentence, ensuring he can never hurt another child.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Indiana State Police, the Huntington County Sheriff’s Office, the Roanoke Police Department, and the Huntington County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Rapid City Woman Sentenced to over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 26, 2026.
Judith Brewer, 40, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Brewer was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in December 2025. She pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026.
In November 2025, law enforcement responded to a residence in Rapid City after a person reported that Brewer was at her home and unwanted. Brewer had since fled to another home, where deputies found her hiding along with a bag she had taken from the reporting party. Brewer was arrested on outstanding warrants and found to be in possession of a 9mm pistol. Brewer knew she was prohibited from possessing firearms based on her having a prior felony conviction.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Brewer was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Woman Causing Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation. The sentencing took place on May 22, 2026.
Jeremy Old Horse, 40, was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $200 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Old Horse was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in June 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026.
On January 25, 2025, an Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety officer responded to a residence and observed a female victim who had been recently assaulted. Old Horse repeatedly used his knee to assault the victim in the face, breaking multiple bones in her face. Old Horse also strangled the victim during the assault. The victim advised law enforcement that she had been tortured by Old Horse to find out what information she had provided to law enforcement about an assault that occurred one month before.
“This was a brutal assault,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “We commend the victim’s bravery.”
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandating certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Old Horse was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Jayson “Javi” Gomez, 31, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $95 in restitution and $100 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture was also ordered.
Gomez was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 13, 2026.
On August 5, 2025, during the 2025 Sturgis Bike Rally, Gomez initiated communications on MeetMe with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. The girl, in fact, was a Rapid City Police Detective operating in an undercover capacity on the Internet-based application, MeetMe, used for dating and “hookups.” Gomez gave his cell number to the undercover persona and started communicating with her through texting. Gomez told her that they would have “Netflix and chill moments,” which is a slang term for having sexual intercourse while watching a movie. Gomez and the undercover persona made arrangements for him to pick her up at a predetermined location. When Gomez showed up at the location, he was arrested. Ultimately, Gomez admitted he intended to, and would have had, sex with the 14-year-old girl had she been a real person.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Gomez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Raleigh County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Francis Combs, 58, of Cool Ridge, was sentenced today to nine years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 30, 2024, Combs sold a Bryco Arms model Jennings J-22 .22-caliber pistol to a confidential informant in Raleigh County. As part of his guilty plea, Combs admitted to conducting the transaction at his residence and after selling a quantity of fentanyl to the confidential informant at a gas station in Ghent.
Combs also admitted to selling a quantity of fentanyl and a Jimenez Arms model JA-Nine 9mm pistol to a confidential informant at his residence on August 1, 2024.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Combs knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery in Raleigh County Circuit Court on June 26, 2007, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in Wyoming County Circuit Court on October 1, 2019.
This is Combs’ fifth firearms-related conviction. At the time of his current offense, Combs was on parole for state burglary and robbery convictions. Combs has a criminal history that also includes prior convictions for delivery of methamphetamine and battery.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin and former Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-188.
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Queens Man Charged in Connection with Armed Robberies of Collectible Pokémon Trading Cards from New York StoresRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), Bryan DiGirolamo, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging ANDY DAVID PALACIOS ORTIZ in a conspiracy to commit armed robberies in January 2026 of two New York stores that sold collectible Pokémon trading cards. PALACIOS was arrested today and presented before Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses.
“As alleged, Andy David Palacios Ortiz engineered and participated in brazen armed robberies in New York that resulted in the theft of over $100,000 in Pokémon cards, and terrified multiple store employees and customers,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Gun violence is a threat to the safety and security of our neighborhoods, and Palacios now stands charged with serious federal crimes. Would-be perpetrators should know: you cannot commit robberies against New Yorkers and get away with it.”
“These alleged robberies were not simply thefts targeting collectibles—they were violent crimes that left victims fearing for their safety,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo. “The successful identification and arrest of dangerous offenders is only possible through close coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement. Thanks to the hard work of ATF/NYPD Strategic Pattern Technical Apprehension Group (SPARTA), the NYPD’s Manhattan and Queens Robbery Squads & the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. We are committed to our shared mission to protect the public from violent crime.”
As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:(1)
On or about January 9, 2026, multiple masked individuals entered a collectible trading card store in Queens, New York, brandished a gun at store employees and customers, and stole Pokémon cards and cash. Less than a week later, on or about January 14, 2026, multiple masked individuals entered a Pokémon trading card and merchandise store in lower Manhattan, New York, and held store employees and dozens of customers at gunpoint while they robbed the store of Pokémon cards and cash, including by using a hammer to break open a glass display case holding some of the store’s most valuable Pokémon cards. The Pokémon merchandise stolen by the robbers in the two robberies is valued in excess of $100,000.
PALACIOS organized and participated in the commission of both robberies. In particular, PALACIOS helped plan the robberies by surveilling the stores, identifying the most valuable Pokémon cards inside, and communicating that information to his co-conspirators.
On or about January 12, 2026, two days before the Manhattan robbery, PALACIOS used his cellphone to take pictures or video of various items behind the glass display case where the robbery eventually took place, as shown in the surveillance images below.
PALACIOS also participated in the commission of the robberies by, among other things, recruiting another co-conspirator who drove the robbers to and from the robberies. PALACIOS also sold some of the stolen Pokémon cards after the robberies for thousands of dollars.
* * *
PALACIOS, 28, of Flushing, New York, has been charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New York City Police Department for their assistance in this case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ariana Bloom and Samantha Fry are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
^
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the Complaint and the descriptions of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.