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Wednesday 20 May 2026
South Dayton man going to prison for receipt of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Joseph A. Buelow, 31, of South Dayton, NY, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J Vilardo.
In February 2024, the West Seneca Police Department seized Buelow’s phone, based on communications he was having online. A search of the phone recovered six images of child pornography that were saved on the phone and received by Buelow between August 2022, and November 2023. Some of the images depicted prepubescent minors and violence against children. In addition, Buelow admits that he engaged in the sexual abuse, exploitation, or attempted sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor on two or more occasions.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford, the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Cosgrove, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
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Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Robert Kent, 31, was sentenced to seven years and six months in federal prison, followed by five of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Kent was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in July 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026.
Kent was part of a drug trafficking organization that was obtaining methamphetamine from Arizona and then distributing it in the Sioux Falls area. Kent’s role in the group was to distribute the methamphetamine in town. Investigators discovered Kent was responsible for dealing approximately one pound of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Kent was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sequoyah County Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Shane Edwin Fahrenholz, age 59, of Gore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for one count of Possession of Firearm After Conviction of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
On October 8, 2025, Fahrenholz pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, between August 26, 2024, and September 12, 2024, Fahrenholz knowingly possessed a .30-30 lever-action rifle after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence in the State of Nebraska.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Fahrenholz will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Selma Career Criminal Sentenced to over 15 Years for Sale of Crack Cocaine and GunsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Otha Gatlin, 48, to over 15 years in federal prison for Selling Crack Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Sell a Quantity of Cocaine Base (Crack) and a Quantity of Cocaine, and Possession of Ammunition by a Felon. On February 9, 2026, Gatlin pleaded guilty to the charges without a plea agreement.
“Repeat offenders need to learn the lesson. We welcome decent folk who behave in society. Those who don’t, can think about it for decades. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
Twice in August 2024, the Selma Police Department joined with the ATF, used a confidential informant and purchased crack cocaine from Gatlin. On October 29, 2024, officers arrested Gatlin in his hotel room. When officers searched the room, they located a digital scale, drug paraphernalia, more crack cocaine, methamphetamines, and an extended pistol magazine loaded with 20 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Gatlin already qualified as a career criminal based on his egregious criminal history that included numerous felony drug and assault convictions.
“This case means a lot to me personally because I was directly involved in this investigation and operation here in Selma.” said Chief Vause, Selma Police Department. “I’ve seen firsthand the damage that drug activity and repeat violent offenders can do to families, neighborhoods, and the overall sense of safety in a small community like ours.
The sentencing of this individual is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work, persistence, and teamwork. I want to personally thank the investigators and agents from the Selma Police Department, the ATF, the NCSBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their dedication and commitment throughout this case. Cases like this do not happen overnight. They take long hours, strong partnerships, and people who are fully committed to protecting their communities.
As someone who cares deeply about this community, I believe our citizens deserve to feel safe in their homes, businesses, and neighborhoods. We will continue to aggressively target those involved in narcotics trafficking and violent criminal activity while continuing to build strong partnerships that help keep Selma moving in the right direction.”
W. 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 Selma Police Department, the ATF, and the NCSBI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Hinderliter 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. 5:25cr65.
Russellville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Douglas Scott Reeves, who has a lengthy criminal history, including a previous federal drug conviction, will spend the next 120 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today, by United States District Judge D. P. Marshall, Jr.
On December 5, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a four-count Indictment charging Reeves, 52, of Russellville, with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, with an enhancement for a prior conviction for a serious drug felony; two counts of distribution of fentanyl; and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
On December 19, 2025, Reeves pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl with an enhancement for a prior serious drug felony conviction. Judge Marshall also sentenced Reeves to serve eight years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Between 2021 and 2023, law enforcement officers received information that Reeves was obtaining fentanyl tablets and fentanyl powder, which he used to manufacture his own fentanyl tablets, for distribution. Officers conducted multiple controlled buys of fentanyl from Reeves at his residence in Russellville, which were recorded. On September 27, 2023, Reeves fled when officers executed a search warrant at his residence. During a search of Reeves’ residence, officers located fentanyl, psilocybin mushrooms, and drug distribution paraphernalia. Reeves admitted he distributed at least 280 grams of fentanyl and that he had used Narcan on at least 18 people while they were overdosing.
Reeves has an extensive criminal history that includes a federal conviction out of the Eastern District of Arkansas on February 14, 2013, for possession of equipment/chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine. His sentence included three years’ supervised release, and his supervised release was revoked twice. Reeves’ criminal history dates back to the early 1990s and includes multiple convictions for burglary, theft of property, and theft by receiving, criminal mischief in the first degree, fleeing, two convictions for possession of methamphetamine, and two convictions for delivery of methamphetamine.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force, Arkansas State Police, and the Russellville Police Department.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
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@USAO_EDAR
Richmond County men sentenced to prison for federal firearms chargesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: Two Richmond County men have been sentenced to prison after investigators uncovered an illegal firearms accessory importation scheme.
Jafere Deshon Elliott, 23, and Korbynn Jevon Jackson, 23, both of Augusta, each pled guilty to Illegal Importation of Firearms or Ammunition and Illegal Possession of a Machinegun, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen sentenced both defendants to 48 months in prison, and each man also must pay a fine of $2,000 and serve three years of supervised release upon completion of their prison terms.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“The extensive collaboration between multiple law enforcement and investigative agencies in this case is a shining example of exemplary police work and was instrumental in holding these criminals accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “These devices have no place on the streets or in the hands of those that would cause harm in the community.”
In February 2024, investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were contacted by Homeland Security Investigations agents to inform them that U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers intercepted a package shipped from China that contained 13 Machinegun Conversion Devices (MCD’s). The MCD’s were destined for an apartment in Augusta and agents learned that two weeks prior to the initial seizure, a package addressed to the same address and recipient was intercepted at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
“The illegal importation and possession of machinegun conversion devices pose a significant threat to public safety, and Homeland Security Investigations is proud to have worked alongside our federal, state, and local partners to disrupt this dangerous scheme,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI remains committed to protecting our communities by preventing illegal firearms and accessories from reaching our streets and ensuring those who violate federal law are brought to justice.”
The investigation found that the defendants would order the MCD’s, commonly referred to as ‘auto sears,’ from a distributor to be packaged as toys and delivered to the defendants’ home. The MCDs were analyzed by the ATF and determined to meet the definition of an MCD.
"The interception of these weapon conversion devices demonstrates the vigilance and dedication of our CBP officers in preventing dangerous items from entering our communities," said Gregory Alvarez, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Atlanta Field Office. "Through close collaboration with our federal partners, we are committed to protecting public safety and ensuring those who attempt to circumvent the law are brought to justice."
The case was investigated by the ATF, HSI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon.
Repeat Sex Offender to Spend 15 Years in Federal Prison for Trading Child Sexual Abuse Material OnlineRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Christopher David Sheese, 43, of Bloomfield, Indiana, has been sentenced to 15 years, eight months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, on June 29, 2024, investigators with the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, operating through the Bloomington Police Department, received a cyber‑tip indicating that Sheese had uploaded twenty‑one images and videos depicting child sexual abuse to the social media messaging application Kik. Using the account name “lovechicks0S6,” Sheese traded files involving the sexual exploitation of minors under the age of twelve—including infants and toddlers—with another Kik user.
Investigators later seized Sheese’s cell phone, which contained thousands of additional images and videos of child sexual abuse.
Sheese is a registered sex offender. In 2014, he was convicted in Owen County, Indiana for possessing a device containing thousands of files of child sexual abuse material. Five years later, he was convicted again for the same conduct after authorities discovered additional devices containing thousands more illicit files.
“This repeat sex offender remains a serious threat to children, having consistently demonstrated a refusal to cease this conduct and continuing to support a market rooted in the exploitation of society’s most vulnerable victims,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We will use every tool available to protect children, support victims, and ensure that individuals who perpetuate this abuse are removed from our communities for as long as the law allows.”
Homeland Security Investigations and Bloomington Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Eakman, who prosecuted this case.
This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse. Visit https://www.internetcrimesagainstkids.com to learn more about their efforts.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood
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Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA hosts ONDCP Director and Federal and State Law Enforcement Agencies to discuss Path to Zero, a USPIS law enforcement initiative to continue fighting drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the HSTFRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) hosted ONDCP Director Sara Carter and federal and state law enforcement agencies to discuss Path to Zero, a United States Postal Inspection Service law enforcement initiative to continue fighting drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the Homeland Security Task Force Initiative.
Combating drug trafficking through the mail is one of the highest priorities for postal inspectors. Across the country postal inspectors play a central role in disrupting the drug supply chain globally; working diligently with agency partners, all committed to fight drug trafficking. Postal inspectors will not allow the mail to be a back door for drug and firearms trafficking organizations operating in Puerto Rico, or in any American community.
Today, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (Postal Inspection Service) announced the results of operation “Path to Zero,” a Puerto Rico based drug interdiction initiative. Operation Path to Zero, led by the Postal Inspection Service’s Miami Division, and its San Juan Domicile, was launched in January 2026 and to date has resulted in the seizure of over 556 kilograms of cocaine found in over 448 USPS parcels destined for the mainland United States. Operation Path to Zero has been a partnership with, and supported by, Postal Inspection Service – Puerto Rico Police Task Force, the US Attorney’s Office – District of Puerto Rico, and the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) comprised of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations Division.
Puerto Rico serves as a gateway for a large portion of cocaine shipments sent through the U.S. Mail by foreign terrorist organization to the mainland United States. The Postal Inspection Service through Operation Path to Zero is closing this gateway for good, and has increased its resources in Puerto Rico, and implemented a strategy that is focused on the interdiction and removal of drugs from the mailstream at the source in Puerto Rico. The Postal Inspection Service has also increased its focus on the interdiction of firearms, criminal proceeds, and dangerous drugs, such as fentanyl, destined to Puerto Rico from the mainland United States.
“We will not allow for the U.S. Postal Service to be used to traffic drugs,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale. “As a result of this operation we have removed a significant amount of illegal drugs from the mailstream before it could reach the mainland United States. We are not done. Postal inspectors will continue to work with our Homeland Security Task Force, the Puerto Rico Police Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office partners to stop the flow of drugs, firearms, and criminal proceeds through the mail.”
“Under President Trump’s leadership and newly-released National Drug Control Strategy, the United States continues to wage a relentless offensive against illicit drugs. This drug seizure operation shows how Puerto Rico has been targeted for exploitation by smugglers,” said Sara Carter, National Drug Control Policy Director. “No matter how drug traffickers try to smuggle drugs, we will stop them at every point of entry—including borders, waters, airspace and mail. I am grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their hard work.”
“Law enforcement agencies in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean continue the efforts to attack drug trafficking cartels, transnational organizations and violent crime,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Our common goal is to make our communities safer, and with the help of ONDCP, HIDTA, and initiatives like Path to Zero and the Homeland Security Task Force we will continue producing great results and dismantling drug trafficking networks that only bring violence and death to our communities.”
“The HIDTA program is unique in its ability to support coordinated law enforcement strategies which maximize the effectiveness of local resources to reduce the supply of illegal drugs in our communities and the United States as a whole,” said John F. Kanig, Executive Director, Puerto Rico / U.S. Virgin Islands High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. “We are committed to working with our public safety and public health partners for a better future”.
The Postal Inspection Service utilized a variety of methods to identify drugs sent through the mail, including information from the public. The Postal Inspection Service offers rewards of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction for drug trafficking related offenses. Information on drug trafficking may be reports to postal inspectors at 877-876-2455 or online at www.uspis.gov.
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Pre-IPO Fraudsters Sentenced to 8, 10, and 11 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that the founders and operators of StraightPath Venture Partners LLC (“StraightPath”) and its affiliated entities were sentenced to significant prison time for defrauding their investors, skimming money off the top, and violating their fiduciary duties. MICHAEL CASTILLERO, a/k/a “Michael Alejandro,” and BRIAN MARTINSEN, who were also convicted of obstruction of justice, were each sentenced to 11 and 10 years in prison, respectively. FRANCINE LANAIA was sentenced to 8 years. CASTILLERO, MARTINSEN, and LANAIA were convicted in November 2025 following a two-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman, who imposed today’s sentences.
“Our private markets are the lifeblood of small and medium-sized businesses as well as tomorrow’s global giants,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Small and medium-sized business drive domestic employment. Our global giants in tech, energy, finance, life sciences, and other industries contribute greatly to the welfare of every American and provide strength on the world stage. Those companies, their investors, their employees, and all Americans benefit from our private markets. We, along with our partners at the SEC and law enforcement, are committed to ensuring that our private markets function well and fairly, and we are committed to rooting out bad actors. The federal prison sentences imposed today send a message that private market frauds will be met with vigorous criminal prosecution.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
From 2017 through April 2022, CASTILLERO, LANAIA, and MARTINSEN engaged in a scheme to defraud investors in nine related private funds known as the “StraightPath Funds.” Using “boiler room”-style call centers, the defendants marketed the funds as opportunities to invest in privately held companies at favorable prices before anticipated public offerings. Despite representing to investors that no upfront fees would be charged, the defendants acquired pre-IPO shares and resold them to investors at arbitrarily inflated markups without disclosure. The defendants also misled investors regarding the nature of their investments and hid the involvement of CASTILLERO and LANAIA, who had been previously barred from the securities industry by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Moreover, in order to evade detection of their scheme, CASTILLERO and MARTINSEN destroyed records and otherwise obstructed the efforts of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to uncover the defendants’ fraud on investors.
Through the scheme, CASTILLERO, LANAIA, and MARTINSEN acquired nearly $400 million from investors. They pocketed approximately $25 million each over the course of the fraud, and they also diverted investor funds to pay their associates. Altogether, the defendants and their associates misappropriated approximately $130 million in investor funds, and spent the money on luxury goods, houses, cars, watches, and a boat.
The StraightPath entities and StraightPath Funds are no longer operational and are under the control of a court-appointed Receiver tasked with taking possession of StraightPath’s assets and overseeing a plan to return value to investors.
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In addition to the prison term, CASTILLERO, 48, of Palm City, Florida; LANAIA, 61, of Northport, New York; and MARTINSEN, 49, of Palm City, Florida, were each sentenced to 3 years of supervised release. They were also ordered to pay restitution of $115 million. The defendants were also ordered to forfeit specific real and personal property they obtained as a result of the fraud, and to pay the following forfeiture amounts: Lanaia: $24,259,128.80; Martinsen: $25,355,714.43; and Castillero: $24,279,516.80.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed parallel civil actions.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Hobson, Allison Nichols, and Matthew Shahabian are in charge of the prosecution.
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.
Porcupine Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting A Young Girl in the Pine Ridge ReservationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The sentencing took place on May 19, 2026.
Deshawn Pourier, 24, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Pourier was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Pourier was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in January 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 11, 2026.
Pourier sought images of naked young girls on the internet and ultimately communicated with a particular young girl using an alias. He convinced the girl to send compromising pictures of herself and soon began demanding more such images. When the young girl hesitated, Pourier threatened to share her previous images with others on social media. Feeling threatened, the young girl complied with the extortion and continued to send more nude images.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Pourier was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Philadelphia Men Receive Lengthy Prison Sentences for Multiple Gunpoint Robberies and Robbery AttemptsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that two Philadelphia men have been sentenced to prison for carrying out a string of commercial armed robberies and robbery attempts in and around the city.
Tyler Nichols, 31, was sentenced today to 20 years’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and $5,158.72 in restitution by United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer.
Co-defendant Dadisi Williams, 33, was sentenced by Judge Weilheimer last month to 15 years in prison, two years of supervised release, and $5,158.72 in restitution.
Nichols and Williams were charged by indictment in April of 2025 with four counts of robbery interfering with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery) and two counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Williams pleaded guilty to all charges against him this January; a federal jury convicted Nichols of all charges the same month.
As detailed in court filings and statements, Williams and Nichols committed the following offenses, all at gunpoint:
- the September 19, 2024, robbery of a Family Dollar on Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia
- the September 27, 2024, robbery of an AutoZone on City Avenue in Lower Merion Twp.
- the October 6, 2024, attempted robbery of a Family Dollar on City Avenue in Philadelphia
- the October 11, 2024, attempted robbery of a Family Dollar on Haverford Avenue in Philadelphia
This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department, Lower Merion Township Police Department, and FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda Reinitz and Sandra Urban.
Perry Man Sent Back to Federal Prison for 10 Years for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Robert “Bobby” Shane Willis, 46, of Perry, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Keeping our communities safe and our streets drug-free is a top priority for my office, and we will continue to back up the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners with aggressive prosecutions to send drug traffickers to prison where they belong.”
According to court records, on March 5, 2025, the defendant sold 6.6 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine during an undercover law enforcement operation. The defendant was on federal supervised release at the time of the offense, having been sentenced in 2018 to nine years in prison for multiple drug-trafficking and firearms offenses.
"Bobby Shane Willis has been involved in the illicit drug trade in Taylor County and the City of Perry for years, said Chief Jamie Cruse, Jr., Perry Police Department. “This is not his first conviction for such crimes, having chosen to follow a career as a criminal, participating in the drug trade and committing offenses that are closely associated with the illicit sale of drugs the entire time, and while on Supervised Release for the same offense. Willis' conviction and incarceration will remove him from a society to which he has distributed dangerous drugs for years.
The Perry Police Department is proud to partner with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, The Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in a concerted effort to remove Willis and other dangerous career criminals that continuously spread the poison of dangerous drugs to the youth and other Citizens of North Florida.”
Taylor County Sheriff Padgett said: “Bobby Shane Willis is an individual who has spent years committing crimes and putting the safety of our community at risk. Thanks to the hard work and strong partnership between the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Perry Police Department, and our federal law enforcement partners, he will no longer be able to prey on the citizens of this community. This ten-year sentence sends a clear message that those who repeatedly victimize others will be brought to justice.”
When he is released from prison, the defendant will serve 10 additional years on supervised release.
“This joint investigation removes a career offender from our North Florida streets,” said DEA Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “Methamphetamine has been all too present in this area, and we are committed to stopping the flow of this poison into our communities.”
This conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Perry Police Department, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
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.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Park County man sentenced to 10 years in prison for hoarding cache of illegal incendiary devicesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Park County man who built and stored incendiary devices in his trailer in Pray, Montana, and kept detailed plans on how to attack nearby Chico Hot Springs, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Kadin Hawkeye Lewis, 24, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of possession of unregistered destructive devices.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that a call to law enforcement on Sept. 19, 2022, led officers to Lewis’ travel trailer in Pray, an unincorporated community in Park County, Montana. Once inside the trailer, officers discovered the body of a man who had multiple gunshot wounds to the top and back of the head.
Officers obtained a search warrant for the trailer and inside found eight Molotov cocktails stored in a cabinet, each bottle assembled with fuel and wicks. Elsewhere in the trailer, officers found dozens of empty bottles and rags that could be used to assemble more Molotov cocktails, as well as several journals and other writings belonging to Lewis. On the walls, officers observed violent extremist and racially motivated drawings and writing.
In some of his journals, Lewis detailed his admiration of mass shooters and fantasized about using Molotov cocktails as destructive devices to attack Chico Hot Springs, a nearby resort. He wrote about using the Molotov cocktails and firearms to build up a “kill count” as high as possible, aiming for between “17 and 30 casualties.” He also identified other hot spring resorts throughout Montana by name and location and wrote that it was his hope his attack would inspire others.
The Molotov cocktail evidence from the trailer was collected and submitted to the FBI Laboratory. Explosives experts there determined the material inside the bottles was an ignitable liquid that, when lit, would function as an improvised incendiary device, commonly known as homemade firebombs or Molotov cocktails. A search of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record found Lewis had never applied for or received permission to possess a destructive device.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Starnes prosecuted the case. The FBI and Park County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Online Predators Sentenced to 82 YearsRead the Press Release
Two conspirators imprisoned for scheme to obtain child pornography.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Michael David Bledsoe, 47, of Lansing, Michigan and Joseph Brandon, 50, of Knoxville, Tennessee, were sentenced to a total of 984 months in prison following their convictions for conspiracy to sexually exploit children. During sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Jarbou commented this misconduct at issue was so severe as to be “off the charts.” Brandon was sentenced to 660 total months for his crimes, with each of his individual sentences required to be served consecutively. The Court sentenced Bledsoe to 324 total months for his misconduct. When they are released from prison, Brandon will spend 10 years and Bledsoe will spend 5 years on supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “I don’t know how to make it any plainer than this: If you are sexually exploiting children, you will be found, prosecuted and sent to prison for a very long time. Stop harming our children or your life is essentially over.”
Bledsoe and Brandon met online through a chat group devoted to the discussion of predation of minor females. Through private messages, the two formed a criminal agreement in which Bledsoe promised to provide Brandon with social media and biographical information about minor girls in Michigan. In return, Brandon promised to “catfish” child pornography from the minors, by using a fake social media account where he posed as a 15-year-old girl.
Federal agents discovered the conspiracy after executing a search warrant on Bledsoe’s home and electronics. The search uncovered the illicit messages between Bledsoe and Brandon, as well as a trove of child pornography files. Investigators then used this information to obtain a search warrant for Brandon’s home in Tennessee, where they found thousands more images and videos of children being sexually abused.
“If you attempt to exploit our children through online deception and catfishing schemes, expect to spend decades in prison. This sentence sends a strong message to these defendants, who will have plenty of time to think about their appalling actions,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “These individuals conspired to manipulate and exploit vulnerable victims through calculated online tactics that have no place in our Michigan communities. Thanks to the diligent investigative work of our FBI Lansing Resident Agency, with the assistance from the FBI Knoxville Resident Agency, and additional assets throughout the Bureau, this disturbing scheme was uncovered, and the defendants were brought to justice.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Austin J. Hakes prosecuted it.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
Combatting online child sexual abuse remains a priority for the Department of Justice. To report an incident of actual or suspected online child sexual exploitation, call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's (NCMEC) 24-Hour Call Center at 1-800-843-5678, submit a CyberTip report to NCMEC at report.cybertip.org, or contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.
Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to over a Decade in Federal Prison after Armed Robbery at Metro ApartmentRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – CHANSE TREYVON BURGE, 32, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 137 months in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on March 18, 2025, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) responded to an armed robbery at a metro apartment. The victim reported that after a knock at the door, three individuals forced their way into the apartment. Burge held a firearm to the victim’s head while the other two searched the apartment. Burge also threatened to shoot the victim and struck her in the head multiple times with the firearm before the intruders fled. He was later arrested in a vehicle at a nearby hotel, where officers recovered a firearm.
On May 6, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Burge with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Burge pleaded guilty on September 26, 2025, and admitted he possessed a firearm despite his previous felony convictions.
At a sentencing hearing on May 18, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Burge to serve 137 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the need to protect the public from further crimes by Burge. Public records reflect that Burge has a lengthy criminal history with previous felony convictions that include:
- possession of a stolen vehicle in Blaine County District Court case number CF-2015-93;
- possession of a firearm after juvenile adjudication and possession of marijuana in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2016-2176;
- possession of firearms after conviction or during probation in Canadian County District Court case number CF-2019-1958; and
- felon in possession of a firearm and obstructing an officer in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2019-4393.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and OCPD. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Laney Ellis prosecuted the case. SAUSA Ellis is an attorney with the City of Oklahoma City who is assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office as part of a partnership to enhance federal efforts to address and reduce violent crime within Oklahoma City.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Hobbs Act and Felon in Possession ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JEREMIAH MILLS, (“MILLS”), age 28, was sentenced on May 12, 2026, by Chief United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter, after previously pleading guilty to a four-count indictment. Count One charged MILLS with Hobbs Act Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a). Count Two charged MILLS with discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(iii). Count Three charged MILLS with attempted Hobbs Act Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a). Count Four charged MILLS with felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
MILLS was sentenced to 240 months as to Counts One, Two, Three and Four. This term of imprisonment consists of 120 months as to each of Counts One, Three and Four, to be served concurrently with each other, and a term of 120 months as to Count Two, to be served consecutively to the term of imprisonment imposed for Counts One, Three and Four. MILLS also received three years of supervised release as to all four counts, with all terms to be served concurrently with each other. He also was ordered to pay a $400 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court records, on July 17, 2025, at approximately 4:32 a.m., MILLS entered the Food Mart convenience store at a gas station located on South Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana. MILLS brandished a firearm, a Brigade BM-F9 Rifle at the employee, and shouted, “if you move, I will kill you.” MILLS then discharged the rifle, firing one round of ammunition into the ceiling. MILLS then pointed the rifle at the employee. and demanded he open the register. The employee then opened the cash register and began dropping money inside a clear garbage bag for MILLS. MILLS then went behind the counter and began removing cigarettes and cigars. MILLS then removed two firearms, a Taurus 357 Magnum Revolver and a Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum Revolver from underneath the counter near the cash register. After obtaining the firearms, MILLS went back to the front door, retrieved his brown book bag, and fled the store towards Washington Avenue.
On July 20, 2025, at around 6:00 a.m., New Orleans police officers (NOPD) responded to a suspicious person incident at the Food Mart. Upon arrival, the same employee explained that the same suspect who committed the armed robbery at the Food Mart on July 17, 2025, had returned to the location, but the employee locked the door before the suspect could enter.
On July 20, 2025, at around 11:00 a.m., an NOPD detective conducting surveillance of MILLS’ New Orleans residence, observed MILLS pick up a package off his porch. The detective immediately recognized the man as MILLS. After obtaining a search warrant for the residence, NOPD conducted a callout over an intercom. After about two hours, MILLS exited the residence and was taken into custody. During a search of the residence, NOPD located the clothes that MILLS wore during the robbery, a brown backpack, cigars, cigarettes, cash, a Brigade BM-F9 Rifle, a Taurus 357 Magnum Revolver, and a Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum Revolver.
MILLS admits that he knowingly possessed the Brigade BM-F9 Rifle, the Taurus 357 Magnum Revolver, and the Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum Revolver, even though he was a convicted felon in Orleans Parish.
United States Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crime Unit.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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New Jersey Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Colon, age 52, of Bloomfield, New Jersey, was sentenced on May 19, 2026, to 300 months in prison by United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for three counts of production of child pornography and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Colon communicated with multiple minor victims who he then enticed into creating images of themselves engaged in sexually explicit activity and then directed the children to send those images to him via cellphone. At the time that the Department of Homeland Security executed a search warrant for Colon’s cellular devices in 2024, Colon, who was a convicted felon and prohibited possessor, was additionally in possession of multiple illegal firearms, including a stolen handgun.
“Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting children from those who seek to exploit their vulnerability for personal gain,” said HSI Philadelphia Acting Special Agent in Charge Nathan Abel. “This sentence is a result of HSI’s relentless pursuit to prosecute predators who manipulate and coerce minors into illegal acts, and we will use every resource at our disposal to bring them to justice. Most importantly, our efforts in this case provided an opportunity to rescue five young victims and ensure they are no longer subject to this abuse. The safety and well-being of our nation’s children will always be our top priority.”
The Department of Homeland Security and the Stroud Area Regional Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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New Jersey Man Indicted for Making Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that a New Jersey man was charged with making interstate threats to a Jewish organization located in New York, NY.
Cameron Patterson, 34, of Newark, New Jersey, was indicted on May 18 for transmitting interstate threats to injure the person of another. According to court records, Patterson sent three emails threatening physical harm to a New York-based Jewish non-profit organization on Oct. 6, 2024. The individuals who received these emails feared for their safety and reported the communications to law enforcement officers. A subsequent search of Patterson’s iCloud account revealed multiple images depicting or referencing violence, threats of violence, and mass shootings. Patterson, who was previously charged by complaint and released, will be arraigned on a date to be determined.
The charge of transmitting a threat in interstate or foreign commerce carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy of the FBI Newark Field Office with the investigation leading to these charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Millenky for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
New Jersey Man Indicted for Making Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey man was charged with making interstate threats to a Jewish organization located in New York, NY, United States Attorney Robert Frazer and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced.
Cameron Patterson, 34, of Newark, New Jersey, was indicted on May 18, 2026 for transmitting interstate threats to injure another person. According to court records, Patterson sent three emails threatening physical harm to a New York-based Jewish non-profit organization on October 6, 2024. The individuals who received these emails feared for their safety and reported the communications to law enforcement. A search of Patterson’s iCloud account revealed multiple images depicting or referencing violence, threats of violence, and mass shootings. Patterson, who was previously charged by complaint and released, will be arraigned on a date to be determined.
The charge of transmitting a threat in interstate or foreign commerce carries a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of $250,000.
United States Attorney Frazer and Assistant Attorney General Dhillon credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to these charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Millenky of the Criminal Division in Newark and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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patterson.indictment.pdfMexican National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for operating a scheme in which he claimed to be an IRS officer and misrepresented to victims that he was able to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars for them from a fictitious IRS program. The government recommended a sentence of 96 months in prison.
“The defendant pretended to be an IRS agent and preyed on victims – many of whom were non-native English speakers – who struggled to pay their home mortgages,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “He exploited his victims’ financial vulnerabilities and stole hard-earned money from over a dozen victims.”
"This case serves as a reminder of the lengths fraudsters will go to exploit vulnerable individuals for their own financial gain,” said Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown. “By inventing fake government programs and impersonating IRS officials, Velazquez built a false sense of trust to steal hard-earned money from unsuspecting victims. The IRS will never charge an upfront fee to process a form or secure a refund, nor do we make initial contact with taxpayers via social media or unsolicited text messages."
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Francisco Ivan Velazquez falsely held himself out to be an employee of the IRS and claimed to his victims that he could secure large monetary payments for them from the IRS. Velazquez asserted that these funds were available from a purported IRS program that allowed people who had previously lost a home to foreclosure to recoup money by applying to the IRS and filing certain documents. He advised the victims that, in exchange for a fee, he would submit an application for them to recover the funds. In some instances, Velazquez then helped present a false tax return to the IRS on behalf of a victim claiming the victim had federal tax withholdings of $100,000 or more and requested the withholdings be refunded. Velazquez’s criminal scheme sought at least $1.8 million from the IRS.
Government’s Exhibit 166: Photo of Francisco Ivan Velazquez in U.S. v. Francisco Ivan Velazquez, Case No. 2:22-cr-00090.
Velazquez was convicted at trial of three counts of wire fraud, one count of aiding the presentation of a false tax return, and two counts of impersonating an IRS officer. The jury did not return a verdict on four counts of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey ordered Velazquez to pay approximately $199,198.52 in restitution to the victims of his crimes.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown; Special Agent in Charge Krystofor Proev for the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and TIGTA investigated the case. Trial Attorneys John C. Gerardi and Thomas W. Flynn of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Tax Section, prosecuted the case with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.
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.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Providing Material Support to Cartel Designated as Foreign Terrorist Organization Following a Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican National has pleaded guilty in federal court today for providing material support to a Michoacan, Mexico-based cartel which was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
Jose C. Valencia-Soriano, aka Jose C. Soriano-Valencia, 34, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge D. Greg Kays to an information charging him with one count of providing material support to a designated FTO in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2339B(a)(1).
According to court documents, Valencia-Soriano admitted to providing material support to Cárteles Unidos, aka United Cartels, which is a Mexico-based transnational criminal and drug trafficking organization that controls large areas of Michoacán, Mexico. On Feb. 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of State, in consultation with the Attorney General, designated Cárteles Unidos, as both an FTO and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, after finding that the organization engages in terrorist activity.
Beginning on or around Feb. 20, 2025, and continuing until March 27, 2025, Valencia-Soriano admitted that he knowingly and intentionally provided material support and resources, including himself and currency, to Carteles Unidos. Specifically, Valencia-Soriano obtained large shipments of methamphetamine often concealed in liquids from Cárteles Unidos members. He then extracted the methamphetamine from the liquid, sold it for profit, and conspired to make the U.S. currency and profits from the drug distribution to fund Cárteles Unidos in Mexico and elsewhere. These cartel operations included using profits from selling illegal drugs in the United States to fund the acquisition of high-powered weaponry, and the hiring of armed fighters and mercenaries, which resulted in numerous civilian, military, and law enforcement casualties.
On Feb. 25, 2025, for instance, a search warrant was executed at Valencia-Soriano’s home within the Western District of Missouri. Inside, law enforcement found 102 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and roughly 460 pounds of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine that was still stored in liquids and awaiting processing to crystal form for final distribution. Investigators found two different areas of the home used for processing the methamphetamine. Finally, investigators also recovered three firearms, including two 5.56-caliber firearms, and more than $48,000 in bulk cash that Valencia-Soriano admitted was U.S. currency he procured through U.S.-based drug distribution with the intent to transfer it back to Mexico to further fund the operations of Cárteles Unidos.
“Jose C. Valencia-Soriano's guilty plea reflects the seriousness of conduct that involved providing support to a foreign terrorist organization," said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price of the Western District of Missouri. "Actions of this nature threaten the safety of American citizens and the national security of the United States. The Western District of Missouri puts on notice anyone who engages in or supports terrorism against the United States: this conduct will not be tolerated. We will continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local partners to identify these individuals, disrupt and dismantle these networks, and bring their members to justice.”
Under federal statutes, Valencia-Soriano is subject to a sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Valencia-Soriano’s sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Foley. It was investigated by the Kansas City and St. Louis Field Divisions of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Rolla Area Drug Enforcement, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Homeland Security Investigations Knoxville (HSI), and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department also assisted with the execution of a search warrant.
Homeland Security Task Force
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for BurglaryRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Third Degree Burglary. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Jack Daniel Thomas, age 31, was sentenced to 18 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 and over $5,000 in restitution to several victims.
Thomas was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025. He pleaded guilty on September 16, 2025.
During the early morning hours of April 2, 2025, Thomas broke into several cars and the CHS storage shed in McLaughlin, South Dakota, in the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. He stole over $1,000 worth of tools from the storage shed and an iPad from one of the vehicles. He had committed several similar offenses in the past.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that 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 Corson County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Thomas was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
May 2026 Grand Jury for the District of NebraskaRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 10 unsealed Indictments charging 12 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Tristan Bush, age 40, of Grand Island, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Bush with burglary of a United States Post Office on or about January 8, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Bush with possession with intent to deliver 50 grams of actual methamphetamine on or about January 18, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Alrondo Martin Taylor, age 47, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about March 4, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Jacob Alan Brun, age 39, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with escape from custody between on or about April 18, 2026, and on or about April 21, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Jose Antonio Rivera Cruz, age 34, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating and interfering with a federal officer, with physical contact on or about April 14, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 8 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Antoine Singleton, age 43, Elisha Andrea Pool, age 33, and Steven J. Gray, age 43, all of Lincoln, Nebraska, have been charged in a two-count indictment. Count I charges Singleton, Pool, and Gray with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl beginning on or about August 1, 2025, and continuing to on or about February 24, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Singleton, Pool, and Gray with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl on or about February 24, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Victor Gilberto Perez, age 27, of Ralston, Nebraska, is charged in a seven-count Indictment. Count I charges Perez with being a felon in possession of a firearm, an Alpha Maxx, 5.56 mm pistol, on or about April 29, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Perez with being a felon in possession of one or more rounds of ammunition on or about April 29, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Perez with being a felon in possession of a firearm, a model Ruger 5.7 mm pistol, on or about April 29, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges Perez with being a felon in possession of fourteen (14) rounds of .380 caliber of ammunition on or about April 29, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count V charges Perez with possession with intent to distribute cocaine on or about April 29, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count VI charges Perez with possession with intent to distribute marijuana on or about April 29, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 2-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count VII charges Perez with carrying or using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime on or about April 29, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States and were found in the United States, without the Acting Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States:
Jose Miranda-Ramirez, age 44
Cruz Hernandez-Jacobo, age 38
Fernando Lugo-Tovar, age 41
Geovany Velasquez-Avila, age 30
The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing 2.5 Kilograms of Fentanyl and Possessing with Intent to Distribute 1.2 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing 2.5 Kilograms of Fentanyl and Possessing with Intent to Distribute 1.2 Kilograms of Cocaine
CONCORD – A Manchester resident pleaded guilty today to distributing over 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl and possessing with intent to distribute over 1.2 kilograms of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Xavier Santana, 22, pleaded guilty to four counts of distributing at least 400 grams of fentanyl, three counts of distributing at least 50 grams of fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine. U.S. District Judge Paul J. Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for August 31st, 2026.
According to the record, in late 2024 law enforcement learned that the defendant was selling drugs. Between January and May 2025, an undercover officer engaged in seven controlled purchases of fentanyl from Santana totaling over 2.5 kilograms. The quantities of fentanyl purchased each time ranged from 91 grams to a half kilogram. In July 2025, law enforcement searched the defendant’s residence and found over 1.2 kilograms of cocaine in Santana’s bedroom.
The charge of distribution of at least 400 grams of fentanyl provides a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life, a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, and a maximum fine of $10 million. The charge of distribution of at least 50 grams of fentanyl provides a sentence of at least 5 years and up to 40 years, a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life, and a maximum fine of $5 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine provides a sentence of at least 5 years and up to 40 years, a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life, and a maximum fine of $5 million. 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.
The FBI led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cesar A. Vega and Alexander S. Chen are prosecuting 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Man with Dual Citizenship Sentenced for Sharing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A man with dual citizenship in the United States and Pakistan was sentenced today for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Razwan Asghar, 41, to 121 months imprisonment, followed by ten years of supervised release. Upon his release, Asghar will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Hill further ordered Asghar to pay $3,000 in restitution.
In January 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip from Kik that a user uploaded photographs consistent with child pornography. Officers issued a search warrant and discovered that the email address associated with the account was Asghar’s college email address. They further discovered that one of the IP addresses used by Asghar traced back to a public Wi-Fi at his workplace.
When officers spoke with Asghar, he admitted to using his cellphone to view child sexual abuse material, with some children being ages 4-5 years old. Asghar explained that he has “a lot of porn,” but working as a nurse keeps him busy. He told agents that he knew trading images and videos of children being sexually abused was illegal. However, Asghar believed it was not a crime because he was not sexually abusing a child.
After speaking with agents, court documents show that Asghar sold his car, left the United States, and flew to Bahrain to stay with his family. When Asghar returned to the United States, he was arrested at the Tulsa International Airport.
The images and videos found on his devices were sent to the National Child Victim Identification System, managed by the NCMEC, for identification. One individual was identified and allowed to submit a victim impact statement to the court. Restitution paid by Asghar will go directly to the victim who requested restitution.
Asghar was born in Bahrain and is a citizen of Pakistan. He is also a naturalized citizen of the United States and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Tulsa Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal 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.
Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally reentered the United States from Guatemala pled guilty today in federal court in Sioux City.
Rigoberto Hernandez-Corado, also known as Rigoberto Corado-Hernandes, age 63, who was living in Rock Valley, Iowa, was convicted of illegal reentry.
At the plea hearing, Hernandez-Corado admitted he illegally reentered the United States without permission after having been previously removed from the United States on August 3, 2018. Hernandez-Corado was convicted in Sioux County, Iowa, in 2024 of domestic abuse assault, first offense, with a dangerous weapon. He was found in the Sioux County jail on January 13, 2026, where he was being held on a probation violation stemming from the 2024 sentence. While in custody, officials determined he was a citizen of Guatemala and had previously been deported from the United States to Guatemala.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hernandez-Corado remains in custody pending sentencing. He faces a possible sentence of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 26-CR-04011. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Mabelvale Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Johnny Lee Underwood will spend the next 240 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
On August 1, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Indictment charging Underwood, 27, of Mabelvale, with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and one count of distribution of fentanyl. On February 4, 2026, Underwood pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Judge Miller also sentenced Underwood to three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On June 30, 2023, officers from the Little Rock Police Department responded to an emergency call regarding a suspected overdose. Upon arrival at the scene, officers observed paramedics attempt to revive the victim, but their efforts were unsuccessful. During their investigation, officers learned the victim ingested a blue pill that contained fentanyl earlier in the day. Officers located the victim’s wallet, and recovered a small, blue pill stamped with “M/30” and appeared similar to the brand-name pharmaceutical-grade oxycodone.
Additional investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed that Underwood sold approximately four counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to the victim and the victim’s girlfriend. Within hours of purchasing the pills from Underwood, the victim ingested a portion of a pill, overdosed, and died. An autopsy conducted by the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory determined the victim’s cause of death as fentanyl toxicity.
“Sadly, here is yet another proof that “One pill can kill”. Fentanyl and additional emerging synthetic opioids are deadly poisons being sent into our country from other nations who want to kill as many Americans as possible. These toxic drugs are harmful to our citizens, and especially so for those who are struggling with addiction,” said Ross. “But an addiction should not equate to death; and for those like Underwood who knowingly sell fentanyl and someone dies as a result, our office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold you accountable.”
“Fentanyl continues to devastate families and communities across Arkansas, and those responsible for spreading this poison will be held accountable,” said Jason Van Goor, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Little Rock Field Office. “The FBI, alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will continue working tirelessly to remove dangerous drugs from our streets and pursue individuals who profit from putting lives at risk.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, with assistance from the Little Rock Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Fields.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
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Leader of Gorilla Stone Mafia Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Two Gang-Related Murders on Staten IslandRead the Press Release
Today, John Pena, also known as “Tragedy,” “Don Tragg,” “Last Don” and “Money Baggz,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly to life imprisonment for murdering Mark Bajandas on March 10, 2021, and Francisco Gonzalez on June 22, 2021. Pena committed the murders in connection with his position as the leader of the Gorilla Stone Mafia (GSM), a subgroup of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation (UGSN), which is a faction of the nationwide Bloods street gang. Pena was convicted at trial in September 2024 of all six counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with racketeering; murder in-aid-of racketeering; causing death through use of a firearm; unlawful possession, brandishing and discharge of a firearm; being a felon in possession of ammunition; and conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and crack cocaine.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James Barnacle, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
“Pena sought revenge against rivals and maintained his leadership position in the Gorilla Stone Mafia gang by any means necessary,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Killing a man as he slept in bed and gunning down another victim in a hail of bullets are shocking examples of Pena’s ruthlessness and disregard for human life. Today’s sentence ensures he will spend the rest of his life in prison for his gruesome murders and for his role in the violence and drug trafficking unleashed on the citizens of a Staten Island community.”
“Today, justice was delivered in full. The leader of Gorilla Stone Mafia, a violent gang, has been sentenced to life in prison. This violent organization has terrorized our streets long enough. This should serve as a warning to every gangster who believes they are above the law: we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will put you away for the rest of your life. Our communities deserve to live without fear, and today, because of the FBI’s Metropolitan Safe Streets Task Force, they are one step closer,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
Pena committed the crimes of conviction in connection with his leadership of GSM, which operated out of the Stapleton Houses, a public housing development on Staten Island. Members of GSM used intimidation, threats of violence, and acts of violence to preserve and protect GSM’s power, territory, and criminal activities. They also used drug trafficking as a means of obtaining money.
In the early morning hours of March 10, 2021, Pena fired multiple gunshots from close range killing Mark Bajandas, a former GSM member who had defected to the rival Bugatti set of UGSN. The murder occurred after Pena and Bajandas had attended a memorial earlier in the evening to commemorate the death of Avanti Brock, a former GSM member who was allegedly murdered by Bugatti approximately a year earlier. A witness testified that the defendant admitted killing Bajandas, boasting “I spliffed him and walked off like I was John Gotti.”
On June 22, 2021, Pena murdered Francisco Gonzalez, a former GSM member, by shooting him three times in the head while Gonzalez was asleep in bed next to Pena’s ex-girlfriend.
Law enforcement recovered writings from Pena’s jail cell at the Metropolitan Detention Center. These included statements in which he took responsibility for the murders of Bajandas and Gonzalez, lyrics in which he wrote that “I feel like the reaper,” and descriptions of turning his “opps,” i.e., “opposition,” into “ghost[s].” Pena also wrote about killing Gonzalez, including that Pena “left his brains on them sheets,” referring to his firing shots into Gonzalez’s head while Gonzalez was asleep in bed.
Witness testimony and evidence obtained from cell phones proved that GSM members enriched themselves by selling controlled substances in and around the Stapleton Houses and also in Vermont, and that Pena was involved in the sale and distribution of marijuana, crack cocaine and heroin.
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.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Dana Rehnquist, Andrew M. Roddin and Elias Laris are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of former Paralegal Specialist Elizabeth Reed.
The Defendant:
JOHN PENA (also known as “Tragedy,” “Don Tragg,” “Last Don” and Money Baggz”)
Age: 34
Staten Island, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-176 (S-2) (AMD)
Kechi man indicted for arsonRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with arson and firearms offenses and charging a woman for assisting him to commit a crime.
According to court documents, Johnny E. Griffith, 34, of Kechi was indicted on one count of arson, three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.
Serenity O. Napier, 22, of Wichita was indicted on one count of aiding and abetting possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Griffith allegedly intentionally and maliciously damaged duplexes on South Victoria Road in Wichita, Kansas, in October 2025. He is also accused of various crimes related to firearms. Napier allegedly assisted Griffith in possessing a firearm while knowing he is prohibited from legally possessing firearms based on a prior felony conviction.The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Wichita Police Department, and the Wichita Fire Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Salvador Bermudez-Herrera, 39, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien and one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Marcus S. Castillo, 45, of Wichita was indicted on four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Jesseca M. Granados-Diaz, 40, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case.
Jose Juarez-Gutierez, 40, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry by a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Hines is prosecuting the case.
Vincent Michael Knackstedt, 37, of Wichita was indicted on one count of theft of government property and one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. The Wichita Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Kanawha County Woman Sentenced for Violating the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification ActRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Misty Dawn Baisden, 48, of St. Albans, a convicted sex offender, was sentenced today to time served for failing to update her registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about September 17, 2025, through on or about October 30, 2025, Baisden failed to report that she had begun working at a St. Albans business.
Baisden is required to register as a sex offender and keep her information current because of her conviction for conspiracy to engage in the sex trafficking of a minor in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on October 19, 2017. Baisden remains on supervised release as a result of that conviction.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS).
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case.
SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
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. 2:26-cr-2.
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Jury Convicts D.C. Man of Assaulting Romantic Partner with a FirearmRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Makhi Inge, 23, of the District of Columbia, was found guilty today in connection with his assault on the mother of his child in October 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
A Superior Court jury found Inge guilty of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (Prior Conviction), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (Obliterated Serial Number), and Carrying a Pistol Without a License.
According to the government’s evidence, on Oct. 26, 2025, Inge went to the victim’s apartment in Northwest to see her and his son. Inge argued with the victim and punched her. The victim attempted to de-escalate the situation and briefly left the apartment. When she returned, Inge started another argument and insisted the victim owed him money. Inge then pointed a firearm at the victim and told her that he would have shot her if she was not holding his son. The victim pleaded with Inge to allow her to leave to go to an ATM to pay him.
Once Inge allowed the victim to leave, she took her son and went to the corner store where she asked the clerk for help and called 911. While the victim was on the phone with the 911 operator, Inge came to the store, took the boy, and headed back to her apartment. The victim pretended to go back with Inge but then waited in an alleyway for police. When police arrived, they went to the victim’s apartment where they found Inge and the victim’s son. After searching the apartment, police found Inge’s firearm that he had hidden in the victim’s laundry.
Inge has previous convictions for multiple felony offenses and crimes of violence involving firearms. Inge faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 21, 2026, before Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne Cotter and Monisha Rao.
2025 FD3 014290
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Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dcJasper County felon sentenced to federal prison for firearms violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas –A Jasper convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Cammorn Joseph Brizendine, 36, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale May 20, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in January 2025, Brizendine was stopped for a traffic violation in Hardin County. Brizendine consented to a search of the vehicle, during which a portable lock box containing two firearms was located on the floorboard of the vehicle. Further investigation revealed Brizendine is a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms.
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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin.
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Indictments, Convictions through Guilty Pleas, and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) ProsecutionsRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following investigative and prosecutorial results for the week of May 11 through May 15, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.
Indictments:
- On May 14, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Jesús Martínez-Cedeño with possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, in April 2026, the defendant knowingly and intentionally imported into the United States, from Colombia and other places, five kilograms or more of cocaine. Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Antonio L. Pérez-Alonso is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 14, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Ezequiel Amaro-Rosario (Dominican) with re-entry of removed alien. On May 10, Amaro-Rosario who had been previously removed from the United States, attempted to enter and was found in the United States, without obtaining, prior to his re-embarkation at a place outside the United States, the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the United States. United States Coast Guard Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Cody A. McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas:
- On May 11, 2026, Carlos Jadriel Rivera-León pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges in case 23-353 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of various public housing projects in and near Manatí, Puerto Rico, including the Enrique Zorilla Public Housing Project. Defendant was arrested on September 22, 2023. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for August 14, 2026. AUSAs Andrés Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 12, 2026, Ramsell Maldonado-Tatis, William Boria-Rosa and Orlando Resto-García pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges in case 24-453 (MAJ). Wilfredo Hernández-Vizcarrondo, Carlos Delgado-Torres and Justin Landrau-Cirino pleaded guilty to drug charges in that same case. According to the indictment, the defendants were charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of various Public Housing Projects in Carolina and San Juan, including the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. Defendants were arrested on December 11, 2026. The court set defendants’ sentencing date for August 5, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 13, 2026, Josué Isaac-Febus and Joshua Rivera-Cruz pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges in case 24-453 (MAJ). Juan Tereforte-Bello and Eduardo Tolentino-Meléndez pleaded guilty to drug charges in that same case. According to the indictment, the defendants were charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of various Public Housing Projects in Carolina and San Juan, including the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. Defendants were arrested on December 11, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 14, 2026, Michael García-Marquez pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges in case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of various Public Housing Projects in Carolina and San Juan, including the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. Defendant was arrested on December 11, 2026. The court set defendant’s sentencing hearing for August 12, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
Sentencings:
- On May 12, 2026, Justin Carlo Padilla was sentenced by Chief Judge Raúl Arias Marxuach to 111 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on March 22, 2023, in case 23-114 (RAM), and pleaded guilty to the charges on February 11, 2026. AUSA Corinne Cordero Romo is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 12, 2026, Xavier González-Rivera was sentenced by Judge Pedro A. Delgado to 84 months of imprisonment and supervised release term of 6 years for distribution of controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on July 20, 2022, in Criminal case 22-327 and pled guilty to the charge(s) on January 27, 2026. AUSA Corinne Cordero in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 12, 2026, Justin Carlo Padilla was sentenced by Chief Judge Raúl Arias Marxuach to 111 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release for distribution of controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on March 22, 2023, in Criminal case # 23-114, and pled guilty to the charge(s) on February 11, 2026. AUSA Corinne Cordero in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 13, 2026, Roric Harvey Nuñez-García was sentenced by Chief Judge Raúl Arias-Marxuach to 30 months in prison for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a machinegun in cases 25-104 and 25-279. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on March 5, 2025, in case 25-104 and on July 20, 2025, in case 25-279 and pleaded guilty to the charges on February 12, 2026. AUSA Joseph Russell is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
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Illegal alien sex offender heads to prison for illegally reentering US againRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old man from El Salvador has been sentenced for illegally entering the country without authorization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Jose Angel Martinez Menjivar pleaded guilty Feb. 18.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison has now ordered Menjivar to serve 40 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
Menjivar has previous convictions for illegal reentry and indecent assault by touching.
He was first removed from the country in 2022. However, authorities discovered him again in Houston July 9, 2025, with no authorization to be in the United States.
Immigration Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Law 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal Alien from England Sentenced for Entering the US Without InspectionRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A citizen of the United Kingdom was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for entering the United States without inspection.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison sentenced Ibrahim Ayyub Khan, 27, to time served. Khan pleaded guilty on May 5, 2026.
According to court records, Khan and three other men walked through the heavily wooded border between Quebec and Somerset County during the pre-dawn hours of April 3, 2026. Their point of entry was within a few hundred yards of the Saint Zacharie, Maine port of entry that was manned by agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (“OFO”). Upon exiting the woods, Khan and his companions began walking down the Golden Road heading east.
Passersby in the area reported to an OFO agent seeing the four men walking east on the Golden Road. The OFO agent reported the sighting to the U.S. Border Patrol (“USBP”) station in Jackman. A USBP agent and an OFO agent responded to the area of the sighting, located the four men and took them into custody without incident. When questioned about their citizenship, Khan and his three companions stated they were citizens of the United Kingdom. The four were subsequently transported back to the Jackman Border Patrol station.
USBP, OFO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: 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).
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Guam Man Sentenced for Theft of Government Property After Stealing Deceased Wife’s Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Joseph Benavente Wusstig, age 59, from Yigo, Guam was sentenced to six months imprisonment for Theft of Government Property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641. The Court also ordered three years of supervised release, $58,248 restitution to the Social Security Administration, forfeiture money judgment of $58,248, and a $100 special assessment fee.
From September 2018 to December 31, 2023, Wusstig unlawfully received $58,248 in disability benefits for his wife from the Social Security Administration (“SSA”). Wusstig had served as a representative payee for his wife. After she died in August 2018, Wusstig never informed the SSA and continued to receive and spend the benefits intended for his wife. SSA paid the disability benefits through direct deposit to a joint account held in their names. Wusstig accessed the funds primarily through ATM withdrawals and Point of Sale purchases made at convenience stores, restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations.
“The Social Security Administration provides disability insurance benefits to people who have a disability that stops or limits their ability to work and who have a sufficient work history,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “The loss of a family member, however, should not become an opportunity for unjust enrichment at taxpayer expense. Maintaining the viability of this important program is worthy of criminal enforcement action. We will continue to do so in an effort to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.”
“Social Security disability benefits are intended to provide critical support to eligible beneficiaries, not to be exploited for personal gain,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Assistant Inspector General for Audit as First Assistant for the SSA Office of the Inspector General. “We will continue to aggressively pursue those who misuse federal benefit programs and safeguard the public’s trust in the Social Security Administration.”
This investigation was led by the SSA – Office of the Inspector General and prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney Marivic P. David for the District of Guam.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Guam Bingo Operators Receive Federal Prison Sentences for $34 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announces the following sentencings:
Jose Arthur D. Chan, (Art Chan) Jr., his spouse, Christine C. Chan, and Michael L. Marasigan received custodial sentences set forth below. On May 13, 2025, they were convicted by a jury in the District Court of Guam for Conspiracy to Operate Illegal Gambling Business in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1955(a), Money Laundering Conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§1956(h), 1956(a)(1)(B)(i) and 1957, and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 and 1343. Christine Chan and Marasigan were also found guilty of multiple counts of Money Laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957.
Jose Arthur D. Chan, Jr., age 77, from Dededo, sentenced on May 12, 2026, to 60 months in federal prison, joint and several restitution of $10,750,804 to the Aloha Shriners, $339,013 money judgment forfeiture, and $300 mandatory assessment fee.
Christine C. Chan, age 64, from Dededo, sentenced on May 12, 2026, to 70 months in federal prison, $10,750,804 joint and several restitution to the Aloha Shriners, $871,500 money judgment forfeiture, and $2,700 mandatory assessment fee.
Fugitive Michael L. Marasigan, age 54, from Dededo, was sentenced in absentia on May 18, 2026, to 262 months in federal prison, $10,750,804 joint and several restitution to the Aloha Shriners, $5,871,493 money judgment forfeiture, and $6,500 mandatory assessment fee.
Evidence at trial showed that between March 2015 and December 31, 2021, the Chan couple, Marasigan and other defendants participated in a conspiracy, fraud scheme, and illegal gambling operation involving the Guam Shrine Club (“GSC”) and its Hafa Adai Bingo parlor in Tamuning. Art Chan served as Vice-President and President of the GSC, a non-profit organization that purported to fund the travel expenses of children and one parent or guardian to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Hawaii for medical care. The defendants defrauded the public and bingo patrons based on false representations that bingo fundraising proceeds would be used for GSC’s charitable purpose. During the conspiracy, Hafa Adai Bingo generated approximately $34 million gross bingo proceeds. The defendants diverted and laundered $10,750,804 net bingo proceeds for their personal gain that should have gone to the Aloha Shriners, which has Shrine jurisdiction over Guam.
According to GSC bank records, during 2015-2020 approximately $140,378 of bingo proceeds were used to pay the Aloha Shriners and for air transportation, and in 2021, no bingo proceeds were used for GSC’s charitable purpose.
The following defendants entered guilty pleas and testified for the government at trial:
Juanita Capulong, age 73, from Tamuning, pled guilty to conspiracy to operate illegal gambling business; money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering, and on May 13, 2026, received a concurrent sentence of four years of probation. She was ordered to pay a $500 fee, restitution of $479,075.97 to the Aloha Shriners, and money judgment forfeiture of $138,854.
Minda C. San Nicolas, age 71, from Dededo, pled guilty to conspiracy to operate illegal gambling business, and money laundering, and on May 13, 2026, received a concurrent sentence of three years of probation. She was ordered to pay a $300 fee, restitution of $433,921.58 to the Aloha Shriners, and money judgment forfeiture of $147,599.
Alfredo Leon Guerrero, age 90, from Tamuning, pled guilty to money laundering conspiracy and on May 13, 2026, received a sentence of time served (one day), one-year supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 fee, and restitution of $1,095,907.95 to the Aloha Shriners.
Won Sun P. Min, age 62, from Sinajana pled guilty to money laundering conspiracy on February 8, 2023. On May 19, 2026, she was sentenced to time served (one day), three years supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 fee, restitution of $2,326,180.23 to the Aloha Shriners, and money judgment forfeiture of $906,400.
“These defendants traded on the reputation of the Shriners Children’s healthcare system to perpetrate their multi-million-dollar fraud,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “It was an unconscionable means to personal gain. We will make every effort to enforce restitution and ensure that Marasigan and the Chans spend every day of their sentences in federal prison.”
“Being charitable demonstrates the best in people – it is selflessness in action. This is in stark contrast to the selfishness and greed displayed in this case, which deliberately preyed on the charity of our friends and neighbors and stole millions of dollars from those who needed it most,” said Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “Financial crime is not victimless; real people suffer its devastating effects. Protecting our communities from financial crime is core to our agency, and we are fully committed to carrying out this mission each and every day.”
“These defendants defrauded their own community, taking charity money meant for sick children and using it for their own financial gain,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “These crimes are particularly offensive because they undermine the public’s faith in charitable giving. The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue these cases and hold criminals accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-CI. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Marivic David prosecuted the case in the District of Guam.
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments on May 13, 2026. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Wood County Man Charged With Possessing Child Pornography
Dennis McCullough, 64, Wood County, Wisconsin is charged with possessing child pornography. The indictment alleges that on October 12, 2025, McCullough possessed a cell phone that contained images of child pornography.
If convicted, McCullough faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the case.
This investigation was part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Minnesota Man Charged With Methamphetamine Trafficking
Daniel Baity, 48, Fridley, Minnesota, is charged with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. The indictment alleges that Baity possessed the methamphetamine on February 3, 2026.
If convicted, Baity faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force, the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Stelljes is handling the case.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s 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 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.
Madison Man Charged with Drug Trafficking and Gun Possession
Derric Green, 51, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing controlled substances intended for distribution, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The indictment alleges that on October 15, 2025, Green possessed 500 grams or more of cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl intended for distribution. The indictment further alleges that on the same day, Green unlawfully possessed four firearms as a felon and possessed the firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
If convicted on the drug trafficking counts, Green faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. If convicted on the felon in possession count, Green faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking charge carries a minimum penalty of five years and a maximum penalty of life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington is handling the case.
Mexican Citizen Charged with Illegally Reentering the United States
Fernando Ivan Llamas, 35, a citizen of Mexico found in Dane County, Wisconsin is charged with reentering the United States after having been previously removed. The indictment alleges that on November 9, 2025, Llamas, an alien, was found in the Western District of Wisconsin after having previously been removed from the United States and without having obtained the express consent of the United States Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.
If convicted, Llamas faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon is handling the case.
Honduran Citizen Charged with Illegally Reentering the United States
Yefri Josue Varela-Ramirez, a citizen of Honduras found in Beloit, Wisconsin is charged with reentering the United States after having been previously removed. The indictment alleges that on October 1, 2025, Varela-Ramirez, an alien, was found in Wisconsin after having previously been removed from the United States and without having obtained the express consent of the United States Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.
If convicted, Varela-Ramirez faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson is handling the case.
Nicaraguan Citizen Charged with Illegally Reentering the United States
Luis Ruben Rivera-Nunez, 43, a citizen of Nicaragua found in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin is charged reentering the United States after having been previously removed. The indictment alleges that on December 23, 2023, Rivera-Nunez, an alien, was found in Wisconsin after having previously been removed from the United States and without having obtained the express consent of the United States Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.
If convicted, Rivera-Nunez faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg is handling the case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, 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).
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Gary Man Sentenced to 68 Months in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Kevin Robinson, 46 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and for distributing cocaine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Robinson was sentenced to 68 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
“Like many before him, Kevin Robinson thought it was a good idea to possess guns he wasn’t allowed to have and deal drugs he wasn’t allowed to sell,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “And like many before him, he has learned that the brave federal agents and committed federal prosecutors of northern Indiana will not rest until criminals like him are convicted, sentenced, and serving their time in the Bureau of Prisons. I would like to thank the agents and prosecutors involved in this case for the work they put in to bring Robinson to justice. And I would like to reiterate a warning I’ve given many times before—if you want to trade poisons or possess illegal firearms, do it somewhere else. Northern Indiana will not tolerate it.”
“Despite having a prior felony conviction, the defendant repeatedly possessed firearms and sold them to law enforcement, demonstrating a complete disregard for Federal law. The sentence imposed in this case reflects the seriousness of the conduct and continued accountability for those that violate Federal law,” said ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon.
According to documents in the case, on October 2, 2024, Robinson sold a firearm and cocaine to law enforcement. Robinson also sold firearms to law enforcement on three occasions in September and November 2024. Robinson has a felony conviction which prohibits him from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ambris Saravanan and former Assistant United States Attorney Joel L. Mathur.
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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Fort Yates Man Indicted for First Degree MurderRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced that a federal grand jury has returned an Indictment charging Brutus Claymore, 36, Fort Yates, ND, an enrolled member of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, with First Degree Murder, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1153 and 1111.
As alleged, after years long investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Missing and Murdered Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, on November 22, 2014, Claymore forcibly entered an occupied residence on Fort Yates, ND, at nighttime, and attempted to rob the residents therein. When one of the residents attempted to resist, Claymore stabbed the resident with a knife that resulted in death.
An indictment is an accusation and notice of charges. The defendant is presumed innocent under the law unless and until proven guilty.
Claymore’s trial has been scheduled for June 23, 2026, before the Honorable Daniel L. Hovland, District Judge of the United States District Court.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of victims and their families despite the passage of time.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Missing and Murdered Unit (MMU) and being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Delorme, US Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota and Troy R. Morley, MMIP Assistant United States Attorney - Great Plains Region Tribal Liaison, District of South Dakota.
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Former United States Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to Federal Mail Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A former postal employee pled guilty in federal court to charges connected to a check-fraud scheme.
Derrick Stewart, 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, pled guilty to federal mail theft by a postal employee, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft stemming from conduct while he worked as a clerk at a mail processing and distribution center in Baltimore.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Executive Special Agent in Charge Kathleen Woodson, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington D.C. Field Office.
According to court documents, beginning in September 2022, and continuing until December 2023, Stewart used his postal service position to embezzle mail, including checks. Stewart then falsely and fraudulently endorsed stolen checks with the identity theft victims’ names and signatures.
Surveillance video captured Stewart depositing stolen and fraudulently endorsed checks into his personal bank accounts. Then on December 2, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Stewart after he exited a postal facility. During the search, law enforcement recovered almost 200 pieces of mail containing more than $700,000.
Stewart faces a maximum sentence of 27 years in prison, including a mandatory sentence of two years consecutive to any other imposed sentence, for aggravated identity theft. The sentencing date is forthcoming.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPS-OIG and IRS-CI for their investigative efforts. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip Motsay and Ari D. Evans who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Former Texas Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights ViolationRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that a former corrections officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) in Rusk, Texas, pleaded guilty for his participation in a conspiracy to assault an inmate in his custody, identified by initials M.S., on Feb. 25, 2025. Samuel Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 241.
“This former corrections officer engaged in a conspiracy to beat and injure a man in his care and custody,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Today’s conviction reinforces the Justice Department’s commitment to protect victims from state officials who abuse their power.”
“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that corruption by those entrusted with public safety will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas. “Correctional officers hold positions of tremendous responsibility and authority, and when that trust is abused, it undermines the integrity of our justice system and jeopardizes the safety of inmates and staff. Nobody is above the law, and this office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute corruption wherever it occurs.”
According to his plea agreement, Thomas acknowledged that he was on duty as a TDCJ correctional officer when he opened the door of inmate M.S.’s cell and allowed other conspiracy members to strike and injure M.S. to retaliate against M.S. for spitting on Thomas two days earlier. M.S. suffered bodily injury as a result of the actions of Thomas and the other conspiracy members.
Thomas pleaded guilty on May 19 before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to his plea agreement, Thomas faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal judge will determine any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Dallas Field Office, Tyler Resident Agency, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alan Jackson and Emil Mikkelsen for the Eastern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case
Former Pagan’s Motorcycle Gang Member Sentenced to 110 Months for Assault Against RivalsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club was sentenced in federal court today for his involvement in separate assaults against members of rival motorcycle clubs.
Mark A. Cottman, aka “One Shot,” 51, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 110 months in federal prison without parole for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering.
On Sept. 17, 2022, Cottman and 12 other members of the Pagan’s and their support club, the Los Valerosos, chased and forced a lone rival gang member from the road in Blue Springs, Mo. Various members of the Pagan’s and Los Valerosos were armed with firearms and at least one axe handle. Cottman, who was a Pagan’s prospect at the time, and the others confronted the victim on the side of the roadway and ultimately, the victim was shot seven times, with wounds to his knee, thigh, forearm, biceps, buttocks and back of his leg. Several weeks later, Cottman received his Pagan’s patch, becoming a member of the Pagan’s.
On July 20, 2023, Cottman and two other Pagan’s assaulted a lone rival motorcycle gang member at a bar & grill in North Kansas City, Mo. One of the Pagan’s told the victim that they were there to shut the victim’s club down, then flipped a table over knocking the victim to the ground. Once on the ground, Cottman and the two others began stomping, kicking and punching the victim. The victim later told law enforcement that those who assaulted him were wearing steel-toed boots. Cottman and the two others fled the bar & grill before any law enforcement arrived. The victim was later transported by ambulance to a local hospital, suffering from a head contusion, rib fracture, hemothorax (accumulation of blood in the area between the chest wall and lungs), a left pulmonary contusion, pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and a traumatic brain injury.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Missouri Police Department, the Blue Springs, Missouri, Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.
Homeland Security Task Force
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
Former Haverhill Man Charged with Receiving Stolen Government MoneyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Haverhill man was charged in federal court in Boston with receiving stolen Social Security disability benefits over a period of more than five years.
Christopher D. Leon, 56, was charged with one count of receiving stolen government money or property. Leon will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
As alleged in the charging document, Leon received approximately $87,817 in stolen Social Security disability benefits from November 2019 through August 2025.
The charge of receiving stolen government money or property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the SSA Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
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.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former FMC Lexington Correctional Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights ViolationRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former Federal Medical Center Lexington Correctional officer, Ryan Carnahan, 32, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, before U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for deprivation of rights resulting in bodily injury and making a false report.
According to his plea agreement, on June 28, 2025, Carnahan was on-duty at FMC Lexington when he decided to make entry into the cell of a Special Housing Unit inmate after getting into a verbal altercation with the inmate. Carnahan, along with two other officers, made entry without the inmate or his cellmate being placed into handcuffs. When Carnahan entered the cell, he began slapping the inmate’s face. As a result of being slapped, the inmate hit Carnahan, who then grabbed the inmate and punched him.
After the incident, Carnahan wrote a report that the inmate had been handcuffed before he and the other officers went into his cell, and that Carnahan was searching the cell when the inmate slipped his handcuffs and assaulted him. Carnahan admitted in his plea agreement that he wrote these things knowing that they were false, but that he wrote the false report to impede the administration of justice regarding the investigation of the unlawful assault on the inmate.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Matthew Loux, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Chicago Field Office; jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by DOJ-OIG. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield.
Carnahan is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
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Former East Bay Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to Operating A Long-Running $9.5 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Edwin Emmett Lickiss, Jr., pleaded guilty in federal court today to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in connection with a decades-long Ponzi scheme.
Lickiss, 78, of Danville, Calif., admitted that from 1998 through September 2024, he defrauded more than 93 investors of at least $9.5 million. To induce investments, Lickiss falsely claimed that he would place victim funds into exclusive, safe, tax-free bonds, with some generating returns in excess of 20 percent. Lickiss also issued fraudulent promissory notes on the letterhead of his former firm, Foundation Financial Group.
In fact, Lickiss used subsequent victim funds to make payments to those who had invested earlier, consistent with a Ponzi scheme. Lickiss also diverted victim funds for his own use, including cash withdrawals, home renovations, travel, and payments on vehicles, mortgages, and personal credit cards.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew Cobo, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement.
Lickiss was released pending a sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for August 28, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar. Lickiss faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the wire fraud count, and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the money laundering count. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has also filed a civil enforcement action against Lickiss in the Northern District of California.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Wolinsky is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lynette Dixon. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the Atlanta Regional Office of the SEC for its assistance in the investigation.
Former Doctor Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A former doctor pleaded guilty today to receipt of child pornography, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division.
Pleading guilty was Lincoln Erickson, 32, of Farmington Hills, Michigan. Erickson was arrested by FBI agents on December 10, 2025, and has remained in custody. Prior to his arrest, Erickson was a medical resident at a public university and worked in the Detroit metropolitan area.
According to court records, agents discovered on Erickson’s phone videos of minors engaged in sex acts and AI-generated pornography depicting nude children touching adult men. Erickson also attempted to convince another man to allow Erickson to bathe the other man’s children and admitted to making plans to travel to the man’s house for that purpose.
“This pervert was lurking among our trusted medical professionals. At the same time, he was feeding his disgusting appetites and plotting to abuse little children. Thankfully, the FBI caught him when they did,” U.S. Attorney Gorgon said.
“Any individual who records, possesses, or distributes child sexual abuse material should expect severe consequences under federal law,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “This defendant, a former doctor, possessed videos of children engaged in sexual activity. We look forward to seeing this predator sentenced. Our FBI Detroit Crimes Against Child Squad, alongside our partner task force officers from the Detroit Police Department, continues to do outstanding work to safeguarding our youth and holding accountable those who seek to harm our most vulnerable citizens in Michigan.”
Erickson is scheduled to be sentenced on September 15, 2026. As part of his sentence, Erickson will be required to register as a sex offender.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Zurek.
Former DOJ Attorney Indicted for Concealment, Theft of Government RecordsRead the Press Release
Fort Pierce, Florida – Carmen Mercedes Lineberger, 62, of Port St. Lucie, has been indicted in federal court for two counts of theft of government money or property, valued less than $1,000.00; destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations; and concealment, removal, or mutilation of public records. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
The indictment alleges at the time of the offenses the defendant served as the Managing Assistant United States Attorney (MAUSA) of the Fort Pierce branch of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. In separate instances in late-2025, the defendant altered the electronic file names of government records that she received in her official capacity as the MAUSA in order to conceal her unauthorized electronic transmission of those records to personal email accounts belonging to her without being detected. The altered government records included a document compiled by the defendant consisting of portions of internal DOJ electronic messages and an internal DOJ memorandum, and a DOJ report related to a criminal prosecution in the SDFL that had been court-ordered to remain under seal and prohibited from distribution or disclosure outside of DOJ.
As alleged in the indictment, the defendant concealed her actions by saving electronic copies of the government records in question under the misleading files names “chocolate cake recipe” and “bundt cake recipe” before electronically transmitting those records to her personal email accounts. As to the DOJ report, the indictment further alleges the defendant acted knowing that her transmission of the record outside DOJ directly violated the court order and impaired the proper administration of the underlying criminal prosecution.
Lineberger appeared in federal court today for her arraignment before Southern District of Florida Chief United States Magistrate Judge William Matthewman in West Palm Beach, Florida.
If convicted, Lineberger faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment for destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations, three years’ imprisonment for concealment, removal, or mutilation of public records, and up to one year imprisonment on each count of theft of government property valued at less than $1,000.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt from the Northern District of Florida, who was assigned as a special prosecutor to avoid conflicts of interest with the investigation and prosecution of this matter.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Former Corrections Employee Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing A DetaineeRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A former federal corrections employee pleaded guilty yesterday to sexually abusing a federal inmate, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Matthew Loux, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s Midwest Region, and Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit FBI Field Office.
On February 5, 2025, Arthur Foster, 41, of Detroit, Michigan, while serving as a corrections employee at Cherry Health Community Treatment Center, a federal residential reentry center, told Victim Inmate-1 (VI-1) to meet him in the restroom. At the time, VI-1 was under Foster’s custodial authority. When she arrived in the restroom, Foster sexually abused her.
Federal law and prison rules mandate a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse, sexual assault and harassment in all U.S. correctional facilities.
“This defendant abused the public trust in the worst way by sexually assaulting a person under his care. This is crime hurts the victim, the institution, and our system of justice,” stated U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
“Sexual abuse by anyone, especially someone entrusted with the custody and care of inmates, is an intolerable abuse of power,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Today’s guilty plea makes clear that this former corrections employee betrayed public trust and violated the most basic standards of human dignity. Our office will continue to pursue every individual who abuses their position to commit acts of sexual violence against those in federal custody.”
“Inmates should never experience sexual abuse by corrections employees. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate allegations of sexual abuse by federal correctional employees and work with our partners to bring perpetrators to justice,” stated DOJ OIG Special Agent in Charge Loux.
The charge, sexual abuse of a detainee, carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years’ imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown.
Florissant Man Accused of Stealing over $250,000 from Grocery ChainRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A Florissant man who has been accused him of stealing more than $250,000 from a grocery chain was arrested Wednesday.
Richard Lind, 39, of Florissant, was indicted with five counts of wire fraud on April 22. He appeared in court Wednesday and pleaded not guilty.
The indictment says Lind worked as the site manager for a logistics company at the grocer’s distribution center. Lind’s employer supplied the physical labor and heavy equipment to unload trailers containing the grocer’s inventory, as well as software for tracking shipments.
Lind defrauded the grocery chain by creating false records for inventory shipments that had never occurred and false invoices seeking payment from the trucking companies for unloading those shipments, the indictment says. The trucking companies then sought reimbursement from the grocery chain. Lind voided the false records to conceal his scheme from his employer. He used the electronic payment authorization codes that resulted from his scheme to obtain cash payments at truck stops, triggering more than 600 fraudulent payments totaling more than $250,000, the indictment says.
Charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll is prosecuting the case.