Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Monday 11 May 2026
Two Venezuelan Nationals Charged with Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
DENVER - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jeremmy Andres Boscan-Delfin, and Wilmer Jose Bolano-Sanchez, both of Venezuela, have been charged with one count of each of illegally trafficking firearms. Boscan-Delfin is also charged with distributing “tusi,” a drug containing ketamine and MDMA.
According to the complaint and indictment, the defendants are alleged to have sold numerous firearms, including firearms with obliterated serial numbers and several high-capacity firearms and magazines and ammunition, to an undercover agent. Twelve firearms and “tusi,” containing ketamine and MDMA, were seized in this ongoing investigation.
Bolano-Sanchez pleaded not guilty in federal court in Denver today. Boscan-Delfin is scheduled to appear in the Middle District of Tennessee this week.
A third individual, identified as co-conspirator one in the complaint, is alleged to have been operating out of the Nashville, Tennessee area.
The charges contained in the complaint and indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations.
The Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado is handling the prosecution.
These arrests 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 Denver comprises agents and officers from ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Secret Service with the prosecutions being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
Case Number: 1:26-mj-00079, 26-cr-00102-SKC
Two Defendants Sentenced to 15 Years and Seven Years in Prison for Their Roles in a Multimillion-Dollar Bank Fraud and Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Two defendants were sentenced to 180 months and 84 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a sophisticated, multimillion-dollar bank fraud and identity theft scheme.
According to court documents, Demetrius J. Manassa, 38, of New York, New York, and Jarrod A. Ross, 30, of Mobile, pleaded guilty to participating in a complex, nationwide bank fraud and identity theft scheme. The scheme, which lasted for nearly a decade from September 2015 to April 2025, involved widespread theft of mail, counterfeiting of checks and money orders, and impersonation of dozens of identity theft victims. To accomplish the scheme, Manassa, Ross, and other coconspirators—including Shaquan L. Manassa (“S. Manassa”), Patrick E. Williams (“Williams”), and Khashawn D. Sidberry (“Sidberry”)—obtained and possessed stolen checks and money orders, opened bank accounts using identity theft victims’ personal identifiable information (“PII”), produced dozens of forged identification documents, counterfeited hundreds of checks and money orders, and conducted millions of dollars’ worth of fraudulent transactions at banks throughout the United States, including in the Southern District of Alabama.
In 2022, thousands of blank Postal Money Orders (“PMOs”) were stolen from three separate postal facilities in New York and North Carolina. Thereafter, Manassa and other coconspirators counterfeited dozens of the stolen PMOs and began fraudulently negotiating them in various accounts at banks across the southeastern United States. Postal Inspectors identified Williams on surveillance videos depositing many of the fraudulent PMOs at banks in the Mobile area. To successfully carry out the fraudulent transactions, Manassa, Ross, and other coconspirators fraudulently opened bank accounts using stolen PII of identity theft victims and generated fake identification documents bearing the victims’ stolen PII.
For example, on August 5, 2022, Ross visited a bank in Mobile and fraudulently opened a checking account using a fake Mississippi driver’s license bearing Ross’s picture but the stolen PII of an identity theft victim from New York. The victim confirmed that he had never been to Alabama and did not authorize Ross to possess and use his stolen PII to open an account and conduct transactions in the victim’s name. After Ross opened the account, Williams was captured on video depositing several counterfeited PMOs into the account. The conspirators did the same thing in dozens of other accounts that they fraudulently opened in the names of identity theft victims from across the country.
The fraudsters also incorporated multiple fake businesses and opened bank accounts in the names of those purported businesses so that they could attempt to negotiate higher-value checks, some of which were worth more than $1 million each. The victim owners of those stolen checks included, among others, religious organizations, small businesses, charities, and public school systems.
In April 2025, federal and local law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Manassa’s home in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Inside the house, agents found dozens of stolen and counterfeited checks and money orders, fake identification documents, assorted stolen mail, counterfeiting stations with printers and dozens of sheets of blank check stock, a loaded Glock pistol, and loose ammunition. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s forensic laboratory in Dulles, Virginia, identified several fingerprints of the defendants on various items of fraudulent paperwork seized from Manassa’s house. Agents also searched Manassa’s cell phones, which contained hundreds of messages that he exchanged with Ross and other coconspirators in furtherance of the fraud scheme.
Agents obtained search warrants for social media and email accounts belonging to Manassa, Ross, and others involved in the scheme. In those accounts, agents located photos and videos of Manassa and Ross committing fraudulent transactions and possessing tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of cash proceeds of their frauds. Manassa’s Gmail search history included searches for “fake moneygram money orders,” “how to erase pen off paper money order,” and “largest bank frauds in history.” Similarly, Ross’s iCloud account contained “fraud Bibles” and how-to guides for committing various fraud schemes.
In addition to the check and money order fraud scheme described above, Ross and Sidberry submitted more than $400,000 in fraudulent unemployment insurance applications to state departments of labor claiming bogus federal pandemic relief benefits. In their fraudulent applications, Ross and Sidberry made numerous misrepresentations about their entitlement unemployment benefits intended for workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
“For nearly a decade, Demetrius Manassa, Jarrod Ross, and their band of fraudsters exploited and stole from hundreds of individuals, businesses, charities, schools, and other victims across the country, causing untold damage. The extraordinary investigative work of our federal and local partners put an end to it,” said Sean P. Costello, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “The sentences in this case send a clear message: crime does not pay in the Southern District of Alabama.”
“Postal Inspectors, along with other law enforcement agents, unraveled a sophisticated counterfeit check and USPS Money Order scheme that resulted in the identity theft of hundreds of victims and millions of dollars in losses,” said Shameka Jackson, Inspector in Charge of the Houston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Postal Inspectors will continue to work tirelessly to go after those who try to exploit the U.S. mail system for fraudulent financial gain and bring them to justice. We would like to thank the DOL-OIG for their assistance in this investigation.”
“Demetrius Manassa and Jarrod Ross stole money meant to help Americans find work. These sentences send a strong message to fraudsters; if you steal from the federal government and taxpayers, my office will relentlessly pursue you,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “We will work together with other law enforcement partners and have zero tolerance for fraud. We will find you and hold you accountable.”
U.S. District Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Manassa and Ross to serve 180 months and 84 months in prison, respectively. At sentencing, the court noted Manassa’s extensive criminal history, including a prior federal conviction for a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in the District of Vermont and several state convictions for theft, fraud, and drug offenses. In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered Manassa and Ross to pay $687,259.04 in victim restitution. Upon their release from prison, Manassa and Ross each will serve five-year terms of supervised release, during which time they will be subject to credit restrictions.
S. Manassa, Williams, and Sidberry pleaded guilty to participating in the fraud scheme. The court will sentence them later in 2026.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General investigated the case. The U.S. Secret Service, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Glen Rock Police Department (New Jersey), and the South Fulton Police Department (Georgia) substantially assisted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Three Tennessee Men Indicted on Robbery, Kidnapping, and Conspiracy Charges Related to $6 Million Cryptocurrency Robbery Spree Throughout Bay Area and Los AngelesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Elijah Armstrong, Nino Chindavanh, and Jayden Rucker on Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping, Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery, and Attempted Kidnapping relating to a violent robbery spree targeting cryptocurrency owners. Armstrong and Rucker were arrested in Los Angeles on December 31, 2025, and Chindavanh was arrested on December 22, 2025 in Sunnyvale. Chindavanh made his initial appearance in federal court in San Francisco on April 14, 2026, and Armstrong and Rucker made their initial appearances in federal court in San Francisco earlier today.
According to the indictment filed March 31, 2026, Armstrong, 21, of Tennessee; Chindavanh, 21, of Tennessee; and Rucker, 25, of Tennessee, are alleged to have conspired to kidnap and rob individuals in San Francisco, San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Los Angeles in efforts to steal cryptocurrency from the victims. The defendants traveled from Tennessee to commit the alleged crimes and posed as delivery persons to gain access or attempt to gain access to the victims’ residences. They then used firearms, duct tape, and zip ties to assault their victims, including by binding and restraining a victim in order to force him to divulge his account information. In one of the incidents perpetrated by the conspiracy, the victim was forced at gunpoint to sign into his cryptocurrency accounts so that a co-conspirator could transfer approximately $6.5 million from his cryptocurrency accounts to a wallet controlled by the co-conspirators.
“These individuals, as alleged, terrorized their victims in the hopes of stealing vast sums of cryptocurrency. The scheme was not only sophisticated, it was brazen, violent, and dangerous,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “I want to commend our law enforcement partners for the quick work done in identifying and apprehending these individuals and assure the public that we will not let our guard down and continue to do all we can to ensure this does not happen again.”
“The indictment of these individuals underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from violent and organized criminal activity. As alleged, this was a calculated scheme involving robbery, kidnapping, and the theft of millions in cryptocurrency - crimes that put innocent people at risk and threaten the sense of safety we all rely on,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo. “The FBI will not tolerate criminals who travel into our communities with the intent to terrorize our citizens. We will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners across the Bay Area and beyond to identify, investigate, and bring to justice anyone who believes they can exploit or endanger the public for personal gain.”
Armstrong, Chindavanh, and Rucker are currently in federal custody. Armstrong and Rucker are next scheduled to appear on May 12, 2026, for appointment of counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson. Chindavanh is next scheduled to appear on June 26, 2026, for a status hearing before U.S. District Judge Trina L. Thompson.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a), Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a), and Attempted Kidnapping in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1201, as well as a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping. 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey C. Davidson and Jared S. Buszin of the Organized Crime Section are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Yenni Weinberg. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, San Francisco Police Department, San Jose Police Department, Sunnyvale Police Department, and Los Angeles Police Department.
Tennessee Man Sentenced to More than Five Years for Transporting and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Matthew Leach (41, Tennessee) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron to 65 months in federal prison for the transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The court also ordered Leach to forfeit a cellphone, which was used to commit the offense. Leach pleaded guilty on January 20, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Leach encountered law enforcement when his cellphone was searched upon his departure from a cruise ship. During that search, law enforcement found images and videos of CSAM. Leach admitted that he had received or downloaded CSAM on various internet platforms and to having the material on his cellphone prior to going on the cruise. A subsequent forensic review of Leach’s cellphone uncovered hundreds of images and videos of CSAM.
This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Noah Dorman and Courtney Richardson-Jones. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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.justice.gov/psc.
Seven-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to more than 17 Years in Prison on Methamphetamine Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
ANNISTON, Ala. – A Calhoun County man has been sentenced on drug-trafficking charges, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced David Allen Bentley, Jr., 50, of Anniston, Alabama, to 210 months in prison. Bentley pleaded guilty in January to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to the plea agreement, on January 1, 2025, officers with the Anniston Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Bentley for failure to signal. Bentley did not stop. The officers pursued Bentley, which ended with Bentley stopping and getting out of the car at the officer’s command. Bentley was arrested for attempting to elude. During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered approximately 145 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case along with the Anniston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison J. Garnett prosecuted the case.
Sarasota Woman Found Guilty of Making Threats on TikTok Sentenced to 14 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Desiree Doreen Segari (41, Sarasota) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Katheryn Kimball Mizell to 14 months in federal prison for interstate communication of a threat to injure. A federal jury found Segari guilty on January 13, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Segari was indicted on September 18, 2025.
According to evidence presented at trial, on August 17, 2025, Segari posted a video on TikTok calling for MAGA supporters to be shot on sight. Segari stated, “so if we all get our guns and use our second amendment right…and you see somebody with a MAGA hat, ‘pew pew’ that’s what we do, that’s the way, it’s the only way.” While saying “pew pew,” Segari used hand gestures mimicking the firing of a gun. She further stated, “Put them back in their basements, make them scared again to be racist, homophobic, and terrible just awful [expletive],” and “MAGA people deserve to be terrified and scared to walk in the streets because they should know that real Americans are gonna [mouths expletive] kill them.” When Segari posted the video, she included a caption: “#seemagapewpewmaga starting a new trend, hope it catches on. Please spread the word. Share this video. Repost it. Use the hashtag all over the internet. Let's go guys. It's time to fight back in a potentially effective manner.”
The next day, Segari posted another video on TikTok, in which she stated, “See MAGA pew pew MAGA, see MAGA pew pew MAGA, see MAGA pew pew MAGA so these [expletive] know we ain’t here to play” while again using hand gestures to mimic the firing of a gun.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.
Raleigh Man Sentenced to over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Daniel Shane Tyrolf, 35, to 17.5 years in federal prison, 25 years supervised release, and a $5,000 assessment for Distribution of Child Pornography. Inmate Tyrolf pleaded guilty to the offense on November 3, 2025.
“We remain focused on protecting children and fighting the evil scourge of child predators. Spiders like this hide in the dark corners of the internet web, but we will stomp them out with no mercy.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
Kik social media reported to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children that one of their users had distributed child sexual abuse material on its platform on multiple occasions. The IP addresses came back to Inmate Tyrolf’s residence and his workplace, Tyrolf Automotives, LLC. The Wake County Sheriff’s Office and Knightdale Police Department received cybertips from NCMEC. Both agencies joined the FBI to investigate Inmate Tyrolf. Law enforcement executed search warrants on his Kik accounts and discovered he had uploaded almost 100 files of child sexual abuse material in private and group chats. Law enforcement discovered hundreds of files of child sexual abuse material in multiple accounts belonging to Inmate Tyrolf.
On April 29, 2025, law enforcement executed search warrants at Inmate Tyrolf’s residence and workplace, seizing multiple digital devices. His devices contained child sexual abuse files: over 600 images of prepubescent children on one tablet, alone.
Chief Capps of the Knightdale Police Department said, “The successful resolution of this case highlights the dedicated efforts of our investigators and task force partners. Protecting our children from online threats is paramount, and we remain committed to holding those who willingly exploit them fully accountable.”
“This arrest highlights the importance of the collaboration and diligence our agency has with our federal, state, and local partners to protect the most vulnerable members of our community,” Sheriff Willie Rowe said. “No matter how long an investigation takes, we are committed to seeing it through till the person responsible is identified and prosecuted.”
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 FBI, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Knightdale Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson 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. 5:25-CR-220-D.
Quincy Felon Charged with Illegal Possession of a Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Robert Edward Nixon, 60, of Quincy, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Nixon appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for June 23, 2026, at 8:30 am before United States Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida.
If convicted, Nixon faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the State Attorney’s Office for the Second Judicial Circuit. Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt is prosecuting the case.
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.
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 available 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.
Pocatello Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking DrugsRead the Press Release
POCATELLO- U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today that Kacey Franklin James, of Pocatello, Idaho, was sentenced to 192 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, LSD, and Psilocybin mushrooms in eastern Idaho.
According to court records, the Idaho State Police executed a search warrant on James’ Pocatello residence in October of 2023. They found approximately 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 7.53 grams of LSD, and 1.23 pounds of MDMA, Psilocybin mushrooms, and various other drugs in the home. Officers also recovered 14 firearms, including one reportedly stolen and two short-barreled shotguns that were not properly registered to James.
A jury found James guilty of three counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, LSD, and Psilocybin, two counts of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, and one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense on January 29, 2026.
U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced James to 192 months in federal prison, ordered him to pay a $500 fine, and imposed a five-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the Idaho State Police along with the assistance of the BADGES Task Force, which led to the charges.
Assistant United States Attorney Blythe McLane and Special Assistant United States Attorney Zoie Laggis prosecuted the case for the Government.
###
Philadelphia Woman Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for South Philly Gunpoint CarjackingRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Khala Hardy, 24, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 85 months in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro for a March 2024 armed carjacking.
The defendant and co-conspirator Nyeem Williamson, 23, also of Philadelphia, were charged by indictment in October 2024 with conspiracy to commit a carjacking, carjacking, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Hardy pleaded guilty last July. Williamson pleaded guilty this March and is scheduled to be sentenced in August.
As detailed in court filings and statements, on the night of March 15, 2024, Hardy and Williamson targeted a female driver (“Victim 1”) who was dropping off a friend in South Philadelphia. Hardy approached on the driver’s side of the vehicle, opened the driver door, pointed a gun at Victim 1, and directed her to “get out and give me your keys.”
Victim 1 exited her Toyota and Hardy took her place behind the wheel. Once Williamson was inside the vehicle, the defendant drove off. Shortly after the carjacking, Hardy instructed Williamson on how to disable the Toyota’s GPS system and cameras to avoid detection by law enforcement, as documented in their group chat messages.
Three days after the carjacking, Williamson was arrested by the Philadelphia Police Department (“PPD”) and charged locally. Following Williamson’s arrest, the defendant instructed others who had communicated with him to delete their text messages. Hardy subsequently provided a voluntary statement to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), in which she admitted to her involvement in the gunpoint carjacking.
This case was investigated by the PPD and ATF and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha A. Arena.
Peoria Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm and Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – On May 7, 2026, a Peoria, Illinois, man, Wallace Jordan, 56, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for distribution of methamphetamine and 24 months’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a felon by United States District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley. The judge ordered that the sentences be served concurrently and imposed a five-year term of supervised release.
In December 2024, Jordan, who was already a convicted felon, possessed and sold a loaded firearm. He also sold approximately 110.4 grams of methamphetamine. As a convicted felon, Jordan was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Jordan was indicted in September 2025 and pleaded guilty in February 2026. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest in October 2025.
The statutory penalties for distribution of methamphetamine include the mandatory sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, which the court imposed, to life imprisonment; up to five years of supervised release; and up to a $10,000,000 fine. The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are not more than 15 years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Jordan is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 80 Years in Prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Sexual Exploitation Involving Multiple Victims in Different StatesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Trevor Metterhauser, 41, of Pennsylvania was sentenced on May 8, 2026, to 80 years in prison for attempted aggravated sexual abuse, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children, and multiple counts of possession of child pornography. The aggravated sexual abuse and sexual exploitation charges involved two toddlers, one located in upstate New York and the other in Texas.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Metterhauser admitted that he was convicted of possessing child pornography in Pennsylvania in 2011. In November 2022, Metterhauser conspired with Brandon Whitford to sexually exploit an approximately 4-year-old girl in the Northern District of New York. Metterhauser traveled from his home in Pennsylvania to Whitford’s home in New York, where Metterhauser made recordings that depicted the child naked. Whitford sexually assaulted the child shortly after Metterhauser left, recorded that content, and sent it to Metterhauser.
In December 2022, the defendant agreed with Carlos Julian Ruiz to sexually assault an approximately 2-year-old child and to record that abuse. Metterhauser traveled from Pennsylvania to Texas to commit the assault and record his sexual abuse of the 2-year-old child.
When Metterhauser was arrested in the Northern District of New York in early 2023, he had with him multiple electronic devices that contained the recordings of his sexual assault of the Texas victim; child pornography he received from Whitford depicting the New York victim; and child pornography he obtained from the internet.
In addition to the 80-year imprisonment term, United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino imposed a lifetime term of supervised release, ordered $78,000 of restitution to victims, and required Metterhauser to pay a $1,000 special assessment.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated: “This defendant deserves to spend every minute of the rest of his life behind bars, and today’s sentence ensures that is just what will happen. Although nothing will take back the monstrosities he inflicted on very young, vulnerable children, I am proud that the FBI and my Office have done everything in our power to stop him and prevent him from victimizing more children. To the families of the victims and parents everywhere, please know that we will stop at nothing to take criminals like this defendant off the street—for good.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli stated: “This powerful sentence is indicative of the sick and twisted behavior of this prolific predator. Trevor Metterhauser’s horrific abuse spanned multiple states and caused immeasurable harm to the children he hurt. With this sentence, he will now die in federal prison. We would like to thank our colleagues at FBI San Antonio for their assistance with ensuring the victims in this case received justice. FBI Albany’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force will continue to dedicate every resource necessary to investigate and hold accountable these depraved individuals who are preying on our children.”
Whitford and Ruiz have each pled guilty to offenses related to their roles in the abuse of the victims.
FBI-Albany and FBI-San Antonio investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Benjamin A. Gillis are prosecuting it with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Pawn Shop Owner Pleads Guilty to Purchasing, Trafficking Millions of Dollars of Stolen GoodsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Larry Leonard, 62, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge John M. Younge to charges of conspiracy to transport and sell stolen goods in interstate commerce, interstate transportation of stolen property, and three counts of money laundering.
The defendant was charged by indictment in December 2024, arising from the theft and resale of millions of dollars of stolen goods that he received, trafficked, and sold through pawn shops he operated and controlled: Society Hill Loan and K&A Money Loan Pawnbrokers, both in Philadelphia, and Lou’s Jewelry and Pawnshop in Wilmington, Delaware.
As detailed in court filings and statements, starting in 2019 and lasting through 2023, Larry Leonard purchased from drug addicts and professional thieves millions of dollars’ worth of expensive items, including high-end electronics, power tools, electric toothbrushes, and vacuums – all stolen from big-box retail stores such as Walmart, Home Depot, Rite Aid, and Target. Leonard, and co-conspirators working at his direction, paid the thieves a fraction of the retail value of the stolen goods – in cash – and then sold those items on eBay for profit.
From November 2019 through December 2023, Leonard and his co-conspirators sold more than $19 million in stolen merchandise via the eBay storefront “societyhillloan,” shipping the stolen merchandise from Society Hill Loan in Philadelphia to customers across the country. In addition to the more than $19 million in eBay sales, millions of dollars of stolen items, primarily high-end electronics, were sold directly to third-party individual wholesalers.
Leonard used the fraud proceeds to afford himself and his wife a lavish lifestyle, which included overseas trips, concerts, sporting events, and luxury items.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on August 25 and faces a maximum possible term of 45 years’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Delaware State Police, and the Philadelphia Police Department. Law enforcement also received assistance from Walmart, Home Depot, Best Buy, Target, Dollar Tree, Lowe’s, ACME, Bose, Rite Aid, CVS, and Harbor Freight Tools. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew T. Newcomer, S. Chandler Harris, and Eric Gill.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Felon in Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati man, Chester Lee Holloway 35, was sentenced on Friday to 127 months by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for felon in possession of a firearm.
According to his plea agreement, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Holloway in Covington. Law enforcement detected the odor of marijuana and Holloway admitted that the vehicle contained marijuana and that it may also contain a firearm in the trunk of a car. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and found 119.1 grams of marijuana, a loaded firearm and an extended magazine. Holloway admitted that he knew he was a felon and was prohibited from possessing a firearm. At sentencing, Judge Bunning found that Holloway possessed the firearm in connection with another felony offense, namely, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute it.
Holloway was previously convicted of aggravated trafficking in drugs, among other crimes.Under federal law, Holloway must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Justin Wietholter, Covington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and Covington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
– END –
Nine Individuals Associated with Orlando Street Gang Guilty of Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that nine members or associates of the RMS/EBK gang (Respect Money Structure/Everybody Killer) have pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges. A summary of the charges by defendant is as follows:
Defendant
Charges
Penalties
Sentencing Date
Christian Rou-Rey
(23, Kissimmee)
Drug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of controlled substances
Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense
15 years to life in prisonJuly 29, 2026
Jeremiah Maldonado
(21, Orlando)
Distribution of fentanyl resulting in death20 years to life in prisonTBDBenajmin Rivard
(31, Clermont)
Distribution of fentanyl resulting in death
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense
25 years to life in prisonAugust 19, 2026
Elena Falzone
(23, Orlando)
Drug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl
5-40 years in prisonAugust 19, 2026
Paul Jacas
(32, Orlando)
Drug trafficking conspiracy
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense
10-40 years in prisonJuly 1, 2026
Carlos Carrasquillo-Rodriguez
(21, Orlando)
Drug trafficking conspiracyUp to 20 years in prisonMay 27, 2026
Zaviar Wanya Kidd
(28, Orlando)
Drug trafficking conspiracy
Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances
5-40 years in prisonJuly 1, 2026
Olivia Goen
(23, Orlando)
Drug trafficking conspiracy5-40 years in prisonMay 27, 2026
Rebecca Murray
(21, Deltona)
Drug trafficking conspiracy10 years to life in prisonJuly 1, 2026
According to court documents, the criminal activities of the RMS/EBK gang have been under investigation since December 2022, when an overdose death exposed the organization and its criminal enterprise. RMS/EBK members and their associates conspired to distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine and fentanyl, among other criminal acts. The gang often disguised the true nature of these substances. In particular, RMS/EBK sold blue, circular fentanyl pills with an “M” and the number “30”. The investigation was named “Operation Dirty 30s”.
Christian A. Roux-Rey was the leader of the drug trafficking organization and supplied controlled substances to and directed other members of the conspiracy.
Rebecca Murray assisted Roux-Rey with storing controlled substances, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, in their shared residence. She would also weigh, package, and transport controlled substances.
Jeremiah Maldonado was a senior-ranking member of RMS/EBK, also known as a “black flag” and directed lower ranking members. He distributed fentanyl to an individual who died within hours of consuming it.
Benajmin Rivard was also a black flag and directed lower-ranking members. Rivard distributed fentanyl to an individual who began overdosing within hours and subsequently died. Rivard was armed during drug transactions.
Paul Jacas was a member of RMS/EBK and sold fentanyl on behalf of the organization. Jacas also sold firearms.
Elena Falzone was a member of RMS/EBK and sold controlled substances on behalf of the organization. Falzone distributed fentanyl and bromazolam (counterfeit Xanax) to an individual who died within hours of consuming the substances.
Carlos Carrasquillo-Rodriguez was an associate of RMS/EBK and sold controlled substances or supplied controlled substances for the gang. Carrasquillo provided fentanyl and firearms to Jacas which were subsequently sold.
Zaviar Kidd is an associate of RMS/EBK and sold methamphetamine and fentanyl on behalf of the organization.
Olivia Marie Goen was a member of RMS/EBK and distributed fentanyl on behalf of the organization.
This case was investigated by the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sherriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel S. Lyons.
Nicholasville Man Sentenced for Fentanyl and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Nicholasville, Ky., man, Brandon Graves, 33, was sentenced to 66 months imprisonment on Friday by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine.
According to his plea agreement, on May 14, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Graves’ residence. During the search, officers located 81.563 grams of fentanyl, 287.98 grams of cocaine, 40.872 grams of crack cocaine, 1.819 grams of methamphetamine, 17.588 grams of psilocybin, and $18,833 in cash. Law enforcement also recovered a vacuum sealer, plastic bags, digital scales, pistol magazines, and rounds of ammunition.
Under federal law, Graves must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 4 years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Michael Fleming, Nicholasville Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Nicholasville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Walker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
– END –
New York Man Who Sexually Exploited Minor Girls Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on May 8, 2026, JAMES PAGLIARO, 27, of Middletown, New York, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 600 months of imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release for sexually exploiting minor girls with whom he initiated contact through social media apps.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between April 2024 and March 2025, Pagliaro sent sexually explicit messages, many of which included sexually explicit photographs of himself, to thousands of minor girls on social media applications, including Snapchat and TikTok, in an apparent attempt to ensnare and cultivate child “sex slaves.” He successfully coerced at least four girls, including a 15-year-old girl in Connecticut, a 15-year-old girl in the United Kingdom, a 15-year-old girl in New Jersey, and a 16-year-old-girl in Florida, into producing hundreds of sexually explicit images and videos for his sexual gratification. He also traveled to Connecticut at least three times to engage in sexual conduct with the 15-year-old Connecticut victim, whom he forced to engage in sex acts and threatened with violence.
A forensic evaluation of Pagliaro’s phone revealed that he exchanged tens of thousands of text messages with his victims, including many messages highlighting their age, and spoke with them on phone and video calls on hundreds of occasions. Pagliaro initially professed his love to his victims, promising them that he would marry them once they turned eighteen, but later threatened them, sending photographs of guns, ammunition and knives and telling the Connecticut victim, for example, that he could murder someone’s entire family without having any trouble sleeping at night and that she should “keep that in mind.” Pagliaro also forced his victims to create humiliating, degrading, and dangerous videos as punishments for their perceived failures, which included sending explicit videos on the wrong social media platform, and he encouraged at least one victim to commit suicide. He also had the Connecticut victim sign a three-page slavery contract purporting to memorialize her “eternal slavery” to Pagliaro and encouraged her to recruit other minors to engage in sexual conduct with him.
The forensic evaluation of Pagliaro’s phone revealed that he also possessed thousands of other videos and images of children in sexually explicit conduct, including videos depicting the sexual exploitation of infants and toddlers.
“This defendant exploited social media apps to cast a wide net to ensnare young girls into committing sexually degrading acts for his own gratification,” said U.S. Attorney Sullivan. “When successful, he used grooming techniques and psychological manipulation to coerce, abuse, and terrorize his victims. This prosecution and the Court’s imposition of a long prison term should serve as a stark warning for anyone who may use technology to prey upon children. I thank HSI and our local law enforcement partners who investigated this matter, brought justice to his victims, and protected countless others from additional harm.”
“Pagliaro is a depraved child predator who has earned every day of his 50-year sentence,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. “He contacted hundreds of children online and successfully ensnared several girls, making them first believe they were in a real, loving relationship before slowly exerting more control, more abuse, and more violence. The victims in this case exhibited extraordinary bravery coming forward despite Pagliaro’s threats against them and their families and we hope that this sentence brings some comfort and peace as they move toward healing. HSI remains relentless in its pursuit of justice for survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation.”
Pagliaro was arrested on March 19, 2025. On February 13, 2026, he pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and traveling to engage in sexual activity with a minor. He has been detained since his arrest.
This investigation was conducted by HSI New England, HSI Hudson Valley, the Orange County (N.Y.) Sheriff’s Office, and the Danbury, Ridgefield, and Watertown Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
New Haven Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Third Federal Conviction, Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RONNELL ROGERS, 33, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 72 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 5, 2022, Rogers was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 37 months of imprisonment for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses, and a consecutive 14 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction for unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon. The sentence was subsequently reduced by seven months and Rogers was released from federal prison in March 2024 and began serving a three-year term of supervised release.
On May 2, 2024, New Haven Police arrested Rogers during a traffic stop that followed a controlled purchase of fentanyl. At the time of his arrest, Rogers possessed fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin packaged for distribution, including meth pills shaped like cartoon characters that could be mistaken for candy.
Judge Dooley sentenced Rogers to 63 months of imprisonment for the narcotics offense, and an additional nine months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
Rogers has been detained in federal custody since May 30, 2024, when his supervised release was revoked. On October 10, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl.
This matter was investigated by the New Haven Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George.
Moscow Man Sentenced to 210 Months in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Devin Terrance Pickler, 40, of Moscow, Idaho, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, in the summer of 2024, law enforcement received a CyberTip flagging a social media account for possessing suspected child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”). Law enforcement investigated the flagged account and determined that it belonged to Pickler, who was living in Moscow, Idaho. In examining Pickler’s account, law enforcement found that he had uploaded hundreds of CSAM files to online groups and had posted messages online about his desire to commit sexual offenses against children. In one message, Pickler wrote about going to a “street market” to look for young children but being unable to grope any due to “too many helicopter parents.” A later search of one of Pickler’s personal online storage accounts showed that he had saved several photographs that appeared to have been covertly taken of children in public at a local street market.
In early 2025, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Pickler’s Moscow residence. They seized numerous electronic devices containing CSAM. They also seized multiple ceramic figurines of children in erotic poses, as well as a child-sized sex doll.
United States District Judge David C. Nye ordered that Pickler be placed on supervised release for the rest of his life following completion of his prison sentence. Pickler will be required to register as a sex offender because of this conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Moscow Police Department, the Latah regional SWAT team, the Lewiston Police Department, the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistants U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson and Traci Whelan prosecuted this case.
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. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal 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.
###
Morgan County Man Sentenced to 160 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Hartselle man has been sentenced for committing child sexual exploitation crimes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Caleb Sean Wheeler, 28, to 1920 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release. In January, Wheeler pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count each of transportation and possession of child pornography. According to court documents, in June 2025, Wheeler produced three videos and one image of child pornography and transported child pornography.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the innocent children of this district from crimes like those committed by Caleb Wheeler,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby. “With the help of our law enforcement partners, Wheeler will spend the rest of his life in federal prison unable to hurt another child.”
“The exploitation of children is a heinous crime that demands immediate and vigorous action from law enforcement,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Birmingham. “At the FBI, we are committed to doing everything in our power, with a sense of urgency and in collaboration with our partners, to protect innocent children and bring predators to justice.”
If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case with the assistance of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency/ State Bureau of Investigations, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Huntsville Police Department, and Decatur Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.
More than 25 Defendants Charged in Nationwide Tren de Aragua Crackdown Resulting in the Seizure of over 80 Firearms and Narcotics in Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationsRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced charges against more than 25 individuals as part of a nationwide crackdown targeting the foreign terrorist organization (FTO), Tren de Aragua (TdA). Many of the defendants charged in this Homeland Security Task Force operation are illegal aliens from Venezuela, Colombia, and Honduras. TdA has been linked to various violent crimes inside and outside the United States, including murder, robbery, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering, and controlled substance trafficking. Charges have been filed across six U.S. Attorney offices, including the Districts of Colorado, Southern Florida, Northern Indiana, Middle Tennessee, Western Tennessee, and Eastern Washington for offenses that include firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, among others.
This operation resulted in the seizure of more than 80 firearms and approximately 18 kilograms of drugs including fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, ketamine, MDMA, and Tusi, a mixed substance that contains ketamine and/or MDMA. More than $100,000 in U.S. dollars was also seized. A number of investigations are still ongoing.
Firearms seized in the District of Colorado.
Since Jan. 20, 2025, the Department has federally charged over 260 members and associates of TdA.
“In a few days, the Justice Department and its partners on Joint Task Force Vulcan carried out a nationwide takedown of vicious Tren de Aragua terrorist networks — depraved, violent offenders who have illegally invaded our country and preyed upon American communities,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This effort underscores the Trump Administration’s dedication to restoring public safety, dismantling violent firearms and drug trafficking networks, and enforcing law and order.”
“Today’s enforcement actions reflect ATF’s unwavering commitment to dismantling violent transnational criminal organizations that traffic in firearms and fuel violence in our communities,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Director Robert Cekada. “Working with our local, state, and federal partners, we are identifying and disrupting the networks that arm and enable groups like Tren de Aragua. The seizure of firearms and dangerous narcotics underscores the critical nexus between illegal firearms trafficking and drug-related violence. ATF will continue to use every available tool to hold offenders accountable and protect the American public.”
“DEA has been instrumental in dismantling factions of the violent foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua, with enforcement actions spanning from Colorado to Tennessee, Florida, and beyond,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “TdA fuels instability and chaos, threatening communities across the United States. By leveraging DEA’s expertise alongside our federal partners through the Homeland Security Taskforce, we are harnessing the full force of the U.S. government to protect and safeguard our nation.”
“This is a massive and impactful takedown of over 25 TdA terrorists who wreaked havoc on our streets,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI and our fiercely dedicated federal, state, and local partners continue to put criminals trafficking drugs and guns endangering American lives, in prison in huge numbers. HSTF’s goal is to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations in the United States by using all available law enforcement tools to do so. The incredible work and grit by the all the agencies of the Homeland Security Task Force and Joint Task Force Vulcan paid off with great results in this roundup with more to come.”
“The success of this operation is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our HSI special agents and the unwavering commitment of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon. “The Homeland Security Task Force’s mission is to safeguard the United States from transnational threats by leveraging intelligence-driven investigations and robust interagency collaboration. This TdA takedown demonstrates the power of unified action in disrupting dangerous criminal networks and protecting our communities.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) follows the money that fuels organizations like Tren de Aragua,” said IRS-CI Chief Jarod Koopman. “The charges against these more than 25 individuals show how financial investigations can expose and dismantle these networks. When we disrupt their finances, we disrupt their ability to traffic drugs, move firearms, and spread violence. Working with our partners through the Homeland Security Task Force, we are protecting communities across the country.”
Firearms seized in the Middle District of Tennessee.
The operation resulted in numerous federal prosecutions including:
DISTRICT OF COLORADO:
- Two Venezuelan nationals who entered the United States under the previous Administration’s policies are charged with conspiracy to illegally traffic in firearms, and one is charged with distributing “tusi,” a drug containing ketamine and MDMA. According to the criminal complaint and indictment, the defendants are alleged to have sold numerous firearms, including with obliterated serial numbers and several high-capacity firearms and magazines and ammunition, to an ATF undercover agent. The case was investigated by ATF, DEA, and HSI, and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. Twelve firearms and “tusi,” containing ketamine and MDMA, were seized in this ongoing investigation.
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE:
- Five defendants including two alleged associates of TdA or of a TdA splinter faction known as “Anti-Tren” have been charged in connection with drug and firearms trafficking. These defendants were arrested in Nashville, Tennessee; Louisiana; and Washington state and are facing several charges including drug trafficking conspiracy, using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense, firearms trafficking conspiracy, and other drug and gun trafficking offenses. Three of the five defendants are illegal aliens residing in Nashville, a fourth defendant is a Honduran national and lawful permanent resident residing in Nashville, and the fifth defendant is an illegal alien residing in Kennewick, Washington. The indictment and criminal complaint allege that since approximately 2025, the defendants have participated in trafficking in firearms and narcotics throughout the Middle District of Tennessee and elsewhere. HSI, ATF, FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, and other law enforcement agencies conducted multiple undercover operations that have resulted in the seizure of 25 firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, extended magazines, a drum magazine, more than $8,000 cash and seizures of methamphetamine, MDMA and ketamine, and cocaine in the Middle District of Tennessee, with more firearms and narcotics being seized elsewhere as a result of this investigation. Of the 25 firearms seized in the Middle District of Tennessee, eight firearms were previously reported as stolen, and two have been tied to other crimes of violence based upon National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) results. Specifically, a Glock .40 caliber pistol has been preliminarily associated with a shooting in Nashville, that occurred on Nov. 30, 2023. And a Canik 9x19mm pistol has been preliminarily associated with a shooting involving multiple victims in Nashville, on Sept. 17, 2024.
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA:
- A criminal complaint has been filed charging three illegal aliens with alleged ties to TdA, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The three defendants are alleged to be associates of a defendant charged in the Middle District of Tennessee with ties to TdA, who facilitated the sales of large amounts of narcotics and firearms on separate occasions between the three charged defendants and an ATF undercover agent in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. In conjunction with these arrests, ATF agents seized 500 MDMA pills, two firearms, cocaine, ketamine, and methamphetamine.
TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities include a variety of violent and criminal offenses, including drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other acts of violence to enforce and further the organization’s criminal activities.
TdA has a splinter faction known as “Anti-Tren” — comprised of current and former members of TdA who are operating without or against the authority of TdA leadership in South America. Members of TdA and Anti-Tren have been identified and arrested across the United States, including in Colorado, Tennessee, New York, Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, Washington, Georgia, Nebraska, Texas, and elsewhere. Members of TdA and Anti-Tren have also been known to engage in gun trafficking, drug trafficking, burglaries of ATM machines (also known as “ATM jackpotting”), and to coordinate their criminal activities with each other across state lines and with leaders located in South America, including Venezuela and Colombia.
These cases are part of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded at the direction of the Attorney General to target Tren de Aragua. JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. Those include Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Western District of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; District of Nevada; and the District of Arizona; as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division. Additionally, the Bureau of Prisons, FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Homeland Security Task Forces are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
Defendant Maikel Jesus Albornoz-Jimenez, a citizen of Venezuela illegally residing in Nashville, charged in the Middle District of Tennessee wearing what appears to be a Fuerzas de Acciones Especiales de la Policía Nacional Bolivariana (FAES) uniform.
These arrests are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) 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. HSTFs Denver, Indianapolis, Nashville, and Seattle comprise agents and officers from ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Secret Service, among other federal, state, and local partners, with the prosecutions being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Colorado, Southern Florida, Northern Indiana, Middle Tennessee, Western Tennessee, and Eastern Washington.
An indictment and criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mobile Woman Receives Statutory Maximum 20-Year Prison Sentence for Firearms-Trafficking Conspiracy and Tampering with Evidence in Homeland Security Task Force Takedown of Major Drug-Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile woman was sentenced to 240 months in prison for engaging in a firearms‑trafficking conspiracy and tampering with evidence in connection with a multimillion-dollar drug-trafficking organization (“DTO”) that distributed bulk cocaine and fentanyl and used children as couriers.
According to court documents and evidence presented at a three-week trial, Exavieria Deagnes Maxie (“Exavieria”), 37, aided a lucrative, Mobile-based DTO led by her brother-in-law, Glennie Antonio McGee (“McGee”), and her sister, Echandza Dianca Maxie (“Echandza”). The DTO distributed hundreds of pounds of cocaine and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills between 2017 and 2024. Exavieria assisted the DTO by, among other things, trafficking a loaded firearm and tampering with DTO evidence.
In early 2024, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) initiated a court-authorized wiretap investigation of the McGee DTO’s criminal activities. As part of that investigation, agents intercepted thousands of incriminating phone calls and videos from a covert close-circuit television (“CCTV”) camera installed in McGee’s Cadillac Escalade. Agents also seized multiple kilograms of cocaine, more than 1,000 fentanyl pills, and several firearms connected to the DTO.
In June 2024, agents arrested McGee following a brief high-speed chase in Mobile. Agents boxed in McGee’s vehicle and encountered him with three kilograms of cocaine sitting in his lap. McGee then confessed in a videotaped interview that he had been dealing bulk cocaine since 2017 and earned $20,000 per month in profits.
Following McGee’s arrest, agents intercepted Exavieria and Echandza plotting to conceal evidence while operating the bugged Escalade. Specifically, Echandza gave Exavieria, a convicted felon, a shoebox full of custom jewelry and a loaded .380 caliber pistol. Exavieria took the jewelry and gun and stashed them in her apartment in west Mobile. Thereafter, on CCTV recordings, Echandza and Exavieria directed a 15-year-old child to find the gun and toss it from a balcony before agents could enter the apartment. When Echandza’s teenage son tried to instruct the 15-year-old, her nephew, how to remove the clip from the loaded weapon, Echandza stated, “No, tell him don’t do all that. Just drop it off. . . . [H]e ain’t got time to do that. We ain’t got time to coach him.” Exavieria was intercepted admitting that she told her 15-year-old son to toss the gun from the balcony. The child stated that Exavieria texted him, “Get that gun in the shoe box take it out and drop it off the balcony. Now!” Agents found the loaded pistol near a softball field behind the apartment. Exavieria then admitted to agents that she had brought the gun to her apartment from McGee’s and Echandza’s house.
In 2017, Exavieria was convicted of a federal methamphetamine-trafficking offense in the Southern District of Alabama and received a time-served sentence. As a result, she is prohibited from possessing firearms. In December 2025, while Exavieria was on release pending trial in her case, the court revoked her bond after determining that she had repeatedly violated her conditions of release and lied to the court about it.
U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Exavieria to serve 20 years in prison—the statutory maximum for her crimes. The court ordered Exavieria to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon her release from prison, during which time she will be subject to drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Exavieria to pay a total of $200 in special assessments.
The court will sentence McGee and Echandza in August 2026. Each faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Mobile Police Department, the Prichard Police Department, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case. The United States Marshals Service and several local agencies in Houston, Texas substantially assisted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and George May prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This prosecution was 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 Mobile comprises agents and officers from, among others, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.
Minnesota Rustler Convicted for Moving Stolen Cattle into Northern IowaRead the Press Release
A Minnesota man who stole cattle from a farmer and sold them in Northeast Iowa pled guilty on May 8, 2026, in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Lawrence “Larry” Patrick Burns, age 48, from Eitzen, Minnesota, was convicted of one count of transportation of stolen livestock.
In a plea agreement, Burns admitted that, from at least October 2017 to March 2024, he worked as a farmhand in Minnesota. From time to time, a farmer directed Burns to transport certain cattle and grain at various locations in Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri, as part of Burns’ employment. Without the farmer’s knowledge, Burns loaded extra cattle and grain and sold the extra cattle and grain in Burns’ own name. Burns lied and claimed he owned a portion of the cattle and grain that he was transporting across state lines. In the plea agreement, Burns admitted he stole at least $150,000 of the farmer’s cattle and grain during this timeframe.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Burns remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Burns faces a possible maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 26-CR-2002.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Memphis Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Charles Williams, 39, was sentenced for his role in engaging in a long-term conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Memphis. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
Through the utilization of recorded phone calls, traffic stops, physical surveillance, and the execution of search warrants, law enforcement officers were able to determine that Charles Williams was distributing felony amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl for more than one year before his federal indictment in March 2025.
Following his guilty plea to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, United States Chief District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced the defendant to 228 months’ imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Drug dealers with guns create a culture of criminality and deserve significant punishment. Those who sow misery, addiction, and violence into our communities by distributing poison to our citizens will reap the certain consequences of a long federal prison sentence.”
“This investigation disrupted a long-term conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Memphis, Tennessee,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI and our partners brought the full force of resources to bear – removing a dangerous individual and poisonous substances from the streets. Together with our Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) counterparts, the FBI will continue to pursue those who exploit our communities for profit.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Additionally, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI); Desoto County Sheriff’s Office; Bartlett Police Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) all assisted in the investigations of Charles Williams and his co-conspirators.
Assistant United States Attorneys Bryce Phillips and Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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 Memphis comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies, to include the investigative agencies listed above, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
###
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Mason City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Willie York, 47, from Mason City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. York pled guilty on May 11, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City. York was previously convicted in Cerro Gordo County of the following crimes which prohibit a person from possessing a firearm or ammunition: Terrorism – Intent to Injure or Provoke Fear or Anger and Robbery-2nd, both in 2000; and Delivery of Methamphetamine in 2015.
At the plea hearing, York admitted that from August 2024 through October 2024, he and others conspired to distribute at least 500 grams or more of mixed methamphetamine which contained 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine. On October 1, 2024, York was a passenger in a vehicle with two others when traffic stopped south of Sioux City, Iowa. Law enforcement found over one pound of pure methamphetamine, along with two firearms including a fully loaded Beretta 9mm pistol with York. York admitted that he and another transported the methamphetamine from Des Moines, Iowa to Pierre, South Dakota for distribution during two round trips over the course of several days and that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. York remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. York faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least ten years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4080. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Man Sentenced to 12 years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today that Saul Salazar-Leon, 46, of Mexico, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for crime of Receiving Child Pornography.
According to court records, in December of 2024, a woman contacted law enforcement after discovering a hidden camera in a bathroom in her home in Idaho. The woman found the camera while cleaning the bathroom her 12-year-old daughter uses. Suspecting Salazar-Leon, the woman called and confronted him about secretly recording her daughter. Salazar-Leon claimed he made a mistake and requested the woman not notify law enforcement.
Based on the woman’s report, law enforcement immediately began an investigation. The Nampa Police Department searched Salazar-Leon’s residence where they found a USB thumb drive containing hidden recordings of child pornography. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement arrested Salazar-Leon. Upon his arrest, law enforcement found an SD card in his pocket which also contained hidden recordings of child pornography.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Salazar-Leon to serve 15 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Salazar-Leon pleaded guilty to the charge on January 7, 2026. As a result of his conviction, Salazar-Leon will be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of Nampa Police Department, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Robins prosecuted the case.
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 the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Department of Justice, 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.
###
Man Charged with Drug Trafficking After Investigators Seize 84 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Cleveland, Mo. man was charged by criminal complaint after investigators seized 86 pounds of methamphetamine.
Russell D. Kircher, 41, was charged in a one-count criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint on May 4, 2026, investigators of the Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force (MOWIN) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Kansas City Interdiction Task Force (KCITF) were working at the “sort” at a UPS center when they identified a parcel being shipped from Los Angeles, Ca., to Cleveland, Mo. Investigators observed the parcel to be consistent with attempted concealment of illegal drugs and obtained a search warrant for it. Investigators opened the parcel and observed an orange-colored FIFA HOME DEPOT bucket. The bucket contained approximately 22 pounds of methamphetamine.
On May 5, 2026, an undercover investigator delivered the parcel to the delivery address in Cleveland, Mo. Investigators obtained a search warrant from the Cass County, Mo. Circuit Court. Kircher was arrested and investigators recovered approximately 2.24 grams of methamphetamine and a glass pipe from Kircher’s person.
After obtaining another search warrant, investigators searched Kircher’s property and located a large plastic tote, approximately six to eight inches deep in the ground, containing 27 sealed packages of methamphetamine, weighing approximately 62.88 pounds.
In total, investigators seized approximately 84 pounds of methamphetamine.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It was investigated by the Cass County, Mo. Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, DEA Kansas City Interdiction Task Force, and Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force.
Operation Take Back AmericaThis 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.
Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of A 12-Year-Old and Recording the Abuse in Order to Trade It for Other Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the filing of a Complaint charging BRYAN CRUZ SOLANO with sexual exploitation of a minor. CRUZ SOLANO was arrested on Saturday, May 9, 2026, presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo in Manhattan federal court and ordered detained pending trial by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas on May 12, 2026.
“As alleged, Bryan Cruz Solano sexually abused a 12-year-old child and, even more disgusting, recorded that abuse in order to trade it for other child pornography,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “We have heard it clear and strong from all New Yorkers, particularly New York families: Use all available resources to get sexual predators off our streets. And New Yorkers should know, predators often act with others, and we are committed to destroying these child sexual abuse networks. Help us if you can. Be vigilant. There may be additional victims in this case. If you have information to report about this or any other matter of child sexual abuse, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
On or about May 1, 2026, an individual (“Witness-1”) reported to New York State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) that CRUZ SOLANO had sent child pornography to Witness-1, including videos depicting CRUZ SOLANO engaging in sexual acts with a minor (“Victim-1”).
A video was recovered from Witness-1’s cellphone depicting a recording of a video on another device depicting a prepubescent female’s hands stroking the erect penis of an adult male (“Video-1”). At the end of the recording, the video transitions to an electronic messaging conversation on Snapchat, which includes, in substance and in part, the account name “lil_cruzyyyy.” CRUZ SOLANO later admitted that the Snapchat account was his.
Law enforcement acted to address the possibility of potentially ongoing harm to Victim-1 and assumed control of Witness-1’s Telegram account to begin communicating directly with CRUZ SOLANO. From May 4 to May 8, 2026, law enforcement engaged in multiple discussions with CRUZ SOLANO over Telegram, during which CRUZ SOLANO stated, among other things, that he had “new stuff” of himself and Victim-1 that he wanted to “trade,” that he would not send content without first receiving child pornography from Witness-1, and that Witness-1 should “make sure to sen[d] babies.”
On May 8, 2026, law enforcement executed a search warrant at CRUZ SOLANO’s residence. Officers obtained a cellphone from CRUZ SOLANO, which included, among other things, video recordings of child pornography involving Victim-1, including acts performed by Victim-1 at CRUZ SOLANO’s direction.
During an interview, CRUZ SOLANO admitted that he had engaged in sexual acts with Victim-1 on approximately 25 occasions in the past year, including at least as recently as two to three weeks ago. CRUZ SOLANO indicated that he had recorded these acts on at least approximately five occasions, while in Middletown, New York, and sent them to Witness-1. Further, on approximately 20 occasions, CRUZ SOLANO made FaceTime video calls to Witness-1 while engaging in sex acts with Victim-1. CRUZ SOLANO told law enforcement that he secured Victim-1’s cooperation by enticing Victim-1 with gifts.
There may be other victims. If you have information to report, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov.
* * *
CRUZ SOLANO, 20, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
The statutory maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the efforts of the FBI New York Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, the FBI New Haven Child Exploitation Task Force, the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit - Troop F, the Orange County Child Abuse Unit, the Orange County Child Advocacy Center, and the Hartford Police Department.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony P. Ferrara is in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Man Accused of Stealing $735,137 from Retired St. Louis TeacherRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis has been accused of stealing $735,137 from a retired St. Louis teacher.
Michael N. Jones, 40, was indicted April 29 with eight counts of wire fraud. He pleaded not guilty Monday.
The indictment says Jones was named as the victim’s power of attorney in March of 2023, and began stealing from her that same month. He made over $12,000 in purchases using her checking account and used her credit card for OnlyFans purchases, the indictment says. The victim was admitted to an assisted living facility on April 25, 2023. Jones put the proceeds of the sale of her home and two certificates of deposit into her checking account, and used that account to buy four properties in St. Louis, one in Hillsboro and two in East St. Louis, the indictment says. He also transferred $20,000 to his personal bank account and $140,000 to his Cash App account, using the Cash App money for food, trips, life coaching and OnlyFans, the indictment says.
From April 2024 to November 2024, Jones made only one payment to her assisted living facility and the victim was evicted owing $38,535, the indictment says. In November of 2024, Jones moved her into another facility but failed to pay costs that grew to $52,502 a year later, it says.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both.
The U.S. Secret Service, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolene Taaffe is prosecuting the case.
Madison Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Willie U. Mills, 31, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced on May 6, 2026, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 77 months in federal prison for possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. Mills’s prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Mills pleaded guilty to this charge on February 18, 2026.
On October 1, 2025, Madison police officers arrested Mills on an active probation warrant for numerous felony convictions. Officers searched Mills, his vehicle, and his possessions following the arrest. Law enforcement found approximately 9 grams of fentanyl in his pocket, 59 grams of methamphetamine inside a backpack, various pills, and multiple digital scales in his car. They also found just over $9,400 in cash inside his backpack.
At sentencing, Judge Conley considered Mills’s lengthy and varied criminal history, expressing concern that Mills had “escalated to worse and worse drugs.”
The charge against Mills was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, the Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg prosecuted this 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).
# # # #
Kent, Washington, man indicted for production and possession of child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 32-year-old Kent, Washington man who was identified by law enforcement after he sought to entice a young girl to send him sexually explicit images, was arraigned on the seven-count indictment today in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Mordien Kan Thach pleaded not guilty to three counts of production of child pornography, attempted enticement of a minor, possession of child pornography, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and unlawful possession of firearms. Trial is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Tana Lin on July 6, 2026.
“This case is part of Iron Pursuit, a one-month, nationwide enforcement surge to find child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “In April 2026, more than 200 child victims were located and over 350 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. In this Western Washington case, four victims were identified, and the investigation remains ongoing. If you abuse children, we will find you.”
According to records filed in the case, in August 2025, the FBI in Wisconsin was contacted by a young teen about an adult who had sent and requested sexually explicit images. Ultimately the adult was identified as Thach, and law enforcement obtained a court authorized search warrant for Thach’s residence in late January 2026.
In the search, law enforcement seized dealer quantities of cocaine, and ketamine as well as numerous firearms – two of which were reported stolen. On Thach’s electronic devices were images of child sexual abuse created by Thach with young teens he met via the internet. Two of the teens reside in Western Washington and a third resides in North Dakota.
Thach remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac.
Production of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum fifteen years in prison and up to 30 years in prison. Attempted enticement of a minor is punishable by a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and up to life in prison. Possession of Child pornography is punishable by up to twenty years in prison. Possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute is punishable by up to twenty years in prison and unlawful possession of firearms is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI as part of Operation Iron Pursuit.
The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
Justice Department Files Statement of Interest Highlighting Importance of Enabling Competition and Innovation in the Seeds IndustryRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in Corteva Agriscience LLC, et al. v. Inari Agriculture Inc. et al. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The statement of interest reaffirms the importance of the public’s ability to access and read patented biological material, which promotes follow-on innovation and competition in the seeds industry.
“The need for an affordable and secure food supply chain is vital for every American, and that begins with the seeds on which American farmers rely,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Dina Kallay of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Ensuring that the path to innovation is accessible for businesses, both big and small, is essential for enabling robust competition in the seeds industry and benefits consumers.”
Intellectual property and antitrust laws are aligned in their goal of promoting dynamic competition through innovation. While taking no position on the ultimate disposition of the case, the statement of interest explains that the Patent Act represents a balance of incentives: inventors gain the benefit of exclusivity over the life of the patent but, in exchange, they must publicly disclose their invention to promote the state of the art and enable follow-on innovation. The public’s ability to understand a claimed invention is thus critical.
The U.S. seed industry is highly concentrated and characterized by high barriers to entry. The statement of interest explains that, for entry by new competitors to be possible, it is especially important that intellectual property protections are interpreted in a way that strikes the right balance between rewarding innovators and allowing follow-on innovation. In the seeds industry, reasonable access to patented seeds is crucial to enabling follow-on innovation which, in turn, paves the way for small businesses and new entrants to enter and compete in the market.
The Antitrust Division has established a Food Supply Chain Security Task Force to investigate anticompetitive behavior in food-related industries pursuant to the Executive Order on “Addressing Security Risks From Price Fixing and Anti-Competitive Behavior in the Food Supply Chain.”[1] The Antitrust Division routinely files statements of interest and amicus briefs in federal court.
[1] Exec. Order No. 14,364, Addressing Security Risks From Price Fixing and Anti-Competitive Behavior in the Food Supply Chain, 90 Fed. Reg. 57349 (Dec. 6, 2025).
Illegal alien ordered to federal prison following repeated illegal reentriesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 38-year-old illegal alien from Mexico has been sentenced for illegally reentering the United States after removal, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Esequiel Rueda-Ramirez pleaded guilty to this offense on Nov. 13, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Hanen has now ordered Rueda-Ramirez to serve 48 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to again face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard evidence regarding Rueda-Ramirez’s criminal history while unlawfully present in the United States.
Rueda-Ramirez has prior convictions for evading arrest, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and illegal reentry.
Authorities first removed Rueda-Ramirez from the United States in February 2010, and he repeatedly returned illegally. On June 2, 2022, law enforcement again discovered him in the country without authorization.
Rueda-Ramirez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Hostetter 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 Mexico Indicted for Unlawfully Possessing Ammunition in Bay County, FloridaRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Emiliano Rafael Hernandez Escamilla, Jr., 30, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession of ammunition by an illegal alien. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge.
Hernandez appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida. Trial is scheduled for June 22, 2026, at 8:30 am in Tallahassee before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker.
If convicted, Hernandez faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo.
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.
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, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Huntington Woman Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tabatha Rae Gardner, 35, of Huntington, was sentenced today to six years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 31, 2024, Gardner sold approximately 3.47 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in a garage behind the residence of Gardner’s grandmother in Huntington. As part of her plea agreement, Gardner admitted to conducting the transaction.
Law enforcement conducted a total of seven controlled buys with Gardner between December 2023 and October 2025, at two residences in Huntington where Gardner lived at the time. Officers executed two search warrants at one of the residences, in March 2025 and October 2025, and seized more than 40 grams of fentanyl, approximately 3.5 grams of cocaine base, a quantity of methamphetamine, and nearly $19,000 in drug proceeds.
Gardner’s mother and co-defendant, Tina Marie Dixon, 53, of Huntington, was sentenced on April 13, 2026, to five years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack.”
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.
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. 3:25-cr-172.
###
Honduran National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Pleads Guilty to Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— Marvin Yahir Izaguirre-Varela, 22, a Honduran national unlawfully residing in the United States, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, on February 18, 2026, a drug detection K9 alerted to the presence of drugs in Izaguirre-Varela’s bag at the entrance of the Portland train station. Law enforcement officer searched Izaguirre-Varela’s bag and found over one kilogram of fentanyl that he was transporting for the purpose of distribution in Portland.
On March 18, 2026, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Izaguirre-Varela with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Izaguirre-Varela faces a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment, a $10 million fine, and 5 years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on August 3, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Portland Police Bureau Narcotics and Organized Crime Division, and the Amtrak Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kilcup is prosecuting the case.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.
Honduran Illegal Alien Charged with Illegal EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –MAYCOL JAVIER CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ (“CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ”), age 21, a native of Honduras, was charged by bill of information on May 7, 2026, for illegal entry into the United States, and avoidance of examination and inspection by U.S. immigration officials, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1325(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ, an illegal alien, was found in Tangipahoa Parish on April 15, 2026.
If convicted, CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ faces a maximum penalty of 6 months of imprisonment, up to a $5,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a $10 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Rick Veters, of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
* * *
Honduran Illegal Alien Charged with Illegal EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – EZEQUIEL LARA-REYES (“LARA-REYES”), age 27, a native of Honduras, was charged by bill of information on May 7, 2026, for illegal entry into the United States, and avoidance of examination and inspection by U.S. immigration officials, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1325(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, LARA-REYES, an illegal alien, was found in Tangipahoa Parish on April 15, 2026.
If convicted, LARA-REYES faces a maximum penalty of 6 months of imprisonment, up to a $5,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a $10 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Rick Veters, of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
* * *
Homeland Security Task Force investigation leads to arrest of uncle & nephew, seizure of more than 80 kilograms of suspected cocaineRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Two Southwest Ohio relatives were arrested by federal agents for allegedly conducting large-scale cocaine trafficking.
Damian Galan, 31, of Cincinnati, and Diego Galan, 19, of Fairfield, will appear in federal court today for initial appearances.
According to charging documents, the DEA Cincinnati District Office, the Cincinnati Police Department and other agencies within the Cincinnati Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) received information regarding the Galans’ potential drug trafficking throughout the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere.
Surveillance of the men, as well as additional investigation, led law enforcement officials to a Holiday Inn Express in Columbus on May 9. Damian and Diego Galan allegedly traveled to the hotel in tandem and obtained four 17-gallon storage containers from two Hispanic males staying at the hotel. The storage containers were placed in the trunk and backseat of Damian Galan’s vehicle.
The defendants then allegedly traveled to Diego’s residence in Fairfield, where they moved the four storage containers.
Law enforcement officials executed search warrants at both Galan residences. They discovered four kilograms of suspected cocaine and a firearm at Damian Galan’s home. The search of Diego Galan’s residence recovered the storage bins – which contained approximately 77 kilograms of suspected cocaine – along with bulk cash, firearms and suspected methamphetamine.
The men were arrested in the early morning hours of May 10.
They are each charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, a federal crime punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and members of the HSTF, including the DEA, Cincinnati Police Department, FBI, HSI and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office’s Regional Narcotics Unit (RENU), announced the charges. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Hilliard man sentenced to 14 years in prison for using AI to morph images of real minors into child pornographyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Hilliard man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 168 months in prison for two child pornography crimes.
Austin Pittman, 35, admitted to distributing images of real child pornography and using AI to morph videos and photos of real children to whom he had access into images of child pornography.
According to court documents, in January 2025, the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received multiple cyber tipline reports regarding Pittman’s activity on Kik messenger. On the instant messaging app, Pittman distributed child pornography depicting an adult sexually abusing a child.
Further investigation revealed that, in 2024, Pittman was the target of an investigation at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, where he uploaded 47 files of child pornography to Kik.
A search warrant executed at Pittman’s residence in April 2025 led to the seizure of numerous devices. During a review of Pittman’s cell phone, law enforcement officials discovered images and videos of real children to whom Pittman had access. Some of the files Pittman had secretly recorded and created some of the images and videos himself. Pittman then used AI programs to alter these images so that the minor females depicted in them now appeared fully nude. He also distributed this content he morphed to others in online chat platforms dedicated to child sexual abuse material.
Pittman was charged federally and arrested in April 2025 and pleaded guilty in December 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin; and other members of the Franklin County ICAC Task Force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
# # #
HSTF: Chinese National and Las Vegas Man Charged in Scheme to Import Deadly Synthetic Opioid into USRead the Press Release
Law Enforcement in the People’s Republic of China Confirmed That a Defendant Was Arrested as Part of a Parallel Investigation
MIAMI – A Chinese national and a Las Vegas man have been charged by federal indictment for their roles in a scheme to import large quantities of the powerful synthetic opioid protonitazene in the U.S. and distribute it as counterfeit pills. These charges stem from an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), with assistance and collaboration with the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Public Security.
According to court records, beginning in approximately September 2024, Jia Guo, a/k/a “idmaster21,” a/k/a “imyourBDOguy,” a/k/a “OXY GUY,” of China, and Seven Schmidt, a/k/a “Vegas,” of Nevada, operated a drug trafficking organization that sourced protonitazene overseas and shipped it into the U.S. for distribution. Protonitazene — often used in counterfeit pill production — is significantly more potent than fentanyl. A quantity as small as 200 grams can produce hundreds of thousands of pills, each potentially lethal.
“This case shows why President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Force matters,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The indictment alleges that a China-based supplier and a domestic distributor worked together to bring a deadly synthetic opioid into the United States and turn it into counterfeit pills for distribution across the country. These pills are made to look familiar, but one pill can kill. If you use South Florida as a gateway to import synthetic opioids, make counterfeit pills, or profit from addiction, you will face federal prosecution. The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
“The bilateral investigation with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security underscores DEA Asia Pacific Division’s unwavering commitment to the protection of American lives: disrupting criminal organizations responsible for distributing dangerous synthetic opioids across the United States is one of DEA’s main priorities,” said Special Agent in Charge David L. King of the DEA Asia Pacific Division. “We commend the Chinese Ministry of Public Security for their thorough and swift investigative work on this case, which was initially presented at the February 2026 Bilateral Drug Enforcement Intelligence Working Group, hosted by DEA Asia Pacific Division in Colorado.”
“This was the very definition of agents and officers working in unison to bring these criminals to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the DEA, Miami Field Division. “Lives will be saved because of their efforts.”
“The US Postal Inspection service remains committed to removing these poisons from our communities,” said Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the USPIS, Miami Division. “These charges serve as a warning to others that, using the US Mail to distribute dangerous drugs has consequences.”
Guo allegedly coordinated the illegal procurement and shipment of protonitazene from China to co-conspirators, including an associate in Miami-Dade County. That associate allegedly used pill presses to manufacture counterfeit pills, which were then distributed to drug dealers throughout the U.S.
Schmidt allegedly ordered distribution quantities of the counterfeit pills and arranged for their shipment from South Florida to Nevada using the U.S. Postal Service.
As part of the investigation, China’s Ministry of Public Security took law enforcement action in China against Guo. In April 2026, Chinese officials arrested Guo and the freight forwarder, who Guo conspired with to send controlled substance parcels to the U.S. As part of the investigation, the Ministry of Public Security seized 10 parcels filled with controlled substances that Guo sent which were for recipients in the U.S. The Justice Department thanks the Ministry of Public Security for its assistance and coordinated efforts.
Guo and Schmidt are charged with conspiracy to import protonitazene into the United States from China and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute protonitazene. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the two counts.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Special Agent in Charge Aley, Special Agent in Charge King, and Inspector in Charge Rojo made the announcement.
DEA Miami, USPIS Miami, and DEA Beijing are investigating the case with the assistance from and in collaboration with China’s Ministry of Public Security. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Homestead (FL) Police Department, the Henderson (NV) Police Department, DEA Dallas, DEA Las Vegas, DEA Seattle, the Miami-Dade Sherriff’s Office, and the Miami Beach Police Department also provided invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman is handling asset forfeiture. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Prosecutorial, Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) Beijing Resident Legal Advisor, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises of agents and officers from DEA and USPIS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 26-cr-20161.
###
Fourteen New Indictments & Seven Illegal Aliens Convicted of Immigration, False Document Offenses in AprilRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Pensacola and Gainesville – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced that fourteen previously deported illegal aliens have been separately indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States, and seven illegal aliens were convicted of federal crimes in the month of April.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office remains committed to fulfilling the mission of Operation Take Back America to protect our communities by aggressively prosecuting the criminal illegal aliens who brazenly ignore and violate our nation’s immigration laws. America is a nation of laws, and we will continue to enforce those laws against anyone who mistakenly believes they can violate our laws with impunity.”
According to court records, the fourteen illegal aliens indicted in the month of April include:
- Leonel Morales-Gaytan, 33, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2020 and 2022. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge Mark Walker.
- Isidro Ramirez-Lopez, 50, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Gulf County in March 2026, after previously being deported in 2002 and 2011. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge Mark Walker.
- Moises Siquic-Tiul, 39, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Walton County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2015 and 2017. Trial is set for June 15, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
- Gabriel Garcia Hernandez, 41, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2024. Trial is set for June 15, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
- Simon Mateo-Simon, 36, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in March 2026, after previously being deported in 2015. Change of plea and sentencing scheduled for May 19, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Moises Lopez Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Alachua County in September 2025, after previously being deported in 2016. Trial is set for May 27, 2026, before United States Chief Judge Allen Winsor.
- Jose Mendez Pena, 35, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2009. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Noe Alexis Lopez Suarez, 27, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2022. Change of plea and sentencing are set for May 27, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
- Alcides Miguel Martinez-Martinez, 42, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in March 2026, after previously being deported in 2009 and 2015. Trial is set for June 15, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
- Alex Joel Maldonado-Erazo, 38, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in March 2026, after previously being deported in 2015. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Miguel Ico Martinez, 29, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in March 2026, after previously being deported three times in 2024. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Wily Antonio Escobar-Canterelo, 29, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in April 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2016. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Dania Chaver-Pereira, 31, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in April 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2017 and once in 2019. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Jose Hernandez-Perez, 23, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in March 2026, after previously being deported in 2022. Trial is set for June 15, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Gabriel Garcia Hernandez faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine pursuant to allegations of prior convictions qualifying for an increased maximum sentence.
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 in a court of law.
In addition to the indictments filed, seven previously indicted defendants were convicted in the month of April for being unlawfully present in the country after a prior removal. The illegal aliens convicted in the month of April include:
- Nicolas Jorge-Garcia, 41, of Mexico, who was previously removed in November 2007, February 2012, April 2012, May 2012, and October 2015. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on November 25, 2025.
- Joel Perez Vasquez, 42, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in January 2013 and April 2013. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on February 17, 2026.
- Jose Rodas-Castillo, 37, of Honduras, who was previously removed in September 2016. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on February 14, 2026.
- Jairo Leonel Calel Vicente, 30, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in October 2025 and January 2026. He was encountered in Escambia County on February 26, 2026.
- Andres Martin Valdivia Moran, 43, of Mexico, who was previously removed in November 2017 and July 2019. He was encountered in Escambia County on December 10, 2025.
- Delmer Francisco Garcia-Palma, 29, of Honduras, who was previously removed in January 2017, June 2019, and June 2020. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on January 13, 2026.
One alien was also convicted of false document crimes:
- William Gary Perez Perez, 23, of Guatemala.
The cases involved investigations by Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with the assistance of the Florida Highway Patrol, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Port St. Joe Police Department, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Gainesville Police Department, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Gulf Breeze Police Department, the Fort Walton Beach Police Department and the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Walter E. Narramore, Alicia H. Forbes, Christopher C. Patterson, Eric W. Welch, Michelle Spaven, Jessica S. Etherton, Tyler A. Fleming, Jeffrey M. Tharp, Brooke DiSalvo, and Thomas S.P. Geeker are prosecuting the cases.
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, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Former federal inmate sentenced to 30 years for his third child pornography violationRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A former federal inmate will return to federal prison for 30 years for his third child pornography violation, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Keanu Deavan Wesley Ortiz, 32, of Vernon, Texas, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography and was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on May 11, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in the fall of 2024, Ortiz was subject to federal supervision, following his release from the Bureau of Prisons for a child pornography conviction. During that time, he engaged in online communications with another sex offender in which he discussed his sexual interest in children and child pornography. Ortiz ultimately distributed child pornography to the sex offender, who was then located in the Eastern District of Texas. The distributed video files depicted prepubescent females (including infant and toddler-aged children) being subjected to violent sexual abuse. As part of his plea, Ortiz admitted to distributing the child pornography videos in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, between September 2024 and April 2025. This is Ortiz’ third federal conviction for child pornography violations.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller.
###
Former President and CEO of Failed Oklahoma Bank Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – DANNY SEIBEL, the former president and CEO of the now-defunct First National Bank of Lindsay (FNBL), has pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to court documents, Seibel, 55, of Lindsay, Oklahoma, was an executive at FNBL from in or around February 2007 until his termination in September 2024. As alleged, Seibel caused FNBL to issue loans to certain customers, many of whom were his personal friends and neighbors, that the borrowers never repaid. Seibel then manipulated the bank’s records and falsified various bank reports to falsely overstate the performance of the loans, including by using new loans or transfers of the bank’s own funds to cover overdrafts of outstanding loans.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency appointed a receiver for the bank in October 2024.
On December 3, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Seibel with bank fraud. Yesterday, Seibel pleaded guilty and admitted he knowingly executed a scheme to defraud the First National Bank of Lindsay. At sentencing, he faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Robert Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma; Acting Special Agent in Charge Joseph Melle of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Altemus of IRS – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Special Agent in Charge Korey Brinkman of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General (FHFA-OIG) made the announcement.
FDIC-OIG, FBI, IRS-CI, and FHFA-OIG investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia E. Barry and Jackson D. Eldridge for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Trial Attorneys Mark Goldberg, Elysa Q. Wan, and J. Ryan McLaren of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
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.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Former Central Valley Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Steal Building Materials from a Tulare County CompanyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — David Theron Ross, 64, of Sparks, Nevada, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of a two-person scheme to defraud a homebuilding company of building materials worth up to $1.5 million, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between March 2021 and December 2023, Ross and Eduardo Jara, 37, of Lindsay, conspired to defraud a construction company of building materials. Jara utilized his role as Assistant Purchasing Manager of the company to order building materials. Ross, a forklift driver for the same company during parts of the conspiracy, would pick up the materials to sell to local companies and share the proceeds with Jara. Jara would then complete the required purchase orders, purchase receipts, and purchase invoices to fictitiously show that the building materials were obtained by the company. This paperwork was turned into accounts payable and submitted to the company’s headquarters in Troy, Michigan, for payment. The company would then pay their supplier based on the fraudulently created documents.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chan Hee Chu is prosecuting the case.
Jara pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 27, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff.
Ross is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Sherriff on Aug. 24, 2026. Both defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Postal CrimesRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Antrell Jermaine Hillard, 33, of Live Oak, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to steal postal keys, theft of postal keys, and postal robbery/assault. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant wasn’t just stealing keys from postal carriers, he was attempting to steal from everyone who relies upon the U.S. Postal Service for mail delivery. Protecting the safety of our postal carriers and the security of our mail delivery is of the utmost importance, and my office will ensure this defendant is swiftly delivered to federal prison for his crimes.”
Court documents reflect that between March 21, 2025, and March 29, 2025, the defendant conspired with others to steal Postal Service keys in Gainesville and Ocala. The defendant planned and participated in three separate incidents involving the theft of keys directly from United States Postal Service carriers while they were delivering mail. In one of the incidents, the defendant snatched a key that was still physically connected to the carrier’s belt, causing it to break from the carrier’s belt.
Hillard faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy, 10 years’ imprisonment for theft, and ten years’ imprisonment for robbery/assault.
The case involved a joint investigation by United States Postal Inspection Service, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 21, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before United States Chief District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
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, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Five Defendants Charged Following Investigations by the Nashville Homeland Security Task ForceRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Five defendants – including suspected associates of Tren De Aragua (“TdA”) or “Anti-Tren,” a splinter faction of TdA comprised of current and former members of TdA – have been charged with multiple felonies, including drug trafficking conspiracy, firearms trafficking conspiracy, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Since approximately September 2025, Nashville HSTF agents have been investigating Maikel Jesus Albornoz-Jimenez (“ALBORNOZ”), Eduard Jesus Velasquez-Matute (“VELASQUEZ”), Faren Aldahir Marquez-Cruz (“MARQUEZ”), Jose Luis Baza-Rodriguez, a/k/a “Yonce” (“BAZA”), Luis Manuel Tovar-Virguz (“TOVAR”), and others for trafficking in firearms and narcotics throughout the Middle District of Tennessee (“MDTN”) and across the country. Over the course of the investigation, agents identified ALBORNOZ as a supplier of firearms and narcotics in the MDTN, as well as a facilitator of deals across the country, meaning that ALBORNOZ would often connect others with his co-conspirators located in other states that ALBORNOZ knew had firearms or narcotics available for sale. ALBORNOZ would often receive a kickback for facilitating the deal. VELASQUEZ and MARQUEZ were sources of supply for firearms sold by ALBORNOZ in the MDTN. Some of the firearms supplied by VELASQUEZ and MARQUEZ and sold by ALBORNOZ were previously reported stolen or associated with other acts of violence, including shootings. BAZA acted as a source of supply and facilitator of narcotics deals in Washington state, including on deals brokered by ALBORNOZ. And TOVAR engaged in trafficking methamphetamine with ALBORNOZ and supplied one firearm to ALBORNOZ for sale in the MDTN.
Charges against the Defendants
ALBORNOZ, BAZA, and TOVAR are charged with a drug trafficking conspiracy involving more than 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing cocaine, more than 50 grams or a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, and other controlled substances; ALBORNOZ, VELASQUEZ, and MARQUEZ are charged with a firearms trafficking conspiracy; and the defendants also face individual charges relating to using and carrying a firearm during an in relation to a drug trafficking crime, drug trafficking offenses, firearms trafficking offenses, and being an alien in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, the drug conspiracy charged in the Middle District of Tennessee involved approximately 112 grams of methamphetamine, 340 grams of MDMA and Ketamine, and 870 grams of cocaine. The charged gun trafficking conspiracy resulted in the seizure of 25 firearms, with several more firearms being seized in other jurisdictions as a result of gun deals brokered by ALBORNOZ. Of the 25 firearms seized in MDTN, 8 firearms were previously reported as stolen, and 2 have been tied to other crimes of violence based upon NIBIN results. Specifically, a Glock .40 caliber pistol has been preliminarily associated with a shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, that occurred on November 30, 2023. And a Canik 9x19mm pistol has been preliminarily associated with a shooting involving multiple victims in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 17, 2024.
Gang affiliations
Evidence recovered during this investigation has revealed that some defendants may be associates of Tren De Aragua (“TdA”), a trans-national criminal organization from Venezuela that was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States on or about February 20, 2025, and/or associates of a TdA splinter faction known as “Anti-Tren” – comprised of current and former members of TdA who are operating without or against the authority of TdA leadership in Venezuela. Members of TdA and Anti-Tren have been identified and arrested across the United States in other cases, including in Colorado, Tennessee, New York, Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, Washington, Georgia, and elsewhere.
Members of TdA and Anti-Tren are known to engage in gun trafficking, drug trafficking – particularly in “Tusi,” a drug made from various controlled substances including Ketamine and 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“MDMA”) – and to coordinate their criminal activities with each other across state lines, as was done in this case.
Additionally, in ALBORNOZ’s Apple iCloud return, Agents observed a picture of ALBORNOZ wearing what appears to be a Fuerzas de Acciones Especiales de la Policía Nacional Bolivariana (“FAES”) uniform. The FAES was a special action police force that acted in coordination with former Venezuelan President Maduro, the Colectivos, and TdA. The FAES conducted operations against the Venezuelan people who opposed the Venezuelan government and its illicit activities.
“The Homeland Security Task Force is the tip of the spear in law enforcement’s efforts to stop Transnational Criminal Organizations like TdA, ‘Anti-Tren,’ and others from further victimizing our community,” said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek, “and HSTF-Nashville is the sharpest point in the country. Illegal firearms and narcotics trafficking like the activity charged in this indictment is dangerous, enables other violence, and puts Tennesseans at risk. Thanks to the cooperation of our partner law enforcement agencies, we have all the tools we need to put these illegal gun traffickers and drug traffickers out of business for good.”
“The collaborative efforts of the Homeland Security Task Force are vital in disrupting dangerous criminal networks like Tren De Aragua and its factions,” said Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin Jackson. “By combining resources and expertise, we continue to target drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and other threats to our communities. This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting the public and holding those who endanger our neighborhoods accountable.”
“Gang members and violence, combined with firearms and drug trafficking, damage entire communities and pose a threat to public safety. The ATF along with our local, state, and federal partners will continue to dismantle these criminal networks through persistent investigation, collaboration, and enforcement in order to protect the safety and security of our citizens,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet.
“This case highlights the power of partnership, combining federal, state, and local resources to fight against violent gangs and transnational criminal organizations that illegally traffic firearms and dangerous drugs across our borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners to stop threats before more lives are put at risk and ensure criminal organizations are held accountable.”
“This investigation is about violent criminals who posed a real threat to Nashvillians and our city’s neighborhoods,” said Nashville Police Chief John Drake. “In fact, we know from ballistic testing that one of the guns seized was used in a September 17, 2024, shooting case on Mt. View Road in which two men were wounded. Our police department will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and hold accountable those who choose to commit or promote violence in this city.”
“IRS‑CI special agents are proud to stand with our partners on the Nashville Homeland Security Task Force as we follow the financial trails that expose violent gangs, firearms traffickers, and narcotics networks operating across the country,” said Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Charlotte Field Office. “By uncovering how these criminal organizations move and profit from illicit activity, we help dismantle the operations that threaten the safety of communities across the United States.”
“Drugs and violence often go hand-in-hand, tearing families apart and destroying our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “This case shows how effective law enforcement can be when agencies at every level work together; I’m very proud of the work being done by DEA and our partners on the Homeland Security Task Force to shut down criminal organizations and bring the bad actors to justice.”
Defendants’ Status to be in the United States
ALBORNOZ is a citizen of Venezuela who unlawfully entered, and admitted to illegally entering, the United States near El Paso at a time and place other than as designated by the DHS Secretary.
VELASQUEZ is a citizen of Venezuela who entered, and admitted to entering, the United States illegally on or about August 8, 2022, after crossing the Rio Grande River near Eagle Pass, Texas.
MARQUEZ is a Legal Permanent Resident originally from Honduras. On or about October 29, 2025, MARQUEZ received an Order of Deferral (Judicial Diversion) after pleading guilty to Felony Reckless Endangerment with an offense date of on or about January 9, 2025. MARQUEZ received a sentence of 18 months, beginning on October 29, 2025, and ending on April 29, 2027. As a condition of his judicial diversion, Marquez could not receive, possess, ship, or transport any firearms, ammunition, or weapons. During a search of Marquez’s residence, law enforcement seized hundreds of rounds of ammunition, two loaded firearms, extended magazines, a drum magazine, and more than $7,000 cash.
BAZA was born in Venezuela and is presently a citizen of Colombia who has admitted to entering the United States illegally on or about July 31, 2023, near Tecate, California.
TOVAR is a citizen of Venezuela who arrived at the Brownsville, Texas, Port of Entry on or about September 27, 2023, without documents sufficient for lawful entry into the United States. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement recovered approximately $1,000 and drug paraphernalia. TOVAR has admitted to being in the United States illegally and to knowing that he cannot possess firearms.
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.
The Nashville HSTF comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshals Service (USMS), United States Secret Service (USSS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other federal agencies, working in collaboration with our state and local partners, with the prosecutions being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katy Risinger and DOJ Trial Attorney Katelan Doyle. AUSA Risinger is the Lead HSTF Attorney for the Nashville Homeland Security Task Force. Katelan Doyle is a trial attorney with Joint Task Force Vulcan.
A criminal Indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
# # # # #
Felon Who Possessed Gun Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a gun was sentenced on May 7, 2026, to more than two years in federal prison.
Christopher Dante Roby, age 34, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 8, 2025, guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea, Roby admitted that in December 2024, he illegally possessed a Taurus 9mm pistol. Roby had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including first degree burglary, domestic abuse assault strangulation with injury, felon in possession of a firearm, and intimidation with a weapon.
Roby was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Roby was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Roby is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 25-CR-2043.
Federal Prisoner Convicted of Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – A federal jury has found Brandon Ejae Elliot (35, Tampa) guilty of one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of possession of contraband (a weapon) by a federal prisoner. Elliot faces up to 13 years in federal prison. A federal grand jury indicted Elliot on December 17, 2024. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on December 3, 2022, Elliot was a federal inmate in the United States Penitentiary-II at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County, Florida. During a routine count of the prisoners, Elliot and his cellmate, C.W.J., were locked in their cell at 9:30 AM. When corrections officers opened the cell at 11:00 AM, they found C.W.J. unresponsive with multiple puncture wounds to his body. A sharpened metal shank lay nearby on the cell floor. C.W.J. was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. A medical examiner determined that C.W.J. had been stabbed 12 times by an object matching the appearance and dimensions of the shank. Elliot admitted to stabbing the victim in the heart during a struggle for the weapon.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hannah Nowalk Watson and William S. Hamilton.
Federal Jury finds Dyersburg Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – On May 5, 2026, after a 3-day trial, a federal jury found Vinson Brent Taylor, 46, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, guilty of two counts of federal drug trafficking offenses. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.
The trial was bifurcated and proceeded in two phases. According to evidence presented in court during Phase I of the trial, on the night of August 8, 2024, an officer with the Dyersburg Police Department was on patrol duty when he encountered two men fighting in front of Taylor’s residence. Both of the men fled. While investigating the scene, the officer discovered a rental vehicle that was left running and had its driver-side door wide open.
The vehicle contained various quantities of crack cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, methamphetamine, and ecstasy. Near the center console of the vehicle were Taylor’s cellphone and a car rental agreement in his name. A hat with distinctive embroidery was also found several feet away from the vehicle. The hat was later determined by a forensic analyst to contain Taylor’s DNA. Evidence at trial also showed that Taylor had appeared on the scene of a car accident on August 7, 2024, wearing the same hat that was found at the crime scene.
During Phase II of the trial, the government presented evidence of Taylor’s prior significant criminal history which will subject him to an enhanced punishment under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 10, 2026, before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson. Taylor faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Drug trafficking offenses are at the root of some of the gravest problems facing our country. The ‘fruit’ of the drug plague is everywhere; it fills our streets, our jails, our hospitals, our morgues, and our nurseries. Federal law applies in every square inch of this district, and dealers who distribute harmful drugs in our rural communities can no longer hide.”
This case was investigated by the Dyersburg Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Immanuel Chioco and Adam Davis prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
###
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.