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Tuesday 5 May 2026
Utah Man Found Guilty of Selling “PoppySeed Wash” Online to Help Customers Get High on OpiatesRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal jury in Salt Lake City returned a guilty verdict against a Utah man for unlawful possession of drug-manufacturing paraphernalia. After a three-day trial, the jury found the defendant possessed, marketed, and sold “PoppySeed Wash” kits across the country designed to enable his customers to get high from a home-brewed, opiate-rich tea containing morphine, codeine, and thebaine gleaned, as directed, from the skin of unwashed poppy seeds.
Devin Michael Tew, 40, of West Jordan, Utah, was charged by indictment on March 6, 2024.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, sometime before 2018 through 2022, Tew operated an illegal online business via his website poppyseedwash.com. More specifically, he sold “PoppySeed Wash” kits to customers who wanted to get high off the opium coatings on specially sourced poppy seeds that could be made into an opioid-rich tea. Each of the “PoppySeed Wash” kits included a bottle with unwashed poppy seeds inside, an instruction label for manufacturing the product at home, a measuring guide on the side, and a strainer in the cap to filter out the seeds when consumers squeezed out the opium-infused “tea” manufactured at home by following Tew’s directions. When prepared as directed, this “tea” contained morphine, codeine, and thebaine – all of which are opiates, and all of which are controlled substances.
Evidence at trial showed that Tew marketed his “PoppySeed Wash” kits on his poppyseed.com website and idealized the abuse of opium in various related social media posts. As a result of his illegal business, Tew made hundreds of thousands of dollars online by selling his “PoppySeed Wash” kits to consumers. In fact, Tew admitted to federal agents that, at one point, he was withdrawing—or having his sole part-time employee withdraw—between between $9,500 and $10,000 per day that he made from his “PoppySeed Wash” business. In 2020 and 2026, two separate tests conducted by FDA chemists established-- that Tew’s “PoppySeed Wash” bottled product contained morphine, codeine, and thebaine.
Tew’s sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date before a U.S. District Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
Assistant United States Attorney Todd C. Bouton and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason R. Chandler of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Hosts Health Care Fraud Consortium Workshop with Federal PartnersRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada and the Justice Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit on Monday held a Health Care Fraud Consortium Workshop with law enforcement partners to discuss health care fraud trends, emerging schemes, and the tools available to investigate and prosecute these offenses.
The workshop brought together representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Fraud Section, along with Assistant United States Attorneys and staff from the District of Nevada.
This workshop follows the Justice Department’s announcement establishing the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force, a multi-district initiative that includes the District of Nevada, District of Arizona, and Northern District of California. The Strike Force brings together federal prosecutors and law enforcement partners to take a coordinated, data-driven approach to identifying and disrupting health care fraud schemes.
Participants shared insights on current fraud trends, coordinated investigative strategies, and opportunities to enhance collaboration across agencies. The discussion emphasized a unified commitment to protecting patients, safeguarding both public and private health care programs, and ensuring that health care dollars are directed toward legitimate care—not fraud.
“The strength of our enforcement efforts lies in our partnerships,” said representatives of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “By working together, we can more effectively detect, investigate, and prosecute those who exploit the health care system.”
The workshop also highlighted key Justice Department initiatives aimed at strengthening the prevention and detection of corporate misconduct, including health care fraud. The Justice Department’s Criminal Division recently launched a Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program, which provides potential financial incentives to individuals who report original, truthful information that leads to successful forfeiture in cases involving corporate crime, including health care fraud schemes involving private insurance plans.
In addition, under the Criminal Division’s Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy, companies that voluntarily self-report misconduct within 120 days of receiving an internal whistleblower report may be eligible for a presumption of declination, provided they meet applicable criteria and report before the Department initiates contact.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its partners will continue to use every available legal tool to identify, investigate, and prosecute health care fraud offenses. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected wrongdoing in the health care industry.
For more information about reporting potential corporate misconduct, individuals may contact the Justice Department at [email protected].
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada and the Justice Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit Hold a Health Care Fraud Consortium Workshop With Federal Partners
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Two Northern Virginia men sentenced to prison for years-long drug trafficking conspiracy following Homeland Security Task Force investigationRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Dontavious Rashid Whitaker, 28, of Alexandria, and D’Moni Anthony Moten, 27, of Woodbridge, were sentenced today to 20 years and over 16 years in prison respectively for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic counterfeit pressed pills containing carfentanil, fentanyl, and heroin.
According to court documents, from at least December 2021 to November 2025, Whitaker and Moten participated in a conspiracy to distribute counterfeit pressed pills containing opioids including heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil - a synthetic opioid 100 times more powerful than fentanyl.
On Feb. 19, 2025, in Alexandria, the United States Marshals Service (USMS) attempted to stop a Range Rover operated by Whitaker and a Jaguar operated by Moten. Whitaker and Moten attempted to flee and ultimately fled on foot from their vehicles. The Range Rover contained a loaded handgun with a round in the chamber and 13 rounds in an attached magazine, over 1,800 pills containing 203 grams of fentanyl, various prescription pills, multiple pounds of suspected marijuana, cocaine, a digital scale, and two cellphones. The Jaguar contained a loaded handgun with a round in the chamber and 10 rounds in an attached magazine, a large quantity of suspected marijuana, 32 grams of cocaine, and pills containing 109 grams of fentanyl. During a search of a residence associated with Whitaker, Moten, and other conspirators, investigators seized a handgun with a round in the chamber and 17 rounds in the attached magazine, another handgun with a round in the chamber and 33 rounds in the attached magazine, bulk marijuana, various prescription pills, over 1,000 fentanyl pills containing 120 grams of fentanyl, $182,568, and a money counter.
Subsequently, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases from Whitaker and Moten, two of which involved the sale of pills totaling 1,058 grams of a mixture containing heroin. On Nov. 12, 2025, law enforcement searched multiple locations and vehicles associated with Whitaker, Moten, and other coconspirators. Whitaker was located in one residence with a loaded handgun, approximately $50,000 in cash, and over $70,000 in high-end jewelry in his bedroom. Another loaded handgun was located in another bedroom in the same residence. A search of a vehicle associated with Whitaker and Moten resulted in the seizure of nearly 10,000 counterfeit pressed pills containing 721 grams of carfentanil, 116 grams of fentanyl, and 108 grams of heroin. The search of a second residence identified as a narcotics stash location associated with the conspiracy resulted in the seizure of scattered fentanyl pills and a Draco AK-47 style pistol with a round in the chamber and the magazine next to the firearm. A second vehicle associated with Whitaker was searched and found to contain 1,000 counterfeit pressed pills containing approximately 108 grams of fentanyl.
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of VirginiaOn Feb. 6, Whitaker pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute carfentanil, fentanyl, and heroin; possession with intent to distribute and attempted possession with intent to distribute carfentanil; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Whitaker was sentenced today to 20 years in prison.
On Feb. 6, Moten pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute carfentanil, fentanyl, and heroin; possession with intent to distribute and attempted possession with intent to distribute carfentanil; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Moten was sentenced today to 16 years and eight months in prison.
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 Manassas is comprised of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations; FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Diplomatic Security Service; USMS; the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service; the Transportation Security Administration Federal Air Marshals Service; Customs and Border Protection; Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Washington Baltimore HIDTA. Prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The DEA and ATF investigated this case with assistance from USMS, the IRS Criminal Investigation Washington Field Office, Virginia State Police, Alexandria Police Department, Arlington Police Department, Prince George County Police Department, and Prince William County Police Department.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hahn prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:26-cr-19 (Moten) and 1:26-cr-20 (Whitaker).
Two Charged with Narcotics Trafficking at or Near Affordable Housing EstablishmentsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Two local methamphetamine distributors have been charged with trafficking narcotics at or near affordable housing complexes in Portland, Oregon.
William Andrew Fleming-Davis, 39, has been charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and felon in possession of a firearm.
Edward Mortenson, 55, has been charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on April 25, 2026, Portland Police Bureau East Precinct Officers received a tip from a community member that an unknown male was dealing drugs in Southeast Portland near the Lents neighborhood. Officers stopped Fleming-Davis, who matched the description of the drug dealer, and found methamphetamine, almost $600, multiple knives, brass knuckles, a firearm, and drug paraphernalia:
In April 2026, Portland Police officers with the Central Precinct Neighborhood Response Team/Bike Squad received a tip of narcotics trafficking at Musolf Manor, an affordable housing complex. Mortenson was seen on video dropping methamphetamine. On April 29, 2026, officers took Mortenson into custody after he was caught trafficking narcotics and seized six baggies containing methamphetamine and over $300. Officers executed a search warrant on Mortenson’s apartment and seized over 370 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and bulk money from selling narcotics:
Following the arrest of the defendants, officers contacted the FBI to pursue the cases federally.
Mortenson made his first appearance in federal court yesterday before a U.S. magistrate judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
Fleming-Davis is currently being held on prior state charges.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
The FBI and Portland Police Bureau are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Trumbull County Man Sentenced to Prison in Connection with Convenience Store ShootingRead the Press Release
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A 32-year-old Trumbull County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a convenience store shooting in Warren, Ohio. The Aug. 3, 2025, shooting left one person dead.
Jumal Ellis Rowe, of Warren, was sentenced to 92 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; he was previously convicted of trafficking cocaine in 2013 and possession of cocaine in 2020. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment.
On Aug. 3, 2025, the Warren Police Department and the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunshots and of an individual who was shot at a Convenient Food Mart in Warren. According to court documents, investigators determined that around 5 a.m., several individuals were seen loitering and playing a dice game on the walkway just outside the main door. A fight then broke out and escalated into a mass shooting incident in the parking lot involving multiple individuals. One individual was later pronounced dead and another injured as a result.
Two other defendants involved in the incident, Sean King, 37, and Rayjon Ray McElroy, 25, were charged separately. King is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition. McElroy was sentenced to 25 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person.
This investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Youngstown Field Office, the Warren Police Department, and the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin E. Bringman for the Northern District of Ohio.
Treasurer of Labor Union Sentenced for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Leominster man was sentenced on May 1, 2026 in federal court in Worcester for embezzling from a labor union.
Joe Scott, Jr., 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 42 months of probation, with six months of home confinement. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $49,559. In January 2026, Scott pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor union.Scott was the Treasurer of the International Union of Electrical Workers, Communication Workers of America, Local 81154 (“IUE-CWA Local 81154”), a labor union chapter based in Gardner, Mass., that represents union members from various employers in Massachusetts. Scott used his position as Treasurer to embezzle approximately $49,559 from IUE-CWA Local 81154, by making debit card expenditures, withdrawing funds and issuing checks, from union bank accounts, all for Scott’s personal benefit. Scott used the money to pay for, among other things, storage costs, home internet and cell phone services, electrical and gas services, home improvement tools, dumpster rental and personal expense while on vacation.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jonathan Russo, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Three Staten Island Men Plead Guilty for Attempting to Bribe a Juror in a Criminal Trial in the Eastern District of New YorkRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Afrim Kupa pleaded guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo to obstruction of justice for attempting to bribe a juror (Juror-1) to vote not guilty in a criminal trial in the Eastern District of New York. Kupa is the last of three defendants to plead guilty to this crime, following the guilty pleas of Mustafa Fteja and Valmir Krasniqi on February 19, 2026 and March 4, 2026, respectively. In mid-November 2025, the defendants offered to pay a juror serving on the criminal trial of United States v. Goran Gogic (22-CR-493 JMA) up to $100,000 in exchange for the juror’s not guilty vote at the close of trial. When sentenced, Kupa, Krasniqi and Fteja each face up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty pleas.
“Any attempt to interfere with the integrity of our justice system will be met with swift and serious consequences,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “These defendants admitted they obstructed a federal criminal trial in Brooklyn by attempting to bribe a juror, which strikes at the very heart of the rule of law. Our Office is committed to protecting the judicial process and ensuring that those who try to corrupt it are held fully accountable.”
Mr. Nocella extended his appreciation to Homeland Security Investigations, New York, for their work on the Gogic case.
“The defendants’ attempt to influence the outcome of a criminal trial threatened the integrity of our country’s justice system. May today’s plea highlight the FBI’s commitment to holding accountable any individual who tries to interfere with our judicial proceedings,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
The Gogic Trial
As alleged in the indictment and set forth in other court documents, the trial of Goran Gogic was set to commence before the United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack on November 17, 2025.
Gogic is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act and three counts of violating the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act. As alleged, between May 2018 and July 2019, Gogic conspired with others to distribute massive quantities of cocaine via commercial cargo ships. Gogic coordinated with the sources of the cocaine in Colombia, the crewmembers who transported tons of cocaine on commercial cargo ships on the high seas, and the network of port workers who transported and offloaded the cocaine in Europe via the United States. United States law enforcement seized three of these shipments, totaling nearly 20,000 kilograms of cocaine. If convicted, Gogic faces up to life in prison.The Juror Tampering Scheme
On November 3, 2025 and November 5, 2025, a jury was selected in Gogic’s criminal trial. Juror-1 was selected to serve as a juror at trial. Between November 13, 2025 and November 17, 2025, Kupa, Krasniqi, and Fteja attempted to bribe Juror-1 with a cash payment in exchange for Juror-1 agreeing to vote not guilty at Gogic’s trial.
On November 13, 2025, Krasniqi arranged a meeting between Kupa and Fteja in Staten Island, New York. At the meeting, Kupa explained to Fteja that he and other coconspirators wanted Fteja to offer Juror-1 money to vote not guilty at trial. In a meeting on November 15, 2025, Fteja informed Juror-1 that he/she would be paid up to $100,000 to vote not guilty at trial.
On November 16, 2025, Kupa, Krasniqi and Fteja met at Krasniqi’s home in Staten Island. There, the three discussed the plan to pay Juror-1 to vote not guilty at Gogic’s trial. During the meeting, Kupa indicated that Juror-1 would receive $100,000 in cash as payment.
On November 17, 2025, Kupa and Krasniqi were arrested at their homes in Staten Island. At that time, Kupa was in possession of a document containing Juror-1’s name, home address, and place of employment. Krasniqi was in possession of a digital photograph of Juror-1 that he had sent via text message to Fteja in furtherance of the criminal scheme.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily J. Dean, Tanya Hajjar, and Stephen Petraeus are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
VALMIR KRASNIQI
Age: 35
Staten Island, New YorkAFRIM KUPA
Age: 53
Staten Island, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-385 (JMA)
MUSTAFA FTEJA
Age: 54
Staten Island, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-23 (JMA)
Texas man sentenced for trafficking eaglesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Texas man who trafficked bald and golden eagles was sentenced today to five years of probation and restitution in the amount of $77,500.00, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
John Patrick Butler, 71, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of conspiracy, two counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles, and one count of purchasing eagles and eagle parts that had been killed illegally, in violation of the Lacey Act.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement uncovered messages from co-defendant Travis John Branson and others describing the illegal taking of eagles by stating, “[O]ut [here] committing felonies,” and telling buyers he was “on a killing spree” to obtain eagle tail feathers for future sales.
Co-defendant Simon Paul, Branson, and others, hunted and killed eagles on the Flathead Indian Reservation and elsewhere. In total, approximately 3,600 birds were killed, including eagles. They then illegally sold the eagles on the black market for significant sums of cash across the United States and elsewhere.
The killing of eagles is fueled by individuals willing to purchase the eagles on the black market. Butler was one of those purchasers and he requested the killing of specific types of eagles. For example, Butler inquired of Branson, “Did u ever see any crispy ones yet?” Butler would then purchase eagles from co-defendants by transferring money through PayPal and other forms of online payment. In return, the co-defendants sent the eagles, including their parts, through the mail from Montana to Humble, Texas, where Butler resides. Postal records and text messages confirm Butler received the eagles, hawks, and their parts.
From November 2020 until March 2021, Butler purchased eagles shot in Montana and elsewhere, including:
- On December 14, 2020, Butler paid Branson $450 through PayPal for two tail feather sets—a golden eagle tail set and a bald eagle tail set.
- On December 17, 2020, Branson sent a text message to Butler with a photo of a golden eagle tail set. On the same date, Butler paid Branson $300 through a PayPal purchase for the golden eagle tail set.
- On December 28, 2020, Butler sent Branson $750 for the purchase of two golden eagle tails. Branson mailed the package filled with the two golden eagle tails through the United States Postal Service and Butler confirmed he received the package on January 4, 2021.
- On January 7, 2021, Butler purchased two golden eagle tail sets from Branson. On the same date, Butler sent Branson $900.
- On March 1, 2021, Butler purchased two golden eagle sets from Branson after Branson sent pictures of the tail sets to Butler.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the investigation.
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act was enacted in 1940 to protect the bald eagle, recognizing that the bald eagle is not merely a bird of biological interest, but this country’s national symbol, which reflects America’s ideals of freedom. In 1962, Congress extended the Act to also protect golden eagles.
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Tea Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Bags of Fentanyl and Hundreds of Pounds of Methamphetamine in Sioux Falls AreaRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Tea, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on May 4, 2026.
Matthew Shade, 48, was sentenced to 21 years and 6 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Shade was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 10, 2026.
“This was another skillfully managed takedown of a serial drug dealer and his operation by the dedicated officers on the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, with a strong assist from the Criminal Investigations Unit of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “In all likelihood, the fentanyl and methamphetamine seized from this criminal’s operation would have killed some people who are alive right now in Sioux Falls. This investigation, prosecution, and substantial federal prison sentence has given them another chance at life. I will never stop being grateful for that.”
Shade was the local leader of a drug trafficking organization that obtained methamphetamine and fentanyl from Arizona and distributed those drugs throughout South Dakota. The group trafficked the drugs both through the U.S. Mail and via cross-country car trips. Investigators became aware of the group and seized a methamphetamine-laden package that contained over four pounds of methamphetamine in December 2024. Investigators later seized two parcels sent from Sioux Falls to Arizona that contained a combined total of approximately $26,000. Eventually, investigators became aware that Shade’s Arizona-based source of supply was traveling by car to South Dakota and arranged to have the South Dakota Highway Patrol conduct a traffic stop. A trooper thereafter stopped and searched the vehicle, wherein he found approximately 26 pounds of methamphetamine and over 2,000 fentanyl pills. Investigators then discovered that Shade had traveled to Arizona and they thereafter intercepted a package bound for Sioux Falls that was found to contain 144 grams of fentanyl powder. Investigators obtained a warrant for Shade’s residence in Tea and found 80 grams of methamphetamine, 22 fentanyl pills, scales, and various other narcotics.
The investigation ultimately revealed that Shade was responsible for organizing shipments of methamphetamine and cash between Sioux Falls and Arizona. He also had multiple sub-distributors to whom he provided methamphetamine for redistribution. In total, investigators believe that Shade and his group were responsible for trafficking approximately 200 pounds of methamphetamine to the Sioux Falls area from Arizona.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Shade was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Tangipahoa Woman Guilty of Cares Act FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – CHELSEY POWELL (“POWELL”), age 34, of Tangipahoa Parish, LA, pleaded guilty on April 29, 2026 before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk to making false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
According to court records, POWELL made false statements to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining a pandemic-related relief Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funded by the federal government, in the amount of approximately $19,950.00. She also applied for two other PPP loans that were based upon false information. In total, POWELL agreed to repay the SBA $36,123.52 as restitution for the losses to the government.
POWELL is to be sentenced on August 12, 2026. At that time, she faces up to five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for the false statements to the SBA. There is also a $100 mandatory special assessment fee due after conviction.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (a member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee) and the United States Secret Service in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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St. Louis Man Admits Bringing 12-Year-Old from Michigan to St. Louis for SexRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis man on Monday admitted driving a 12-year-old from Michigan to Missouri, where he engaged in illegal sex acts with her.
Harold Paul White, 56, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of interstate travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He admitted meeting the girl on social media and driving to Michigan to pick her up. White engaged in illegal sex acts with the minor at his apartment and recorded those acts with a phone. When the victim realized that she had been reported missing, White bought her a bus ticket home.
White is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31. Both sides have agreed to recommend 15 years in prison.
The FBI and local police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards is prosecuting 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. For more information, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Somerset Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Heroin DistributionRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Somerset man admitted to distributing fentanyl and heroin that led to the death of a victim, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Thomas Kane Miller, 41, of Somerset, New Jersey pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court to a superseding information charging him with three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In October 2022, in Somerset County, Miller distributed a substance containing fentanyl and heroin to a person who died as a result of using the substance. He also distributed fentanyl and heroin in Somerset County and Middlesex County on two other occasions in December 2022 and January 2023.
“Trafficking fentanyl and heroin can have deadly consequences and remains among the most serious crimes we prosecute. This defendant chose to traffic in deadly drugs, and that choice cost a life—today’s guilty plea reflects our commitment to hold accountable those who bring this poison into our communities and to pursue justice for the victims and families left behind.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
Each of the three counts of drug distribution carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. The sentences on each count may run consecutively. Each count also carries a potential fine of $1 million, and the defendant must be sentenced to a term of supervised release after any term of imprisonment imposed. Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the DEA Strike Force, New York Task Force Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts, and members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor John P. McDonald, and members of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine M. Romano, Co-Chief of the General Crimes Unit, and Benjamin Levin, Chief of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Aidan P. O’Connor, Esq.
miller.information.pdfSeven-Time Felon to Federal Prison for Stealing GunsRead the Press Release
A man who stole fifteen firearms from a house in Waterloo was sentenced on May 1, 2026, to eight years in federal prison.
Justin Michael Barnes, age 29, from Rock Island, Illinois, received the prison term after a November 20, 2025, guilty plea to possession of firearms by a felon and possession of stolen firearms.
Information from the plea and sentencing hearings in the case showed that Barnes was previously convicted of six felonies in Iowa state courts, including thefts, forgeries, and a gun offense. In June 2024, Barnes was on parole and there was a warrant for his arrest. That month, he and his then-girlfriend, Jena Wells, stole fifteen firearms from an unoccupied house in Waterloo. Wells acted as a lookout while Barnes stole the guns. They took the stolen guns to Wells’s home. Barnes then tried to sell the guns. During a traffic stop on June 10, 2024, Waterloo police officers located several of the stolen guns in Barnes’s backpack. During a subsequent interview with law enforcement officers, Barnes repeatedly lied about how and where he had acquired the guns.
Barnes was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Barnes was sentenced to 96 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. Wells was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment on March 9, 2026.
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.
Barnes 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 Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-2022.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gabriel Cabrera, 23, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to eight years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on March 28, 2025, during a parole search of Cabrera’s home, agents discovered a firearm and some fentanyl that Cabrera had hidden in another resident’s bedroom. Agents also discovered drug paraphernalia and a drug sales ledger in Cabrera’s room. On Cabrera’s cellphone, officers discovered a video of Cabrera holding the same firearm and many messages between Cabrera and other individuals discussing Cabrera’s fentanyl sales. Cabrera is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions for offenses including sale of a controlled substance, infliction of corporal injury on a spouse, and willfully discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
Cabrera pleaded guilty on Sept. 9, 2025.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Sacramento Couty Sheriff’s Office, the Sacramento Police Department, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Harman 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.
Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Dawaun Shunard Jackson, 40, of Tallahassee, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of penalties for registered sex offenders. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I deeply appreciate the excellent investigative work of our local and federal law enforcement partners to catch this sexual predator before he could victimize and sexually exploit a child. Keeping our kids safe, both online and in our communities, remains a top priority for my office. We will continue to aggressively prosecute the sick individuals who seek to prey upon innocent children to ensure they remain locked away in prison where they belong.”
Court documents reflect that between November 20-22, 2025, the Tallahassee Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other state and federal law enforcement agencies, conducted an undercover operation focused on identifying individuals using the internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, an undercover officer posed as a 15-year-old girl and posted an ad on a website known for the solicitation of escorts. Court records show that the defendant responded to the ad and believed that he was communicating with a minor. Court records also show that the defendant offered the girl money in exchange for sex and arranged to meet her in Tallahassee. An investigation revealed that the defendant was a registered sex offender. After the defendant was arrested, his cell phone was seized as evidence, and a subsequent search of the device confirmed that he communicated with the undercover officer who posed as a 15-year-old girl.
Jackson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment, followed by up to a lifetime of supervision upon release, for the attempted enticement of a minor count. For the penalties for sex offenders count, Jackson also faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence imposed.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 13, 2026, at 11:00 am, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tallahassee Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting 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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pryor Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Jason Sanders, age 45, of Pryor, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
On September 30, 2025, Sanders pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on May 5, 2025, Sanders knowingly possessed two semi-automatic pistols and 96 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Sanders will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Portsmouth man sentenced to over three years in prison for straw-purchasing firearmsRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced yesterday to three years and five months in prison for making false statements during the purchase of firearms.
According to court documents, between June 8, 2023, and Feb. 26, 2025, Isaiah Sincere Wilson, 24, straw-purchased several firearms for, among others, his drug dealer. Three of the firearms were used in acts of violence that spanned multiple states. Several of the firearms remain unaccounted for. Wilson made these purchases from licensed dealers while knowingly making false statements to conceal that the firearms would be purchased for another person.
Wilson and his drug dealer discussed Wilson signing up for a course to obtain a concealed-handgun permit, which would allow Wilson to carry a concealed firearm and purchase more than one handgun per month. They also discussed reducing the price of Wilson's marijuana purchases in exchange for straw-purchasing a firearm.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton D. LaForge, former Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Marek, and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc W. West 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.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-87.
Pensacola Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to New Federal Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Donnschee Ricky Montrell Foster, 34, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of committing a felony involving minors while being required to register as a sex offender. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the determined investigative work of the FDLE and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, this child sexual predator now faces decades in federal prison for his continued commission of sex offenses involving child sexual abuse material. Keeping our kids safe online and in our communities is of paramount importance, and my office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting sexual predators like this defendant to keep them out of our communities and locked away in prison where they belong.”
Court documents reveal that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducted routine checks on Foster as a registered sex offender in late-2025. Foster has a prior state conviction for possession of child sexual abuse material. When the Florida Department of Law Enforcement determined that Foster was not residing at the location where his sex offender registration required, law enforcement conducted follow up investigation in an attempt to locate him and obtained an arrest warrant for sex offender registration violations. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, along with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, located Foster working on Pensacola Beach in November 2025. Foster was taken into custody, and a search warrant was obtained for his cellular telephone. Located within his phone were images of real child pornography as well as computer generated child sexual abuse material. Foster remains detained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Foster faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and up to 30 years’ imprisonment.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2026, at 1:00 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Onondaga County Man Charged with Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Alden Fuller, age 50, of Syracuse, New York, appeared in federal court on April 24, 2026, on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography. On April 27, 2026, Fuller was ordered detained pending trial. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
According to the criminal complaint, on April 23, 2026, Fuller, who is a previously convicted sex offender, was found in possession of a cellular telephone with a large volume of child pornography. Fuller had purchased the child pornography from another user of an online social media messaging application. The material Fuller purchased included videos of children as young as six years old being sexually abused.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “As alleged, this defendant was so eager to obtain videos of children being sexually abused that he was willing to pay for it. This is not only reprehensible, but it also helped fuel the online market for material depicting the sexual abuse of children. This is all despite a prior conviction and 6-year state prison sentence. Now, this defendant faces decades in federal prison if convicted, which is exactly where every brazen repeat sexual offender belongs.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Keegan stated: “As a previously convicted sex offender, Alden Fuller’s alleged crimes highlight the ongoing threat posed by individuals who prey on children. This arrest underscores the critical importance of HSI’s partnerships with federal, state, and local counterparts to safeguard neighborhoods and hold criminals accountable. HSI Syracuse, together with the law enforcement community, will never stop fighting for children and other at-risk victims, and will relentlessly pursue anyone who seeks to exploit them.”
The charge of receiving child pornography filed against Fuller carries a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 40 years. The charge of possessing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years. Both charges carry a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release between five years and life. Fuller will also be required to continue registering as a sex offender upon his release from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
HSI is investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle is prosecuting the case as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
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.
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Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Federal Prison After Firearm Incidents, Including a Shooting and StandoffRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – KENYETTA ROMELL BAUCOM, 45, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 166 months in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, between December 2024 and January 2025, Baucom had two interactions with the Oklahoma City Police Department. On December 21, 2024, OCPD officers responded to a two-vehicle accident. Officers found Baucom still inside his vehicle and determined he had rear-ended the vehicle in front of him and needed further medical evaluation. As Baucom was removed from the vehicle for treatment, a handgun fell from his pocket.
Less than one month later, on January 13, 2025, officers responded to a reported shooting. The victim told police that Baucom had shot at them during a disagreement over an offer to buy a car. Officers attempted to execute a search warrant at Baucom’s home, but Baucom barricaded the door. After a standoff, Baucom was eventually arrested. Inside the house, officers recovered two more firearms.
At a sentencing hearing on May 4, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Baucom to serve 166 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Palk noted the need to promote respect for the law and to protect the public from further crimes by this defendant.
Public records reflect that Baucom has previous felony convictions including two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm while on probation, attempting to elude while endangering others, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in Cleveland County District Court case number CF-2007-1539.
This case is the result of an investigation by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters prosecuted the case.
This case is part of “Shots Fired,” part of the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation 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. “Shots Fired” targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison after Using Stolen Identity to Fraudulently Obtain VehicleRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – BRANDON LEE RICHARDS, 36, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 60 months in federal prison for making a false statement to a bank and falsely representing a Social Security number, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on September 19, 2024, Richards purchased a vehicle from an Oklahoma City dealership. To complete the purchase, Richards—who had a history of financial fraud convictions—claimed to be another person on a credit application and used the victim’s Social Security number. On March 4, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Richards with making a false statement to a bank and falsely representing a Social Security number. Richards pleaded guilty on October 30, 2025, admitting he claimed to be another person when purchasing the vehicle and used that person’s Social Security number on a credit application.
At a sentencing hearing on April 28, 2026, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin sentenced Richards to serve 60 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Goodwin noted Richards’ previous financial fraud convictions and the seriousness of the offense.
Public records further reflect that Richards has a previous felony conviction in the Western District of Oklahoma for uttering and possessing counterfeited securities in case number CF-16-188, uttering forged instruments in Cleveland County District Court case number CF-2008-1278, attempting to obtain property under false pretenses in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2010-6286, and second-degree forgery in Oklahoma County District Court case numbers CF-2013-2233 and CF-2013-2122.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Krista Hodges-Eckhoff prosecuted the case.
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.
Oakland Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Stolen FirearmsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Oakland man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to possessing stolen firearms.
According to court records, during the early morning hours of August 10, 2025, Cody Smith, 24, broke into a pawn shop in Waterville and stole 23 handguns. The break-in was captured on a video surveillance system inside the building, as well as exterior surveillance cameras at other businesses in the area. Within hours of the burglary, Smith was posting videos of himself on social media displaying some of the stolen firearms and admitting to the break-in.
Smith faces up to 10 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Waterville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Norwich Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAMEL PIRES, 28, of Norwich, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for unlawfully possessing a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 26, 2024, a Groton City Police officer attempted to stop Pires who was driving his vehicle erratically. Pires increased his speed before turning into the driveway of a residence. The officer approached Pires and determined he was intoxicated. A search of Pires revealed that he possessed marijuana packaged for distribution, and a search of his vehicle revealed a loaded 9mm Canik TP9 Elite SC handgun. Pires was arrested on state charges at that time.
Pires’ criminal history includes a conviction for a firearm possession offense stemming from an incident in 2020 when he shot at an individual during a fight, and a conviction for assaulting a police officer. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
On January 12, 2026, Pires pleaded guilty in federal court to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He has been detained since his state arrest.
This matter was investigated by the Groton City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Nashua Man Charged with Threatening the PresidentRead the Press Release
Nashua Man Charged With Threatening the President
CONCORD – A Nashua resident and federal employee was charged by criminal complaint in federal court on Friday, May 1, 2026, for interstate communication of a threat against the President, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. He was arrested yesterday and appears before the court today.
Dean DelleChiaie, age 35, an employee of the Federal Aviation Administration, allegedly conducted various internet searches on his government work computer in late January, like how to get a gun into a federal facility, previous assassination attempts against the President, the percentage of the population that wants the President dead, and the phrase “I am going to kill Donald John Trump.” According to the complaint, the United States Secret Service interviewed DelleChiaie in early February where he admitted to conducting those searches on his work computer and to owning three firearms, including a handgun he kept inside a safe at his home.
On April 21, 2026, DelleChiaie allegedly used his personal email to transmit a threat across state lines to the White House’s public facing email address. In the email, which had as the subject “Contact the President,” DelleChiaie stated, “I, Dean DelleChiaie, am going neutralize/kill you - Donald John Trump - because you decided to kill kids - and say that it was War - when in reality - it is terrorism. God knows your actions and where you belong.”
If convicted, DelleChiaie faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The details contained in charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The United States Secret Service is leading the investigation. The Nashua Police Department has provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon is prosecuting the case.
Miami Beach Man Charged with Making Online Death Threats Against President Trump and Senior US OfficialsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Miami Beach man appeared in federal court Monday after allegedly posting repeated threats on social media to assassinate the President of the United States and other officials.
According to court records, from at least January through April 2026, Nathaniel Sanders II, 32, of Miami Beach, used X and Instagram to make numerous posts threatening the lives of President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State and Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, and former Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
“Threats against public officials are not political speech,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “They are serious federal crimes that endanger public safety and the rule of law. The complaint alleges that this defendant repeatedly threatened to assassinate the President of the United States and other senior officials. Those allegations will now be tested in court. Our Office will continue working with the U.S. Secret Service and our law enforcement partners to investigate threats, protect public officials, and ensure that those who violate federal law are held accountable. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
“Making threats against the President of the United States is a federal crime, and we treat it with the seriousness it deserves every time,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Townsend of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office. “It does not matter where the threat is made or what platform is used, our agents will identify you, investigate you, and work alongside our federal and local partners to bring charges when appropriate. We remain relentless in our mission to protect the President and to act swiftly against anyone who puts others at risk.”
Sanders is charged with threatening the President of the United States and transmitting threats in interstate commerce. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Townsend made the announcement.
The USSS Miami Field Office is investigating the case with valuable assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, and Miami Beach Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Meckler Silverberg is prosecuting the case.
A complaint 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-mj-02772.
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Mexican National Sentenced to 10 years for Drug-TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican National was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy.
Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 10 years in prison without parole for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, in 2019 law enforcement began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of a co-defendant. The investigation identified the co-defendant as a primary organizer of a drug trafficking organization responsible for methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine distribution. Members of the organization included Lopez-Sanchez, and several others.
On April 16, 2021, surveillance observed Lopez-Sanchez arriving at a residence in Belton, Mo., in a black 2015 GMC Yukon with Texas license plates. Lopez-Sanchez had arrived prior to an arranged controlled drug purchase by a confidential human source. Lopez-Sanchez was observed carrying a blue bag into the residence. Later that day, the Missouri State Highway Patrol stopped the black Yukon as it was travelling westbound on Interstate 44 near the Oklahoma state line. Inside the Yukon, law enforcement recovered 995 grams of cocaine and $58,601.00.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, the Jackson County Drug Task Force and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Homeland Security Task Force
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
Man Sentenced to 37.5 Years in Prison for Shooting and Killing an Innocent Bystander – A 69-Year-Old Woman – On A Street in East HarlemRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that FAISIL McCANTS was sentenced today to 37.5 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff for possessing a machine gun in connection with an August 27, 2025, midday armed robbery and shooting in which McCANTS fired 15 rounds on a public street in East Harlem, striking and killing a 69-year-old bystander who was resting on her walker on the sidewalk.
“Faisil McCants, a repeat violent offender, unloaded 15 bullets in a matter of seconds in the middle of the day on the street in East Harlem, killing Robin Wright, a 69-year-old, wholly innocent woman and forever destroying a family,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “It is an unspeakable tragedy, born of wanton violence that outrages all New Yorkers and all Americans. New York City families expect and deserve to be free from purveyors of violence. To deliver for the good people of New York, we must get gun-toting criminals off our streets. New Yorkers have been clear: if someone commits a federal gun crime on our streets, New Yorkers want them prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. McCants is now where he should be, serving a 37.5-year prison sentence.”
As alleged in public court filings, statements in public court proceedings, and the charging documents in the case:
On August 27, 2025, shortly before 12:30 p.m., McCANTS and two co-conspirators (“CC-1” and “CC-2”) robbed a drug dealer (“Individual-1”) near East 109th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan. During the robbery, McCANTS and his co-conspirators got into a physical altercation with Individual-1 before both McCANTS and CC-1 grabbed backpacks from Individual-1—which contained marijuana—and then fled north on Madison Avenue, turning onto East 110th Street.
McCANTS pulled a black firearm—equipped with a machine-gun conversion device—out of his right sweatshirt pocket and discharged 15 shots in quick succession in the general direction of Individual-1. A photograph of McCants firing the machine gun is below:
A 69-year-old woman, Robin Wright, was standing with a walker on the northwest corner of East 110th Street and Madison Avenue—in the direction that McCANTS shot the firearm—when she was struck by gunfire. The Victim was transported to the hospital, where she died.
Multiple members of the Victim’s family submitted letters to the Court describing the Victim as a loving parent and grandmother who was simply enjoying her afternoon when she fell victim to McCants’ crime.
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In addition to the prison term, McCANTS, 19, of New York, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department. He also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and the New York State Board of Parole.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra S. Messiter, Kathryn Wheelock, and Brandon D. Harper are in charge of the prosecution.
Man Charged with Orchestrating $450 Million Stock Loan SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging VLADIMIR SKLAROV, a/k/a “Val Sklarov,” a/k/a “Gregory Mitchell,” a/k/a “Mark Simon Bentley,” with charges relating to his orchestration of an elaborate stock-backed lending scheme that defrauded a victim of at least approximately $450 million in valuable company shares. SKLAROV was arrested in Chicago and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman in the Northern District of Illinois on Monday, May 4, 2026. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in the Southern District of New York.
“As alleged, Vladimir Sklarov represented his company to be affiliated with, and have the financial backing of the famed New York Astor family in order to burnish his brand,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “That was a complete lie. Sklarov used false prestige to gain control of hundreds of millions of dollars in stock and then liquidated those shares for his own benefit. We urge investors in all sectors of the market to beware of fast talkers and smooth talkers who hide behind prestigious labels and cosmetic signs of wealth and access. And refer fraudsters, pretenders, and cheats to the SEC, FINRA, the FBI, and the DOJ. Our Office will continue to protect the integrity of the markets by pursuing bad actors who abuse trust and exploit others.”
“Vladimir Sklarov allegedly betrayed a trusting victim to steal more than $450 million in company shares,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI is committed to investigating fraudsters looking to selfishly profit.”
As alleged in the Indictment:[1]
From at least in or about 2021, up to and including at least in or about 2024, SKLAROV operated an entity called Astor Asset Group (“Astor”) that held itself out as a legitimate and experienced provider of stock-backed loans affiliated with the prominent Astor family. In reality, SKLAROV had no such affiliation, and instead ran a sham company designed to steal valuable stock through lies and misleading representations.
SKLAROV used Astor to defraud a victim (“Victim-1”) of at least approximately $450 million through the operation of a purported stock-backed lending agreement (“SLA”). SKLAROV told several lies in order to induce Victim-1 to transfer valuable shares in a company owned by Victim-1 (the “Company Shares”) as collateral for the loan, including that the loan would be funded with capital from the Astor family. Victim-1 received no such loan. Instead, soon after Victim-1 transferred the Company Shares, SKLAROV sold them; used some of the proceeds from the sale of Victim-1’s own property to fund the purported loan; and kept the hundreds of millions of dollars in remaining proceeds for himself and other members of the conspiracy.
At all times during the scheme, SKLAROV hid and lied about his true identity and instead claimed to be “Gregory Mitchell,” the “Managing Director” of Astor. Another individual acting at SKLAROV’s direction (“CC-1”) also used an alias and falsely claimed to be “Thomas Mellon,” the “CEO” of Astor. SKLAROV and his co-conspirators falsely claimed that their sham company was “[o]riginally set up on the foundations of the wealth of John Jacob Astor” and that they had various high-profile clients, including prestigious universities and investment funds. In addition to lying about his own identity and the identity, history, and intentions of Astor, SKLAROV and other members of the scheme falsely represented that Victim-1’s Company Shares would not be sold unless Victim-1 defaulted on the loan. Instead, shortly after liquidating Victim-1’s Shares, SKLAROV directed the proceeds through a complex web of domestic and international accounts associated with him, his co-conspirators, and his family members.
* * *
SKLAROV, 63, of Athens, Greece, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, all of which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackie Delligatti and Shaun Werbelow are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Madison, South Dakota, Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Madison, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on May 4, 2026.
Chase May, 35, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
May was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in October 2024. He pleaded guilty on February 11, 2026.
May was the target of an investigation into cocaine sales in Madison, South Dakota. Utilizing a confidential informant, investigators conducted two controlled purchases of cocaine from May during the Summer of 2024. When investigators learned that May had traveled to Omaha, which they believed was for the purpose of obtaining more narcotics, they arranged for the South Dakota Highway Patrol to conduct a traffic stop of May. After stopping May, troopers searched his vehicle and found 18 ounces of cocaine, seven pounds of marijuana, a pistol, and cash. Investigators then obtained a search warrant for May’s home and found an additional three ounces of cocaine and additional firearms. Throughout his involvement in the conspiracy, investigators believe May was responsible for trafficking approximately one kilogram of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
May was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Madison County Man Sentenced for Possessing Gun as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Madison County man has been sentenced for illegal possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
U.S. District Court Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Jack Deonte Chapman, 30, of Huntsville, to 46 months in prison. In November 2025, Chapman pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, on October 11, 2023, officers with the Huntsville Police Department were working on a Huntsville Housing Authority detail at Butler Terrace. Officers observed Chapman sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked in the alley behind a residence on Seminole Drive. Officers ran the tag on the vehicle and discovered that Chapman had been issued a citation for a suspended driver’s license and had six active warrants for his arrest. A short time later, officers conducted a traffic stop on Chapman. Officers approached the vehicle and could smell the odor of marijuana. Chapman was asked to exit the vehicle and was arrested. Officers searched the vehicle and found a Taurus G2C PT-111 9mm pistol under the pad of a child’s car seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
Chapman is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions in the Circuit Court of Madison County for receiving stolen property and robbery.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Huntsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis A. Barlow prosecuted the case.
Local banker indicted for bank fraud conspiracy involving millionsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Houston area man has been taken into custody for allegedly acting as a loan officer on millions of dollars in fraudulent loans as part of a large-scale bank fraud scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Siupo Ernest Mo has now made his initial appearance in Houston federal court.
According to the indictment returned April 29, from at least 2018 through 2022, Mo conspired with others in a scheme to obtain money from federally insured financial institutions through fraudulent loan applications.
The charges allege he worked as a loan officer and assisted in preparing and submitting loan applications containing false and fraudulent information.
The scheme allegedly included fake equipment invoices, fraudulent income tax returns and falsified financial and bank statements.
Mo recruited others to prepare false tax returns and used those documents to support loan applications, according to the allegations.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, FBI and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - OIG conducted the investigation along with valuable assistance from the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.
The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Justice Department Sues the City of Denver for Unconstitutional Weapons BansRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department filed suit against the City of Denver, Colorado alleging that the City unconstitutionally bans certain constitutionally protected semi-automatic rifles. These laws unconstitutionally infringe on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms in common use for lawful purposes.
As the complaint explains, the City enforces an ordinance that makes it a crime to possess so-called “assault weapons.” But that the City’s ban includes AR-15-style rifles, which are the most popular rifles in America. Law-abiding Americans own tens of millions of rifles like those banned by the City.
“The Constitution is not a suggestion and the Second Amendment is not a second-class right,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Denver's ban on commonly owned semi-automatic rifles directly violates the right to bear arms. This Department of Justice will vigorously defend the liberties of law-abiding citizens nationwide.”
“I have directed the Civil Rights Division, through our new Second Amendment Section, to defend law-abiding Americans from restrictions such as those we are challenging in these cases,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Law-abiding Americans, regardless of what city or state they reside in, should not have to live under threat of criminal sanction just for exercising their Second Amendment right to possess arms which are owned by tens of millions of their fellow citizens.”
In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court, in its landmark decision District of Columbia v. Heller, held that the Second Amendment protects the right of law-abiding citizens to possess weapons that are in common use for lawful purposes.
The Civil Rights Division’s Second Amendment Section enforces the Second Amendment. If you believe your right to keep and bear arms is being infringed, please submit a complaint through justice.gov/crt/second-amendment-section.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Iron Pursuit in One Month, over 200 Child Victims Identified and More than 350 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in Nationwide CrackdownRead the Press Release
DETROIT — The Department of Justice today announced the results of Operation Iron Pursuit, a one-month, nationwide enforcement effort to find child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators. More than 200 child victims were located and over 350 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. All 56 FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys' offices around the country participated in the coordinated takedown effort. Eight individuals were arrested in the Eastern District of Michigan.
The operation commenced April 1 and ended April 30. The Administration for Children and Families recognizes April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.”
“Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Last year we joined our partners delivering a record year, identifying and rescuing over 6,300 missing children, and today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work — with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested. Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: you will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice.”
“Creeps work in the shadows to hurt our children. But we work harder with our partners to find those creeps, bring them to light, and prosecute them. We do it to protect American children,” said United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
“Our participation in Operation Iron Pursuit is another example of the work we do every day in Michigan to protect children and hold predators accountable,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “I am grateful for the dedicated efforts of our FBI Bay City, Flint, and Grand Rapids Resident Agencies, alongside the FBI Detroit Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force, whose work continues to safeguard our communities and protect children from those who seek to harm them.”
Victims recovered include a 10-year-old from Utah who was flown from Cuba to home and the child’s biological mother. The child was supposed to be on a camping trip with a transgender parent, partner, and another child. The group instead flew from Canada to Mexico and then to Cuba; concerns existed that the 10-year-old child was taken to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery. FBI Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted with the recovery of the children, providing crisis support and stabilization.
Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, abuse, kidnapping, and possessing, distributing, or receiving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Some of the alleged offenders include:
• A Columbus, Ohio, man who pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated obscene material of adults and children and to cyberstalking exes;
• A District of Columbia man charged with producing child pornography;
• A New York man charged with sexually exploiting a child; and
• A Pennsylvania man and former felon charged with sexually exploiting a child and illegally possessing a gun.
• A Michigan man was indicted on charges of transporting a minor for criminal sexual activity and coercion and enticement
This effort follows three other successful operations last year. Operation Relentless Justice, concluded in December 2025, resulted in the rescue of 205 children and arrests of 293 offenders. Operation Enduring Justice, concluded in August 2025, resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. And Operation Restore Justice, concluded in May 2025, resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders.
The FBI’s VSD assisted victims during Operation Iron Pursuit and provided services such as forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.
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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Iron PursuitRead the Press Release
In One Month, Over 200 Child Victims Identified and More than 350 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in Nationwide Crackdown
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice today announced the results of Operation Iron Pursuit, a one-month, nationwide enforcement effort to find child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators. More than 200 child victims were located and over 350 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. All 56 FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys' offices around the country participated in the coordinated takedown effort.
The operation commenced April 1 and ended April 30. The Administration for Children and Families recognizes April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.”
“Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Last year we joined our partners delivering a record year, identifying and rescuing over 6,300 missing children, and today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work — with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested. Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: you will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice.”
Victims recovered include a 10-year-old from Utah who was flown from Cuba to home and the child’s biological mother. The child was supposed to be on a camping trip with a transgender parent, partner, and another child. The group instead flew from Canada to Mexico and then to Cuba; concerns existed that the 10-year-old child was taken to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery. FBI Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted with the recovery of the children, providing crisis support and stabilization.
Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, abuse, kidnapping, and possessing, distributing, or receiving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Some of the alleged offenders include:
- A Columbus, Ohio, man who pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated obscene material of adults and children and to cyberstalking exes;
- A District of Columbia man charged with producing child pornography;
- A New York man charged with sexually exploiting a child; and
- A Pennsylvania man and former felon charged with sexually exploiting a child and illegally possessing a gun.
This effort follows three other successful operations last year. Operation Relentless Justice, concluded in December 2025, resulted in the rescue of 205 children and arrests of 293 offenders. Operation Enduring Justice, concluded in August 2025, resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. And Operation Restore Justice, concluded in May 2025, resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders.
The FBI’s VSD assisted victims during Operation Iron Pursuit and provided services such as forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.
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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Iron PursuitRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced the results of Operation Iron Pursuit, a one-month, nationwide enforcement effort to find child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators. More than 200 child victims were located and over 350 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. All 56 FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys' offices around the country participated in the coordinated takedown effort.
The operation commenced April 1 and ended April 30. The Administration for Children and Families recognizes April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.”
“Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Last year we joined our partners delivering a record year, identifying and rescuing over 6,300 missing children, and today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work — with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested. Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: you will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice.”
Victims recovered include a 10-year-old from Utah who was flown from Cuba to home and the child’s biological mother. The child was supposed to be on a camping trip with a transgender parent, partner, and another child. The group instead flew from Canada to Mexico and then to Cuba; concerns existed that the 10-year-old child was taken to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery. FBI Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted with the recovery of the children, providing crisis support and stabilization.
Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, abuse, kidnapping, and possessing, distributing, or receiving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Some of the alleged offenders include:
- A Columbus, Ohio, man who pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated obscene material of adults and children and to cyberstalking exes;
- A District of Columbia man charged with producing child pornography;
- A New York man charged with sexually exploiting a child; and
- A Pennsylvania man and former felon charged with sexually exploiting a child and illegally possessing a gun.
This effort follows three other successful operations last year. Operation Relentless Justice, concluded in December 2025, resulted in the rescue of 205 children and arrests of 293 offenders. Operation Enduring Justice, concluded in August 2025, resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. And Operation Restore Justice, concluded in May 2025, resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders.
The FBI’s VSD assisted victims during Operation Iron Pursuit and provided services such as forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.
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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Iron PursuitRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice announced today the results of Operation Iron Pursuit, a one-month, nationwide enforcement effort to find child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators. More than 200 child victims were located and over 350 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. All 56 FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys' offices around the country participated in the coordinated takedown effort.
The operation commenced April 1 and ended April 30. The Administration for Children and Families recognizes April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.“This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.”
“Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Last year we joined our partners delivering a record year, identifying and rescuing over 6,300 missing children, and today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work — with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested. Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: you will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice.”
“Working closely with our partners at the FBI, our office has brought charges against four South Dakota individuals in connection with this nationwide operation,” said United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota Ron Parsons. “We have no higher priority than keeping your children safe.”
"The FBI is committed to protecting children in South Dakota and across the country," said FBI Minneapolis Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. "The arrests made during Operation Iron Pursuit are a significant step in bringing justice to child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. With our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office, we've taken some of the most dangerous child predators off the streets of our communities. They now face justice in Federal court. We continue to work each and every day to protect the innocent and support child victims through their healing process."
Victims recovered include a 10-year-old from Utah who was flown from Cuba to home and the child’s biological mother. The child was supposed to be on a camping trip with a transgender parent, partner, and another child. The group instead flew from Canada to Mexico and then to Cuba; concerns existed that the 10-year-old child was taken to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery. FBI Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted with the recovery of the children, providing crisis support and stabilization.
Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, abuse, kidnapping, and possessing, distributing, or receiving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Some of the alleged offenders include:
- A Columbus, Ohio, man who pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated obscene material of adults and children and to cyberstalking exes;
- A District of Columbia man charged with producing child pornography;
- A New York man charged with sexually exploiting a child; and
- A Pennsylvania man and former felon charged with sexually exploiting a child and illegally possessing a gun.
This effort follows three other successful operations last year. Operation Relentless Justice, concluded in December 2025, resulted in the rescue of 205 children and arrests of 293 offenders. Operation Enduring Justice, concluded in August 2025, resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. And Operation Restore Justice, concluded in May 2025, resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders.
The FBI’s VSD assisted victims during Operation Iron Pursuit and provided services such as forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.
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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Iron PursuitRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Department of Justice today announced the results of Operation Iron Pursuit, a one-month, nationwide enforcement effort to find child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators. More than 200 child victims were located and over 350 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. All 56 FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys' offices around the country participated in the coordinated takedown effort.
The operation commenced April 1 and ended April 30. The Administration for Children and Families recognizes April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.”
“Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Last year we joined our partners delivering a record year, identifying and rescuing over 6,300 missing children, and today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work — with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested. Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: you will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice.”
“There is no greater priority in the District of Utah than protecting and pursuing justice for our children,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “As with this administration, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue vigorously to combat crimes against children and hold offenders accountable.”
“Every child matters and deserves the opportunity to grow up free from harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI and our partners will continue working tirelessly to stop those who prey on our most vulnerable and hold them accountable.”
Victims recovered include a 10-year-old from Utah who was flown from Cuba to home and the child’s biological mother. The child was supposed to be on a camping trip with a transgender parent, partner, and another child. The group instead flew from Canada to Mexico and then to Cuba; concerns existed that the 10-year-old child was taken to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery. FBI Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted with the recovery of the children, providing crisis support and stabilization.
Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, abuse, kidnapping, and possessing, distributing, or receiving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Some of the alleged offenders include:
- A Columbus, Ohio, man who pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated obscene material of adults and children and to cyberstalking exes;
- A District of Columbia man charged with producing child pornography;
- A New York man charged with sexually exploiting a child; and
- A Pennsylvania man and former felon charged with sexually exploiting a child and illegally possessing a gun.
This effort follows three other successful operations last year. Operation Relentless Justice, concluded in December 2025, resulted in the rescue of 205 children and arrests of 293 offenders. Operation Enduring Justice, concluded in August 2025, resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. And Operation Restore Justice, concluded in May 2025, resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders.
The FBI’s VSD assisted victims during Operation Iron Pursuit and provided services such as forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.
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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Iron PursuitRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Attorney General for the United States, Todd Blanche, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Kash Patel, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the results of Operation Iron Pursuit, a one-month, nationwide enforcement effort to find child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators. More than 200 child victims were located and over 350 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. All 56 FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country participated in the coordinated takedown effort.
The operation commenced April 1 and ended April 30. The Administration for Children and Families recognizes April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“Every New Yorker wants, and every American wants, those who sexually exploit children and traffic in child pornography to be brought to justice and to be removed from our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The Department of Justice is committed to that mission, and under the leadership of Acting Attorney General Blanche we are delivering with a coordinated, all-hands-on-deck effort to identify, charge, and convict sexual predators. The unified message we’re sending is clear: if you think you can get away with targeting children—you’re wrong.”
“This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.”
“Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Last year we joined our partners delivering a record year, identifying and rescuing over 6,300 missing children, and today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work—with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested. Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: you will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice.”
“Removing dangerous child sex predators from our streets—such as the arrest of a Rockland County man for his alleged sexual exploitation of a minor—protects some of our most innocent and vulnerable members of society,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “We will never take our foot off the gas in the crimes against children fight. May today’s announcement emphasize FBI New York’s commitment to holding accountable those who commit this horrific abuse.”
Victims recovered include a 10-year-old from Utah who was flown from Cuba to home and the child’s biological mother. The child was supposed to be on a camping trip with a transgender parent, partner, and another child. The group instead flew from Canada to Mexico and then to Cuba; concerns existed that the 10-year-old child was taken to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery. FBI Victim Services Division (“VSD”) assisted with the recovery of the children, providing crisis support and stabilization.
Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, abuse, kidnapping, and possessing, distributing, or receiving child sexual abuse materials. Some of the alleged offenders include:
- A Columbus, Ohio, man who pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated obscene material of adults and children and to cyberstalking exes;
- A District of Columbia man charged with producing child pornography;
- A New York man charged with sexually exploiting a child; and
- A Pennsylvania man and former felon charged with sexually exploiting a child and illegally possessing a gun.
This effort follows three other successful operations last year. Operation Relentless Justice, concluded in December 2025, resulted in the rescue of 205 children and arrests of 293 offenders. Operation Enduring Justice, concluded in August 2025, resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. And Operation Restore Justice, concluded in May 2025, resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders.
The FBI’s VSD assisted victims during Operation Iron Pursuit and provided services such as forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.
The Department of Justice partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Jury Finds Oklahoma City Man Guilty of Lying on Firearm Purchase Form and Possessing Gun while Under IndictmentRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal jury has convicted KEVIN KEES, 25, of Oklahoma City, of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and illegally receiving a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On April 21, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a second superseding indictment charging Kees with the offenses listed above. On April 29, 2026, a federal jury found Kees guilty on both counts.
Evidence presented at trial showed that, on September 20, 2025, Kees attempted to purchase a handgun from a federal firearms licensee in Oklahoma City. As part of the transaction, Kees was required to complete a background check form, on which he falsely claimed he was not under indictment in Oklahoma County. Public records reflect that, at the time, Kees was in fact under indictment for possession of contraband by an inmate in case number CF-2024-3647. Just weeks later, on October 11, 2025, Kees was found in possession of a firearm he had received while under indictment in the same case.
At sentencing, Kees faces up to 180 months in federal prison and fines of up to $500,000.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Laney Ellis and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Drew E. Davis and Mary E. Walters are prosecuting the case. SAUSA Ellis is an attorney with the City of Oklahoma City whose position is funded by a federal Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) grant awarded to the City of Oklahoma City to enhance efforts to address and reduce violent crime. PSN is a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Jury Finds Maryland Man Guilty of Murder After a Bar FightRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Robert Lowe, 42, of Montgomery Village, MD, was found guilty by a Superior Court jury today for the April 2024 murder of 43-year-old Kenneth Goins at a D.C. bar in Northwest, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Lowe was found guilty on one count each of second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm (prior felony conviction). According to the expected sentencing guidelines range, Lowe faces a potential maximum sentence of 33 years in prison for these crimes. Sentencing is scheduled for July 17, 2026, before the Honorable Todd Edelman.
According to the government’s evidence presented at trial, at approximately 1:10 a.m. on April 27, 2024, Lowe and the victim were inside of Desperados Burger and Bar, located at 1342 U Street, NW. The defendant went to the bar. Once there, he came up behind Mr. Goins and struck him in the head with a bottle. The two began to fight. In the ensuing fight, Mr. Goins started to get the best of the defendant and the defendant shot the victim multiple times, striking him once in the abdomen. The defendant then fled the bar, got on his motorcycle, and drove away. Members of MPD’s Third District were in the area and heard the gunshots. Body camera footage shows a person getting onto a motorcycle in the alley and a person in front of the bar pointing towards the man on the motorcycle yelling “hey, him.” The motorcycles took off and officers followed in their cruisers but lost them during pursuit. Officers attempted to render aid to the victim until EMS arrived on scene. Unfortunately, Mr. Goins died from his injuries.
Lowe was arrested on May 22, 2024, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Dinan and Tamara Rubb.
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Judge Sentences Methamphetamine Distributors to Decades in PrisonRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three men have been sentenced to a combined 48 years in federal prison for trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Patrick Stickley, 38, of Falling Waters, West Virginia, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison. Charles Lawrence Stevens, 33, of Winchester, Virginia, was sentenced to 106 months in prison. Both men were involved in a drug trafficking operation selling methamphetamine. Stickley had several others accepting mailed packages of drugs on his behalf for Stickley to then sell in Berkeley County. Stevens was the intended recipient of a package containing nearly two pounds of methamphetamine. The package was intercepted by the U.S. Postal Service and the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force. A search warrant was executed at Stickley’s residence and officers seized 10 pounds of marijuana and 15 firearms.
Gerard Joseph Fitch, III, 36, of Augusta, West Virginia, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for the distribution of more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. Fitch sold 27 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Hampshire County. He has a history of drug trafficking.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the United States.
Investigative agencies include the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; HSI Cherry Hill/Joint Camden Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Indictment Charges Cole Tomas Allen with Attempt to Assassinate the President and Assault on a Federal Officer with a Deadly WeaponRead the Press Release
cole_allen_indictment_signed.pdfWASHINGTON - A four-count Indictment was issued in U.S. District Court today charging Cole Tomas Allen, 31, with Attempt to Assassinate the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, in connection with the April 25 shooting during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The Indictment returned by the federal grand jury also charges Allen, of Torrance, California, with Assaulting an Officer or Employee of the United States with a Deadly Weapon, with Transportation of a Firearm and Ammunition in Interstate Commerce with the Intent to Commit a Felony, and with Discharging a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.
“Today’s indictment underscores a simple truth: there is evidence this defendant intended to assassinate the president, and that he shot a U.S. Secret Service officer after he traversed the country with a cache of ammunition to accomplish his goals,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “I commend our law enforcement partners for their swift action to neutralize this threat and prevent the death of the President. The use of violence to register dissent is anti-democratic at its core. We will pursue the maximum punishment available under the law against anyone who travels to the District of Columbia to engage in such acts.”
“As alleged in today’s indictment, the heavily armed defendant rushed security and shot a Secret Service Officer in an attempt to assassinate President Trump— but was stopped thanks to the courageous and immediate response from law enforcement,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Under the leadership of President Trump, violent political actors will never win— we will prosecute anyone who engages in these horrific acts to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The facts of this case are clear - Cole Allen traveled to Washington D.C. attempting to assassinate President Trump and senior members of his administration, and attacked federal law enforcement in the process - only stopped by brave security personnel who stood in the way,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “We are grateful to our interagency partners for working with us in the investigation to add this additional charge. This FBI has been working 24/7 on this case since the night of the attack, and we will continue to do so until justice is done.”
The 2026 Dinner took place on April 25, 2026, at the Washington Hilton. President Trump was present at the Dinner. Shortly after 8:30 p.m., the defendant approached a U.S. Secret Service (USSS) security screening checkpoint located on the Terrace Level of the hotel and sprinted through one of the magnetometers at the checkpoint and ran in the direction of the stairs leading to the ballroom where the President was located.
As the defendant did so, he fired a Mossberg Maverick 88 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, hitting a USSS officer once in the chest. The USSS officer drew his service weapon and fired five times at the defendant. The defendant fell to the ground, was restrained by law enforcement, and was placed under arrest. The defendant suffered a minor injury to his knee but was not shot.
At the time of his arrest, the defendant was in possession of the Mossberg shotgun with one spent cartridge in the barrel. The defendant also possessed a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38 caliber pistol, dozens of rounds of unspent 12-gauge shotgun ammunition and .38 caliber ammunition, two knives, four daggers, multiple sheaths, multiple holsters, needle nose pliers, and wire cutters.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Ballantine, Charles Jones, and Adam Barry of the National Security Section for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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Illegal Alien from England Pleads Guilty to Entering the US Without InspectionRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A citizen of the United Kingdom pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to entering the United States without inspection.
According to court records, Ibrahim Ayyub Khan, 27, and three other men walked through the heavily wooded border between Quebec and Somerset County during the pre-dawn hours of April 3, 2026. Their point of entry was within a few hundred yards of the Saint Zacharie, Maine port of entry that was manned by agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (“OFO”). Upon exiting the woods, Khan and his companions began walking down the Golden Road heading east.
Passersby in the area reported to an OFO agent seeing the four men walking east on the Golden Road. The OFO agent reported the sighting to the U.S. Border Patrol (“USBP”) station in Jackman. A USBP agent and an OFO agent responded to the area of the sighting, located the four men and took them into custody without incident. When questioned about their citizenship, Khan and his three companions stated they were citizens of the United Kingdom. The four were subsequently transported back to the Jackman Border Patrol station.
Khan faces up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office.
USBP, OFO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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HSTF: Jury Convicts Bahamian National in South Florida Cocaine Trafficking and Alien Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A jury in Fort Lauderdale convicted a Bahamian national for his role in a multi-vessel smuggling operation that transported hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and dozens of unauthorized migrants from the Bahamas to South Florida.
Terrance Wallace, 32, was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine, importing cocaine, and alien smuggling offenses following a jury trial.
“This defendant helped operate a transnational smuggling pipeline that brought both cocaine and unlawful migrants into South Florida by boat,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “That combination of narcotics trafficking and human smuggling poses a direct threat to public safety and the integrity of our borders. The jury’s verdict makes clear that those who work with criminal smuggling organizations to move drugs and people into this country will be prosecuted and held accountable.”
“Combatting transnational criminal organizations involved in narcotics and alien smuggling is a significant priority for HSI and the Homeland Security Task Force,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. “Working alongside our HSTF federal, state, and local partners, HSI will utilize every resource at our disposal to pursue and dismantle these criminal organizations to protect our communities and defend our borders. This verdict sends a clear message: HSI will continue to pursue and hold traffickers accountable for endangering lives and threatening public safety.”
Five co-defendants — Malik Delancy, 23; Fiero Cooper, 33; Darren Sears, 25; Ivan Curry, 52; and Jeremiah Russell, 19 — previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and are scheduled to be sentenced on June 8.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Aug. 30, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations, working alongside a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) cutter, detected three go-fast vessels traveling from the Bahamas toward South Florida. Once the vessels entered U.S. waters, CBP, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and USCG units moved to intercept. Officers activated emergency lights and sirens and ordered the drivers to stop. One vessel ignored multiple commands, prompting officers to fire warning shots before disabling the boat.
Upon boarding, officers encountered Delancy, Cooper, Sears, Ivan Curry, and Russell. Law enforcement discovered approximately 168 kilograms of cocaine and 31 Chinese nationals on board, none of whom were authorized to enter the U.S.
Separately, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents observed Wallace and Teshawn Curry conducting counter-surveillance near the Fort Pierce Inlet on behalf of the drug trafficking and alien smuggling organization.
The investigation also revealed that Wallace participated in at least two prior successful drug smuggling ventures at the same location, bringing his involvement to more than 500 kilograms of cocaine. Text messages and videos recovered from Wallace’s cellphone showed him acting as a lookout during all three operations.
Wallace faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Acting Special Agent in Charge Figueroa, and Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the DEA, Miami Field Division, and made the announcement.
DEA West Palm Beach District Office and HSI West Palm Beach investigated the case, with assistance from CBP, USCG, the 7th Coast Guard District, the Davie Police Department, and the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Ustynoski, Ajay Alexander, and Catherine Koontz are prosecuting the case.
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 the DEA, HSI, CBP, USCG, the Davie Police Department, and the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
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 25-cr-60233.
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Grove Hill Man Sentenced to 102 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Zachary Quinton Howard Mercer of Grove Hill, Alabama, was sentenced to 102 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.
According to court documents, on September 20, 2024, deputies with the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) were notified of a stolen vehicle approaching the Alabama State line from Mississippi. The investigation showed that the driver, Mercer, stole the vehicle at a gas station in Biloxi, Mississippi. Local officers tried to stop Mercer, but he took law enforcement on a high-speed chase, crossing into Alabama. MCSO Deputies intercepted Mercer, who continued eastbound on I-10, reaching speeds of 120 miles per hour. Performing successful Pursuit Intervention Techniques, deputies were able to ultimately bring Mercer to a stop. Mercer was found in the driver’s seat of the stolen vehicle, with a loaded handgun in his lap. Mercer has multiple prior felony convictions including Aggravated Assault, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Theft of a Firearm, and Resisting Arrest. As a convicted felon, Mercer is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Mercer was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and pleaded guilty to the charge. United States District Court Judge Kristi DuBose sentenced Mercer to 102 months in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for illegally possessing the firearm.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Grand Rapids Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Exploiting MinorsRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Anthony Spetoskey, age 35, of Grand Rapids. was sentenced to 360 months for sexual exploitation of a child. During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker described his conduct as “about as egregious as I have seen.”
U.S. Attorney VerHey said, “Spetosky is an internet predator based in Grand Rapids who trolled for underage girls around the world to psychologically coerce them into doing themselves psychological and physical harm. He did this to make money, but also because he considered it fun. But while he was hunting for his victims, we were hunting for him. No one will see Spetosky on our streets for the next 30 years because he will be in prison, where he belongs, thanks to the hard work of federal law enforcement. Others like Spetosky should take note—we are coming for you too.”
In October 2024, HSI London advised HSI Grand Rapids that a subject involved in the sextortion of minor girls and the distribution of child pornography may be located in West Michigan. As a result of extensive investigative work, HSI Grand Rapids agents ultimately identified Spetoskey as that subject, despite his methodical attempts to conceal his identity online, evade detection, and obscure his location.
Spetoskey operated online under the identifier “NoLimits” and used a number of other names across various accounts. He ran a Telegram group used to coerce victims, including underage girls, into producing exploitative material, some of which involved self-harm. He bragged about his actions to online users and claimed responsibility for more than 250 victims over a five-year period. Spetoskey’s victims were located in the U.S. and overseas.
“This sentencing demonstrates the steadfast commitment of HSI to protect children from exploitation, no matter where offenders operate or how they attempt to conceal their crimes,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “This investigation is a testament to the power of international collaboration, with HSI Grand Rapids, HSI London and foreign law enforcement working side-by-side to identify and apprehend a predator who targeted vulnerable victims both in the United States and abroad.”
HSI Grand Rapids and HSI London investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Constance Turnbull prosecuted it.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/PSC.
Gallup Man Charged in Vehicular AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup man was charged in federal court after allegedly striking and running over a victim with a car and causing her serious injuries.
According to court documents, on Monday, April 27, 2026, Darius Kyran Eskeets, 24, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly struck the victim with a motor vehicle on a dirt road near a residence in Vanderwagen, New Mexico. During the incident, Eskeets allegedly drove toward the victim and others, causing them to move out of the roadway, before making a U-turn and veering off the road and up an embankment to strike the victim and run the victim over. Eskeets then drove away from the scene.
As a result of the incident, the victim suffered multiple injuries, including cuts to her right leg and hand, bruising, abrasions and contusions to her right side, hematoma, and a small pneumothorax.
Eskeets is charged with two felony crimes, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Eskeets was released to home detention with strict GPS monitoring pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Eskeets faces up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Four Defendants, Including Two Former U.S. Postal Service Employees, Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Steal $84 Million in U.S. Treasury ChecksRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that four defendants: Saahir Irby, 28, and Tauheed Tucker, 24, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cory Scott, 26, of Ardmore, Pa., and Alexander Telewoda, 26, of Clifton Heights, Pa., have entered pleas of guilty before United States District Judge Joshua D. Wolson on charges of conspiracy to steal government funds, theft of government funds, and mail theft.
As detailed in court filings and statements, between June 2023 and September 2024, Irby and Tucker, while working as United States Postal Service (“USPS”) mail processing clerks, stole thousands of envelopes containing U.S. Treasury checks from mail sorting machines at the USPS Philadelphia Processing and Distribution Center. Irby and Tucker removed the checks from the USPS facility and sold them to defendants Scott and Telewoda, who then advertised the stolen checks for resale on the cloud-based instant messaging application Telegram. Upon receiving payment from interested buyers, Scott and Telewoda mailed the stolen Treasury checks to buyers around the country who attempted to cash the stolen checks.
Over the course of the scheme, Irby and Tucker sold Scott and Telewoda thousands of stolen Treasury checks whose face value exceeded $84 million. Scott’s and Telewoda’s customers successfully negotiated approximately $11 million worth of these stolen Treasury checks at financial institutions. A grand jury returned a superseding indictment against the four defendants in May 2025; Irby was previously charged with — and has pleaded guilty to — a separate instance of mail theft involving another batch of Treasury checks that he stole and sold to an unnamed individual in August 2024.
Irby, Tucker, and Telewoda are scheduled to be sentenced in August, and Scott in September. Irby faces a maximum possible term of 25 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine, while the remaining defendants each face a maximum possible sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $750,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, with substantial assistance from the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, the Lower Merion Township Police Department, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Rice.
Former soldier sentenced to federal prison for stealing vehicle, ramming Fort Stewart buildingRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: A U.S. Army retiree who crashed a stolen vehicle into a Fort Stewart office building has been sent to federal prison and ordered to pay substantial restitution.
Treamon Dominic Lacy, 42, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to 33 months in prison after his conviction at trial in U.S. District Court on charges of Theft of Government Property and Damage to Government Property, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Lacy to pay $579,868 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“As a former servicemember, Treamon Lacy used his knowledge of operations at Hunter Army Airfield to steal a vehicle and crash through the front doors of an occupied building,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “It’s a miracle no one was injured or killed, and this sentence holds him accountable for his actions.”
As described at trial, Lacy was a retired U.S. Army staff sergeant when in July 2023 he gained access to Fort Stewart, entered the motor pool and stole a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle, known as a Humvee, and drove to the headquarters building of the U.S. Army’s Third Infantry Division. Lacy then drove the vehicle into the entrance of the building, causing extensive damage.
No one was injured, and military police took Lacy into custody. A federal grand jury indicted Lacy in August 2023, and he was convicted at trial in U.S. District Court in September 2025. After sentencing he was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
“The readiness and safety of our military installations rely on skilled special agents, a robust force protection, and the swift action of law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan O’Connor, Army CID, Southeast Field Office. “I commend the diligent work of our special agents and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office who investigated and prosecuted this alarming incident.”
The case was investigated by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Michael Z. Spitulnik.
Former Postal Employee Admits Stealing Checks from St. Louis MailRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former U.S. Postal Service supervisor on Monday admitted stealing 89 checks from the mail.
Benita D. Randle, 43, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of theft of mail by a U.S. Postal Service employee. John W. Harrison, 26, of Black Jack, Missouri, pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2026, to one count of possession of stolen mail matter.
Randle was a supervisor at the St. Louis Processing and Distribution Center, which processes, sorts and distributes all non-parcel mail for the St. Louis metropolitan areas. She had access to all the mail at the center. Between September and October of 2023, Randle stole mail containing checks and gave that mail to Harrison, who opened the mail and removed the checks.
Randle’s crime was uncovered when her leased Nissan Juke was repossessed for her failure to maintain insurance. The car dealership found Harrison’s backpack, which contained an AR-style handgun, cocaine, fentanyl and loose checks, and called the St. Charles Police Department. After officers arrived at the dealership, so did Randle, who falsely claimed that she did not handle mail in her job. She later lied to investigators with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General that she never drove the Juke and did not have access to mail.
Investigators determined that Randle had stolen 89 checks from mail that belonged to dozens of victims. They also found one counterfeit check that bore the same bank account and payor information as one of the stolen checks. The total face value of the 90 checks was $369,248.
Randle is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20 and Harrison on June 3. They face a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both prison and a fine.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the St. Charles Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.