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Monday 27 April 2026
Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced to Time Served for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CARLOS ALBERTO ESCOBAR-LOZA (“ESCOBAR-LOZA”), age 47, a native of Honduras, was sentenced on April 22, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Greg Gerard Guidry, after previously pleading guilty to illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8 United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. ESCOBAR-LOZA was sentenced to time served, one-year of supervised release, and payment of a mandatory $100.00 assessment fee. He has been detained in federal prison since January 14, 2026.
According to court records, the defendant was found in the United States on December 26, 2025, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on July 2, 2012. ESCOBAR-LOZA was found in the Eastern District of Louisiana after being arrested by local law enforcement. Immigration officials subsequently confirmed his identity and determined that he had again unlawfully reentered the United States after having previously been removed.
On multiple occasions beginning in or about 2002, ESCOBAR-LOZA was encountered by U.S. immigration authorities after entering the United States without being admitted or paroled. He was placed in removal proceedings and, on or about October 27, 2003, an Immigration Judge ordered him removed from the United States after he failed to appear for his scheduled hearing.
On multiple occasions between approximately 2005 and 2012, ESCOBAR-LOZA was again encountered by immigration authorities following arrests by local law enforcement. Immigration records reflect that his prior removal order was reinstated, and he was removed from the United States to Honduras on at least three occasions.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Results in 51-Defendant Indictment in Nationwide Black-Market Marijuana Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
View the unsealed indictment here.
OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal indictment has been unsealed, charging 51 defendants across 67 counts for their roles in a conspiracy to manufacture black-market marijuana in Oklahoma and then distribute it throughout the United States, including Texas, Mississippi, Kansas, and North Carolina, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
In a coordinated takedown late last week, more than 100 law enforcement personnel executed arrest warrants involving 51 defendants from Oklahoma, Texas, New York, North Carolina, Florida, Michigan, Kansas, Mississippi, and California. Of the indicted targets, 28 have been arrested and 23 remain fugitives. A full list of defendants can be viewed below, including at least 29 from China, some of whom have permanent legal resident status.
View full defendant list here.
In addition to the arrests, law enforcement executed 22 search warrants in Oklahoma, Cleveland, Kingfisher, Stephens, Payne, and Okfuskee County, as well as in Michigan and Kansas. As a result of the searches, approximately 61,000 marijuana plants and 550 kilograms of processed marijuana were seized by law enforcement. During the execution of the warrants, approximately 13 non-citizens in addition to the 51 defendants charged were identified and turned over to immigration officials.
“This case underscores the threat posed by nationwide criminal organizations that exploit Oklahoma’s marijuana laws to produce and distribute large quantities of black-market marijuana across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “Working alongside our federal, state, and local partners, my office remains committed to taking down these organizations and those who run them.”
“This investigation targeted a criminal organization that was producing and trafficking large quantities of marijuana across state lines, under the guise of a state-licensed operation,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker. “The DEA, working with our federal, state, and local partners, will continue to identify, disrupt, and dismantle these networks to protect our communities and hold accountable those who prioritize profit over law.”
“We can’t overstate the impact and importance of these types of operations. Since 2021, when our agency created Marijuana Enforcement Teams (MET), we’ve proudly worked alongside our federal and state partners to target criminal organizations operating in Oklahoma,” said Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control Director Donnie Anderson. “These partnerships have resulted in a dramatic drop in illegal marijuana farms within our state.”
Summary of Charges
According to the indictment, from March 2025 through April 2026, a network of marijuana grow owners, brokers, transporters, and distributors worked together to facilitate the conspiracy. The indictment alleges that grow owners manufactured massive quantities of marijuana for distribution on the black-market, both within the state of Oklahoma and across the United States. Black-market marijuana farms, including grows in Stillwater, Hennessey, and Paden, diverted marijuana into the illicit market.
It is alleged that the grow owners often worked with brokers, who coordinated efforts among the grow owners, transporters, and customers to further distribute the black-market marijuana. The marijuana would be transported from black-market grow facilities to stash houses that brokers controlled, and to customers for further distribution—all at the direction of the brokers and grow owners.
As alleged in the indictment, brokers and occasionally grow owners coordinated with distributors to arrange for the transportation of black-market marijuana back to their home state for further distribution to customers. Several defendants shared in the proceeds of the illegal distribution and took steps to conceal those proceeds by transporting large amounts of cash and using businesses to disguise the nature of the funds.
The conspiracy was carried out, in large part, with cellular phones. And, as alleged in the indictment, law enforcement intercepted calls of two of the main conspirators—LI SHUN CHEN, 53, and YING WANG, 45, both of Oklahoma City.
All 51 defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on April 21, 2026. In addition to the criminal charges alleged, the indictment also seeks the forfeiture of multiple properties and other assets which were either used to facilitate or represent the proceeds of the unlawful activity, including real property throughout Oklahoma located in the following areas:
- Oklahoma City
- Okemah
- Chickasha
- Stratford
- Pauls Valley
- Elmore City
- Henryetta
- Tonkawa
- Tryon
- Paden
- Seminole
- Lexington
- Boley
- Duncan
- Edmond
- Stuart
- Wynnewood
The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Acknowledgements
This operation 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. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Oklahoma City comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the United States Marshals Service. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma leads the prosecution.
This specific investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control with assistance from the following agencies:
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- United States Marshals Service
- FBI Oklahoma City Field Office
- Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations
- Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office
- Oklahoma City Police Department
- Oklahoma Highway Patrol
- Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office
- Oklahoma National Guard
- Arkansas State Police
- Texas Department of Public Safety
- Duncan Police Department
- McClain County Sheriff’s Office
- Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office
- Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Office
- Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Office
- Payne County Sheriff’s Office
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth M. Bagwell, Drew E. Davis, and Bow Bottomly are prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Harrison Man Sentenced to 55 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a MinorRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas – A Harrison man was sentenced on April 24, 2026, to 660 months in federal prison, without the possibility of parole, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release for the sexual exploitation of three (3) separate minors via production of child pornography. The Honorable Chief Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing, which was held in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, Justin Neil Perkuhn, age 39, photographed himself bathing with two minors, ages four and six, while engaged in sexual contact with one of the minors. In a separate incident, Perkuhn created a surreptitious video through a window of an 8-year-old female while she bathed. Perkuhn’s crimes came to light after Arkansas State Police received a CyberTipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Perkuhn had uploaded items of child pornography to a cloud storage account. In the ensuing investigation, officers served a search warrant at Perkuhn’s residence and discovered multiple devices containing child pornography. Officers later discovered that Perkuhn had created a voyeuristic video of an adult female through her bathroom window as she exited the shower.
Perkuhn was indicted by a Grand Jury in the Western District of Arkansas in April of 2025 and entered a plea of guilty in July of 2025.
U.S. Attorney Kimberly D. Harris of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
Arkansas State Police, Harrison Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Still prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was prosecuted 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.
Gloucester County Man Sentenced to 360 Months in Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Gloucester County man was sentenced for distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Ian Dudley, 39, of Williamstown, New Jersey, was previously convicted by a jury of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and with six counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and/or fentanyl; before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court. On April 16, 2026, Judge O’Hearn sentenced Dudley to serve 360 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
According to the evidence presented at trial:
From June 2023 through October 2023, Dudley conspired with Joseph Watson and others to distribute crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl in Camden County and Gloucester County. During the conspiracy, Dudley sold approximately 17.5 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and approximately one ounce of fentanyl to an undercover federal agent.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Beau Kolodka, with the investigation.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph McFarlane and Josephine Park in Camden.
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Georgia men plead guilty to nearly $20 million fraud and identity theft scheme that targeted professional athletesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Luther Davis and CJ Evins pleaded guilty today to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges after they tricked lenders into providing nearly $20 million in loans by pretending to represent professional athletes. As part of their scheme, the pair posed as managers of the athletes and wore disguises to impersonate the athletes.
“Using fake documents, bogus corporations, wigs, and makeup, Davis and Evins convinced lenders they were NFL players, obtained millions of dollars in fraudulent loans, and used the proceeds of their crimes to purchase real estate and luxury items,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “This scheme highlights that anyone can be a target of identity theft, and my office will vigorously investigate and prosecute swindlers who steal identities to defraud others.”
“Davis and Evins built an elaborate scheme on deception—impersonating professional athletes, fabricating credentials, and even disguising themselves to close the deal,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This case underscores the FBI’s commitment to protecting victims from complex financial fraud and identity theft. Those who exploit others’ reputations for personal gain will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between at least May 26, 2023, and October 25, 2024, Davis and Evins secured millions of dollars in loans, purportedly on behalf of professional athletes who they falsely claimed to represent. To create the appearance that they represented the athletes, Davis and Evins registered companies with names closely related to the impersonated athletes’ names or initials, opened bank accounts for these fictitious companies, provided fabricated personal financial statements, created fraudulent email accounts, and obtained fake driver’s licenses and identification cards in the athletes’ names.
The defendants obtained multiple loans on behalf of unsuspecting professional athletes, using loan proceeds to pay off previous loan balances and to fund their own lifestyles, including purchasing and/or refinancing real estate, jewelry, and watches. As the defendants sought higher value loans, lenders required that the borrowers—who the lenders believed to be professional football players—appear on camera at loan closings. During these loan closings, the defendants posed as the borrowers by impersonating several professional athletes, including wearing wigs and makeup and signing loan paperwork in the athletes’ names. The victim lenders then deposited loan proceeds into bank accounts controlled by the defendants.
The scheme was uncovered when a union that represents professional athletes learned that the player contracts that the defendants used as collateral for the loans were fraudulent. During the scheme, the defendants obtained a dozen fraudulent loans (with one loan refinanced) worth a total of $19,845,000.
Today, Luther Davis, 37, of Roswell, Georgia, and CJ Evins, 29, of Johns Creek, Georgia, pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. Both defendants were charged by criminal information on March 19, 2026, and March 20, 2026. Sentencing for CJ Evins is scheduled for August 4, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg. Sentencing for Luther Davis is scheduled for October 8, 2026, also before Judge Grimberg.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brock Brockington is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Georgia man sentenced for his role in fraud conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Quentavious Price, 38, of Hampton, GA, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Between January and September 2022, Price, along with co-conspirators Lorenzo Jones, Ameer Clark, and Montez White, and others, conspired to defraud financial institutions. Members of the conspiracy would travel from Atlanta, Georgia, to the Western District of New York, and steal genuine checks from businesses. Using those checks, they would create fraudulent checks drawn on the bank accounts of the businesses. Members of the conspiracy then recruited individuals to cash the fraudulent checks, buy clothes for the individuals to make them appear to be construction workers or laborers, and then drive them to area financial institutions and direct them to cash the fraudulent checks. If the checks were successfully cashed, the individuals received a small payment. Specifically:
- in January 2022, Price, Jones, and two others flew from Atlanta to Buffalo and drove an individual to various KeyBank branches to cash or attempt to cash fraudulent checks drawn on the KeyBank accounts of a business based in Elma, NY, and a second business based in Tonawanda, NY.
- in March 2022, Price and two others came to Buffalo from Atlanta and drove three individuals to M&T Bank branches, Bank on Buffalo branches, and Evans Bank branches to cash, or attempt to cash, fraudulent checks drawn on the bank accounts of businesses based in Tonawanda, Clarence, NY, and Sanborn, NY.
- in September 2022, Price, Jones, Clark, and White flew from Atlanta to Rochester, NY, and drove six individuals to M&T Bank branches, KeyBank branches, Northwest Bank branches, Bank on Buffalo branches, and Evans Bank branches, to cash or attempt to cash, fraudulent checks drawn on the bank accounts of two businesses based in Rochester, and one based in Alden, NY.
In addition, Price used the identity of the owner of one of the victim businesses during a felony violation. The total loss amount, including actual loss and intended loss, Is $64,979.67.
Lorenzo Jones, Ameer Clark, and Montez White were previously convicted and sentenced.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno. The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special-Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie P. Feroleto.
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Fugitive wanted for murder pleads guilty to attempted murder of federal officers at Springfield hotelRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Franklin County man who shot at law enforcement officials from inside a Springfield hotel room pleaded guilty today to attempted murder of federal officers. At the time of this latest crime, the defendant was a fugitive and had an active arrest warrant for aggravated murder out of Franklin County.
Andre Jordan II, 35, of Reynoldsburg, surrendered after an hours-long standoff with law enforcement at the hotel on Aug. 14, 2025. His plea agreement includes a sentencing recommendation of 25 years in prison.
According to court documents, in early August 2025, the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST), a federal task force, adopted the fugitive investigation of Jordan, which led officials to the Quality Inn in Springfield.
SOFAST tracked Jordan to a room at the hotel and set up to apprehend him. Law enforcement announced their presence to Jordan, who then looked out the window of the room. Following additional announcements, Jordan fired a shot through the window toward the pool area in the vicinity of officers and federal agents who then retreated to take cover. Jordan then fired a round through the middle of the hotel door into the hallway where federal agents had been standing just moments prior.
At the time Jordan discharged his firearm, there were three young children and two other adults in the hotel room with him. Hotel surveillance video shows the other adults and children fleeing the room before Jordan fired at least eight additional rounds through the connecting doors to the adjacent hotel room at an angle and direction where law enforcement officers had previously been positioned in the hallway.
The Springfield Police Division SWAT Team responded to the scene and hostage negotiators established communication with Jordan. After several hours of hostage negotiation, Jordan surrendered without further incident and was taken into custody.
Jordan was charged federally in August 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; United States Marshal Michael D. Black; Springfield Police Chief Allison Elliott and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the guilty plea offered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline H. Gentry. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth McCormick and Rob Painter are representing the United States in this case.
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Fort Polk Soldier Charged for Threatening to “Walk into a Synagogue with My AK” and “Kill Every Single Jew” InsideRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE– On April 23, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana charged Jakob Marcoulier, a 22-year-old soldier stationed at Fort Polk, by criminal complaint with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce after he told people on the platform Discord that he would kill Jewish people in a synagogue. Marcoulier faces up to 5 years in federal prison for the charge.
“Threats against synagogues and Jewish Americans are threats to the religious freedom promised to every single one of us, and this Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting those freedoms,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “This case demonstrates the FBI’s vigilance and swift action in identifying and taking action against those who perpetrate these threats, and our Office looks forward to seeing justice done in this case.”
“The FBI is focused on preventing violent hate crime attacks and disrupting violent criminal plots, before they occur," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "Once the concerned citizen reached out to 1-800-CALL-FBI to report this situation, FBI Special Agents in Birmingham and New Orleans, and our partners in the U.S. Army, acted swiftly in this case. This is a perfect example of how the public is law enforcement's greatest partner."
According to court documents, FBI’s National Threat Operations Center received an online tip in February 2026 about a Discord user named “el.bostino” who had made threats toward synagogues. FBI secured recorded audio from Discord in which the individual, later determined to be Marcoulier, made these threats, stating among other things that “after this deployment if the Jews still have reign over our government, I am going to walk into a synagogue with my AK, with a 75-round drum mag, and all of my extra mags, with my level four plates, and my haka helmet that’s three plus, and I am going to kill every single Jew I know inside of that synagogue. And that’s my goal in life.” Marcoulier went on to emphasize the seriousness of his threats, saying among other things that “you guys will never do anything about but I will. I just have to finish this, I have to go back overseas and do what I have to do. And then you'll see me in the news. I promise you,” and that “you guys don’t want to do anything for the f[***]ing cause when it actually needs to happen … I’ll still kill these mother[***]ers in order to make sure the white youth is f[***]ing secured.” Marcoulier was arrested on April 23.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The FBI investigated this case alongside the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (DACID). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Nickel with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is 26-mj-00108-01.
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CONTACT: Public Affairs [email protected]
United States Attorney’s Office www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Western District of Louisiana Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Former Postal Employee Charged with Theft of MailRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Evan Aldric Harris, 29, of Evergreen, Alabama, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with theft of mail by a postal employee. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today.
Harris appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Thai Cannon in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for June 22, 2026, before United States District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
If convicted, Harris faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Former Iowa Nonprofit Program Director Pleads Guilty to Theft from a Federal Funds RecipientRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Colfax woman pleaded guilty on April 23, 2026, to theft from an Iowa nonprofit receiving federal funds.
According to public court documents, Jodi Dyan Spargur-Tate, 55, was employed by Children and Families of Iowa (CFI) between 2015 and 2022. During her time as Program Director, Spargur-Tate submitted false and fraudulent reimbursement requests, including falsified invoices and receipts. Spargur-Tate used these payments for her own benefit and her family member’s benefit and not for the benefit of CFI or the program participants.
Spargur-Tate is scheduled to be sentenced on August 25, 2026, and faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
“Spargur-Tate stole money meant to help Americans find work. Her guilty plea proves we will relentlessly pursue fraudsters,” said U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito. “Game the system, and we will find you and hold you accountable.”
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The United States Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the Des Moines Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Lubben prosecuted the case.
Former Correctional Officer and Federal Inmates Charged in a Multi-Count Indictment for Conspiring to Bring a Controlled Substance and Dangerous Weapon onto Federal Tier of Local JailRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Former Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex deputy LACHAVION CAMPBELL (“CAMPBELL”), federal inmates DARREKA BOYKINS (“BOYKINS”), TARAY BUTLER (“BUTLER”), and GREGORY ROBINSON (“ROBINSON”), and the former dating partner of an inmate, CRYSTAL MORRISON, (“MORRISON”), were charged in a seven-count sealed indictment by a federal grand jury on March 20, 2026, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. The indictment was unsealed today.
According to the indictment, CAMPBELL, BOYKINS, MORRISON, BUTLER, and ROBINSON were charged for their respective roles in a 2024 conspiracy to provide, and possess contraband, including the drug Suboxone and a knife, to federal inmates detained on the federal tier of Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex, as well as providing, and possessing contraband in prison, all of which are violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act. They were also charged with making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The indictment alleged that BOYKINS and CAMPBELL devised a plan in which CAMPBELL would meet with MORRISON to receive contraband purchased by LPCC inmates via Cash App. MORRISON met CAMPBELL at agreed upon locations within the Eastern District of Louisiana to give CAMPBELL the contraband. Thereafter, in exchange for payments, CAMPBELL utilized various methods of concealment to bring contraband into LPCC, including placing the contraband in blankets, towels, and mop buckets to avoid detection. The indictment further alleges the coconspirators used the scheme to smuggle various contraband items, including Suboxone, a knife, electrical tape, legal documents soaked in synthetic marijuana, cell phones, nicotine vape pens, THC vape pens, SIM cards, and an Allen wrench, into LPCC.
Count 1 charges CAMPBELL, BOYKINS, MORRISON, BUTLER, and ROBINSON with conspiracy to provide and possess contraband in prison, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Each defendant faces up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years supervised release for this count.
Count 2 charges CAMPBELL, BOYKINS, MORRISON, BUTLER, and ROBINSON with providing and possessing contraband in a prison, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §§1791(a)(1), 1791(a)(2), (b)(1)(3), and 2. Each defendant faces up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years supervised release for this count.
Count 3 charges BUTLER with possession of contraband in a prison, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §§1791(a)(2) and (b)(1)(3). BUTLER faces up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years supervised release for this count.
Count 4 charges BOYKINS, BUTLER, and ROBINSON with possession of contraband in a prison, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §§1791(a)(2) and (b)(1)(3). Each of these defendants face up to 5 years imprisonment, up to $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years supervised release for this count.
Count 5 charges BOYKINS with possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(E) BOYKINS faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and up to 3 years supervised release for this count.
Count 6 charges BOYKINS, BUTLER, and ROBINSON with possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(E). Each of these defendants faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and up to 3 years supervised release for this count.
Count 7 charges CAMPBELL with making a false statement to an agency of the United States, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2). CAMPBELL faces up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 2 years supervised release, and a mandatory assessment fee of $100.00 for this count.
“Smuggling items into a jail compromises the safety and security of the institution, the inmates, and the employees. Correctional facilities depend on the integrity of those entrusted to safeguard them. Our office is committed to holding responsible those who betray that trust as well as those who seek to traffic dangerous contraband into a correctional facility.” said U.S. Attorney Courcelle.
As to each charged count against them, CAMPBELL, BOYKINS, MORRISON, BUTLER, and ROBINSON also face payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00
U. S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime Unit.
Foreign National Charged with Illegally Obtaining U.S. Citizenship and U.S. PassportRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A federal grand jury returned an Indictment on April 20, 2026, charging a New Jersey man with illegally obtaining United States citizenship and for fraudulently obtaining a United States passport, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Miguel Dario Bautista Jimenez, 41, of New Jersey was charged in a two-count Indictment with unlawful procurement of naturalization, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1425(b) and 2, and passport fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1542 and 2.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Miguel Dario Bautista Jimenez, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was removed from the United States in or around 2013, following a conviction in New York for criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree. At some point after his 2013 removal, Bautista re-entered the United States using a false identity after his fingerprints had been partially mutilated. Bautista then used this false identity to fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship documents through naturalization, including a U.S. passport.
The charges of unlawful procurement of naturalization and passport fraud each carry a maximum penalty of ten years’ imprisonment. Each offense carries a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross loss or gain from the offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations, New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly, and the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service, New York Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Wood, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor Chenoweth of the Cybercrime Unit and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Priscilla Gabela of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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jimenez.indictment.pdfFive Charged with Trafficking Cocaine Through the Mail from Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that the following five individuals have been charged by indictment with offenses related to the trafficking of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico to Connecticut:
EDGARDO CASTRO PEREZ, 36, of Tolland, Connecticut, and San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico
ROSELYN OSORIO-SOTO, 38, of Tolland, Connecticut, and San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico
EDGAR CASTRO PEREZ, 27, of Hartford
JUAN JOSE TORRES-ORTIZ, 42, of Hartford
ENRIQUE ARROYO-ROBLES, 28, of HartfordAs alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in June 2025, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and U.S. Postal Inspection Service began investigating a drug trafficking organization that was coordinating the shipment of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut through the U.S. Mail. Typically, Osorio-Soto and Edgardo Castro Perez mailed the cocaine parcels from post offices in Puerto Rico to various addresses in central Connecticut. Torres-Ortiz collected the packages and transported them to secondary locations where Edgar Castro Perez and Arroyo-Robles stored them until the cocaine was distributed further. Members of the organization used residences on Merlot Way in Tolland and Woodland Drive in Hartford to store narcotics, drug paraphernalia, cash, and firearms. During the investigation, investigators identified at least 12 suspicious parcels shipped to Connecticut and seized and searched four parcels, each of which contained multiple kilograms of cocaine.
It is further alleged that on September 17, 2025, Torres-Ortiz picked up a parcel after it had been delivered to an address in Middletown and drove to Hartford where he transferred the parcel to Edgar Castro Perez, who then drove to the residence in Tolland. Investigators stopped Castro Perez in the driveway of the residence and seized the parcel, and found that it contained approximately three kilograms of cocaine. On that date, a court-authorized search of the Tolland residence revealed four automatic firearms, three semi-automatic handguns, gun magazines, ammunition, and $133,292 in cash. A search of the Hartford residence revealed a loaded .45 caliber handgun.
The five defendants were originally charged by federal criminal complaint. Arroyo-Robles was arrested on March 31, 2026; Edgardo Castro Perez, Osorio-Soto, and Edgar Castro Perez were arrested on April 1, 2026; and Torres-Ortiz was arrested on April 2, 2026. Arroyo-Robles possessed a distribution quantity of cocaine and $2,321 in cash at the time of his arrest.
On April 8, 2026, a grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment charging each of the defendants with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted of this charge, based on the quantity of drug attributed to each defendant, Edgardo Castro Perez, Osorio-Soto, and Torres-Ortiz face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; Edgar Castro Perez faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; and Arroyo-Robles faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
The indictment also charges Edgar Castro Perez and Torres-Ortiz with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 500 grams or more of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and Arroyo-Robles with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of cash and firearms seized during the investigation.
Osorio-Soto, Edgar Castro Perez, Torres-Ortiz and Arroyo-Robles were arraigned on April 22, 2026, entered pleas of not guilty, and are released on $50,000 bonds. Edgardo Castro Perez, who has been detained since his arrest, is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in Hartford federal court.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The Task Force includes members from the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the East Hartford, Hartford, New Britain, West Hartford, Wethersfield, and Newington Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reed Durham.
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.
Felon sentenced to more than a decade in prison following Buckhead shootout and robbery of mail carrierRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Maximo Fitzhugh has been sentenced to 10 and a half years in federal prison for a pair of violent crimes, one of which resulted in a gun battle in the Buckhead district of Atlanta.
“After threatening to shoot up a women’s clinic, Fitzhugh held a postal worker at gunpoint and endangered the lives of other citizens when he brazenly robbed a mail carrier and instigated a lunch-hour shootout in one of Atlanta’s most active business districts,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to cooperation between our office, federal agents, and our state and local partners, a dangerous, violent criminal is off the street and behind bars, where he belongs.”
“Threatening mass violence and then carrying out an armed robbery that escalated into a public shootout is the kind of dangerous conduct that puts entire communities at risk,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of these crimes and the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners to hold violent offenders accountable.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to keeping the U.S. mail, its employees, and customers safe,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division. “This sentencing is the culmination of exceptional teamwork between our local and federal law enforcement partners along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The swift response by responding officers and their ongoing support were instrumental in making this a successful investigation. Ensuring the safety of our employees is a top priority, Postal Inspectors will continue to thoroughly investigate any robberies of our employees.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: on April 9, 2024, Fitzhugh called an Atlanta women’s clinic and told the employees to evacuate because he was planning to “shoot the whole place up.” The clinic locked its doors until FBI agents and Atlanta Police Department officers responded and secured the area.
Approximately four months later, just after noon on August 1, 2024, Fitzhugh robbed a mail carrier who was delivering mail near the high-end Buckhead Village shopping center. During the robbery, which was captured on surveillance video, Fitzhugh pointed a handgun at the carrier and threatened to kill her.
A passerby who witnessed the robbery unfolding drew his own handgun, yelled at Fitzhugh to stop, and fired at him. As a result, Fitzhugh hid behind a parked car, fired his handgun in the air, and fled the area. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Multiple law enforcement agencies worked together to identify Fitzhugh as the robber, and the FBI took him into custody on August 19, 2024.
On April 24, 2026, Maximo Fitzhugh, 25, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. to serve 10 years, six months in prison to be followed by five years on supervised release. On October 25, 2025, Fitzhugh pled guilty to one count of communicating interstate threats and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise K. Peters prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Felon in Possession of a Firearm SentencedRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL –Michael Bexley of Mobile was sentenced on April 16, 2026, to 51 months in prison for felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Bexley, 36, has several prior felony convictions, including Possession of an Unregistered Firearm in the Southern District of Alabama, Attempted Burglary 1st Degree, Discharging a Gun into an Occupied Building and Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Firearm. On July 10, 2025, officers with the Mobile Police Department were dispatched to Theodore, Alabama on a suspicious circumstances call. Bexley was trying to disassemble a motorcycle with a “For Sale” sign on it. It appeared to be a theft in progress. When officers arrived, Bexley was in possession of a firearm. The owner of the motorcycle was identified and denied knowing Bexley or giving him permission to access the motorcycle.
White’s term of incarceration will be followed by three years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice H. Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Felon Who Illegally Possessed Gun Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who unlawfully possessed a gun was sentenced on April 24, 2026, to five years in federal prison.
Nicholas John Baker, age 35, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 25, 2025, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Baker was previously convicted of conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance (methamphetamine), in the Iowa District Court for Jackson County in 2014.
On July 31, 2025, Baker possessed a gun during a domestic dispute. Later that same day, officers searched Baker’s home and they found a stolen gun in the attic. The gun was equipped with a 32-round magazine. At the guilty plea, Baker admitted he knowingly possessed the firearm.
Baker was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Baker was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Baker is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-1044.
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Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Laundering Pandemic Loan MoneyRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who laundered over $20,000 in fraudulently obtained government loan moneys during the COVID-19 pandemic was sentenced on April 23, 2026, to more than two years in federal prison. Joshua Brandon Johnson, age 34, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, formerly of Elkhart, Indiana, received the prison term after a December 1, 2025, guilty plea to one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity.
In a plea agreement, Johnson admitted that, in June 2021, he received $20,208 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan proceeds. The PPP was a forgivable loan program that Congress enacted in 2020 to help small businesses that were struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson’s fraudulent PPP loan application falsely stated that he was a barber who had earned nearly $100,000 in 2020.
In his fraudulent PPP loan application, Johnson instructed that the PPP money be deposited into a bank account that he controlled in Cedar Rapids. By 10:00 a.m. on the morning of the deposit of the fraudulently obtained government money into his account, Johnson withdrew $20,000 in cash. Johnson later admitted that he quickly withdrew the PPP loan money in cash because he owed child support and knew the money could be garnished from his account. Between 2021 and 2024, Johnson was in and out of prison in Indiana for failing to meet his child support obligations.
Johnson spent the remainder of the PPP loan money on fast food, at gas stations, and for home food delivery. In August 2021, Johnson submitted a false application to have the government loan forgiven, falsely stating that he had spent the $20,208 from the loan on “Payroll Costs.” When federal agents asked Johnson why his PPP loan application had false statements about his purported income as a barber, Johnson replied he was just “shootin’ [his] shot.”
Johnson is a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history in Iowa and Indiana. Johnson’s prior convictions include resisting law enforcement, theft, domestic-abuse assault, possession of controlled substances, and nonsupport of a dependent child.
Johnson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Johnson was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $20,208 in restitution to the United States Small Business Administration. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Johnson was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on May 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-53-LTS.
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Federal Judge Sentences Johnston County Social Services Employee for Stealing over $100,000 from SNAPRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Shermeca McCrary, a Wayne County woman, to 6 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and to pay a Forfeiture Money Judgment of $102,000 for her role in a scheme to steal more than $100,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) benefits administered by the United States Department of Agriculture and managed by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and county Division of Social Services.
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.
“We proudly join the President’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in prosecuting this case. This office will continue to hold accountable anyone who steals any of our taxpayer funded programs. This SNAP fraudster has learned the lesson – Cheaters.Never.Win.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
Inmate McCrary used her position and privileges as a Johnston County Social Services case worker, to unlawfully access the SNAP accounts of qualified individuals and stole $102,000 in government funds to her own personal benefit and use.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II sentenced the defendant. The USDA OIG, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Johnston County Department of Social Services Program Integrity, are investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Ontjes is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-275-M.
Federal Authorities Complete Largest Racketeering Prosecution in District History Against Syndicato de Nuevo MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced today the conclusion of the federal prosecution of the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico (SNM) prison gang following the conclusion of recent sentencing hearings. Spanning over a decade, the investigation and subsequent litigation resulted in state and federal charges against 178 members and associates.
Originating in the New Mexico state prison system following the 1980 prison riot, SNM functioned as a violent racketeering enterprise operating both inside correctional facilities and in communities throughout New Mexico, maintaining power through murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and witness intimidation. SNM operated under a "blood in, blood out" philosophy, members were required to commit acts of violence to gain entry into the gang. The federal prosecutions, conducted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (VICAR) statute, successfully resolved decades of such violence.
Example of SNM tattoo Example of SNM tattooThe investigation employed extensive and long-term investigative techniques, including more than 110 undercover drug and firearm purchases, dozens of confidential human sources, and court-authorized wire intercepts. Investigators uncovered a coordinated criminal enterprise involving SNM and affiliated gangs that trafficked fentanyl and methamphetamine both inside correctional facilities and in communities across New Mexico, while using violence and intimidation, including targeting suspected cooperators, to maintain control.
Highlights of the investigation and litigation include:
- 156 individuals federally indicted for 325 overt acts between 1980-2024.
- Federal authorities successfully charged and convicted members of 13 murders committed both inside and outside state facilities. These include the 2001 cold-case strangulations of two inmates in state facilities and the 2007 and 2014 killing of two inmates SNM leadership suspected to be cooperators. 🔗 🔗
- Authorities disrupted a 2015 conspiracy to assassinate the then-Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Corrections Department and high-ranking members of the New Mexico State Police in retaliation for the conviction of SNM associate Michael Paul Astorga for the murder of BCSO Deputy Jim McGrane. 🔗
- In October 2022, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the convictions of the gang’s leaders, affirming the government’s application of federal racketeering laws to prison-based criminal enterprises. 🔗
- Six jury trials resulting in nine convictions. 🔗🔗🔗🔗🔗🔗
- 12 SNM members sentenced to life in prison: Anthony Ray Baca, Jody Rufino Martinez, Robert Padilla, Angel DeLeon, Joe Gallegos, Edward Troup, Carlos Hererra, Anthony Cordova, Arturo Arnulfo Garcia, Billy Garcia, Daniel Sanchez, and Sam Silva.
- $1.8 million in cash, 1.1 million fentanyl pills and 160 pounds of methamphetamine seized during the execution of 16 federal search warrants on September 1, 2022.
“This case required years of patience, discipline, and persistence from prosecutors, agents, and staff who stayed with it to the end,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “It was difficult work, but it was necessary work, and this office saw it through.”
"It is impossible to overstate the enormity of this investigation. For more than a decade, our team and partners stayed committed to dismantling violent crime and delivering justice for the victims and communities most impacted by this gang's violence," said Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Division. "Protecting the American people remains the highest priority of the FBI. I want to thank not only the Albuquerque FBI Special Agents and support staff who worked on this investigation, but also the U.S. Attorney's Office, and every other agency who saw this case through to the end."
The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office Violent Gang Task Force (VGTF) investigated the cases with assistance from the New Mexico Department of Corrections, New Mexico State Police, U.S. Marshals Service, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Metropolitan Correction Center, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, Albuquerque Police Department, FBI’s El Paso, Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas and Knoxville divisions, Drug Enforcement Administration’s Albuquerque District Office and the Las Vegas (NM) Police Department. The Las Cruces Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico prosecuted the cases.
Farmington Man Charged in Federal Firearms Case Following Undercover OperationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington man has been charged in federal court after allegedly selling multiple firearms and ammunition to an undercover law enforcement officer.
According to court documents, on September 14, 2025, Pete Kimbell, 41, allegedly spoke to an undercover officer with the New Mexico Region II Narcotics Task Force using coded language and stated that he had multiple firearms for sale. The undercover officer arranged to meet Kimbell the following day to view and purchase the firearms.
On September 15, 2025, the undercover officer met Kimbell at a residence in Kirtland while surveillance units monitored the location and the officer wore a covert recording device. During the meeting, the officer observed and purchased several firearms and multiple boxes of ammunition from Kimbell for approximately $2,100.
As a previously convicted felon, Kimbell is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Kimbell is charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which has been scheduled for April 29, 2026. If convicted of the current charge, hefaces up to 15 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 FBI’s Violent Gang Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Farmington Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, Rio Rancho Police Department and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Elena Stiteler is prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Kimbell).pdfA criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Eight Drug Traffickers Arrested in Northwest Arkansas Sentenced to Combined 100 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – Eight individual drug traffickers arrested by state, local and federal law enforcement agencies were sentenced last week to over 1200 combined months of imprisonment. All eight individuals were sentenced by the United States District Court for their roles in distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine across Benton and Washington Counties in Arkansas. The Honorable Chief Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearings in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
“Fentanyl and Methamphetamine continue to destroy lives across Arkansas,” said U.S. Attorney Kimberly D. Harris for the Western District of Arkansas. “These investigations are excellent examples of combined federal and state law enforcement partners working together to apprehend drug traffickers targeting Northwest Arkansas communities.
Federal grand juries returned multi-count indictments involving all eight individuals for their roles in large-scale drug trafficking. The eight Defendants received the following sentences:
Timoth Conklin, age 38, of Springdale, Arkansas, was sentenced on April 23, 2026, to over 15 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Conklin was indicted in the Western District of Arkansas in April 2025 for multiple drug crimes committed in and around Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Christopher Park, age 43, of Rogers, Arkansas, was sentenced on April 23, 2026, to over 15 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine. Park was indicted in the Western District of Arkansas in June of 2025 for multiple drug crimes committed in and around Rogers, Arkansas.
Russell Shipman, age 45, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, was sentenced on April 20, 2026, to over 14 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute More Than 500 Grams of Methamphetamine. Shipman was indicted in the Western District of Arkansas in May 2025 for multiple drug crimes committed in and around Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Javier Colon-Rivera, age 45, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, was sentenced on April 20, 2026, to 14 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for Distribution of Fentanyl. Colon-Rivera was originally indicted in the Western District of Arkansas in April 2025 for multiple drug related crimes committed in and around Lincoln and Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Chasity Lewis-Adams, age49, of Springdale, Arkansas, was sentenced on April 17, 2020, to over 13 years in federal prison followed by eight years of supervised release on one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Lewis-Adams was indicted in the Western District of Arkansas in February 2025 for multiple drug crimes committed in and around Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Luis Marquez-Garcia, age 38, of Davenport, Florida, was sentenced on April 16, 2026, to over 13 years in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release on one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. Marquez-Garcia was indicted in the Western District of Arkansas in April 2025 for multiple drug related crimes committed in and around Lincoln and Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Danny Trent Barrows, age 45, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, was sentenced on April 16, 2026, to over 13 years in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release on one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. Barrows was indicted in the Western District of Arkansas in August 2025 for multiple drug related crimes committed in and around Winslow, Fayetteville, and Goshen, Arkansas.
Marquesha Young, age 34, of El Dorado, Arkansas, was sentenced on April 20, 2026, to 10 years in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. Young was indicted in the Western District of Arkansas in November of 2025 for drug related crimes committed in and around Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The Fourth (4th) Judicial District Drug Taskforce, Fayetteville Police Department, Rogers Narcotics Unit, Lincoln Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated these cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Roberts, Kevin Eaton, Sydney Stanley, and David Harris prosecuted these cases on behalf of the United States.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov.
Dyer Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Michael Deckinga, 42 years old, of Dyer, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip S. Simon after pleading guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Michael Deckinga was sentenced to 180 months in prison, 15 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution to the victims of the offense.
According to documents in the case, between November 22, 2024, and May 14, 2025, Deckinga distributed child pornography, and further he admitted to accessing child sexual abuse material on Kik Messenger for approximately five years.
“The Defendant was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. To the public, Michael Deckinga presented himself as Vice President of Advancement at Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, Indiana dedicated to providing a religiously inspired education to Indiana’s young people,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “But once behind the Internet’s veil of anonymity, Deckinga betrayed his true self. He collected a trove of some of the vilest child pornography available, which he then distributed to likeminded users. Over the same period, he sent a host of graphic online messages to multiple purported minors to solicit additional child pornography. Thankfully, agents from Homeland Security Investigations, working closely with partners in the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, uncovered Deckinga’s crimes so that he could be held accountable by the federal justice system. I thank HSI, the Indiana State Police, and the Dyer Police Department for their excellent investigative work. I also thank Mr. Patrick Harrington’s team from the Tippecanoe County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and AUSA Emily Morgan from the US Attorney’s Office, for their excellent work bringing this case to a just conclusion. Their combined efforts show how effective Project Safe Childhood can be when its members work as a team and a predator is now behind bars.
“Homeland Security Investigations will relentlessly pursue those who distribute child pornography and exploit innocent children. Our agents are dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice. We thank our law enforcement partners for their collaboration and remain committed to safeguarding our communities from these horrific crimes,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino.
All of the agencies involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case would like to thank the local community for their outpouring of support.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Indiana State Police, the Indiana State Police Digital Forensics Unit, the Dyer Police Department, and the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Deadly Beating Yields Guilty Plea from D.C. ManRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Charles Lewis, 35, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty Friday in connection to the deadly beating of 55-year-old Mark Carter, that occurred in Southeast Washington, D.C. on October 10, 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The charges have a sentencing range of 12-15 years of incarceration. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 2, 2026.
The government’s evidence indicates that on October 10, 2022, Lewis confronted the victim, Mark Carter, in an alleyway off Southern Ave SE, regarding an ongoing feud about the victim’s use of a car that belonged to the defendant’s family member. Lewis found Carter with the car in the alleyway. The defendant grabbed Carter and threw him to the ground. Lewis repeatedly punched and kicked Carter in the head and the body until he became unresponsive. The defendant then dragged Carter out into the middle of Southern Avenue SE and fled the scene. The victim succumbed to his injuries five days later on October 15, 2022.
Lewis was arrested on December 7, 2022, 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. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Wes Faulkner, Jr. and Peter Roman.
2022 CF1 002264
Court Sentences Mobile County Man for Possessing A Firearm as A Four Time Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL - On April 16, 2026, United States District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Demarcus Jeremy Hodge to 61 months’ imprisonment for Possession of a Firearm as a Convicted Felon.
Court documents show that on July 31, 2025, Hodge was stopped by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) for a traffic violation. A MCSO Deputy could smell the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle and asked HODGE to exit the vehicle. The deputy conducted a pat-down for officer safety and a loaded handgun was found in Hodge’s waistband. Law enforcement searched the vehicle due to the strong smell of suspected marijuana. Two bags of marijuana and a set of digital scales, used for weighing drugs, were found in the vehicle.
A MCSO Narcotics Investigator arrived on scene and read Hodge Miranda warnings. Hodge advised that he understood his rights and agreed to speak with law enforcement officers. Hodge stated the marijuana was his and he forgot the gun was on him during the traffic stop. Hodge also admitted he was a convicted felon and knew he should not have a gun. Hodge added that he purchased the gun on the streets from a woman for $300.
An ATF Special Agent examined the firearm, a Sig Sauer, 9mm handgun, and determined it was not manufactured in the State of Alabama and thus affected interstate commerce by making its way into Alabama. At the time Hodge possessed the firearm, he had been previously convicted of the following felonies: Promoting Prison Contraband, on or about April 21, 2016, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, in case number CC-2015-006497; Receiving Stolen Property (Count 1) and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Count 2), on or about December 4, 2019, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, in case number CC-2019-002452; and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, on or about February 8, 2022, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, in case number CC-2020-002693. The firearm was determined to have been stolen from a man who resided in the State of Florida.U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys George F. May and Galliard S. Ladd prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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 Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Court Sentences Mobile County Man for Possessing A Firearm as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL - On April 10, 2026, United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose sentenced Ray Anthony Parker to 70 months’ imprisonment for Possession of a Firearm as a Convicted Felon.
Court documents show that on July 22, 2024, a Mobile Police Department (MPD) Officer executed a traffic stop on a vehicle which was traveling east on Airport Boulevard for improper lane usage. The MPD Officer approached the driver side of the vehicle and immediately noted the odor of marijuana. The Officer contacted the sole occupant of the vehicle who identified himself as Ray Parker. While speaking with Parker the odor of marijuana emanating from within the vehicle grew stronger.
The MPD Officer asked Parker to exit the vehicle at which time the Officer detained him, placing him in the back seat of his patrol vehicle. While placing Parker in the patrol vehicle Parker stated that he had marijuana and a firearm inside of his vehicle. The Officer searched the vehicle and recovered a clear plastic bag containing approximately five grams of marijuana.
The Officer then recovered a Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine under the driver’s seat. Parker had previously been convicted of felony offenses to include Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin in the United States District Court for the Southern District if Alabama, Case No. CR16-00064-CRB, on or about August 15, 2016, and Possession/Receipt of a Controlled Substance in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, Case No. CC2010-005621, on or about April 2, 2012. The Glock firearm was not manufactured in the State of Alabama and thus affected interstate commerce by its transportation into the State of Alabama.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Mobile Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George F. May prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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 Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Cornish Man Pleads Guilty to Making Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Cornish man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to transmitting a threatening interstate communication.
According to court records, Blake Tibbetts, 25, made a post on X, a social media website, in which he used a racial epithet in an angry exchange with another X user and threatened to pay “a visit VERY soon” to the user’s “kind,” sending “them” his “condolences.”
Tibbetts faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a maximum supervised release term of three years. 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 FBI, the Maine State Police, and the Office of the Maine State Fire Marshal investigated the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Possessing a Loaded Firearm and FentanylRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Lanoix Pierrelus, 26, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 41 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm while also carrying 50 fentanyl pills he intended to sell, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
On Aug. 26, 2025, Pierrelus pleaded guilty before Judge Nichols in U.S. District Court to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In addition to the 41-month prison term, Judge Nichols ordered Pierrelus to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 51-month prison term.
According to court papers, on Oct. 22, 2024, Metropolitan Police Department officers on patrol in a high-crime area observed a group of about eight individuals congregating in the street near a Toyota sedan. When Pierrelus noticed the officers’ approach, he moved quickly toward the rear passenger door of the vehicle, reached toward his groin area, and crouched behind the car. Officers searched the area where he had crouched and recovered a loaded Ruger Model 57 pistol, with a round in the chamber and 21 rounds in the magazine.
When officers searched Pierrelus following his arrest, they recovered a black satchel containing 50 blue pills stamped “M30.” The pills appeared to be oxycodone but were later confirmed by a DEA laboratory chemist to be fentanyl, with a total net weight of about 5.4 grams. Pierrelus admitted he intended to sell them.
Pierrelus was on court-ordered supervision for a prior felony firearm conviction at the time of the offense.
The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division Office.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.
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Connecticut Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Exploiting Multiple ChildrenRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Taiel Gookool, age 31, was sentenced on April 17, 2026, to 35 years in prison to be followed by 20 years of supervised release by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci for exploiting four different minors and possessing child pornography.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
In 2018, Gookool was convicted of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree in Connecticut, a statutory rape offense involving a victim between 13 and 15 years old. He was required to register as a sex offender as a result. In 2024, he sexually exploited four teenage females, subjecting all of them to vaginal sex and three of the four to mouth-to-penis contact. The defendant created or had the victims create videos of the sexual abuse.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Though Gookool was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment for his 2018 conviction, he served just over 2 years of that sentence because the rest was suspended. This left him inadequately punished and totally undeterred, repeating the same conduct with multiple victims not only after his release but while still on probation for it. His 35-year sentence ensures that the community will be protected for decades to come. I applaud the work of the FBI and the New York State Police in bringing this dangerous sexual predator to justice.”
Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremorli said: “Mr. Gookool, a registered sex offender and pathological predator, will spend the next three and a half decades in federal prison for refusing to change his sickening behavior. While he remains behind bars and unable to harm our most vulnerable, the FBI will continue to work tirelessly to ensure justice for the victims of these dangerous criminals.”
FBI-Albany investigated the case with assistance from FBI-New Haven and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted the case as 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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Chesapeake nurse pleads guilty to taking medications intended to treat patients in painRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake woman pled guilty on April 24 to obtaining controlled substances by fraud.
According to court documents, from January 2023 to March 2024, Michelle Kollmar, 56, was a Registered Nurse working at a healthcare facility. Among Kollmar’s responsibilities was treating patients suffering from, among other afflictions, sickle-cell anemia or who were in cancer comfort care. These patients had patient-controlled analgesia pumps to dispense medication when they were in pain.
Kollmar used patients' personal identifying information to access Omnicells, which are automated prescription drug dispensing machines, and diverted vials of hydromorphone. She would later replace the vials in the Omnicell with syringes, including with doses that were about to expire. Kollmar also accessed the Omnicell when she was off work and should not have been in the hospital.
Multiple videos showed Kollmar diverting and replacing hydromorphone vials in Omnicells. Lab analysis revealed that some of the replacement syringes did not contain any hydromorphone and were found to be mostly water, while one was suspected of being diluted Dilaudid.
During the investigation Kollmar tested positive for hydromorphone, though it was not prescribed to her, and admitted that she used the hydromorphone she had taken.
Kollmar is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 27 and faces up to 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division, and the Virginia State Police investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton D. LaForge is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. 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-103.
Charlotte Company Agrees to Pay Nearly $1.2 Million to Resolve Allegations It Improperly Obtained a PPP LoanRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. –Okaya Shinnichi Corporation of America (Okaya), a steel tubing manufacturer located in Charlotte, has agreed to pay $1,196,421.68 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by providing false information to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which it was not eligible, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today.
This settlement resolves allegations that Okaya misrepresented that it was a small business with less than 300 employees among all affiliates on its application for a second round PPP loan of $478,568.67. Instead, the lawsuit alleged, Okaya was the jointly held U.S. subsidiary of two Japanese corporations, and had multiple affiliates worldwide, totaling well over the 300-employee limit for second round PPP loans.
This matter arose from a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit is captioned U.S. ex rel. Verity Investigations, LLC v. Okaya Shinnichi Corporation of America; W.D.N.C. Case No. 3:25-cv-232.
The government’s investigation was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Johnson.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability
Central Valley Business Owner Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Role in Stealing $4.8 Million in Livestock Feed IngredientsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Richard Best, 72, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to three years in prison and ordered to pay $2 million in restitution for his role in a fraud scheme that stole millions of dollars’ worth of canola (used to make livestock feed) from international food processors, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“Richard Best treated the agricultural supply chain as his personal inventory, stealing nearly $5 million worth of canola oil for his personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who commit fraud in our agricultural markets will be found and prosecuted. We remain committed to protecting the integrity of our markets and the businesses that play by the rules.”
“Richard Best and Shawn Sawa orchestrated a scheme to steal almost $5 million worth of canola destined for cattle feed and other commodities. The products were then sold to pay Best’s operating expenses and fuel Sawa’s lavish lifestyle,” said FBI Sacramento Field Office Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “White collar crime is not victimless; victim companies can be devastated by crimes like these and the price of the commodities they sell can also be impacted. This is why the FBI is committed to uncovering corporate fraud and urges anyone with information about crimes like this to come forward.”
According to court documents, from 2015 through 2017, Best and Shawn Sawa, 49, formerly of Clovis, stole $4.8 million worth of canola from international food processors. They then sold the canola for a windfall. Best pleaded guilty on Oct. 14, 2025. Sawa pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Dec. 8, 2025, to 18 months in prison.
Best and Sawa carried out the scheme through Best’s now defunct train-to-truck transloading company, Richard Best Transfer Inc. (RBT). A transloading company transfers commodities from one mode of transportation to another mode. The victim food processors sent hundreds of thousands of tons of their canola to RBT for delivery to their customers. Sawa was the Fresno area manager for one of the victim food processors from whom he and Best stole canola. Sawa initially received kickback payments from Best to try to increase the supply of canola that RBT received from that food processor before they began their scheme.
Best and Sawa sold the stolen canola through an acquaintance in Texas who used to work in the livestock-feed industry. The acquaintance sold the stolen canola to farms and dairies and distributed the proceeds according to Best’s instructions. This included wire transfers to Best, RBT’s bank accounts, and Sawa. The account that Sawa used was opened in his spouse’s name to try to conceal the scheme.
Throughout the scheme, Best and Sawa caused RBT to email fraudulent inventory reports to the victim food processors representing that RBT had certain amounts of their canola in stock when, in fact, RBT had significantly lesser amounts. Best and Sawa used the proceeds from the scheme to purchase luxury homes and multiple vehicles, take trips, hire private karate teachers, and cover RBT’s operating expenses, among other expenses.
Shortly before the scheme was discovered, Best gave Sawa an old cellphone that had belonged to Best’s deceased mother. Best did so because he was afraid that the victim food processor for whom Sawa worked was onto their scheme and was monitoring communications on Sawa’s company issued devices. They then used the old cellphone to secretly communicate with each other in furtherance of the scheme.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody Chapple, Joseph Barton, and Chan Hee Chu prosecuted the case.
Cartel Member Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 24, 2026, Jose Cardenas-Salcido (age 43) was sentenced to twenty-two years of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, by United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller.
Judge Stadtmueller previously found Cardenas-Salcido guilty of the following crimes after a bench trial in January 2026: distributing at least 400 grams of fentanyl; unlawfully using a communication facility to commit a felony; attempting to obstruct justice using physical force; and attempting to corruptly persuade a witness to offer influenced testimony in an official proceeding.
During the trial, witnesses described how Cardenas-Salcido supplied pills containing fentanyl to lower-level distributors selling in the Milwaukee metro area. Cardenas-Salcido and his collaborators sent their fentanyl through the mail before a shipment containing over 5,000 pills was intercepted by law enforcement in October 2022, and investigators later learned that Cardenas-Salcido was the source of those drugs. The evidence also showed that the defendant was an admitted member of the Sinaloa cartel, with familial connections to it.
The government also proved that after Cardenas-Salcido was detained pending trial, he attempted to obstruct justice in multiple ways. First, the defendant offered to supply a fellow inmate with guns and drugs from the cartel if that inmate would provide the defendant with false exculpatory affidavits. Next, the defendant offered a cartel connection to a different inmate if that same inmate would kill the witnesses set to testify against him. Finally, the defendant attempted to intimidate the witnesses against him by sending threatening letters mentioning his cartel connections to the witnesses’ families. Evidence admitted during the trial included the photo below, which depict the fentanyl pills Cardenas-Salcido trafficked.
In its sentencing commentary, the government emphasized the dangerousness of Cardenas-Salcido’s conduct, given fentanyl’s potency and the risk of violence associated with his crimes.
While imposing sentence, Judge Stadtmueller noted that he had sentenced over 2,600 defendants in federal court and was accordingly quite familiar with the dangers posed by the defendant’s conduct, which was “totally antithetical to that which we expect from the average citizen.”
The Court also noted Cardenas-Salcido’s association with both “the Sinaloa cartel” and local individuals “who are attracted to that lifestyle.” Judge Stadtmueller explained that while incarceration is expensive, a substantial sentence was necessary given the nature and circumstances of the defendant’s crimes. The Court noted that while fentanyl is not the most expensive drug available, it is “the most deadly” and responsible for the most overdose deaths in the community.
The Court also underscored the “undeniable association between drug trafficking and the loss of innocent lives” and noted the very short period that had elapsed between the defendant’s release from his prior sentence in Arizona and the drug trafficking at issue in this case. Finally, Judge Stadtmueller emphasized the “critically important” need to protect the public from this defendant, describing this consideration as “front and center” of the Court’s sentencing analysis.First Assistant U.S. Attorney Schimel stated, “Thousands of people in our state have died from fentanyl poisoning, and by 2021 was the leading cause of death for 18 to 45 year-olds. Those who bring this drug into our communities and profit off the death, destruction and violence associated with the fentanyl trade must be locked up.”
“This investigation and sentence underscore the strength of coordination between federal, state and local partners in identifying and dismantling those responsible for distributing fentanyl," said John McGarry, assistant special agent in charge of DEA Milwaukee District Office. "The DEA will continue to prioritize these cases to disrupt supply chains and protect our communities from this deadly drug.”
Chief Patrick Mitchell of the West Allis Police Department stated, “This sentence should serve as a warning to drug traffickers that the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin are unified in our efforts to hold individuals accountable for the destruction caused by drug trafficking.”
“The sentencing of Jose Cardenas-Salcido sends a clear message in how critical a role the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and its law enforcement partners play in protecting American consumers from illegal narcotics being shipped via the U.S. Mail. U.S. Postal Inspectors are committed to continuing our work to dismantle drug trafficking operations to keep USPS customers and employees safe from drug traffickers who favor profit over human lives,” stated Acting Inspector-in-Charge Nicholas Bucciarelli of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Chicago Division.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Allis Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office including Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Knight.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 76 Months in Federal Prison for Gun ConvictionRead the Press Release
Frank Sneed, age 33, of New Roads, Louisiana, was sentenced to 76 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. District Court Judge Brian A. Jackson further sentenced Sneed to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered the firearm involved be forfeited.
According to admissions made during his plea, on November 29, 2023, an East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office detective responded to a report of retail theft at a retail store located off Siegen Lane in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While working that investigation, officers observed two men (Man #1 and Man #2), who were unrelated to the initial investigation, entering the store together. After Man #1 was observed hiding items on his person, officers contacted and detained both men. As reflected in the video from the store, Man #2, who was identified as Sneed, did not participate in the theft. However, in conjunction with an officer safety pat down, Sneed told the detective that he had a gun in his jacket. Officers located and removed a Smith and Wesson M&P 45 pistol from Sneed’s jacket. At the time of the offense, Sneed knew he had been convicted of a felony and could not possess a firearm.
Sneed was previously convicted of two counts of simple burglary on May 9, 2011, in the 19th Judicial District Court, and was initially sentenced to two years of probation and later three years in prison after his probation was revoked; simple burglary on October 25, 2011, in the 19th Judicial District Court, and sentenced to one year in prison to run consecutive to his three-year sentence; two counts of armed robbery on August 3, 2015, in the 19th Judicial District Court, and sentenced to 10 years in prison; and simple escape on March 22, 2016, in the 12th Judicial District Court, and sentenced to one year in prison to run consecutive to his 10 year sentence.
U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office; and U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Anderson is in charge of the prosecution.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Boise Cascade Pleads Guilty and Is Sentenced for Violating the Lacey Act for Its Role in a Timber Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – The Boise Cascade Company (Boise Cascade) pleaded guilty and was sentenced today for a felony violation of the Lacey Act for its role in a timber trafficking scheme to evade countervailing and anti-dumping duties. Boise Cascade was sentenced to pay a fine of $6,382,000, representing twice the gross profits it derived from the illegal wood at issue in this case, and implement a compliance plan. Boise Cascade is the third federal criminal enforcement action to come out of this large-scale duty evasion scheme.
“As I made clear at last week’s TIMBER Working Group Roundtable event hosted by ENRD, we must thwart efforts of foreign bad actors who engage in illegal timber mining to finance other illicit and dangerous activities,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “Boise Cascade’s guilty plea is a significant step toward ending illegal timber shipments from entering our country, thereby bolstering American security and safeguarding American citizens from threats of transnational criminal organizations.”
“Boise Cascade either knew about or was willfully blind to the illegal importation of the plywood they were purchasing from Horizon Plywood,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This scheme defrauded taxpayers of import duties and undercut law-abiding competitors by importing and selling between $25 million and $65 million worth of plywood products. By purchasing these illegal imports, Boise Cascade helped perpetuate the scheme.”
“Trade fraud is not a paperwork violation. It is theft from the American taxpayer and an attack on lawful American commerce,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Boise Cascade knowingly profited from illegally imported timber and helped sustain a scheme designed to evade millions in duties owed to the United States. Today’s guilty plea and sentence make clear that companies that turn a blind eye to fraud in pursuit of profit will be held accountable. Our Office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to protect honest businesses, American markets, and the integrity of our trade system.”
“Homeland Security Investigations is dedicated to protecting U.S. economic interests and enforcing laws that safeguard our natural resources,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. “This case highlights the importance of collaboration between federal agencies to disrupt illegal importation schemes and hold responsible parties accountable. HSI will continue to pursue those who seek to profit by circumventing U.S. laws and regulations.”
Boise Cascade is a publicly traded company with a distribution center in Pompano. Boise Cascade purchased wood from Horizon Plywood (Horizon), whose principals, Noel and Kelsy Quintana, were sentenced in February 2024 for conspiracy and Lacey Act violations based on their illegal importation of hardwood plywood. Horizon employee Marta Angelbello was also sentenced after pleading guilty to making a false statement in a declaration related to her role in the scheme.
According to court filings, during the sales years of 2018 through 2021, Boise Cascade’s Pompano location purchased hardwood plywood from Horizon, totaling more than $30 million. Beginning in approximately 2019, Boise Cascade purchased, received, sold, and transported hardwood plywood from Horizon knowing (including actions manifesting willful blindness) that hardwood plywood was illegally imported from China. The importation was illegal because Horizon smuggled the wood and violated the Lacey Act by falsifying import declarations for hardwood and softwood plywood. Boise Cascade knew that Horizon had previously tried to hide the origin of the wood that it imported. For example, Horizon transshipped products from China to Malaysia, where it moved product into new containers, and then from Malaysia to the United States. Boise Cascade knew or should have known the plywood purchased from Horizon was sourced from China.
Boise Cascade was also aware the United States executed a search warrant at Horizon’s warehouse in South Florida in January 2021, and despite knowing that Horizon was under some federal investigation, Boise Cascade still placed at least 10 new orders for birch plywood in the two weeks following the search warrant and received the orders.
HSI investigated the case with support from Customs and Border Protection.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christian Harris and Elizabeth Hannah for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Emily R. Stone of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.
ENRD is a member of the Department of Justice’s Trade Fraud Task Force, a cross-agency law enforcement effort that also involves the Criminal and Civil Divisions’ Fraud Sections, ENRD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, the Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide. The Task Force was created to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to prevent trade fraud that deprives the government of vital revenue, threatens critical domestic industries, undermines consumer confidence, and weakens national security. The Task Force is designed to pursue enforcement actions against parties who seek to evade tariffs and other duties, as well as smugglers who seek to import prohibited goods into the American economy. The Justice Department encourages whistleblowers to alert the government to credible allegations of fraud, including utilizing the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act or through the Criminal Division’s Corporate Whistleblower Program at [email protected] using the form available here.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 26-cr-60088.
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Boise Cascade Pleads Guilty and Is Sentenced for Violating the Lacey Act for Its Role in a Timber Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
The Boise Cascade Company (Boise Cascade) pleaded guilty and was sentenced today for a felony violation of the Lacey Act for its role in a timber trafficking scheme to evade countervailing and anti-dumping duties. Boise Cascade was sentenced to pay a fine of $6,382,000, representing twice the gross profits it derived from the illegal wood at issue in this case, and implement a compliance plan. Boise Cascade is the third federal criminal enforcement action to come out of this large-scale duty evasion scheme.
“As I made clear at last week’s TIMBER Working Group Roundtable event hosted by ENRD, we must thwart efforts of foreign bad actors who engage in illegal timber mining to finance other illicit and dangerous activities,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “Boise Cascade’s guilty plea is a significant step toward ending illegal timber shipments from entering our country, thereby bolstering American security and safeguarding American citizens from threats of transnational criminal organizations.”
“Boise Cascade either knew about or was willfully blind to the illegal importation of the plywood they were purchasing from Horizon Plywood,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This scheme defrauded taxpayers of import duties and undercut law-abiding competitors by importing and selling between $25 million and $65 million worth of plywood products. By purchasing these illegal imports, Boise Cascade helped perpetuate the scheme.”
“Trade fraud is not a paperwork violation. It is theft from the American taxpayer and an attack on lawful American commerce,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Boise Cascade knowingly profited from illegally imported timber and helped sustain a scheme designed to evade millions in duties owed to the United States. Today’s guilty plea and sentence make clear that companies that turn a blind eye to fraud in pursuit of profit will be held accountable. Our Office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to protect honest businesses, American markets, and the integrity of our trade system.”
“Homeland Security Investigations is dedicated to protecting U.S. economic interests and enforcing laws that safeguard our natural resources,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. “This case highlights the importance of collaboration between federal agencies to disrupt illegal importation schemes and hold responsible parties accountable. HSI will continue to pursue those who seek to profit by circumventing U.S. laws and regulations.”
Boise Cascade is a publicly traded company with a distribution center in Pompano, Florida. Boise Cascade purchased wood from Horizon Plywood (Horizon), whose principals, Noel and Kelsy Quintana, were sentenced in February 2024 for conspiracy and Lacey Act violations based on their illegal importation of hardwood plywood. Horizon employee Marta Angelbello was also sentenced after pleading guilty to making a false statement in a declaration related to her role in the scheme.
According to court filings, during the sales years of 2018 through 2021, Boise Cascade’s Pompano location purchased hardwood plywood from Horizon, totaling more than $30 million. Beginning in approximately 2019, Boise Cascade purchased, received, sold, and transported hardwood plywood from Horizon knowing (including actions manifesting willful blindness) that hardwood plywood was illegally imported from China. The importation was illegal because Horizon smuggled the wood and violated the Lacey Act by falsifying import declarations for hardwood and softwood plywood. Boise Cascade knew that Horizon had previously tried to hide the origin of the wood that it imported. For example, Horizon transshipped products from China to Malaysia, where it moved product into new containers, and then from Malaysia to the United States. Boise Cascade knew or should have known the plywood purchased from Horizon was sourced from China.
Boise Cascade was also aware the United States executed a search warrant at Horizon’s warehouse in South Florida in January 2021, and despite knowing that Horizon was under federal investigation, Boise Cascade still placed at least 10 new orders for birch plywood in the two weeks following the search warrant and received the orders.
HSI investigated the case with support from Customs and Border Protection.
Trial Attorney Emily R. Stone of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christian Harris and Elizabeth Hannah for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
ENRD is a member of the Department of Justice’s Trade Fraud Task Force, a cross-agency law enforcement effort that also involves the Criminal and Civil Divisions’ Fraud Sections, ENRD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, the Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide. The Task Force was created to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to prevent trade fraud that deprives the government of vital revenue, threatens critical domestic industries, undermines consumer confidence, and weakens national security. The Task Force is designed to pursue enforcement actions against parties who seek to evade tariffs and other duties, as well as smugglers who seek to import prohibited goods into the American economy. The Justice Department encourages whistleblowers to alert the government to credible allegations of fraud, including utilizing the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act or through the Criminal Division’s Corporate Whistleblower Program at [email protected] using the form available here.
Bloomington Man Charged with Sending Interstate Threats to InjureRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Bloomington, Illinois, man appeared in federal court today after being charged by criminal complaint on Friday, April 24, 2026, for transmitting interstate threats to injure, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). Sean E. Lenckus, 35, of Bloomington, was released on conditions of bond following his initial appearance.
The complaint alleges that Lenckus transmitted several interstate threats to injure another person from February 2023 through April 2026.
Lenckus was arrested on Friday evening by federal agents with assistance of the McLean County Sheriff’s Office. He was placed on bond pending trial.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crime charged are five years’ incarceration, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and the McLean County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas McMeyer is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that a complaint is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Bergen County Business Owner Admits Evading TaxesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County business owner admitted evading over $230,000 in income taxes and payroll taxes, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Kfir Baroan, 50, of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on April 23, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz to an information charging him with tax evasion and willful failure to pay over payroll taxes associated with his business.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Baroan operated an auto body shop in Bergen County, New Jersey, through which he earned significant income and had employees. From 2018 to 2021, Baroan failed to file income tax returns and failed to pay any taxes on his income. Baroan cashed over $1.5 million in business receipt checks at check-cashing facilities and used bank accounts associated with other businesses to deposit cash and to withdraw funds for personal and business expenses. Baroan also paid his employees in cash, failed to report the employees’ wages to the IRS, and failed to withhold, truthfully account for, and pay over a variety of taxes from employee wages. In total, Baroan evaded over $233,000 in taxes between 2018 and 2021.
The charge of income tax evasion carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. The charge of willful failure to pay over payroll taxes also carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for September 2, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the IRS – Criminal Investigation under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Piovesan, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano, Co-Chief of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Michael Weinstein, Esq.
baroan.information.pdfBeatrice Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison for Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Jarviuntae Hale, 21, of Beatrice was sentenced to 108 months in prison for unlawful possession of a machine gun conversion device, commonly known as a “Glock-switch.” A machine gun conversion device is a device which renders a firearm capable of firing multiple rounds of ammunition by a single function of the trigger without manual reloading.
According to court documents, on the evening of Thanksgiving, November 28, 2024, a shooting occurred at a bonfire in Frisco City, Alabama. One individual was killed after being shot multiple times. The suspect was identified as Hale. Witness accounts of the shooting were of a “burst” of fire consistent with that a machine gun. No weapon was ever recovered. A short time later, a search warrant was executed at Hale’s residence where a machinegun conversion device was located inside of an empty Glock firearm box under Hale’s bed. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was notified and continued the investigation leading to Hale’s federal indictment.
On April 16, 2026, United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed a 108-month sentence for possession of the machine gun conversion device and ordered that Hale serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
Frisco City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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 Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Alleged Guatemalan Drug Kingpin with $10 Million Reward Arrested in San DiegoRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Alleged Guatemalan drug kingpin Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez, aka “Don Dario,” who is accused of being the leader of a transnational criminal organization known as Los Huistas, has been arrested in San Diego. Molina-Lopez made his initial appearance in federal court on Friday, April 24, 2026.
Los Huistas is a drug trafficking organization primarily based in the Huehuetenango region of Northwest Guatemala that borders Mexico and is engaged in a massive cocaine trafficking operation. Molina-Lopez was charged as part of Operation Guerrilla Unit, a multi-year investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), HSI Attaché Guatemala City, Guatemala, and the United States Attorney’s Office in San Diego. The investigation targeted Molina-Lopez, the Los Huistas organization, and its suppliers. High-level cocaine traffickers were targeted in a massive probe involving multiple countries, multiple law enforcement agencies around the United States, and a number of federal districts.
The indictment returned on January 29, 2019, charges Molina-Lopez with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Intended for Unlawful Importation and Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine on Board a Vessel.
In March 2022, the U.S. Department of State announced that it was offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Molina-Lopez. This award was offered under the U.S. Department of State’s Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP). More than 75 transnational criminals and major narcotics traffickers have been brought to justice under the NRP and the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP) since 1986. The Department has paid more than $135 million in rewards to date. The State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs manages the NRP in close coordination with Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other U.S. government agencies.
Simultaneously in March 2022, the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also designated the Los Huistas Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) and Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059 for drug trafficking that threatens the people and security of the United States and Guatemala.
“Cartel leaders don’t get to write the end of their stories. We do,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “And once again, the final chapter for a man alleged to be one of the world’s most notorious and prolific cocaine traffickers is here in the Southern District of California.”
“This operation demonstrates the effectiveness of the Homeland Security Task Force and our partnerships with agencies across the United States and Guatemala,” said Kevin Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, San Diego. “HSI and our law enforcement partners were able to dismantle a major transnational criminal organization responsible for trafficking massive quantities of cocaine and threatening the security of both nations. This operation underscores the importance of a whole-of-government approach and the relentless commitment of HSI and our partners to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law.”
At Friday’s hearing, the defendant entered a not guilty plea. A motion hearing/trial setting is scheduled for May 11, 2026, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Dana M. Sabraw.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari.
DEFENDANT Case Number 19-cr-0327-DMS
Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez 61 Huehuetenango, Guatemala
aka “Don Dario,”
aka “Molis”SUMMARY OF CHARGES
International Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Section 959, 960, 963
Criminal Forfeiture – Title 21, U.S.C., Section 853Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine on Board a Vessel – Title 46, U.S.C., Section 70503(b), 70506
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison and $10 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
HSI Attaché Guatemala City, Guatemala
HSI Attaché Mexico City Mexico
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
U.S. Coast Guard
Drug Enforcement Administration
Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs
Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations
Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S)
U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
U.S. Department of State
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 San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Albuquerque Man Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been charged with federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses after allegedly supplying nearly five pounds of methamphetamine to undercover officers and later being found in possession of fentanyl, firearms, and ammunition.
According to court documents, on March 26, 2026, Lucas Maldonado, 44, allegedly supplied almost five pounds of methamphetamine to undercover officers from the Albuquerque Police Department. The transaction took place in a parking lot of a business in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Maldonado arrived in a pickup truck accompanied by his 10-year-old son.
During the transaction, an intermediary retrieved a backpack containing methamphetamine from Maldonado’s vehicle and delivered it to an undercover officer in exchange for $7,000. After the exchange, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop, taking him into custody without incident.
The following day, investigators executed a search warrant on Maldonado’s vehicle and allegedly recovered fentanyl and methamphetamine, multiple firearms, drug paraphernalia, and approximately $11,000 in U.S. currency, including the controlled purchase money. As a previously convicted felon, Maldonado is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Maldonado is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Maldonado will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, he faces up to life 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department’s Central Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nora Wilson is prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Maldonado).pdfA criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Friday 24 April 2026
Worcester Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced yesterday for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Gilbert Morin, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to six years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In September 2025, Morin was indicted by a federal grand jury. Morin was arrested and charged in state court on May 30, 2025, and has remained in custody since.
On May 30, 2025, police responded to a report of a man with a firearm outside of downtown nightclub. Unable to locate the individual at the scene, officers drove a short distance away and observed a man who appeared to be concealing an item in his hand. When police attempted to stop the individual, later idented as Morin, he led police on a foot chase. Upon being apprehended, Morin was found to have possessed a stolen Taurus pistol loaded with ammunition. Morin previously was convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Feld Division; and Paul Saucier, Chief of the Worcester Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Wetumpka Man Sentence to over 12 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that a Wetumpka, Alabama man has been sentenced to prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
On April 21, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 48-year-old Michael David Wilson to 151 months in prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Wilson will serve four years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, on May 30, 2025, deputies with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Wilson. During the stop, Wilson became belligerent and was asked to exit the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a methamphetamine pipe and more than 14 grams of methamphetamine.
On January 13, 2026, Wilson pleaded guilty to the federal drug charge. Due in part to his extensive criminal history, Wilson faced an elevated advisory sentencing guideline range, which contributed to the length of his sentence.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Christine Levi prosecuted.
Washington, DC Man Convicted by Jury for String of Armed Postal-Carrier RobberiesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A Washington, DC, man is headed to prison for robbing several United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carriers at gunpoint.
After an eight-day trial, a federal jury convicted DeAngelo Lewis, 30, on numerous federal charges in connection with the 2022-armed robbery of seven mail carriers. Charges include armed robbery of postal carriers; bank fraud; theft of mail; and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty verdict with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD); and Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).
Evidence presented at trial established that beginning in January 2022, and continuing through at least October 2022, Lewis and his co-conspirators committed numerous armed robberies. Lewis and his co-conspirators robbed seven mail carriers at gunpoint as they delivered mail in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. The co-conspirators took the mail carriers’ postal-service keys, which open public mail collection boxes and neighborhood cluster boxes. With access to these boxes, Lewis and his co-conspirators stole personal and business checks that people placed in the mail. They then altered the checks and negotiated them at various banks, stealing almost $1 million of victims’ money in the process.
According to trial testimony, as USPS carriers walked their routes, sorted mail in their trucks, or filled neighborhood cluster boxes, one or more masked individuals approached them. The individual(s) then pointed or flashed firearms and demanded the carrier’s mailbox key. During one encounter, a masked individual struck one carrier in the face even though the carrier already handed over his key. Doorbell cameras or business CCTV systems captured at least two of the robberies.
Additionally, a black Mercedes sedan and a blue Dodge Challenger — which are cars Lewis was known to drive — were frequently seen leaving the scenes of the robberies. Navigation data seized from Lewis’ phone also revealed that he searched for post offices near each of the robberies shortly before they occurred. Lewis would use this information to begin searching for a mail carrier to target in that area.
Law enforcement identified Lewis and his co-conspirators after seeing them on bank surveillance cameras depositing stolen and altered checks at various bank branch locations. Then, when law enforcement searched Lewis’s Marlow Heights, Maryland, apartment, officers found approximately 1,500 checks, with a face-value of nearly $3 million, that had not yet been deposited at banks. The checks were sorted in envelopes based on where they were stolen from. Postal inspectors found at least 60 instances where Lewis already deposited checks worth nearly $1 million. Law enforcement also found check-altering materials and five of the seven stolen postal-service keys in Lewis’ nightstand and on the floor in the apartment.
Social media, along with a search of Lewis’ phone, revealed that he recruited others to allow him to use their accounts to deposit stolen and altered checks in exchange for a percentage of the proceeds. Postal inspectors testified that recruiting others via Instagram, Telegram, and other platforms enables fraudsters like Lewis to deposit far more checks than they could get away with if they attempted to use their accounts.
On October 27, law enforcement arrested Lewis after officers observed him exiting a white Dodge Challenger. Lewis and two co-conspirators just finished stealing mail from three blue public-collection boxes in Potomac, Maryland. One of the co-conspirators was wearing a USPS shirt. Law enforcement found a sixth key – which was robbed from a mail carrier only a week before in the same area – in the vehicle.
Lewis faces a minimum of seven years and a maximum of life in federal prison for using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, namely a robbery on January 31, 2022, and a minimum of five years and a maximum of life for carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, namely a robbery on October 20, 2022. Those minimum sentences must be served consecutive to each other and any other sentence imposed, for a total of at least 12 years. Additionally, Lewis faces a maximum of 30 years in prison for armed robbery, and a maximum of 30 years in prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and bank fraud. He is also facing additional time for charges related to bank fraud, mail theft, and unlawful possession of postal keys. A sentencing date is pending.
Co-conspirators Marking Long, 24 of Washington, D.C., and Enrico Hood-Jackson, 32, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and bank fraud in connection with the scheme. Hood-Jackson also pled guilty to armed robbery and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS, PGPD, and MCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darren S. Gardner and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Jaskiw who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Wapato Man Sentenced for Drive-by ShootingRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that Caludgrio Joseph Bianco, age 26, of Wapato, Washington, was sentenced to 40 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release by Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. Bianco pled guilty to Drive-By Shooting pursuant to the Assimilative Crimes Act and to Possession of a Stolen Firearm on November 18, 2025.
According to court documents and information presented at sentencing, on March 15, 2025, Bianco, an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, fired two shots at an occupied dwelling in Wapato as he drove by the home. The shooting was captured on neighbors’ security cameras. This appeared to be a random act of violence as Bianco did not know the victim homeowners. Further investigation revealed that the firearm used by Bianco, which was recovered by law enforcement the day of the shooting, was stolen from a residence in Seattle, Washington approximately three months earlier. An indictment was handed down on May 13, 2025. In addition to his term of imprisonment, as a condition of his supervised release, Bianco was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and follow any recommended treatment.
“While the actions of law enforcement and this successful prosecution will not erase the fear and impact this event caused the victims, it is a step forward as this dangerous individual has been removed from the community,” stated Serrano. “I am grateful for the swift actions by our law enforcement partners in investigating this case, seizing and removing a stolen firearm and getting justice for such a violent act.”
“In a reckless and senseless act of violence, Mr. Bianco shot at the home of people he did not even know using a stolen firearm," said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Seattle. "It is incredibly fortunate no one was injured, especially given how close these shots came to the residents inside. The FBI, together with our partners, is committed to combatting violent crime on tribal lands and throughout the state of Washington.”This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Yakama Nation Police Department and the Wapato Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Murphy.
United States Prevails in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Alleging Excessive Force by Border PatrolRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO –A federal judge has ruled in favor of the United States in a civil lawsuit brought by the estate of a human smuggler fatally shot during a smuggling incident, rejecting allegations that Border Patrol agents used excessive force.
The plaintiffs included the son of deceased smuggler Silvestre Estrada, as well as two individuals who were being smuggled, Francisco Madariaga and Jaime Madariaga-Gonzalez. U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia ruled that the Border Patrol agents’ use of force was reasonable and that deadly force was justified when Estrada drove toward them in a threatening manner, leading the agents to reasonably fear for their safety. The court also found that less-than-lethal alternatives were not viable given the rapidly evolving situation.
The allegations stemmed from the shooting death of Estrada on May 14, 2021. That evening, at approximately 10:13 p.m., Border Patrol agents using surveillance technology observed Estrada as he picked up the cousins on the shoulder of State Route 94.
The Madariagas, who are cousins, were both undocumented aliens with Mexican citizenship and no legal right to enter or remain in the United States. The Madariagas had crossed the United States/Mexico border days before. Agents using fully marked Border Patrol vehicles found Estrada’s vehicle, and engaged Estrada by activating their service vehicle lights and sirens. Initially, Estrada pulled over and yielded to the agents.
However, as agents approached Estrada’s vehicle, Estrada sped off, and a high-speed pursuit began. The length of pursuit was approximately four miles and lasted approximately six minutes. During the pursuit, Estrada swerved in and out of the eastbound and westbound lanes of State Route 94, and at times was driving over 80 miles per hour. At trial, the Madariagas testified that, during the pursuit, they were both frightened and believed they might get into an accident.
Ultimately, Estrada’s vehicle entered a Circle K gas station from State Route 94. Several Border Patrol vehicles were pursuing Estrada at that time. Some continued the pursuit by following Estrada into the Circle K, while others surrounded the gas station and remained outside on State Route 94. Estrada sped through the Circle K property apparently looking for an exit. Estrada attempted to reach the property’s entrance/exit to escape the property but was blocked by a high curb that Estrada crashed his vehicle into. The right front end of the vehicle sustained significant damage. Unable to proceed further, Estrada backed up to a point where he was blocked in by a Border Patrol vehicle. Estrada stopped the vehicle for four seconds.
As stated by Judge Battaglia in his written ruling, “[w]hile the vehicle was stopped, Agents approached the vehicle because almost everyone—including the Madariagas—believed the vehicle chase was over . . . . Although everyone else believed the vehicle chase was over, Estrada apparently thought otherwise.” After briefly stopping, and as a Border Patrol agent approached, Estrada revved the vehicle and then accelerated forward in the direction of the approaching agent, getting within a few feet of the agent in 1.6 seconds.
Two agents, who assessed the situation as creating imminent danger of serious injury or death to the agent in front of Estada’s vehicle, fired upon Estrada’s vehicle. Almost immediately after shots were fired, Estrada’s vehicle turned back towards State Route 94, in the direction of another agent, who also assessed the same risk and danger to himself and also fired one shot towards Estrada. Estrada was struck and killed by one of the bullets. The Madariagas were not struck by any of the gunshots.
In his ruling, Judge Battaglia wrote about one agent: “One cannot expect (the agent) to have gambled with his own life by speculating on Estrada’s intent or planned trajectory and hopefully jumping away. Clearly, Estrada gambled with his own life.”
The judge wrote that another agent involved in the shooting “had little choice or option once Estrada revved up and then accelerated the vehicle in his direction.”
“The Court’s ruling confirms that these Border Patrol agents acted lawfully and appropriately under dangerous and rapidly evolving circumstances,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Federal agents are authorized to use reasonable force to protect themselves and others while carrying out their mission to secure our borders.”
“The safety of our agents is paramount, and any act of violence directed at them will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey Stalnaker, “The court’s decision affirms our agents’ authority to act in defense of themselves and the public when faced with imminent threats.”
This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Glen Dorgan, Lisa Hemann and Shital Thakkar.
PLAINTIFFS Case Number 22-cv-00373-AJB-BJW
Silvestre Estrada
a minor, by and through is proposed guardian ad litem Emily PrietoFrancisco Madariaga
Jaime Madariaga-Gonzalez
DEFENDANT
United States of America
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”):
- Wrongful Use of Deadly Force
- Assault/Battery of Francisco Madariaga and Jaime Madariaga-Gonzalez
- Negligent Use of Force
United States Attorney’s Office Hosts the Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Continuance of the Security and Education Project for Child DevelopmentRead the Press Release
Noel Del Pilar, PPA Certified & Craftsman Photographer, FFBPR Master Photographer, WPPI SpeakerSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office announced today the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between 14 State agencies for the continuance of the Proyecto de Seguridad y Educación para el Desarrollo de la Niñez (Security and Education Project for Child Development). Although not a signatory to the MOU, the United States Attorney’s Office collaborates closely with the signatory agencies to achieve the goals of the MOU on behalf of Puerto Rico’s children.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office reiterates our commitment to working with state and local agencies to improve the quality of life, well-being, development, and safety of our school-aged children and the community at large. By partnering with these agencies, we will be able to offer educational opportunities and workshops to students and continue our collective efforts to protect and serve the children of Puerto Rico through unity, trust, and respect,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
The objective of the Security and Education Project for Child Development (hereinafter the Project) is to prevent and control high-risk behaviors that may be detrimental to the well-being of Puerto Rican youth. Likewise, the aim is to provide young people with tools to help them face the challenges inherent in adolescence, one of the most crucial stages of human development. The Puerto Rico Department of Education is the lead agency, and they will continue to coordinate efforts, share information and provide resources, along with their partner agencies, for the successful continuation of the Project.
The other Puerto Rico agencies signing the MOU together with the Puerto Rico Department of Education are: the Department of Justice, the Department of Health, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of the Family, the Department of Public Safety and its component bureaus: Puerto Rico Firefighters Corps Bureau (NCBPR), Puerto Rico Emergency Medical Services Corps Bureau (NCEM), Special Investigations Bureau (NIE), Emergency Management and Disaster Administration Bureau (NMEAD), 911 Emergency Systems Bureau (NSE911); the Puerto Rico Police Bureau; the Traffic Safety Commission; and the Office for Socioeconomic and Community Development.
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USP Allenwood Inmate Charged with Possessing Weapon and Assaulting an InmateRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Michael Lonesome, age 40, an inmate at USP Allenwood, White Deer, PA, was indicted on April 23, 2026, by a federal grand jury for possessing a weapon in prison and assault with a dangerous weapon.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Lonesome possessed a razor blade, which he allegedly used to assault another inmate.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 10 years in prison and a fine. A sentence would also include a period of supervised release following imprisonment. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 134 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 134 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week:
- On April 18, Ebelia Lopez Orozco, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found more than 161 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the cargo area storage compartment of her Kia Sorrento at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
- On April 20, Santos Andres Torres-Hernandez, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered two unauthorized aliens concealed inside the roof storage compartment of the defendant’s convertible Mitsubishi Eclipse as he applied for entry at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
- On April 22, Javier Torres-Alvares, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the United States. According to a complaint, Torres-Alvares was intercepted by Border Patrol agents north of the border, east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. Torres-Alvares was previously deported to Mexico in 2018.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Adds Nearly 250 New Federal Immigration Cases in Western District of Texas This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 245 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from April 17 to April 23, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. Charges were brought against human smugglers and illegal aliens with past convictions for numerous DWIs, violent crime, including crimes against children, drug trafficking, and multiple prior removals.
Among the new cases, Daniel Calderon-Ortiz, a convicted felon and illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested after U.S. Border Patrol agents found that he had allegedly transported an illegal alien to an apartment in El Paso. A criminal complaint alleges that Calderon-Ortiz had picked up the illegal alien off of I-10 and had previously picked up other aliens and housed them in the apartment. Calderon-Ortiz was last deported in September 2014 following a conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon the month prior.
In Alpine, USBP agents arrested U.S. citizen Peyton Russell Ortiz on April 19 near Big Bend National Park. The vehicle allegedly driven by Ortiz was linked to a failed smuggling attempt that occurred in February. As described in a criminal complaint, agents observed the vehicle slow down and stop on the side of the road upon seeing a marked USBP patrol unit. Without activating their emergency equipment, agents decided to conduct a welfare check. The complaint notes Ortiz’s unkempt appearance and alleges that he exhibited signs of nervousness, erratic behavior, and movement while agents questioned him. Ortiz allegedly stated that he and a female front passenger were the only two occupants in the vehicle, though upon further investigation, USBP agents detained five individuals attempting to hide in the rear passenger seat and six additional concealed individuals in the truck bed—all 11 of whom were confirmed to be illegal aliens. The complaint further alleges that a search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a loaded firearm in the front seat center console. Ortiz is charged with one count of human smuggling.
Ricardo Marquina Castillo, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested on April 16 and charged with illegal re-entry in Del Rio after just being deported the week before. Marquina Castillo’s criminal record contains five DWIs out of Minnesota. His removal through El Paso on April 7 was his 11th.
Mexican national Martin Macedo-Aroyo was arrested on April 18 near Maverick and charged with illegal re-entry. His criminal record consists of five convictions, including a felony third DWI and two convictions for contempt of court. He was deported for the second time on Sept. 29, 2025.
Alexis Santos Alvarado, an illegal alien from Honduras, was charged with illegal re-entry in Del Rio. Santos Alvarado was convicted in July 2025 for unlawful restraint of a minor and sentenced to one year in jail. He was deported the following month through Harlingen.
Yimy Jose Lopez-Mejia aka Jimmy Lopez-Mejia, also an illegal alien from Honduras, was charged with illegal re-entry in Del Rio, having been previously removed from the U.S. four times, the last being in December through Miami, Florida. Lopez-Mejia is a convicted felon with a confirmed record of aggravated assault and robbery.
On April 20, Mexican national Joel Gomez-Cruz was transferred to ICE custody in San Antonio from the Bexar County Adult Detention Center after he was sentenced to 209 days confinement for assault causing bodily injury. Gomez-Cruz was arrested on Sept. 22, 2025, for assault on a peace officer/judge. Through immigration records, he was determined to be an illegal alien previously removed from the United States in 2013. His past convictions include aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute marijuana in 2006, which resulted in 24 months imprisonment, and illegal re-entry in 2010, resulting in 46 months imprisonment.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes ReportRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.
In the two-week period ending April 24, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:
- 124 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
- 22 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
- 125 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
- 134 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.
Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for sexual assault of a minor, narcotics trafficking, robbery, DUI, illegal weapons possession, alien smuggling, child molestation, narcotics trafficking, drug possession, unauthorized use of a vehicle and prior immigration offenses.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.