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Monday 6 April 2026
Previously Convicted Child Rapist Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Abuse Materials ChargesRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A Lucas County man, who was previously convicted of raping children, has been sentenced to federal prison after hundreds of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) were discovered on his computer.
Paul A. Speer, 56, of Toledo, Ohio, has been sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick, after pleading guilty in November 2025, to Receipt of Child Pornography. He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment, pay $3,000 in restitution to victims, and pay $2,000 toward the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act, which was established in 2018 to provide monetary assistance for victims of child sexual abuse.
According to court documents, in December 2024, staff members of a Best Buy in Toledo called the Toledo Police Department to report that a desktop computer dropped off for repair by Speer was suspected of containing CSAM. Pursuant to a search warrant execution, a forensic analysis of his electronic devices was conducted and agents found more than 570 images and videos of CSAM. The files included depictions of toddlers being raped and molested. Several files also included molestation of prepubescent children and bestiality. During the investigation, agents conducted a criminal history search of Speer and learned that in November 2000 he was convicted of three counts of rape of a child under age 13.
The investigation leading to the indictment was led by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency and the Toledo Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman for the Northern District Ohio led the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and 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, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Pontotoc Man Sentenced on Federal Kidnapping ChargesRead the Press Release
Aberdeen, MS – A Pontotoc man was sentenced today to over 14 years in prison on federal kidnapping charges when he forcibly took his victim from Alabama to Mississippi and then to Tennessee where she escaped.
According to court documents, Luis Carlos Noyola, 50, previously pled guilty to the charges in the indictment which show on or about April 19, 2025, Noyola did unlawfully “seize, confine, abduct, carry away and hold” a female victim. After kidnapping the victim in Cherokee, Alabama, he forced her to travel against her will to Corinth, Mississippi, located in the Northern District of Mississippi. Additionally, Noyola forced her to travel from North Mississippi into McNairy County, Tennessee. After the victim escaped in Tennessee, Noyola fled back to Corinth, where he was arrested.
During the course of the kidnapping, Noyola struck the victim multiple times, causing her bodily injury. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson sentenced Noyola today to 175 months imprisonment. Upon release from prison, Noyola will be placed on supervision for a period of five years. Noyola was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following sentencing.
“We live in a wonderful place but understand, it is still a dangerous world,” expressed U.S. Attorney Scott Leary. “In this case, a man kidnapped an older lady and took her across state lines. State and local law enforcement responded immediately, and the subject was ultimately arrested in Corinth, Mississippi. In such situations an aggressive response by law enforcement is not only required, it is laudable. Excellent work by the Corinth Police Department; the Cherokee, Alabama, Police Department; the Colbert County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office; and the McNairy County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office; and the FBI. Stay safe!”
Landon Tucker, Chief of Police for the Corinth Police Department stated, “The Corinth Police Department would like to thank the FBI, the Cherokee (Alabama) Police Department, the Colbert County (Alabama) Sheriff’s Office, and the McNairy County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office. This successful outcome was made possible by the coordinated efforts of all involved agencies.”
“Noyola’s victim endured profound trauma that will have lasting effects for the remainder of her life,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff. "Kidnapping reflects a blatant disregard for human life, personal safety and the rule of law. The FBI, in coordination with its law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in its commitment to aggressively pursuing violent offenders and upholding justice within our communities.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Corinth Police Department, Cherokee, Alabama, Police Department, Colbert County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office, and McNairy County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Mims.
Plant City Man Arrested for Threatening to Kill the President of the United StatesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Nick Guadalupe Cruz-Lopez (20, Plant City, FL) has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with making a threat to kill the President of the United States. If convicted, Cruz-Lopez faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the complaint, on April 2, 2026, Cruz-Lopez posted the following photo on his Instagram account, which stated, “MAGA Otw to kill trump” and showed Cruz-Lopez in a vehicle holding an AR-15 style rifle:
Federal agents located Cruz-Lopez that day and arrested him.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
Operation Mobile Order Defendant Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A key member of an armed drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing kilograms of cocaine in the Macon community was sentenced to serve more than 20 years in prison resulting from Operation Mobile Order, a collaborative multi-agency investigation led by FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
Antonyo Daniels, aka “Tony,” 31, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 250 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on April 2, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8.
“Operation Mobile Order sends a clear message that law enforcement at every level is focused on shutting down armed criminal groups threatening the safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Thanks to the coordinated efforts of our law enforcement partners, armed drug traffickers are being held accountable for their crimes with lengthy prison sentences.”
“Operation Mobile Order dismantled a violent drug trafficking organization that treated a Macon neighborhood like a retail storefront for cocaine, backed by an arsenal of firearms,” said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office. “This investigation shows the FBI’s commitment to targeting criminal networks that fuel addiction, violence and fear in our communities. We will continue to work should-to-shoulder with our partners to make Central Georgia a safer place to live.”
“Operation Mobile Order represents the best in local and federal law enforcement partnerships,” said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis. “Together, FBI agents and Bibb County Sheriff’s Office investigators worked tirelessly to bring this cadre of criminals to justice. Our community is much better off with these peddlers of poison off our streets.”
The following defendants were sentenced to prison on March 2:
Devonta Jackson, 31, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 155 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025;
Laderion Jacobs, aka “Johnny,” aka “Johnny Cain,” 30, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025; and
Ladarrious King, 31, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025.
The following defendant was sentenced to prison on Feb. 5:
Leroy Mintz, aka “Booman,” 29, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 132 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Nov. 20, 2025.
The following defendants pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later:
Eddie Reese, 53, of Atlanta, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on June 18, 2025, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine;
Roddreckious Williams, 33, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine base and one count of distribution of cocaine on Jan. 21, and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum $1 million fine per count;Alton Oliver, aka “Alo,” aka “Lo,” 43, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Jan. 8, and faces a maximum of life in prison;
Trayvon Simmons, aka “Abo,” 28, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine;
Marvin Huff, aka “Black,” 50, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine; and
Roosevelt Cole, aka “Froball,” 52, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6, and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and a maximum $5 million fine.
Sentencing dates are determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements in court, in 2022 and 2023, the FBI conducted Operation Mobile Order, a Macon-centered investigation targeting an armed drug trafficking organization led by Reese, and in which Daniels was a key member. During the investigation, the FBI ran nine controlled purchases of cocaine and crack cocaine, and intercepted phone calls and text messages, detailing transactions involving kilograms of cocaine from an Atlanta supplier.
The main drug distribution site, also known as a trap house, was located on Richard Street in Macon. This busy location functioned similarly to a restaurant, with members of Reese’s organization assigned shifts to distribute drugs. Daniels assisted Reese in distributing controlled substances and acted as a key point of contact for other members. Recorded calls captured Reese discussing drug overdoses in the community, claiming that if the drugs causing those overdoses had come from his Richard Street operation, “everyone in Macon would be dead.”
The FBI executed 11 federal search warrants in Macon, Warner Robins and Atlanta on Nov. 20, 2023, including at the Richards Street trap house, seizing cocaine, 26 firearms and $93,247. The machinegun was seized at co-conspirator Oliver’s home on Williamson Road in Macon.
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 FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
U.S. Attorney Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 5 Years’ Probation for Making a False Statement to the Small Business AdministrationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that M.A. Yah, 64, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 25, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for making a false statement to the Small Business Administration. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., sentenced Yah to 5 years’ probation. As a condition of his probation, Yah was ordered to pay $111,723.07 in restitution.
Starting in 2020, the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans made by participating lenders to small businesses. To obtain a loan, the representative of the applicant business had to certify that the business was in operation as of February 15, 2020, that it had a certain number of employees as of the date of the application, that it had a specified average monthly payroll, and that it would use the funds for payroll and other specified business purposes. The amount of the PPP loan depended on the business’s average monthly payroll. A business was eligible for a loan equal to 2 ½ times its monthly payroll. The greater the business’s average monthly payroll, therefore, the larger the loan the business could obtain, subject to a cap. Financial institutions and other private lenders received and processed applications, forwarded information to the SBA so the funds could be earmarked, and funded the PPP loans with their own money.
M.A. Yah is the director of The Heartland News. The Heartland News is a non-profit domestic corporation that was incorporated in the State of Nebraska in 2010. The Heartland News is a non-profit newspaper that is focused on doing work with and for the homeless.
On May 1, 2020, Yah applied for a PPP loan in the amount of $100,800 through Financial Institution 1. As part of his loan application, Yah certified that The Heartland News had paid the applicable payroll taxes for its purported employees, when Yah knew that The Heartland News had not paid payroll taxes.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Murder-for-Hire PlotRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Xin Guang Guo, 48, of Plymouth, North Carolina, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Harvey Bartle III on two counts of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder-for-hire.
The defendant was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant in October of last year and charged by indictment the same month, arising from his effort to pay another individual $30,000 to kill two people residing in the Philadelphia area.
As detailed in court filings, on September 30, 2025, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) received information that the defendant wanted to contract a hitman to murder his former business partner and business partner’s paramour (“Person-1” and “Person-2”).
Investigators received copies of text messages written by the defendant, whom they were able to identify as Xin Guang Guo, detailing his plan and providing identifying information about Person-1 and Person-2.
In subsequent phone calls monitored by the ATF, Guo discussed the terms of the contract, in which he would pay $15,000 for each murder. Guo also arranged to meet an individual he thought was the hitman in Philadelphia on October 6, so Guo could give him $2,500 to buy a gun.
At the October 6 meeting, the defendant gave the $2,500 to an ATF undercover officer and requested photographic proof that Person-1 and Person-2 had been murdered before he would pay the remaining balance. The agreement was made, Guo departed in his vehicle, and shortly thereafter was arrested by the ATF without incident.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15 and faces a maximum possible term of 20 years in prison.
This case was investigated by the ATF and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda McCool.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Conspiracy and Distribution of Heroin, Fentanyl and Felon in Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ANDRE BELL (“BELL”), age 38, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on April 1, 2026, before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, heroin and fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, two counts of distribution of heroin and fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, Special Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms identified a co-conspirator as a trafficker of narcotics and firearms and made three controlled purchases from him. On each occasion, BELL supplied the narcotics and firearms that the co-conspirator sold to the people believed to be legitimate buyers.
On August 3, 2023, the co-conspirator arranged a sale of heroin to the person believed to be a legitimate buyer and indicated BELL would deliver the substance. A meeting place was set, and the co-conspirator met with the people believed to be legitimate buyers in their vehicle. Shortly thereafter, BELL arrived and provided 14.07 grams of heroin and fentanyl to the co-conspirator who distributed the persons believed to be legitimate buyers.
On August 8, 2023, a controlled purchase of a half-ounce of cocaine and one ounce of fentanyl from the co-conspirator was negotiated. At the meeting place, the co-conspirator provided the person believed to be legitimate buyer 12.95 grams of cocaine and informed them that BELL was delivering the fentanyl. BELL then arrived and provided a half-ounce of fentanyl to the co-conspirator who then distributed the fentanyl to the person believed to be legitimate buyer.
On August 11, 2023, the co-conspirator arranged a sale of a firearm to a person believed to be legitimate buyer. At the meeting place, the co-conspirator delivered a “ghost gun, a firearm that is not serialized making it difficult to trace. The ghost gun was provided to the co-conspirator by BELL.
For the conspiracy and distribution counts, BELL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. For the felon in possession count, BELL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
New Britain Couple Who Imported and Sold Counterfeit Goods are SentencedRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MELISSA CRUZ, 37, and JOSE RAMIREZ, 41, both of New Britain, were sentenced today in Hartford federal court for offenses stemming from their participation in a conspiracy to import and sell counterfeit goods. U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver sentenced Cruz to one year of probation and a $20,000 fine, and Ramirez to one year of probation and a $10,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2021 and 2024, Cruz and Ramirez conspired with others to sell counterfeit clothing, luxury and designer handbags and purses, and jewelry bearing counterfeit trademarks to customers across the U.S., some of which they imported from outside the U.S. Cruz and Ramirez used Facebook to conduct live shows during which Cruz showcased, advertised, and sold the counterfeit goods. In total, Cruz and Ramirez made more than $4 million in gross sales for the counterfeit merchandise through various electronic peer-to-peer payment services including CashApp, Paypal, and Venmo.
Between March 2022 and March 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized multiple international parcels containing dozens of counterfeit handbags from Thailand, China, and Hong Kong that were addressed to Cruz and Ramirez’s residence in New Britain. On December 19, 2024, law enforcement conducted a court-authorized search of the residence and seized nearly 2,000 units of counterfeit goods.
Judge Oliver ordered Cruz and Ramirez to pay restitution in the total amount of $10,711.25.
Cruz and Ramirez each previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to willfully infringe a copyright.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The case prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon.
Montgomery Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiracy Involving Stolen Mail and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that a Montgomery woman has been sentenced to federal prison for her role in a mail theft and bank fraud scheme that resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent deposits.
On April 1, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Rhashema Shackleford, 37, of Montgomery, Alabama, to 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. In addition to her term of imprisonment, the court entered a money judgment against Shackleford in the amount of $376,679.95.
According to her plea agreement and other court records, from August 2022 through June 2023, Shackleford participated in a scheme with multiple co-conspirators to steal mail and use stolen checks to commit bank fraud in Montgomery, Alabama. Shackleford worked with others, including 32-year-old Laportia Webster and 48-year-old Otis Daniels, to obtain checks from the mail, alter them, or use them to create counterfeit checks for deposit into various bank accounts.
As part of the scheme, between August 26, 2022, and January 20, 2023, Shackleford conspired with Webster to use Webster’s bank accounts to conduct approximately $114,311.50 in fraudulent deposits. Additionally, between December 29, 2022, and February 7, 2023, Shackleford worked with Daniels to use his accounts for approximately $264,368.16 in fraudulent deposits and withdrawals. As a result of these transactions, Shackleford obtained and cashed three cashier’s checks totaling $64,000.
The investigation further revealed that on March 31, 2023, Shackleford fraudulently deposited a check in the amount of $12,480.29 drawn on the account of a business victim. On June 16, 2023, agents executed a search at Shackleford’s residence in Montgomery, where they discovered stolen checks, identification documents, and other materials used to facilitate fraud.
Shackleford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and mail fraud on September 18, 2025. Daniels was previously sentenced to 27 months in prison for his role in the scheme. A sentencing hearing for Webster is scheduled on April 15, 2026.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted.
Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Demonte Jovon Walker, also known as “DJ,” 26, of Pontiac, Michigan, was sentenced today to one year and three months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The first year of supervised release is to be served on home detention.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 24, 2024, Walker sold approximately 83 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $450. As part of his guilty plea, Walker admitted that he arranged the transaction beforehand and conducted it in the confidential informant’s vehicle in Huntington.
Walker also admitted to additional criminal conduct. Walker sold approximately 56 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for $300 on October 2, 2024, and approximately 55 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for $300 on October 17, 2024. Walker admitted that he conducted both transactions, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington, and arranged for another individual to sell approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $300 in Huntington on October 9, 2024.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Taylor and Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-100.
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Mexican Illegal Alien Guilty of Illegal Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –CANDIO TIERRA BLANCA-QUESADA (“TIERRA BLANCA-QUESADA”), age 39, a native of Mexico, pleaded guilty on April 2, 2026, to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. His sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon on July 9, 2026.
According to court documents, TIERRA BLANCA-QUESADA was found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on December 29, 2025, having reentered the United States without authorization from the U.S. Attorney General after being previously removed on October 28, 2012.
TIERRA BLANCA-QUESADA faces up to two years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Kippers of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
McNairy County Man Sentenced to over Eight Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Clint Allen Wolf, 34, of Selmer, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
The investigation in this case began in August 2024 when a cyber tip was sent to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the transmission of 22 files containing child sexual abuse material on a social media application. The report was assigned to the Knoxville, Tennessee Police Department, who then transferred it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jackson for further investigation. That investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at Wolf’s residence in Selmer in December 2024 and the seizure of multiple cell phones and other electronic devices.
A search of Wolf’s cell phone revealed more than 600 images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including prepubescent minors and minors under the age of 12 engaging in such conduct.
In January 2025, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against Wolf charging him with possession of child pornography. Following his guilty plea to the indictment, Senior United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Wolf to 100 months in prison and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Possession of child pornography is a despicable crime that endangers and harms real child victims forever. And we know that demand drives supply. By seeking out and possessing hundreds of images of young children being sexually abused, Wolf contributed to their past victimization, and he will now spend over 8 years in prison where he cannot contribute to the future harm to children in the name of profit.”
This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), Knoxville Police Department, Selmer Police Department, and the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
McMinnville Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A McMinnville, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison last Tuesday after possessing methamphetamine with the attempt to distribute in Yamhill County, Oregon.
John Billy Donnahoo, 52, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on May 25, 2024, police officers executed a search warrant on Donnahoo’s residence and seized over one pound of methamphetamine, multiple firearms, ammunition, digital scales, and over $16,000 in cash.
On July 16, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a multi-count indictment. On November 19, 2025, Donnahoo pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the McMinnville Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott M. Kerin.
Maryland Country Club Agrees to Pay over $1 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations of Improper Receipt of Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that it has reached a civil settlement agreement with Woodholme Country Club Inc. (“Woodholme”), whereby the club will pay $1,042,500 to resolve allegations that the club violated the False Claims Act when it applied for and received a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) for which it was not eligible.
When Congress enacted the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, it authorized forgivable PPP loans to eligible small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP loan program was administered by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”). At the time of the loan covered by this settlement, certain entities organized under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code were not eligible for PPP loans, including section 501(c)(7) organizations.
In early 2020, Woodholme, a Maryland country club, applied for a PPP loan in the amount of $695,000 and certified that it was eligible to receive the loan even though it was ineligible as a section 501(c)(7) nonprofit organization. After receiving the PPP loan, Woodholme sought and received forgiveness of the entire loan amount. The United States contended that Woodholme knowingly falsely represented its eligibility to receive the PPP loan, and that it caused the SBA to pay lender fees to the bank that processed the loan. Woodholme will pay $1,042,500 to the United States to resolve these allegations.
“Today’s settlement represents another victory in the Trump Administration’s effort to claw back stolen pandemic-era funds on behalf of U.S. taxpayers," said U.S. Small Business Administration General Counsel Wendell Davis. "The agency is grateful to our federal law enforcement partners for their strong support in this case, and we look forward to continued cooperation as we work to hold criminal fraudsters accountable.”
The settlement resolves claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under these provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The qui tam complaint was filed by Relator Aidan Forsyth and is captioned United States ex rel. Aidan Forsyth v. Woodholme Country Club Inc., et al., Civ. A. No. 24-1175 (D.D.C.). Mr. Forsyth will receive a total share of approximately $104,250 in connection with the settlement.
The civil settlement resulted from an investigation by Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Tepe and Auditor Timothy C. Hurley with the support of attorney Caitlin J. Kelly of SBA’s Office of the General Counsel.
Tips and complaint regarding potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or by submitting a NCDF Web Complaint form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
woodhome_country_club_executed_settlement.pdfMan sentenced for involuntary manslaughter in a DUI crash that killed a mother and her unborn childRead the Press Release
A Pocatello, Idaho man was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for involuntary manslaughter. The court ordered the defendant to pay $48,765.76 in restitution for funeral costs and medical bills.
According to court documents, on November 8, 2024, a head-on collision occurred near Ethete, Wyoming, on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Damion Loneman Jr., 21, was driving southbound on the Blue-Sky Highway and attempting to pass another vehicle when he entered the northbound lane and collided with a vehicle driven by a man who was traveling with his pregnant fiancée, and their young child.
The crash, caused by the defendant’s unsafe passing and speeding, resulted in severe injuries. The woman was critically injured and later died along with her unborn child. The young child suffered a serious head injury, and the father sustained a fractured ankle.
Witnesses confirmed the dangerous passing maneuver. Investigators found no vehicle defects and attributed the crash to human error. The defendant admitted to drinking before driving, and blood tests indicated his BAC at the time of the crash was likely between 0.085 and 0.15.
“This was a senseless crime resulting in the loss of life of a beloved fiancée and mother and her unborn child. Let this be a reminder that drinking and driving impairs safe operation of a vehicle, reducing reaction time and coordination, leading to a much higher risk of fatal accidents, said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. “The physical and emotional pain the victims endured is unimaginable.”
Loneman was indicted on Nov. 19, 2025, and pleaded guilty on Jan. 6, 2026. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the crime. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on April 2 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00107
Lowndes County Man Sentenced in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS – A Lowndes County man was sentenced to thirteen years for trafficking in excess of fifty grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Calvin Baskin, 55, of Columbus, Mississippi previously pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District to Mississippi to the charge stemming from his arrest on August 8, 2024. Baskin was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson to 157 months in prison for the charge. He was further sentenced to five years supervised release following his release from prison.
U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary, who made this announcement, said, “Mississippians are historically hard workers, not perfect by any means, but dedicated hard workers. Together we have progressed, creating a State that is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. However, some communities here face daily violence driven by the illegal drug trade. To help these communities requires hard work, dangerous work, tirelessly pursued by our state and federal officers. On one level this case may seem mundane, but it is not. This investigation and prosecution reflect the daily vigilance exhibited by state and federal law enforcement. Working together, day by day, we can help our communities be places of safety where hard work and devotion pay off. A special thanks to Sheriff Eddie Hawkins and his Lowndes County office and the DEA for making this a reality.”
“Methamphetamine trafficking brings nothing but misery and crime to our doorsteps,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw. “This sentence reflects the gravity of the threat posed by illegal drugs and the power of interagency cooperation. The DEA and our partners will never waver in our efforts to identify, investigate, and prosecute the individuals who prioritize profit over the safety and well-being of our community."
Sheriff Eddie Hawkins, stated, “We are grateful for the strong partnership between the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics in bringing this case to a successful conclusion. We also appreciate the diligent prosecution by the United States Attorney's Office, whose work ensured that justice was served. This sentencing sends a clear message that those who traffic illegal drugs and endanger our communities will be held accountable. Through continued cooperation, intelligence sharing, and coordinated enforcement efforts, we remain committed to protecting the citizens of Lowndes County and keeping our communities safe.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and U.S. Marshal’s Service investigated and assisted with the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clyde McGee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case is also a 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.
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Kenyan National Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An illegal alien has been sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
Stanley Amalemba Ambeyi, 39, a citizen of Kenya, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala has sentenced Ambeyi to 18 months in prison for that crime.
According to the record at Ambeyi’s change-of-plea hearing, on April 11, 2025, an officer with the Birmingham Police Department initiated a traffic stop on Ambeyi. The officer observed a box of ammunition in the vehicle. This observation prompted the officer to ask Ambeyi if he had a firearm in the vehicle. Ambeyi stated that he did not have any firearms in the vehicle. The officer then informed Ambeyi that it was illegal to have an open alcoholic beverage in the vehicle and asked him to exit the vehicle. The officer recovered a Amadeo Rossi S. A. 22LR revolver from the vehicle and arrested Ambeyi.
At sentencing the government also presented evidence that, in November 2024, Ambeyi enticed a person he thought to be a fifteen-year-old girl to have sex with him for money. Charges for that conduct are pending against Ambeyi in Blount County Circuit Court.
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 investigated by the ATF along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys John B. Ward and Ryan S. Rummage prosecuted the case.
Kansas woman caught with 115,000 fentanyl pills sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas woman was sentenced to 240 months in prison after being caught with a massive quantity of fentanyl pills that she admitted she intended to sell.
According to court documents, Mana Elena Reyes, 51, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Between April 2023 and May 2023, Reyes had multiple discussions about purchasing and selling methamphetamine and fentanyl with an individual she was unaware was an undercover officer with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office (SGSO). Deputies then followed her as she drove from Kansas to Oklahoma and back. The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) conducted a traffic stop and a search of Reyes’ vehicle yielded approximately 115,000 fentanyl pills and more than 4,000 grams of methamphetamine along with heroin, fentanyl powder, and cocaine.
“The United States Sentencing Commission reports that arrests for fentanyl trafficking have steadily increased over the past few years. Upon conviction, the average prison sentence handed down is 74 months, so this defendant will serve more than three times that average,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Our office is extremely pleased with the outcome in this case and will continue to seek stiff penalties for drug trafficking. Illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl and methamphetamine, are a scourge and will not be tolerated in our communities.”
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office (SGSO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case with assistance from the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak prosecuted the case.
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Jury Convicts Omaha Man of Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that on April 1, 2026, a federal jury found Fernando Hernandez, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. The verdict followed a three-day trial in front of Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. Hernandez was part of a 12-person indictment filed in April 2024. All other defendants pleaded guilty and have been sentenced or are pending sentencing.
The evidence at trial established that Hernandez was involved with a Mexican source of methamphetamine supplying the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa, areas. In late 2023, Hernandez served as a courier distributing the source’s methamphetamine. On October 2, 2023, law enforcement utilized a cooperating witness who ordered one pound of methamphetamine from the Mexican source. The Mexican source sent the cooperator to an Omaha location where Hernandez delivered one pound of methamphetamine to the cooperator. After the delivery, officers surveilled Hernandez and saw him meet with two codefendants who were later stopped and found in possession of one pound of methamphetamine and $4,000. The money was forfeited as part of the investigation.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 10, 2026. Hernandez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment. He was previously convicted federally of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He was released from prison in 2017 after serving nearly nine years for the previous conviction.
Thisinvestigation and prosecution are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Omaha comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local and state law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska. Agents and officers with the FBI, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, the Bellevue Police Department, and Lincoln Police Department testified at trial. More local and state agencies were involved in the investigation.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Six Months in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Reentering U.S.A.Read the Press Release
An illegal alien and Mexican citizen who unlawfully reentered the U.S.A. after being previously removed was sentenced today to six months in federal prison.
Christian Vega-Camacho, age 29, from Guadalupe, Mexico, received the prison term after a January 16, 2026, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry.
At the guilty plea, Vega-Camacho admitted he had previously been removed from the U.S.A. in 2018. Sometime later, he reentered the country without permission. In April 2021, law enforcement officers arrested Vega-Camacho in Decorah, Iowa. He was using fraudulent documents to work in the country. Vega-Camacho was released from custody pending trial. Vega-Camacho fled from release in June 2021. His whereabouts were unknown until he was arrested in Postville, Iowa, in November 2025.
Vega-Camacho was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Vega-Camacho was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Vega-Camacho is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by Immigrations and Custom Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-2027.
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Hillsville Man to Serve 156 Months for Sexually Exploiting Children OnlineRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Hillsville, Virginia man was sentenced recently to 156 months in federal prison.
Michael Tibbs, 25, of Carroll County, Virginia, previously pled guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.
According to court documents, in April 2023, a then-15-year-old minor victim submitted a tip to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center, reporting that a man had been grooming her for approximately one year and continually requesting nude images.
FBI agents identified Tibbs as the victim’s groomer and obtained records of his Discord messages. The Discord records revealed that beginning as early as November 2022, Tibbs engaged in sexual chats with several minor girls and paid them to record and send him sexually explicit images and videos. Agents were able to identify and interview some of the minor victims, who confirmed that Tibbs paid them to record sexually explicit content for him.
On July 18, 2024, agents executed a search warrant at Tibbs’ home and seized his phone, which contained many sexually explicit images and videos of women with indeterminate ages. Agents were able to identify one of the minor victims, 13 years old, depicted in two of those videos. Tibbs’ phone also held hundreds of computer-generated and animated images of children, including toddlers, being graphically, sexually abused.
Agents interviewed Tibbs, who admitted to using Discord to purchase sexual content from minors. He estimated that he purchased from 10 to 15 underage girls. Tibbs explained that he developed an interest in purchasing sexual content from minors after viewing child pornography on TikTok.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Inman is prosecuting the case.
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 identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Hastings Woman Sentenced to More Than 26 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Sonia Martinez, 41, of Hastings, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 2, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and one count of using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Martinez to a total of 322 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Martinez’s release from prison, she will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
Between January 24, 2024, and March 23, 2024, CODE and TRIDENT task forces coordinated eight controlled buys of methamphetamine from Martinez and Andrew Juarez. Four of the controlled buys also involved purchasing 6 firearms. The controlled buys were coordinated by a third party and an undercover officer. The State Patrol Crime Lab confirmed at least 470 grams of methamphetamine actual and at least 450 grams of methamphetamine mixture from the eight controlled buys in total.
Co-defendant Jaurez was sentenced to a total of 230 months’ imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised release on January 8, 2026, by United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis.
This case was investigated by the TRIDENT and CODE Task Forces which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Ogallala Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Halifax County Felon Sentenced for Possessing and Selling FentanylRead the Press Release
New Bern, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Lorenizo Reshaud Simmons, 33, to over 6 years in federal prison for possession with intent to sell over 40 grams of fentanyl.
“Fentanyl kills kids. This repeat offender should have learned his lesson before, but he returned to this shameful exploitation of his own community. We should all join together in our close-knit Eastern North Carolina communities to reject this evil and keep our families together. Simple lesson: drugs kill, prison awaits: Do right.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
Inmate Simmons sold fentanyl in Halifax County from a residence he used to store and package his drugs. In August 2022, Halifax County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) launched an investigation into Inmate Simmons’ conduct after receiving complaints of drug activity in Garysburg, North Carolina. HCSO, with the assistance of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), conducted three controlled buys of fentanyl from Inmate Simmons. On May 4, 2023, HCSO and Northampton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) executed a search warrant at Inmate Simmons’ house finding over 300 grams of a fentanyl analogue, 90 milligrams of morphine, a digital scale, extended gun magazines, hundreds of bullets, and other drug paraphernalia to include needles and syringes.
Inmate Simmons is a convicted felon, most recently for selling opiates and possession of oxycodone in 2018.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan announced the sentence. The HCSO, SBI, and the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-CR-9-FL.
Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall announced that William Alexander Ruiz-Ponce, age 28, a Honduran national who is present in the United States without authorization, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Brian A. Jackson to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, in February 2025, Ruiz-Ponce used social media applications and text messages to convince someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl in Denham Springs, Louisiana, to have an illegal sexual relationship with him. Ruiz-Ponce traveled to Denham Springs to meet the supposed 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual acts. An undercover law enforcement officer posed as the 14-year-old girl and officers arrested Ruiz-Ponce when he arrived at the agreed-upon location. During their conversation, Ruiz-Ponce sent the undercover officer sexually explicit images of himself, including photos of his genitals. Ruiz-Ponce also asked for the undercover officer’s location and expressed his desire to engage in illegal sex acts in person.
Ruiz-Ponce’s conviction is punishable by a minimum of ten years and a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, up to a lifetime period of supervised release, and includes sex offender registration requirements. He is also subject to removal or deportation from the United States upon completing his sentence.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Vick and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allen Ross.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is also 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 Force (HSTF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Guilty Verdicts for Woman Who Killed Three People in 2023 Rock Creek Parkway CrashRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Nakita Walker, 45, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a Superior Court jury today for the March 15, 2023, vehicular deaths of Mohamed Kamara, Jonathan Alberto Cabrera Mendez and Olvin Josue Torres Velasquez, on Rock Creek Parkway, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Walker was found guilty of three counts of involuntary manslaughter for the occupants of the car she struck, one count of fleeing a law enforcement officer, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon of her passenger. According to the expected sentencing guidelines range, Walker faces a maximum sentence of twenty-nine and a half years in prison for these crimes.
“We continue to rid this city of those who commit homicide," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Their place is behind bars. Three lives were lost—a hardworking Lyft driver and two passengers who trusted they would arrive safely. Their families have endured unimaginable loss, and while nothing can undo that pain, this outcome affirms that reckless and violent actions have consequences. Justice has been served, and our thoughts remain with the victims and their loved ones.”
Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled sentencing for June 5, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence presented at trial, on the evening of March 14, 2023, Walker went to a movie and hung out with friends. As she was driving home in the early hours of March 15, 2023, she was pulled over by a Park Police officer for speeding and running a red light in front of him. She initially complied with the stop, then midway through she took off, reaching speeds of 100 mph on Rock Creek Parkway. While fleeing, she crossed the double-yellow lane line and crashed into another vehicle, killing all three of its occupants.
Walker was arrested on May 22, 2023, where she has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Chief Scott Brecht of the United States Park Police.
This case was investigated by the United States Park Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
This case was prosecuted and tried by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Carter.
2023 CF1 003258
Four gang members sentenced to prison after “Operation Sob Story” investigates an illegal drugs/firearms networkRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A partnership of federal and local law enforcement taking part in “Operation Sob Story”, an investigation by the Homeland Security Task Force, resulted in prison sentences for four Topeka area gang members for offenses such as drug trafficking and illegal firearms trafficking.
According to court documents, in 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) launched a joint investigation into several known members of the Crips.
The individuals include:
• Marcos Esteban Arredondo, 25,
• Pedro Galicia-Hernandez Jr, 35,
• Daequan Rayton, 28, and
• Elijah Eugene Wilson, 23.Marcos Arredondo pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Arredondo sold cocaine, fentanyl, and a firearm to a confidential source acting on behalf of law enforcement. He was sentenced to 123 months in prison.
Pedro Galicia-Hernandez Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced to 151 months in prison. A confidential source made multiple controlled buys of fentanyl from Galicia-Hernandez in amounts of between 500 and 1,500 pills. Law enforcement received a tip that Galicia-Hernandez was returning to Kansas after a trip out of state and informed the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP). During a traffic stop, a state trooper found a bag in the vehicle Galicia-Hernadez was in with what was later determined be 16,246 fentanyl pills.
Daequan Rayton pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a machine gun and two counts of illegal possession and transfer of machine guns. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison.
Elijah Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession and transfer of machine guns, two counts of failure to register as a dealer and manufacturer of machine guns, and one count of unlawful trafficking in firearms. He was sentenced to 45 months in prison.
A confidential informant bought machine guns from Rayton on two occasions. Subsequent evidence collected by investigators showed a connection between Rayton and Wilson. While executing a search warrant on Wilson’s home, agents found a 3D printer capable of producing firearms and silencers, machine conversion devices, hand tools for making firearms and silencers, a machine gun, and a silencer.
In February 2024, the SCSO responded to a call involving “shots fired” at a park in Topeka. Witness information led authorities to Rayton. In his vehicle, law enforcement found a privately manufactured pistol that had an extended magazine loaded with “full metal jacket” rounds. The firearm had no serial number, and deputies took Rayton into custody.
Forensic lab tests later showed Wilson’s DNA inside the weapons Rayton sold to the confidential informant and analysis showed the weapon in Rayton’s possession when he was arrested was made using Wilson’s equipment.
“During my tenure as U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, I have been focused on enhancing state and federal collaboration.” Said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “This operation serves as an example of the great achievements that are possible with seamless law enforcement collaboration through the Homeland Security Task Force. We will continue to work tirelessly to dismantle criminal networks to make our communities safer.”
“The sentences send a clear message that those who traffic drugs and machine guns will face serious federal consequences,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge, Bernard “Butch” Hansen, of the Kansas City Field Division. “This HSTF-led, multi-agency effort reflects the strength of intelligence-driven coordination between ATF, our law enforcement partners, and the United States Attorney’s Office. I commend the outstanding work of our agents and task force officers whose efforts helped dismantle a dangerous criminal operation and deliver a strong deterrent to others.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force 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 U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes these organizations commit, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security investigations; FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas leading the prosecution.
###Four Illegal Aliens with Prior Felony Convictions and Multiple Deportations Charged for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Four Mexican nationals unlawfully residing in Las Vegas made their initial court appearances today to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.
Laurentino Salvador Juarez-Martinez; Serguio Raudel Contreras-Torres; Brandon Castanon-Bautista; and Pablo Covarrubias-Islas are all charged with one count of deported alien found in the United States. Preliminary hearings for all defendants are scheduled for April 20, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Brenda N. Weksler.
According to allegations contained in the criminal complaints and statements made during court proceedings, all four defendants are citizens and nationals of Mexico who were previously deported and removed from the United States and reentered the United States illegally.
On March 27, 2024, Juarez-Martinez was arrested for two counts of Possess Controlled Substance; four counts of Possess for Sale Controlled Substance; two counts of Trafficking Controlled Substance; and Operate Place for Sale/Use/Gift of Controlled Substances. On April 1, 2026, after serving a 24-to-60-month sentence for drug trafficking, the Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Juarez-Martinez to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Juarez-Martinez was previously removed and deported from the United States to Mexico on seven prior occasions: on or about July 6, 2010; October 14, 2010; May 14, 2012; October 9, 2012; April 13, 2015; December 13, 2016; and September 18, 2019. Juarez-Martinez has two prior felony convictions for Deported Alien Found Unlawfully in the United States, the same offense he is currently charged with.
On April 2, 2026, Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Contreras-Torres to ICE custody in Las Vegas, Nevada, after Contreras-Torres served a 14-to-48-month sentence for the felony offense of Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell. On September 21, 2021, officers with the North Las Vegas Police Department arrested Contreras-Torres for Trafficking a Controlled Substance. Contreras-Torres failed to show for his court appearance and a warrant was issued. On September 9, 2025, ICE Fugitive Operations Team arrested Contreras-Torres in Las Vegas, Nevada, and turned him over to face his state drug charges. Contreras-Torres was previously removed and deported from the United States to Mexico on two prior occasions: December 22, 2018, and December 27, 2018. Contreras-Torres also has two prior misdemeanor drug convictions.
On November 23, 2025, officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Castanon-Bautista for two counts of Robbery with a Deadly Weapon; Burglary while in Possession of Firearm; and Carry Concealed Weapon Without a Permit. On March 28, 2026, the Clark County Detention Center remanded Castanon-Bautista to ICE Las Vegas, Nevada, custody based on an immigration detainer. Castanon-Bautista was previously removed and deported from the United States to Mexico on two prior occasions: October 3, 2023, and July 1, 2024. Castanon-Bautista has a felony conviction for Larceny from Person. Castanon-Bautista’s other convictions include attempted Grand Larceny, Assault, and two separate drug related offenses.
On March 22, 2025, officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Covarrubias-Islas for Conspiracy to Violate Uniform Controlled Substances Act, and two counts of Possess to Sell Controlled Substance. On March 27, 2026, Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Covarrubias-Islas to ICE custody at Las Vegas, Nevada, based on an immigration detainer. Covarrubias-Islas was previously removed and deported from the United States to Mexico on three prior occasions: July 19, 2015, November 12, 2015, and September 4, 2018.
If convicted, Juarez-Martinez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
If convicted, Contreras-Torres, Castanon-Bautista, and Covarrubias-Islas all face a maximum statutory penalty of 2 years in prison, a one-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Ruben Levya made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the cases; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the cases.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
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.
A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Former New York City Public School Teacher Sentenced to 150 Months in Prison for Receipt and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that ANTHONY MICHAEL SOUZA was sentenced to 150 months in prison for receipt and distribution of child pornography. SOUZA’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla, who also presided over the guilty plea.
“New York City parents trusted Anthony Michael Souza to keep their children safe,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Souza betrayed that trust by sharing ghastly child pornography and preying on minors, including his own students. Today’s sentence affirms yet again this Office’s unwavering commitment to protect our children and to find and prosecute individuals who traffic in child pornography.”
According to the Information, public filings, the plea agreement, and statements made in court proceedings:
For three years leading up to his 2024 arrest, SOUZA served as an arts and theater teacher in multiple New York City public schools. His students included children between kindergarten and high school. During this time, SOUZA sent and received approximately 250 videos and approximately 1,050 images containing child pornography. Some of those videos and images showed abuse and rape of children, infants, and toddlers. SOUZA also took sexualized photographs and videos of young (clothed) children inside his classrooms and sent them to individuals with whom SOUZA shared child pornography.
In addition to the child-pornography conduct, SOUZA maintained a sexual relationship with a minor (“Minor-1”) for more than a year. SOUZA and Minor-1 had sex on multiple occasions, and SOUZA filmed himself having sex with Minor-1. SOUZA also invited other men who joined SOUZA for group sex with Minor-1. Additionally, SOUZA and another individual discussed SOUZA’s unsuccessful attempt to “groom” one of SOUZA’s fifth-grade students (“Minor-2”). The attempt was foiled when Minor-2 hung up the phone and blocked SOUZA.
If you believe you have information concerning exploitation of children, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) at 1-212-384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov/.
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In addition to the prison term, SOUZA, 38, of Manhattan, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Getzel Berger is in charge of the prosecution.
Former Guam Customs Officer Sentenced to 235 Months in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Jesus K. Paulino, Jr. (“Paulino”), age 36, from Dededo, Guam was sentenced, to serve 235 months in federal prison. On December 10, 2025, Paulino was convicted by a jury in the District Court of Guam for Attempted Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered five years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.
On February 19, 2025, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) obtained a search warrant and discovered approximately 14,533 net grams—roughly 32 pounds—of methamphetamine concealed inside a U.S. priority mail package addressed to another person at Mailhub, Oka, Tamuning. The drugs were removed from the package, replaced with sham material, and fitted with a court authorized tracking device as part of an ongoing investigation.
On February 26, 2025, law enforcement observed Paulino carrying the package at Mailhub and placing it in a Toyota 4‑Runner. Paulino dropped off a female passenger and drove around Tamuning and Tumon before arriving at his residence in Tamuning.
On the afternoon of February 27, 2025, law enforcement was alerted that the package had been opened. Officers knocked on the door of the residence, secured the location, and obtained a warrant to search the residence. Authorities seized the package, its contents, the tracking device, two electronic scales, a cellular phone, an Apple iPad, and a SIM card. A search of Paulino’s vehicle revealed trace residue that tested positive for MDMA. Paulino was found with visible amounts of clue spray on his clothing, arms, and hands.
Paulino, was previously employed as a Guam Customs and Quarantine Officer. During that time, he was convicted of Conspiracy to Defraud and Deprive Honest Services, in violation of federal law, in connection with the smuggling of untaxed cigarette shipments from the Philippines.
“Our aggressive mail-stream interdiction efforts removed this drug dealer from Guam for decades,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “The lengthy sentence was warranted by the weight of drugs shipped and Paulino’s troubling history. This case is another example of the many successes of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative that keeps our communities safe.”
“Postal inspectors will not relent when drug traffickers attempt to mail controlled substances that harm our communities and endanger postal workers,” said Stephen Sherwood, Postal Inspector in Charge of the San Francisco Division. “I extend my sincere appreciation to the members of the Guam Interdictions Anti-Narcotics Trafficking Task Force (GIANT TF)—including the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, the Guam Police Department, and the Guam Army National Guard Counterdrug Program—for their dedication and collaboration. I also thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Guam and our federal law enforcement partners for their invaluable teamwork in bringing this offender to justice.”
“This case highlights how HSI works every day to keep our community safe from criminal organizations. By teaming up with other agencies through the Homeland Security Task Force, we’re able to tackle these threats together. HSI is committed to finding and stopping criminal networks that put Guam and the United States at risk,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas.
“The defendant attempted to exploit the U.S. mail system, making a calculated effort to expand distribution, which endangered countless lives,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “ATF will hold these traffickers accountable, and we remain committed to disrupting drug distribution at every level.”
“Through coordinated efforts and strong partnerships, this individual has been brought to justice for trafficking destructive narcotics that endanger the health and wellbeing of our island community. Drug peddlers, regardless of occupation or status, will be pursued and held accountable for the devastation they cause,” said Anthony Chrysanthis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, which oversees Guam. “DEA is in lockstep with our HSTF partners, remaining ever committed to disrupting global drug networks and halting the flow of methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs.”
This investigation was led by United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) with key participation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Guam Police Department Special Investigations Section, and the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency.
Assistant United States Attorney Rosetta L. San Nicolas prosecuted the case in the District of Guam.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. HSTF Guam comprises agents and officers Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Federal Correctional Officer Convicted of Bribery, Smuggling, and Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Following a six-day trial, a federal jury convicted Patrick Shackelford, a former federal correctional officer, for accepting bribes and conspiring with inmates to smuggle narcotics and other contraband into the U.S. Penitentiary Atlanta (“USP-Atlanta”) using an elaborate scheme through which visitors introduced contraband into the prison through a secret hole in the visitation area. Shackelford was immediately taken into federal custody upon entry of the jury’s verdict on April 2.
“Instead of fulfilling his duty to safeguard a federal prison, Shackelford took bribes from inmates to facilitate their smuggling of large quantities of methamphetamine and other contraband for distribution to other inmates,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Shackelford betrayed his oath, chose to be a corrupt tool of the inmates in his charge, and potentially endangered the safety and security of his fellow officers and prisoners through his brazen conduct.”
“Correctional facilities depend on the integrity of those entrusted to safeguard them,” said Peter Ellis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Georgia. “By abusing his position to smuggle drugs and other contraband into USP-Atlanta, Shackelford undermined the safety and security of the institution, his fellow officers, and the inmates in their custody. The FBI remains committed to rooting out corruption at every level and holding accountable those who violate the public’s trust.”
“The Correctional Officer’s acts compromised the safety and security of the federal prison. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General is committed to rooting out corruption and bringing perpetrators to justice,” stated Eric Fehlman, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Southeast Region.
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From approximately June 2018 through February 2019, Shackelford conspired with federal inmates Patrick Kirkman, Mitchell Arms, James Hughes, and others to smuggle prohibited items and narcotics, including methamphetamine and marijuana, into USP-Atlanta, a then medium-security federal prison.
Shackelford was a federal correctional officer and plumbing supervisor at USP-Atlanta who managed a crew of inmate plumbers, including Hughes. As part of the scheme, Shackelford informed Hughes about a hidden room and “voided area” that adjoined the prison visitation area. With Shackelford’s assistance, Hughes and another inmate, under the guise of making plumbing repairs, used a sledgehammer and power drill to create large passageways into the hidden room and voided area. From that space, they created a small hole under a sink in the restroom of the visitation area. They then concealed the passageway with a metal plate. During weekend visitation, some of the inmates’ associates brought tightly wrapped packages containing contraband to the prison and pushed them through the hole under the restroom sink into the “voided area.” On a nearly weekly basis between June 2018 and February 2019, Hughes and another inmate retrieved the contraband from the voided area, using their plumbing cart and tools as cover to move the contraband across USP-Atlanta.
Shackelford further helped the inmates by allowing them to hide the contraband in the “plumbing shop,” including in the ceiling of an empty staff office that was next to Shackelford’s. For safety and security reasons, inmates were not supposed to have access to such offices. However, Shackelford unlocked the adjacent office for Hughes so often that it came to be known as “Jamie’s office.” Shackelford also helped escort his inmate co-conspirators through checkpoints to deliver contraband packages to the cellblocks.
In exchange for permitting inmates to smuggle and distribute contraband, Shackelford received $5,000 and pain pills from Hughes, and Hughes and the inmate plumbing crew completed Shackelford’s plumbing assignments for him.
Kirkman and Arms, both of whom were serving sentences for federal drug trafficking crimes, were among the inmates at USP-Atlanta who received the contraband, including narcotics, through the scheme. While the operation was ongoing, Kirkman paid Hughes nearly $20,000 via Cash App to smuggle in the contraband and provided the cash for Shackelford’s $5,000 bribe. Hughes learned from Kirkman, Arms, and others when the packages had been smuggled through the visitor’s bathroom.
In February 2019, prison officials discovered a batch of contraband hidden in the ceiling of the plumbing office. Specifically, officials found roughly two dozen packages containing over a pound of 100% pure methamphetamine, over a kilogram of marijuana, synthetic marijuana or “spice,” tobacco, and several cell phones. This was one of the largest contraband recoveries in the history of USP-Atlanta.
Shackelford’s inmate co-conspirators pleaded guilty in connection with this prison bribery and contraband smuggling scheme:
- Patrick Kirkman, 39, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, pled guilty to federal bribery on February 11, 2026.
- Mitchell Arms, 45, of Columbia, Tennessee, pled guilty to possessing, obtaining, or attempting to obtain a prohibited object in federal prison, namely, methamphetamine, on June 18, 2024.
- James Hughes, 48, of Etowah, Tennessee, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to provide and possess prohibited objects in a federal prison, including methamphetamine, marijuana, and cellular phones, on October 7, 2023.
Sentencing for Patrick Shackelford, 51, of Senoia, Georgia, is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II. Shackelford faces a mandatory minimum of ten years of imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex R. Sistla and Garrett L. Bradford are 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.
Federal Charges Filed Against Naples Man in $3.7 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Leonard W. Krane (75, Naples) has been charged by indictment with four counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. If convicted, Krane faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of over $3.7 million and other assets traceable to the proceeds of the offenses. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court records, between at least August 2017 and February 2025, Krane engaged in a long-running scheme where he allegedly made false representations that he possessed substantial funds overseas and required upfront payments from victims to access those funds. He promised that, in exchange for wiring him money, often tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, victims would receive significant returns once the overseas funds were recovered.
Instead, as alleged in the indictment, Krane did not invest the funds and the promised returns never materialized. Rather, the funds were used to support his personal lifestyle or were transferred overseas. The total loss attributable to the scheme exceeds $3.7 million.
The indictment further alleges that victim funds were rapidly withdrawn or laundered through international wire transfers to individuals located in the United Kingdom.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
If you believe you may be a victim of the alleged crimes, you can contact the FBI at 800-CALL FBI (225-5324).
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey.
Ecuadorian National Deported after Child Sex Assault Conviction Admits Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLOS CABRERA-ZARUMA, 45, a citizen of Ecuador, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to unlawful reentry of a removed alien.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Cabrera-Zaruma illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico in 2000. In 2008, he was convicted and sentenced in Connecticut Superior Court of sexual assault in the second degree against a victim under the age of 16, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was deported to Ecuador in September 2010. Cabrera-Zaruma subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S. and returned to Connecticut. On September 6, 2025, he was arrested in Danbury and charged with motor vehicle violations.
Cabrera-Zaruma has been detained since his federal arrest on October 7, 2025. He is scheduled to be sentenced in Hartford on June 29. The offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
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.
Eagle Man Sentenced to 52 Months for Embezzlement and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
BOISE – Miles Elletson, 55, of Eagle, Idaho, was sentenced to 52 months in federal prison for wire fraud and filing false tax returns, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, between June 2017 and December 2020, Elletson knowingly and fraudulently devised a scheme to defraud Business-1 of approximately $478,013 and willfully filed false tax returns resulting in a tax loss of $161,354. To fraudulently obtain money, Elletson entered false entries on work orders and submitted fraudulent invoices claiming that Advanced Purchasing Services LLC (APS) performed work for Business-1, when Elletson knew that was not true. That caused Business-1 to issue checks to APS for the fraudulent invoices, checks that Elletson often signed on behalf of Business-1. Elletson provided the checks to the registered owner of APS who deposited the checks. Elletson then instructed that individual to write checks from the APS account to other accounts, fraudulently claiming he used the specified accounts to buy the supplies APS sold to Business-1. In actuality, the accounts were Elletson’s personal accounts, and the charges on the accounts were personal expenses.
In addition, Elletson willfully filed false tax returns because he failed to report the fraudulent income on his U.S. Individual Tax Income Tax Returns, Form 1040 for tax years 2017 through 2020. Elletson’s fraudulent actions resulted in a tax loss of $161,354, which he will repay as restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Elletson serve 2 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Elletson pleaded guilty to the charges on June 11, 2025.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute cases where individuals defraud and embezzle from businesses and taxpayers,” said U.S Attorney Davis. “We commend the work of our law enforcement partners for their work in helping bring financial crimes defendants to justice.”
“Elletson devised a scheme to abuse his position for personal gain and placed an unfair burden on honest taxpayers,” said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Denver Field Office. “Financial crimes carry severe consequences, and this case is the latest example of what happens when someone thinks they are above the law.”
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and Garden City Police Department, which led to the charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darci Crane prosecuted the case.
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Dominican National and Former Massachusetts Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing Almost 700 Grams of FentanylRead the Press Release
Dominican National and Former Massachusetts Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing Almost 700 Grams of Fentanyl
CONCORD – A citizen of the Dominican Republic and former Boston resident pleaded guilty today to distributing almost 700 grams of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Niulmi Baez, 26, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, specifically, at least 400 grams of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for August 3, 2026.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in late 2021 law enforcement learned that the defendant was selling drugs. Between November 2021 and June 2022, an undercover officer engaged in a series of controlled purchases of drugs from Baez. Sometimes Baez delivered the drugs in person, while other times he used a drug runner, including his co-defendant Hamet Badia, to sell drugs. For example, in June 2022, the undercover officer arranged to purchase 400 grams of fentanyl and 200 oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl from Baez. Baez responded that his “brother” would arrive in an Uber rideshare, and that Baez himself would arrive a few minutes later. Badia arrived at the designated meeting spot carrying a green shoe box containing the drugs. Badia gave the drugs to Baez, who exchanged the drugs for a bag containing fake U.S. currency.
Baez left the United States and returned to the Dominican Republic. Law enforcement learned he planned to return to the United States and arrested him at Logan Airport on October 2, 2025. Baez has been detained since.
The charging statute provides a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life, a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, and a maximum fine of $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Badia was previously sentenced to a term of 18 months’ imprisonment for his role in the offense.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. The U.S. Marshals and Hampton Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
D.C. Sex Offender Charged with Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
drew_collin_imparato_x3_attachments.pdfWASHINGTON – A complaint was filed Friday, April 3, in U.S. District Court charging Drew Collin Imparato, 26, a registered sex offender residing in the District of Columbia, with Receipt of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
According to court documents, in 2019, Imparato was convicted of Interstate Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct and Distribution of Child Pornography and was sentenced to five years’ incarceration. Following his release from custody, Imparato sought out online forums that sold child sexual abuse material. Imparato spent $12,000 to purchase hundreds of videos of child sexual abuse material through Telegram and other online applications.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.
This case is being investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Bohlen.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Charges in a complaint are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dcD.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Obstructing a Homicide InvestigationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Antonio Nicks, 34, of Washington, D.C. pleaded guilty today to obstructing a homicide investigation, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Antonio Nicks was subsequently indicted and pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of obstructing justice and one count of contempt. His guilty plea to the indictment was entered on the eve of jury selection.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 26, 2026, before the Honorable Judith Pipe.
According to the government’s evidence, on July 7, 2023 and July 28, 2023, Antonio Nicks testified under oath in a Superior Court grand jury proceeding in Washington D.C. that was investigating the July 9, 2022 stabbing death of Brittany Palmer.
During his grand jury testimony on July 7, 2023, Nicks declined to answer certain questions and purported to invoke the Fifth Amendment privilege on various topics. On July 14, 2023, a Fifth Amendment privilege hearing was held before Chief Judge Anita Josey-Herring. At this hearing, the Chief Judge found that Nicks did not have a Fifth Amendment privilege and ordered him to answer certain questions in the grand jury. During his grand jury testimony on July 28, 2023, Nicks refused to answer questions even though he acknowledged that he was ordered by the Chief Judge to do so. In subsequent hearings before Chief Judge Josey-Herring on October 2, 2023, December 11, 2023, and January 12, 2024, Nicks continued to express his refusal to answer questions as ordered by the Chief Judge.
Nicks was arrested on a material witness warrant on June 21, 2023, and has been in custody ever since.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Galloway.
Chippewa County Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Armed Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Patrick J. Buswell, 51, Holcombe, Wisconsin, was sentenced last week by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 9 years in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine intended for distribution and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. Buswell pleaded guilty to these charges on January 16, 2026. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
On June 15, 2025, Buswell led law enforcement on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds over 100 miles per hour on his motorcycle. After reaching a dead end, Buswell continued to flee on foot. When arrested, he was found with over 50 grams of methamphetamine in his pockets, along with $1,600 in cash. In a small cooler in his motorcycle, law enforcement found a loaded firearm, baggies containing additional controlled substances, and digital scales.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson evaluated Buswell’s actions in this case along with his lengthy criminal history. Judge Peterson recognized the need to protect the community from Buswell’s dangerous behavior, including his history of fleeing law enforcement. He urged Buswell to take advantage of prison substance abuse programming.
The charges against Buswell were the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, Rusk County Sherriff’s Office, Chippewa County Sherriff’s Office, West Central Drug Task Force, Clark County Sherriff’s Office, and the Ladysmith Police Department. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Chinese Nationals Sentenced for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Saipan, M.P. – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that Dong Han, age 52, and Yinhua Yang, age 49, both Chinese nationals, were sentenced on March 26, 2026, in the U.S. District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Han is a lawful permanent resident married to a U.S. citizen.
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona sentenced Han and Yang to 36 months imprisonment each for Conspiracy to Possess Five Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, within 1,000 feet of an Elementary School, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B)(viii), 846, and 860(a). Both defendants were also sentenced to one year of supervised release, 50 hours community service, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began investigating the defendants in March 2025 after receiving information from a cooperating defendant about methamphetamine trafficking in Saipan. The cooperating defendant identified Han as a methamphetamine distributor and reported purchasing drugs from him on several occasions.
Investigators later determined that Han was working with Yang, the manager of a business known as Smile Bar in the Paseo de Marianas in Saipan. Surveillance, business records, and information from the CNMI Department of Public Safety confirmed Yang’s connection to the establishment.
In April 2025, law enforcement monitored a meeting at Smile Bar during which Han offered to sell methamphetamine to the cooperating defendant. On May 9, 2025, while under law enforcement supervision, the cooperating defendant met with Han and Yang at Smile Bar and provided $1,000 for methamphetamine. Yang later directed the cooperating defendant to retrieve the drugs near a stairwell of the business. The cooperating defendant obtained 10.3 grams of methamphetamine packaged inside a cigarette pack.
“Law enforcement continues to combat drug trafficking by foreign nationals in the CNMI,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “As this case demonstrates, we will seek sentencing enhancements to hold drug dealers fully accountable for their unlawful conduct. I commend the work of this multi-agency team in bringing these defendants to justice.”
“This sentencing sends a stern message to criminals who peddle dangerous drugs and endanger the safety and wellbeing of our communities. The fact that these drug traffickers were conducting illicit activity within yards of a school was especially concerning,” said Anthony Chrysanthis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Division, which oversees Guam. “Eventually, they were held accountable for their actions. The strong partnership between local, state, and federal agencies demonstrates DEA’s relentless commitment to bringing drug criminals to justice and halting the flow of methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs.”
This investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, in collaboration with the CNMI Department of Public Safety.
Assistant United States Attorney Albert S. Flores, Jr. and Assistant United States Attorney Eric S. O’Malley prosecuted this case in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Cedar Rapids Man Who Threatened to Kill Victim Sentenced to Two Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who repeatedly threatened to kill a victim was sentenced today to two years in federal prison.
Kyle Ryan Cook, age 36, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 31, 2025, guilty plea to one count of interstate communications with a threat to injure.
Evidence at a prior court hearing and at the sentencing hearing showed that between May and June 2025, Cook repeatedly threatened to kill a victim who was not in Iowa via Facebook Messenger. His threats were graphic and specific. After Cook was arrested and was being transported to a court hearing in this case, Cook told federal agents that he was going to kill the victim and put her “six feet in the ground.” Cook has 21 adult convictions, including violent convictions for battery, disorderly conduct, domestic abuse, and assault causing bodily injury.
Cook was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Cook was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Cook is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake 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-71. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Bakersfield Resident Pleads Guilty to Operating an Illegal Money Transmitting BusinessRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Ifeanyi Emmanuel Ugwu, 49, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business involving more than $5 million in illegally obtained funds, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between December 2020 and August 2023, Ugwu owned, operated, and served as chief executive officer of Franklin Finance Inc. Through this business, Ugwu opened and controlled 20 bank accounts across nine banks and financial institutions where he received approximately $5 million from more than 100 individuals in the United States. He then transferred the funds to individuals in China, Nigeria, and elsewhere. At no point did the company have the required licenses to operate a money-transmitting business.
Several of the individuals who sent Ugwu funds were victims of cybercrimes and fraud. Ugwu received and transferred approximately $580,000 in fraud proceeds from these victims. Ugwu was able to operate his unlicensed business by making various misrepresentations to individuals, banks, and other financial institutions to conceal his fraudulent activity. Several of the individuals in the United States who sent funds to Ugwu were victims of fraud and cybercrimes.
The IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.
Ugwu is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on July 27, 2026. Ugwu faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Avondale Woman Indicted for Theft of Social Security Disability BenefitsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – On April 2, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted DENISE BROOKS, (“BROOKS”), age 65, of Avondale, for theft of government funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, in or around November 2014 through November 2023, BROOKS stole Social Security Disability Benefits in the approximate amount of $65,764.00 which was meant for the benefit of her two minor children.
BROOKS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment cost.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General in investigating this matter. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Anne Flippo of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Armed Drug Trafficking on Kickapoo Tribal Land Leads to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Eagle Pass ManRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – An Eagle Pass man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 360 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana on Kickapoo Tribal Land while possessing two firearms, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, in 2019, Drug Enforcement Administration and ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents began investigating Rolando Oyervides Jr. aka “Roly,” 40, for distribution of methamphetamine. A search warrant for a social media account belonging to Oyervides Jr. led to the discovery of photos depicting cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, Farmapram, small plastic bags and scales. The search also revealed that Oyervides Jr., as a fugitive, was illegally in possession of multiple firearms. Messages pertaining to the distribution of controlled substances were also found.
Further investigation revealed Oyervides Jr. was selling narcotics out of various residences with children present and used females as drug mules to traffic three to four ounces of narcotics per person, three to four times per week.
On Jan. 29, 2020, DEA and HSI agents executed a search warrant at an Eagle Pass residence, where they encountered Oyervides Jr. and two other individuals, one being a juvenile. Oyervides Jr. was arrested and agents seized marijuana, methamphetamine, scales, and a drug ledger, as well as two .380 caliber semi-automatic pistols, nearly 200 rounds of .380 ammunition, and three 12-gauge shotgun shells.
Oyervides Jr. was indicted on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during and in relation to and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On June 24, 2021, he pleaded guilty to counts one and two in the indictment. He was additionally found guilty of the third count in a bench trial on Oct. 29, 2021.
In 2004, Oyervides Jr. was convicted of possession with intent of distributing cocaine and sentenced to 40 months in prison. His supervised release was revoked in 2009, resulting in an additional 11-month imprisonment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Rivera prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the 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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Arizona Man Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Attempted Coercion or Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Anthony Dalton Wolff, 44, of Surprise, Arizona, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 13 years and eight months in prison and ordered to pay a money judgment of $15,000, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
The sentence includes 15 years of supervised release during which Wolff’s access to minors, electronic devices, and the internet will be restricted, and he will be required to register as a sex offender. Wolff pleaded guilty to the charge on Dec. 15, 2025.
According to court documents, between March 16, 2023, and July 30, 2024, Wolff met and then communicated with an undercover federal agent on a forum on the dark web dedicated to discussion of child sexual abuse. The undercover agent had established a profile for a mother with a 7-year-old daughter. Wolff contacted the agent and immediately stated that he had a long-standing sexual interest in girls, and he hoped to have a sexual relationship with the agent and her purported daughter. Wolff moved the communications to Telegram, an end-to-end encrypted application, and frequently sent videos of himself while viewing and commenting on some of his favorite child exploitation videos. He planned to meet the agent and her daughter in California and described in graphic detail how he wanted to sexually abuse the girl and to have another child with the mother so he could sexually abuse that child.
The Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Albany Man Charged with Coercion and Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced criminal charges against ANTHONY PARENTE for communicating online and over the phone with an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old girl and attempting to meet the individual to engage in sexual activities. PARENTE was taken into federal custody on April 2, 2026, and presented before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court on April 3, 2026.
“There is little we take more seriously than protecting our children,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “As alleged, Anthony Parente targeted someone he believed to be a teenaged girl for explicit enticement to participate in sexual activity and then traveled into the Southern District of New York with the intention of engaging in sex with a minor. New Yorkers abhor this alleged conduct; it has no place here. Our prosecutors and our FBI partners are committed to identifying and holding accountable those who attempt to prey on our children.”
“Anthony Parente allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a purported minor girl and planned to sexually abuse her before authorities arrested him,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI continues to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to hold accountable any sexual predator who targets minors online for perverted gratification.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
PARENTE was identified on March 27, 2026, as part of a multi-agency operation. PARENTE communicated with an undercover law enforcement officer (“Officer-1”) that PARENTE believed to be a 14-year-old girl using online chat applications, text messaging, and phone calls. During these exchanges, PARENTE discussed his sexual preferences with Officer-1 and provided instructions to Officer-1 as to how she might gratify them, in addition to asking for nude photographs. During their communications, PARENTE sent Officer-1 a number of photos of his face, including this one:
After a period of approximately six days, Officer-1 and PARENTE arranged a meet-up for sex. On April 2, 2026, PARENTE drove approximately two hours to the agreed-upon location, where he was taken into custody by New York State Police and found to have bondage equipment on his person. In a post-arrest statement made after being advised of his rights, PARENTE admitted that he had communicated with a 14-year-old girl and intended to engage in oral and vaginal intercourse with her.
Please read the allegations in this complaint and, if you think you see something similar, say something: call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or use the online tips page: https://tips.fbi.gov.
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PARENTE, 30, of Loudonville, New York, is charged with one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. The statutory minimum for this charge is 10 years in prison, and the maximum is life in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI New York Office Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, New York State Police Troop F – Computer Crimes Unit and Community Stabilization Unit, FBI Albany Field Office, New York State Police Troop G, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha Briggs is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – An Alabama man, who coerced a 13-year-old Danville, Virginia, girl to send him sexually explicit images and video, pled guilty recently.
Kenneth Melvin Doss, 31, of Huntsville, Alabama, pled guilty recently to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to court records, in July 2025, Doss used Facebook Messenger to convince his 13-year-old relative in Danville to send him sexually explicit images and video of herself. When the minor victim hesitated, saying Doss was her cousin, Doss responded it could be their secret, and they could delete the chats. Doss also sent videos of himself masturbating to the minor victim, and he described the sex acts they could engage in if they met up in person.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Drew Inman is prosecuting the case.
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 identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Firearm Offenses
Kyle Davion Kohon, 21, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 50 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a person convicted of domestic violence. According to court documents, on Aug. 20, 2025, police responded to a report that Mr. Kohon had pointed a gun at another person during a dispute at a home in Casper. He fled the scene but was later located by officers after discarding a backpack containing a stolen 9mm pistol; he initially denied possession but later admitted it was his. Kohon also had a prior 2024 domestic battery case involving an altercation with his then-girlfriend. The Casper Police Department, DCI and ATF investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Kohon was indicted on Nov. 19. 2025 and pleaded guilty on Jan. 8, 2026. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on April 3 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00176
Drug Trafficking
Jayjacob William Buswell, 32, of Cheyenne, Wyoming was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. According to court documents, in May 2025, the DCI Central Enforcement Team received information that the defendant was distributing cocaine in Platte County, Wyoming. Two controlled purchases were conducted, one for approximately 84 grams of cocaine, and the second for approximately 112 grams. On June 20, 2025, agents learned that Buswell would be travelling to Wheatland with a suspected large amount of cocaine. Wyoming Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop and a drug detection K-9 alerted to a controlled substance. Troopers located approximately 280 grams of cocaine. DCI and WHP investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. A complaint was filed on Aug. 4, 2025, and Buswell pleaded guilty on Oct. 30, 2025. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on March 31 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00150
Teya Larage Janway, 39, of Evanston, Wyoming, was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in July 2024, DCI began investigating a possible drug ring in southwest Wyoming. In September 2024, a controlled buy led to the purchase of approximately 58 grams of methamphetamine from Jeramie Makinen and Teya Janway. Following their arrest, agents discovered almost a pound of additional methamphetamine hidden by Janway and drug distribution evidence. Subsequent interviews and searches revealed a broader drug distribution operation involving methamphetamine trafficking. DCI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Janway was indicted on Jan. 15, 2025, and pleaded guilty on Oct. 22, 2025. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Apil 2 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00008
Drug and Firearm Offenses
Salvador Francis Collard, 46, of Cheyenne, Wyoming was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with ten years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on September 2, 2025, a Cheyenne Police Department (CPD) officer stopped Collard after a traffic violation and detained him after he acted erratically and failed to follow commands. A search of the vehicle revealed large quantities of fentanyl pills and methamphetamine, along with drug paraphernalia, cash, and distribution-related items. Officers also found loaded firearms and ammunition in the vehicle, including a handgun and a shotgun. Collard is a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm. CPD and DEA investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. A complaint was filed on Oct. 7, 2025, and he pleaded guilty on Feb 9, 2026. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on April 3 in Casper. Case No. 26-CR-00002
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Operation Take Back America
Operation Take Back America is 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. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Victim Witness Program
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime
Friday 3 April 2026
U.S. Marshals Service Locates West Tennessee Fugitive in MexicoRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Today, D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, and Tyreece L. Miller, United States Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee, announced that a fugitive has been arrested in Mexico.
According to information presented in court, Angelica Escobedo Bernal, 33, of Tamaulipas, Mexico, was indicted in the Western District of Tennessee on February 6, 2024 for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Aiding and Abetting the Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
On December 11, 2024, Bernal pled guilty to Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Based on information presented in court, Bernal participated in the sale of 1 kilogram of methamphetamine. Sentencing was scheduled for May 13, 2025, but Bernal failed to appear for her court date while on bond. The District Court issued an arrest warrant for failure to appear.
The United States Marshals Service (USMS) obtained information that Bernal was in Mexico. On March 24, 2026, Mexican authorities arrested Bernal in Mexico at the request of the United States. Bernal faces extradition proceedings in Mexico.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "No matter how far you run, you cannot escape justice and accountability in this district. I commend the outstanding investigative work of the USMS in the apprehension of this drug trafficking fugitive without further incident. Bernal has sowed addiction and pain into West Tennessee and will now return to reap the consequence of a significant prison sentence."
“The U.S. Marshals Service’s reach is far and wide. For those who think they are safe from capture, it’s just a matter of time before you will face the consequences in a court of law," said U.S. Marshal Tyreece L. Miller.
The United States Marshals Service led the investigation into locating Bernal.
The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory D. Allen is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 131 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 131 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 March 29, Alfredo Chavez Montoya and Claudia Patricia Rivera, citizens of Mexico, were arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found 113 pounds of cocaine concealed in the ceiling, dashboard, center console, floor and back seat rest of their vehicle when they applied for entry to the U.S. at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
- On March 30, Frances Goenett, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 102 pounds of methamphetamine and three pounds of fentanyl hidden in the car she was driving when she applied for entry to the U.S. through the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
- On April 1, Gonzalo Vargas-Castaneda, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged with Attempted Entry After Deportation. According to a complaint, the defendant presented fraudulent documents to Customs and Border Protection officials while trying to cross into the United States in the pedestrian lanes of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. Vargas-Castaneda had been previously removed from the United States in 2011 via Nogales, Arizona, and in 2025 via San Ysidro.
- On March 31, Edgar Eduardo Valencia, a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, Valencia attempted to cross the border at the San Ysidro Port of Entry with an undocumented immigrant in the passenger seat. The immigrant told Customs and Border Protection officers that he is a U.S. citizen from Yuma, Arizona. Unconvinced officers further questioned the passenger, who eventually said he is a Mexican citizen who was not being charged a smuggling fee in exchange for transporting drugs for the defendant once in the U.S.
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 Charges Three Men with Attempting to Rob Undercover Federal Agent in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office today charged three men with attempting to rob a federal agent during an undercover firearm transaction in Chicago.
JEREMY JONES, CHRISTOPHER DENSMORE, and CARMELL MASSEY attempted to rob an agent from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives on Thursday morning, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The agent was working undercover when the agent met with the defendants in a parking lot on the South Side of Chicago for the purpose of buying two firearms from them, the complaint states. During the meeting, the defendants attempted to rob the agent of $600 in government funds that the agent planned to use to purchase the guns, the complaint states. When Jones pointed a firearm at the undercover agent, the agent responded by firing a shot at him, the complaint states. Jones and the two other defendants attempted to flee the area, but law enforcement quickly arrested all three defendants, the complaint states.
The complaint charges Jones, 19, Densmore, 22, and Massey, 20, all of Chicago, with one count of attempted robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The firearm charge is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison and a maximum of life. The attempted robbery charge is punishable by a maximum of 25 years. The defendants were scheduled to make initial appearances in federal court in Chicago this afternoon.
The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Gurley.
“Each and every day in Chicago, ATF agents put their lives on the line to fight violent crime and make our city safer,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The undercover agent in this case demonstrated the utmost bravery, courage, and skill, all of which are the hallmarks of our nation’s dedicated ATF agents. Any crimes against law enforcement—especially violent crimes—are direct assaults on the rule of law. Through these serious federal charges, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will seek to hold these violent offenders accountable.”
“During an undercover firearms trafficking operation yesterday, the offenders arrived with the intention of conducting a robbery,” said ATF SAC Amon. “They did not realize they were targeting highly trained agents who immediately took action to take the offenders into custody and protect their own. I am proud of the professionalism and bravery demonstrated by our undercover law enforcement officers, ATF agents, and Task Force Officers on the scene. These professionals risk their lives day in and day out to target violent criminals and their sources of crime guns. Once the radio call went out, the Chicago Police Department immediately responded and provided critical investigative support, and I am grateful for their work. To be very clear, the conduct of these offenders will not be tolerated, and I want to thank U.S. Attorney Boutros and his team for swiftly bringing federal charges in this case.”
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
jones_et_al_complaint.pdfU.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 one-week period ending April 3, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:
- 70 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
- 3 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
- 18 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
- 82 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 narcotics trafficking, domestic violence, unlawful possession of firearms, alien smuggling, receipt of stolen property, 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.