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Friday 3 April 2026
Two men sentenced to prison for scheme to defraud Savannah Port logistics serviceRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: A logistics company employee and a trucking company owner have been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to a scheme that paid for fake transportation invoices.
Philip Charles Smith, 41, of Richmond Hill, Georgia, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term, while Antonio J. Evans Sr., 41, of Sylvania, Georgia, was sentenced to 13 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Both men pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Smith and Evans to be held equally responsible for paying $821,899 in restitution.
“Private companies that serve the transportation needs for the Port of Savannah, like all companies, deserve to expect honesty and integrity from their employees and service providers,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Philip Smith betrayed the trust of his employer in order to funnel fake work to Antonio Evans so the two of them could line their pockets, and they’re now being held accountable for their dishonesty.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Smith previously was employed by a national logistics and transportation company that served the Port of Savannah, while Smith was the owner of a local trucking company that served as a licensed carrier for Smith’s employer. One of Smith’s duties was to award contracts on behalf of the company to such third-party carriers to move freight from the port to other destinations.
From about July 2021 to August 2024, Smith devised a scheme in which he used his employee access to create fake freight-hauling jobs that he assigned to Evans. The company then would unwittingly pay Evans for work that didn’t exist, and Evans would kick back a portion of the funds to Smith. The $821,899 in restitution represents the total amount of the company’s loss from the three years of the scheme.
“Schemes like this exploit positions of trust and undermine the integrity of critical supply chain operations supporting the Port of Savannah,” said Brad Snider, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Georgia’s Savannah office. “The FBI is committed to holding accountable those who use fraud and deception for personal gain, and we will continue working with our partners to protect businesses from financial crimes that impact commerce and the broader economy.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner.
Two Men Charged with Beating and Strangling a Man to Death in FebruaryRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced yesterday that Rico Barnes, 36, and Alphonso Walker, 39, both from the District, have been charged with murder in connection with the Feb. 11, 2026, beating and strangulation death of 40-year-old Syed Hussein.
Barnes and Walker were both charged with one count of first-degree murder while armed in D.C. Superior Court on April 2, 2026. A preliminary hearing is set for Rico Barnes on May 18, 2026, and for Alphonso Walker on June 2, 2026.
As described in the arrest warrants issued in the case, at approximately 3:33 a.m., on Feb. 11, 2026, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Service (FEMS) members responded to a 9-1-1 call that reported smoke coming from apartment 106, inside 1437 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., a multi-unit apartment building. Responding FEMS members saw the smoke and entered the one-bedroom apartment, which was unlocked. Inside the members found Mr. Hussain lying on the floor, unconscious and unresponsive, with his wrists and ankles bound by neckties. The victim had succumbed to his injuries. The apartment was otherwise unoccupied.
An autopsy on Mr. Hussain’s remains later determined that the manner of his death was a homicide and that the cause of his death was blunt force trauma and ligature strangulation.
During the subsequent MPD investigation, detectives gathered security camera footage as evidence, including from a camera covering the entrance area to Mr. Hussain’s apartment building. That footage showed Mr. Hussain interacting with the two defendants, at 1:40 a.m. on February 11, 2026. The footage shows the defendants physically attacking Mr. Hussain outside the doorway and then following him as he enters the building. Approximately, an hour later the suspects are recorded leaving the building carrying large bags.
On February 14, 2026, MPD detectives recovered numerous items belonging to Mr. Hussain, in a residence in a different neighborhood.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Charges in a complaint are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
2026 CF1 004807; 2026 CF1 004889
Two Charged by Federal Complaint for Stealing Explosive Material and Illegally Possessing Explosive Material and a FirearmRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Two Louisville individuals were arrested yesterday and charged by complaint today with stealing explosive material, possession of explosive material by a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
The complaint alleges that on or about March 31, 2025, James Culver, 44, and Lasierra Chesher, 39, stole explosive materials. Investigators determined the theft to be approximately 438 pounds of the following explosives: 12 sticks 2.5”x16” Orica Power Pro (DSC 14JA26J1); 89 sticks Orica Senatel Ultrex (DSC 18DE25V4); and 6 fifty-pound bags of Orica Amex-WR ANFO, which had moved in interstate commerce. Based on a tip, law enforcement was able to recover all the stolen explosives.
“The ATF and LMPD were notified on April 1 that a significant amount of explosives had been stolen from a construction site off Bardstown Road,” said United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner. “ATF agents and LMPD officers immediately joined forces to locate the explosive materials and identify a suspect, seeking the help of the Louisville community. In less than 24 hours, and because of exceptional investigative efforts, ATF and LMPD located and safely recovered all stolen explosive materials and arrested the alleged culprits.”
According to the complaint, Culver and Chesher drove to a construction site in Louisville. Culver broke the locks enabling them to obtain the explosives. Upon gaining entry, Culver and Chesher began stealing the explosives. They stored the explosives at another person’s residence and returned home. At their residence, they had a box full of blasting caps. When law enforcement approached Culver and Chesher, Culver fled. Both were apprehended. Subsequently, Culver admitted to his involvement in the theft of explosives.
ATF executed a search warrant at Culver and Chesher’s residence. ATF recovered a .22 caliber rifle along with various caliber ammunition. They also recovered a shockwave exploding target and multiple explosive labels and instructional materials.
Along with the theft of explosive material charge, Culver is also charged with possession of explosive material and possession of a firearm by prohibited person. Culver is prohibited from possessing explosive material and a firearm because he has previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses, to include receiving stolen property $10,000 or more, burglary in the third degree, and theft by unlawful taking.
Along with the theft of explosive material charge, Chesher is further charged with possession of explosive material by a prohibited person. She was prohibited from possessing explosive materials because she has previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including receiving stolen property under $10,000, trafficking in methamphetamine, and convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
If convicted, Culver faces a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison. Chesher faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Bumgarner thanked the law enforcement partners and prosecutors for their extraordinary work. “This doesn’t happen without strong leadership, strong partnerships, and, most importantly, dedicated and well-trained agents, officers and prosecutors. Job well done.”
“The possession and use of explosives are strictly regulated due to the significant risks they pose,” said ATF Special John Nokes. “This theft created a serious and unnecessary danger to the public. As a result, the ATF and LMPD made this investigation a top priority, working in close coordination to ensure the safe recovery of all explosive materials and the swift apprehension of those responsible.”
“This successful recovery of the stolen explosives and subsequent arrests underscores the strength of coordinated law enforcement and the professionalism of our officers,” said LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey. “LMPD’s Bomb Squad, Homeland Security Unit, SWAT Team, Fugitive Unit, Drone Unit, and Sixth Division Patrol worked seamlessly alongside our ATF partners to help recover a significant amount of stolen explosives and protect our community. I’m extremely proud of the dedication and expertise these units demonstrated. Our continued partnership with the ATF—both the Louisville and Lexington offices—remains vital to keeping our city and region safe.”
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the ATF and LMPD.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz of the United States Attorney’s Office Louisville Branch 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.
A complaint merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Tifton Man Sentenced to Prison for Armed Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Tifton, Georgia, man who sold heroin mixed with fentanyl from an outdoor table—maintaining a burn barrel to quickly destroy drugs if needed and offering discounts or trades for wood pallets to keep the fire burning—has been sentenced to prison for armed fentanyl distribution.
Kabryen Sharrod Ross, aka “Juice,” 33, of Tifton, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on April 2, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on July 30, 2025. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Fentanyl dealers endanger the entire community by distributing this lethal and illegal substance,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “The Tift County Sheriff’s Office and the GBI successfully shut down this fentanyl source, saving lives and holding those responsible accountable.”
“The GBI remains committed to stopping the supply of deadly substances like fentanyl into our communities,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “Our agents and law enforcement partners place themselves in harm’s way each day to apprehend those responsible, purge these drugs from our communities and protect the public.”
Ross’ co-defendant, Adrian Jarod Stanley, 33, of Tifton, was sentenced to 121 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Oct. 30, 2025, after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution methamphetamine on July 29, 2025.
According to court records and statements made in court, an undercover GBI agent was introduced to Ross, a known heroin dealer in Tift County. Authorities discovered Ross was selling heroin, sometimes mixed with fentanyl, from a table near a residence on South Ridge Avenue in Tifton. At this location, Ross kept a burn barrel to quickly destroy drugs and offered discounts or extra heroin in exchange for wood pallets to keep the fire going. Working with the Tift County Sheriff’s Office, the undercover agent conducted eight controlled purchases from Ross between March and May 2022. During the first purchase, agents seized 0.445 grams of fentanyl mixed with half a gram of heroin and observed Ross with a Glock firearm. On June 3, 2022, a search warrant was executed at Ross’s home on Park Avenue South, where agents found fentanyl, other drugs, a loaded Glock and ammunition.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The GBI and the Tift County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit prosecuted the case for the Government.
St. Thomas Pastor Arrested on Federal and Local Sex Offenses Involving MinorRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. – United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that on April 1, 2026, a St. Thomas man was arrested on criminal charges related to his alleged transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
According to court documents, Lawrence Turnbull, 65, of Estate Mandahl, was the minor’s pastor and youth leader. On multiple occasions, he transported the minor to different locations and touched the minor inappropriately.
Turnbull is charged with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, coercion and enticement, unlawful sexual contact, and child abuse. If convicted, Turnbull faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Virgin Islands Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry is prosecuting the case.
An information is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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St. Louis Carjacker Sentenced to 114 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Friday sentenced a woman who committed an armed carjacking in St. Louis to 114 months in prison.
On the evening of March 12, 2024, in the 3400 block of Grace Avenue in St. Louis, Jonniece Wilson, now 21, of St. Louis, pointed a firearm at the driver of a Hyundai Accent and demanded the keys to the car. She then got in and drove away.
About 30 minutes later, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers spotted the car and tried to pull it over. The vehicle sped up instead of stopping and weaved through traffic and red lights before crashing into a light pole and striking a pedestrian. Wilson, who was not driving the stolen vehicle, was arrested after fleeing on foot with a backpack containing a handgun.
Wilson pleaded guilty in October to one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case.
Second Straight Week of 231 New Immigration Cases in Western District of TexasRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – For the second consecutive week, federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 231 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. From March 27 to April 2, charges were brought against human smugglers and illegal aliens with past convictions for violent crimes, burglaries, numerous DWIs, and multiple prior removals.
Among the new cases, Devin Michael Brady, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with human smuggling on March 27. A U.S. Border Patrol camera operator observed four individuals running north from the U.S-Mexico border before boarding a silver pickup truck north of Texas Highway 20. Agents conducted a traffic stop on the pickup and, while they did not find any passengers with Brady, they noticed several cell phones inside the truck. A criminal complaint affidavit alleges that a cell phone located on the driver’s seat belonging to Brady, was unlocked and displayed a WhatsApp conversation with a Mexican phone number. The messages were allegedly indicative of a possible smuggling scheme and included a proof-of-life video. The affidavit further alleges that Brady was to be paid $750 for each of the five illegal aliens he picked up and had just dropped the aliens off near his residence. Brady’s lengthy criminal record dates to January 2003 and includes possession of prohibited weapons, evading arrest, and three separate felonies for failure to comply and register as a sex offender following a conviction for aggravated sexual assault as a juvenile.
Ervin Lopez-Marroquin, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was charged with illegal re-entry after being found north of the Rio Grande River, south of the train tracks, and west of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry. Lopez-Marroquin was previously deported in June 2025 following a conviction for assault, cruelty toward a child, and driving under suspension. In 2024, he was convicted of resisting an officer and a DUI.
Michel Romero Martinez-Jimenez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was found in El Paso after having been previously removed for the second time in April 2016. Martinez-Jimenez has been previously convicted for multiple assaults and a DUI.
Juan Carlos Ruiz-Morales, an illegal alien from Mexico, was found in San Marcos after being arrested for his fourth DWI. Ruiz-Morales was last removed from the U.S. in September 2025. He’s now charged with illegal re-entry in Austin.
Also facing an illegal re-entry charge in Austin, Mexican national Jose Israel Silva Ibarra was transferred to ICE custody following his arrest for possession of a controlled substance. Silva Ibarra’s criminal history includes three separate convictions for burglary of a vehicle and a conviction for burglary of a habitation.
In San Antonio, Crispin Juan Carlos Luna-Gutierrez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was transferred to ICE custody from the Atascosa County Jail on March 28. Luna-Gutierrez had been jailed in Jourdanton following a March 8 arrest for a DWI. A review of his criminal record indicated four prior convictions for illegal re-entry.
Jose Antonio Hernandez-Gomez, also an illegal alien from Mexico, was encountered during a traffic stop by the La Vernia Police Department on March 31. He was transported for ICE processing, and a review of his criminal record revealed two prior illegal re-entry convictions, as well as two assault causing bodily injury convictions and a DWI felony. Hernandez-Gomez now faces his third illegal re-entry charge.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Prime Capital Ventures CEO Sentenced to 97 Months for Multimillion Dollar Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kris Roglieri, age 46, of Queensbury, New York, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for a wire fraud conspiracy committed in connection with the operation and collapse of his purported commercial lending business, Prime Capital Ventures, LLC.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Roglieri admitted that he operated Prime Capital Ventures, LLC (“Prime Capital”) and, between mid-2022 and January 2024, conspired with others to fraudulently obtain tens of millions of dollars from Prime Capital’s clients. As part of the scheme, Roglieri falsely promoted Prime Capital as a lending business capable of making large commercial loans through third-party funding arrangements. Roglieri admitted that he and his co-conspirators deceived clients into sending Prime Capital tens of millions of dollars in payments based on false promises that the payments would allow Prime Capital to obtain these large loans and that the payments would be refunded if those loans did not materialize. Roglieri then used that money to repay or fund prior clients and on extravagant purchases for himself, including private jet travel, jewelry, and cars made by Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Maserati.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered a 3-year term of supervised release to follow Roglieri’s release from prison as well as forfeiture of a $55,484,674.84 money judgment, twelve vehicles, eight watches, a Virginia Beach, Virginia mansion, and other property derived from the scheme. Restitution will be ordered at a later date.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated: “Kris Roglieri callously deceived victims all over the country into trusting him with tens of millions of dollars under the false pretenses that he would secure funding for their projects. Instead of keeping that money safe and delivering on that funding, Roglieri turned around and spent it on exotic cars, rare watches, and private jet travel. Thanks to the hard work of the FBI and members of my office, Roglieri will forfeit those ill-gotten gains, swap his luxury suits for a jumpsuit, and get on the fast track to federal prison.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli stated: “Today’s sentence ensures Mr. Roglieri will not just forfeit his luxury belongings and lifestyle, but also his freedom. The FBI was committed to investigating this case to bring justice to the victims he brazenly stole from to build his wildly extravagant lifestyle. This case should send a strong message that the FBI is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable anyone who uses illegal means to take advantage of hardworking Americans.”
Two co-conspirators have also pled guilty in connection with this case. Kimberly Owen, a/k/a Kimberly “Kimmy” Humphrey, age 41, and her brother Christopher Snyder, age 45, both of Virginia Beach, have each pled guilty to a charge of wire fraud conspiracy. Both Owen and Snyder admitted to conspiring with each other and Roglieri to defraud Prime Capital clients. Snyder is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2026, and Owen is scheduled to be sentenced on May 28, 2026.
The FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal prosecuted it. The U.S. Trustee’s Office for the Northern District of New York provided assistance in this investigation.
Previously convicted felons, including an armed career criminal, sentenced to prison on gun chargesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: One man caught carrying a gun in Savannah’s mall and another who fired shots in a neighborhood face years in prison on firearms charges after sentencings in federal court.
Herman Lamont Dessasure, 43, of Savannah, and Darvin Prest Morris, 41, of Ludowici, Georgia, each were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood determined that Dessasure was an armed career criminal because of at least three prior violent felony convictions, and under enhanced sentencing guidelines sentenced him to 170 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.
Judge Wood sentenced Morris to 110 months in prison, fined him $1,000 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Our commitment to safe communities means absolutely no tolerance for convicted felons carrying guns,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “If you’re prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a history of committing crimes, we’ll work with our law enforcement partners to take you off the streets.”
Dessasure, who has a substantial criminal history, was arrested in November 2021 when an Oglethorpe Mall security guard spotted what appeared to be the outline of a firearm under Dessasure’s shirt and alerted Savannah police. An officer found a pistol tucked in Dessasure’s waistband in violation of mall rules, and determined that Dessasure’s prior felony convictions prohibited him from possessing firearms.
Morris, who previously was convicted in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, was indicted after an April 2021 incident in which citizens of a McIntosh County neighborhood detained Morris for police after he drove through a man’s yard, brandished a firearm and fired multiple shots.
The cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese, John P. Harper III, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Olsen.
Pittsburgh Resident Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 15 years of incarceration on his conviction of distributing child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Justin Hughes, 45, on April 2, 2026. Hughes was also sentenced to 10 years of federal supervision following his release from prison and ordered to pay restitution to one victim.
According to information presented to the Court, Hughes sent at least two emails including 11 video files and one image containing child sexual abuse material to another individual in Ohio. Law enforcement was able to attribute these emails and the email account to Hughes, who is a registered sex offender in Pennsylvania with a prior sexual abuse conviction around 2007.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hornak commented on the very serious nature of Hughes’ offense, which, in turn, required serious punishment. The judge also noted the harm to Hughes’ victim and the impact of distributing child sexual abuse material.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Hughes.
Olathe Man Sentenced to 97 Months for Stealing 41 Firearms and Transporting Child Pornography into the United StatesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Olathe, Ks., man was sentenced yesterday for stealing 41 firearms from a gun store in Raytown, Mo., and for transporting child pornography on his cell phone into the United States from Mexico.
Frank Guereca, 24, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 97 months in prison without parole for stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee and for transportation of child pornography.
On June 16, 2023, Guereca and two others backed a stolen U-Haul truck into the store of a federally licensed firearms dealer, located in Raytown, Mo., creating a hole in the front of the business. Thereafter, Guereca and the two others entered through the hole and took 41 firearms from the business. One of the stolen pistols from the gun store was recovered in Tracy, Calif., on Nov. 14, 2023. A second stolen pistol was recovered in Chihuahua, Mexico, on Dec. 19, 2023. A third stolen pistol was recovered in Juarez, Mexico, on Feb. 6, 2024.
Guereca was arrested on April 25, 2024, as he attempted to cross back into the United States from Mexico. Guereca had in his possession a Samsung Galaxy cell phone, which was seized by law enforcement. Subsequent review of the contents of the phone pursuant to a federal search warrant revealed at least 250 images and 70 videos depicting child pornography, which Guereca transported into the United States from Mexico.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection records, Guereca had previously crossed the border approximately 20 times since the burglary and theft on June 16, 2023.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Raytown, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Guereca will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
North Fort Myers Man Sentenced to More than Six Years in Federal Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Michael Peacock (39, North Fort Myers) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek to six years and six months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. Peacock pleaded guilty on October 28, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Peacock was part of a ring of drug distributors in the Palmona Park neighborhood of North Fort Myers. In July 2024, Peacock sold a confidential informant approximately 2 ounces of methamphetamine for $500.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.
Nicaraguan Illegal Alien Guilty of Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that FRANDER ULISES ESPINOZA-RUGAMA (“ESPINOZA- RUGAMA”), age 29, a native of Nicaragua, pleaded guilty on March 31, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, on or about June 30, 2024, ESPINOZA-RUGAMA, an individual unlawfully present in the United States, was found in possession of a Smith & Wesson nine-millimeter handgun, Model SW9VE. He was arrested by ICE officers for violating immigration laws.
At sentencing, ESPINOZA-RUGAMA faces a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing has been scheduled for April 10, 2025.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Kenner Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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New Orleans Man Previously Convicted of Attempted Murder Now Sentenced after Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –KYLE CONERLY (“CONERLY”), age 33, was sentenced on March 25, 2026 by U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, on November 20, 2023, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers were conducting surveillance on a residence in the Holly Grove neighborhood. When officers moved in to make arrests, CONERLY ran to the backyard of the residence and threw a loaded handgun over the fence. CONERLY is prohibited from possessing a handgun because of prior convictions for attempted second degree murder and manslaughter in Orleans Parish.
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).
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Drug-Trafficking Crimes and Machinegun PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –BRANDON DUNN (“DUNN”), age 20, pleaded guilty on April 1, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry to conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846, and possession of a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2).
According to court documents, since at least 2023, DUNN sold marijuana and tapentadol in the New Orleans area. On May 9, 2024, New Orleans Police Department Officers were surveilling DUNN’s residence. DUNN arrived in a stolen Infinity Q60 and exited the driver’s seat of the vehicle. When DUNN saw the officers, he fled on foot and discarded a Glock Model 19, nine-millimeter handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device and an extended magazine loaded with 25 rounds of ammunition. DUNN was apprehended after a short chase. There was a distributable quantity of marijuana in DUNN’s stolen car and DUNN had over $1,000 cash in his pockets. Inside DUNN’s bedroom, officers recovered a money counter, over $15,000 in cash, a Romarm/Cugir Model Micro Draco, 7.62x39-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, credit cards in other people’s names, and a washed check.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, DUNN will serve 11.5 years in prison. The Court took DUNN’s guilty plea but deferred its decision on whether to accept or reject the negotiated plea until sentencing. DUNN also faces a term of supervised release of at least two years up to life. Each count also carries a maximum $250,000 fine 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).
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Threatening a Federal Judge and a Federal Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Michael Buck, a multi-convicted felon, will spend the next 300 months in federal prison for threatening a federal judge, a federal law enforcement officer and their families. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down yesterday by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.
On February 4, 2025, Buck, 53, of Glenallen, Missouri, was indicted by a federal grand jury in a five-count Second Superseding Indictment for threatening a federal judge, threatening family of a federal judge, threatening a federal law enforcement officer, threatening family of a federal law enforcement officer, and false statements to a federal law enforcement officer. On April 29, 2025, Buck pleaded guilty to the five counts in the Second Superseding Indictment. Chief Judge Baker also sentenced Buck to three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
In March 2025, a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated Buck, who was then an inmate in the Federal Correctional Institution in Forrest City, Arkansas, for making various threats and statements about his intent to kill numerous people upon his pending release from prison. In a surreptitious recording at the federal correctional institution, Buck can be heard making numerous violent threats against the federal judge who sentenced Buck in his 2008 commercial sex trafficking case in the Western District of Missouri. Buck also threatened to kill the former federal prosecutor who had prosecuted Buck’s case, and also family members of both the judge and the former federal prosecutor.
The recording then captures Buck admitting that he has used a contraband prison phone to locate his victims and that he has already called one of them to verify his information and that he hung up the call once he could hear their voice on the call.
Buck has a significant violent criminal history and had served nearly 17 years in prison and was due to be released soon from federal prison. As his release date neared, he continued to make threats and tell people he was going to kill the judge, the prosecutor, their families, and the victims from his previous case in 2008 in the Western District of Missouri where he was convicted of trafficking into involuntary servitude and coerced commercial sex trafficking. Buck’s criminal history includes convictions for second-degree burglary, assault, simple assault, domestic violence, resisting arrest and creating a substantial risk of injury/death to any person, and violation of an order of protection.
“Threats to kill public officials and their families for simply doing their jobs will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Ross. “Here, once law enforcement learned that in addition to the defendant’s grotesque threats to murder and torture family members of the public officials involved in his original commercial sex trafficking conviction, that the defendant had also taken steps to locate his intended victims just as he was about to be released from prison, quick action was taken to prevent his release and to notify everyone involved to take precautionary measures. We are grateful for the brave witness that came forward to notify law enforcement of Buck’s wicked plans and also the investigation by the United States Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Prisons that resulted in stopping Buck from the evil he intended to carry out. We are thankful that the court recognized that Buck is a sadistic and dangerous individual that needs to be removed from society for an additional 25 years.”
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the United States Marshals, and the Bureau of Prisons. The case was prosecuted by United States Attorney Jonathan D. Ross and Assistant United States Attorney Bart Dickinson, along with other Assistant United States Attorneys in the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Arkansas.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
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Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A 29-year-old man pleaded guilty in federal court to assaulting a federal officer while the officer was performing his official duties.
Damarko Amir Kimble, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty April 2 to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers or Employers.
According to court documents, on Oct. 7, 2024, federal agents encountered Kimble at a service plaza parking lot on the I-80/90 turnpike in Sandusky County. Kimble’s rental vehicle had expired registration tags. A K-9 officer working with the agents alerted to the presence of illegal substances in Kimble’s vehicle. Agents then conducted a probable cause search of his car and located a backpack on the rear floorboard. Inside, agents found a plastic bag that was suspected—and later confirmed— to contain 577.7 grams of pure methamphetamine. As agents attempted to arrest Kimble, he rushed towards one of the agents to knock him off his feet, throwing him to the ground. Kimble attempted to flee but was apprehended.
Kimble is scheduled to be sentenced July 14. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol Sandusky Bay Station.
Assistant United States Attorney Dexter L. Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio leads the prosecution.
Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault on Grounds of Gateway Arch National ParkRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Friday sentenced a man to 28 years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in Gateway Arch National Park in 2023.
Judge Clark ordered the sentence to run consecutive to the 84 months Monte Derrell Boatman, 37, is currently serving for violating his supervised release in a 2009 armed robbery case.
On Dec. 6, 2023, Boatman, of Fairview Heights, Ill., arrived at the Laclede’s Landing MetroLink station at about 5:15 p.m. He was captured on video passing the victim near 4th Street and Washington Avenue at about 5:19 p.m. Roughly one minute later, Boatman turned and began following the victim.
At about 5:30 p.m., Boatman grabbed the victim from behind, wrapped his arms around her and forced her into the bushes with a razor to her neck. Boatman assaulted the victim while threatening her life multiple times.
Boatman was arrested two days later by rangers with the National Park Service after a struggle that resulted in one ranger needing medical treatment.
Boatman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in May of 2025 to one felony count of aggravated sexual abuse.
In court Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson said Boatman’s 2023 crime followed a “largely unabated history of criminality since the age of 13.”
Included in that history is the 2009 robbery case in the Southern District of Illinois. Boatman and others robbed a drug dealer, which sparked a vehicle chase and multistate gun battle with the dealer. He was sentenced in 2010 to 171 months in prison.
The case was investigated by the National Park Service and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.
Long Island Investment Advisor Pleads Guilty to $160 Million Investment FraudRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Vincent Camarda, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of A.G. Morgan Financial Advisors, LLC (AGM), pleaded guilty to securities fraud and investment advisor fraud. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury. When sentenced, Camarda faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, as well as restitution of at least $160,022,836.81 and forfeiture of $6,639,498.17.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the guilty plea.
“We will aggressively prosecute investment advisors who betray their clients’ trust and commit crimes for their own financial gain,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “This defendant used a series of lies to lure clients, including elderly and other vulnerable individuals, into investing with him, all while enriching himself. Today’s guilty plea is an important step toward holding the defendant accountable for the substantial harm he has caused.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), New York Regional Office, for their work on the case.
“CEO Vincent Camarda repeatedly deceived trusting clients to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars to finance extravagant purchases. The FBI is committed to protecting investors from executives who abuse their authority to line their own pockets,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
According to court filings and facts presented during the plea proceeding, the defendant Vincent Camarda was the Chairman and CEO of AGM. At the time of his fraud, Camarda had worked in the securities industry for approximately 30 years. He was a registered investment adviser with the SEC and also held licenses as a registered representative with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). In or about and between January 2017 and December 2024, Camarda, together with others, established several investment funds under AGM (the “Camarda Funds”). He then engaged in a scheme to defraud his victims – clients that he owed a fiduciary duty to – in several ways.
First, Camarda solicited funds from the victims by making material misrepresentations, both in private placement memorandums and orally, regarding the investment of their funds. For example, he made materially false representations regarding the risk profile of the investments. Camarda falsely represented, in sum and substance, that investments in the Camarda Funds were “safe” or “low-risk,” when, in fact, they were not. Camarda also misrepresented the diversification of the investments to induce the victims to invest. These misrepresentations were designed to mislead investors into believing that their investments were safer than they actually were. In addition, Camarda failed to disclose material conflicts of interest in connection with the investments made through the Camarda Funds. For example, although Camarda invested the victims’ funds in a single mining business, Camarda never disclosed to the victims that he received compensation from that business. Likewise, although Camarda invested the victims’ funds in a single food service business, Camarda did not disclose to the victims that he had a familial relationship with an individual involved in the business’s operation or that he served as the President of that business.
Separately, Camarda also misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars of the victims’ investments in the Camarda Funds and for his personal benefit. Rather than investing those funds as promised, Camarda diverted them to himself through wire transfers. Among other things, Camarda used these stolen funds to pay for personal expenses and luxury items, including plastic surgery, travel, jewelry and luxury goods. For example, one victim wired over $700,000 to Camarda, who then, after investing approximately $370,000 in the high-risk mining operation, misappropriated the other approximately $400,000 for himself, using the money to, among other things, pay off personal credit card bills.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Adam R. Toporovsky is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Janelle Robinson.
The Defendant:
VINCENT CAMARDA
Age: 62
Amityville, NYE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-51
2026.03.09_information-_filed.pdfKansas farmer pleads guilty to crop insurance fraudRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by falsely claiming severe weather destroyed crops that he had actually sold instead.
According to court documents, David L. Mongeau, 54, of Holcomb pleaded guilty to one count of false statements related to crop insurance and one count of bank fraud/attempted bank fraud.
Mongeau owned Mongeau Enterprises, a farming operation in western Kansas. In 2019, he obtained a crop insurance policy through the USDA’s Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) which is subsidized by the federal government. In January 2020, Mongeau submitted a claim indicating he lost a portion of his corn crop in Rooks County, Kansas, due to hail and excess wind. He failed to disclose having sold more than 33,000 bushels of corn to agricultural commodity traders. The sales included corn that he indicated as a loss when filing a crop insurance claim. As a result, Mongeau received an overpayment, causing $241,645 in losses for the FCIP.
Mongeau obtained farm loans from the First National Bank of Syracuse (now doing business as Dream First Bank of Garden City). He pledged numerous pieces of farm equipment along with crops as collateral to secure the loans. Mongeau either traded in or sold collateral and failed to notify the bank about the dispositions. As a result, the bank did not know the collateral was no longer available, and the bank suffered more than $300,000 in losses.
“Kansas is part of the ‘Breadbasket of America’ because of the important role our farmers play in feeding the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “We all know that farming is a challenging profession with a litany of potential obstacles, so the Federal Crop Insurance Program serves as a safety net through difficult times. Mr. Mongeau took what was supposed to be a helping hand and exploited that generosity for his own personal gain.”
“Fraud against federal crop insurance programs is a direct abuse of taxpayer-funded support intended to help farmers recover from legitimate losses,” said Inspector General John Walk for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. “As alleged, the defendant sought to profit by falsely claiming losses while selling the same crops, undermining the integrity of a program that producers depend on. USDA OIG will continue to pursue those who attempt to exploit these programs and work with our law enforcement partners to ensure they are held accountable. We thank the United States Attorney’s Office and HSI for their continued collaboration in this case.”
Mongeau is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, 2026.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General is investigating the case.
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Kansas City Man Sentenced for Fraudulent U.S. Treasury Check SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his role in a scheme to alter and forge stolen United States Treasury checks.
Jevon P. Crudup, Jr., 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Grey Kays to 57 months in prison without parole. The court also ordered Crudup to pay $88,020.33 to the victims of the scheme.
On May 20, 2025, Crudup pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud.
According to court documents, Crudup schemed to defraud financial institutions by passing stolen United States Treasury checks that had been altered and forged. The defendant deposited the altered and forged Treasury checks at ATMs using the bank accounts of other persons he met online. These persons provided the defendant with their account information including debit cards and PIN numbers because they believed Crudup would help them make money.
Crudup would then use these individuals’ debit cards to withdraw funds from the account, or the defendant would require these individuals to make cash withdrawals and electronic funds transfers to him using various online payment systems.
In this manner, Crudup passed at least fifteen stolen and forged United States Treasury checks resulting in an intended loss of approximately $160,000.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman. It was investigated by Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
Jury Finds Apollo Beach Man Guilty of Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Ludwin Borgen (49, Apollo Beach) guilty of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Borgen faces a minimum penalty of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 16, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to evidence presented at trial, Borgen was a drug dealer in the Tampa Bay area who had supplied the victim with fentanyl on multiple instances in the past. In the late evening of March 28, 2022, the victim began reaching out to Borgen to arrange a purchase the next day. On March 29, 2022, the victim met Borgen at a pharmacy, where she purchased fentanyl from him. The victim returned to a residence where she had been staying with a friend. That evening, the victim injected herself with the fentanyl while soaking in the bathtub. Intoxicated by the fentanyl, she slid under the water and drowned. After noticing that the victim had been in the bathroom for a long time, her friend checked on her and found her body in the bathtub with her head submerged under the water and a syringe floating next to her.
Toxicology revealed that the victim had approximately ten times the therapeutic concentration of fentanyl in her system—a concentration consistent with overdose deaths. Detectives from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office who specialize in overdose deaths investigated and identified Borgen as the person who had sold the fentanyl to the victim. A detective used the victim’s phone to arrange another meeting with Borgen, who arrived intending to sell more fentanyl to the victim. After the investigation team arrested Borgen, they searched his vehicle and found fentanyl, baggies, syringes, and a scale.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Muriel Moore and Michael Sinacore.
Jamaican National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Voting in Presidential Primary ElectionRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Jacqueline Wallace, 53, a Jamaican national, pleaded guilty in federal court to voting by an alien. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Protecting the integrity of our elections not negotiable. Registering to vote and casting a ballot in our elections are actions that we must ensure are taken only by eligible U.S. citizens. My office will aggressively prosecute cases like this to preserve the security of our elections.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant – a Jamaican national who had not been naturalized as a United States citizen – requested a mail-in ballot in July 2024, which was mailed to her address. The defendant then completed her ballot and submitted it by U.S. mail. Wallace’s handwritten name and address appeared on the front of her ballot envelope, and her signature, personal information, and date appeared on the back. The defendant’s ballot was received on August 12, 2024, and her vote in the Presidential Primary election was registered and cast on August 20, 2024. At the time she submitted her ballot, the defendant knew she was not a United States citizen.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch is prosecuting the case.
Wallace’s sentencing is scheduled for June 11, 2026, at 11:00 am at the United States District Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark Walker.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Jacksonville Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Jena Marie Osborn, a multi-convicted felon, who is currently serving a state prison sentence for possession of drug paraphernalia, will spend 240 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine after completion of the state sentence. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was recently handed down on April 1, 2026, by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.
On November 4, 2025, a one-count Information was filed charging Osborn, 46, of Jacksonville, with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Osborn pleaded guilty on November 4, 2025, to the count in the Information. Judge Moody also sentenced Osborn to five years’ supervised release. On July 14, 2025, Osborn was sentenced to 60 months in state prison and will begin her federal sentence at the completion of the state sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
In May 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) utilized a confidential source (CS) to infiltrate a large-scale methamphetamine distributor. An investigation revealed that an unknown female, later identified as Osborn, agreed to sell large quantities of methamphetamine to the CS. The DEA conducted controlled buys from Osborn on two separate occasions with Osborn selling the CS over a pound of methamphetamine each time.
On June 5, 2025, DEA planned another controlled buy of over a pound of methamphetamine from Osborn. Through ariel surveillance, agents observed Osborn leave the suspected stash house carrying a large bag of suspected narcotics and get into a vehicle she had previously been seen in during the investigation. A short time later, deputies from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Osborn’s vehicle. During the stop, a K9 was deployed who conducted a free air sniff on the vehicle. After the K9 alerted to the vehicle, deputies searched the vehicle and located several bags of suspected methamphetamine. The DEA lab confirmed the bags contained a total of 568.8 grams of methamphetamine.
Osborn has at least two prior convictions for serious drug offenses and is classified as a career offender and is therefore subject to an enhanced sentence. In addition to Osborn’s previous state conviction for possession of drug paraphernalia, Osborn has felony convictions for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture, possession of firearm by certain persons, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, maintaining a drug premises, exposing a child to methamphetamine, exposing a child to a chemical substance, criminal attempt to manufacture methamphetamine, and fleeing.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA with assistance from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Reese Lancaster.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
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Illegal Alien from China Sentenced After Attempting to Check an Undeclared Firearm and Ammunition at Provo Airport in UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Xuemei Zhao, 54, of the People’s Republic of China, who was residing in the United States illegally, was sentenced today to time served (imprisonment approximately one year) after she tried to check a suitcase with an undeclared .357 Magnum revolver and ammunition, at the Provo Airport.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson Jr., comes after Zhao pleaded guilty on April 29, 2025, to possession of a firearm by a restricted person (alien). Zhao will now be remanded to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings.
According to court documents and admissions made at Zhao’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, on March 20, 2025, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) discovered a black Rossi Braztech Int’l .357 Magnum revolver pistol in Zhao’s checked luggage. Prior to delivering the suitcase to American Airlines, Zhao did not disclose the presence of the firearm to TSA or American Airlines. In addition to the firearm, Zhao had 9 rounds of .357 ammunition in her carry-on luggage. Zhao was taken into custody and $10,900 in cash was found hidden in her luggage. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was contacted and confirmed that Zhao arrived on a tourist visa, had a pending asylum application, and was not a lawful permanent resident of the United States. Zhao’s sentence was enhanced under the United States Sentencing Guidelines because the Court found that Zhao possessed the firearm in connection with other illegal conduct, commercial sex work.
First Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Provo Resident Agency. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Assistant United States Attorney Michael Kennedy of the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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).
Illegal Alien and Houston Area Co-defendant Sentenced in Del Rio for Deadly Alien Smuggling OperationRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – Jerry Lee Anderson, 29, of Spring, and Orlin Wilfredo Padilla-Murillo, 25, an illegal alien from Honduras, were sentenced to a total of over 29 years in federal prison this week for their roles in a smuggling operation that resulted in the deaths of two illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, in October 2022, a multi-agency law enforcement investigation began following a failed smuggling event that resulted in a single vehicle crash and the deaths of a load driver and two illegal aliens, along with the serious injury of two additional illegal aliens. The four illegal aliens were confirmed to be from Mexico. Alien smuggling organization (ASO) member Michael Demond Kennedy was the front-seat passenger in the vehicle during the crash.
U.S. v Michael Desmond Kennedey et, al Case #2:22cr2324ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents out of Del Rio led the investigation and identified Padilla-Murillo and Anderson as co-conspirators. Phone numbers belonging to Padilla-Murillo and Anderson were found on the phones of several co-conspirators who participated in failed smuggling events. In one event, the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Border Patrol stopped a pickup truck pulling a trailer that concealed 11 illegal aliens on Aug. 20, 2022. On Aug. 25, 2022, USBP stopped and conducted an immigration inspection on a vehicle driven by Dewayne Ellis and Keandrea Dontazia Richards, discovering 10 illegal aliens inside a recreational vehicle near Brackettville. On Nov. 10, 2022, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper attempted to perform a traffic stop on a pickup truck pulling a horse trailer. The pickup nearly drove head-on into an 18-wheeler and led the DPS trooper on a two-minute pursuit on Texas Highway 277. Troopers observed eight illegal aliens in the horse trailer and identified the driver as Kenisha Keshell Washington.
Padilla-Murillo’s and Anderson’s phone numbers were used in numerous WhatsApp messages and CashApp transactions relating to these and other illegal alien smuggling events that occurred between April 1, 2022, and Jan. 30, 2023.
Padilla-Murillo and Anderson were arrested on Nov. 1, 2023. Padilla-Murrillo stated his sole job was to recruit load drivers to pick up illegal aliens at the border and that he was paid $3,500 per illegal alien transported from Eagle Pass to Houston, splitting the money with Anderson and the load driver. Over the course of the conspiracy, the ASO transported at least 100 illegal aliens, collected an average of $10,000 from each illegal alien to be smuggled, and realized a total net income of more than $1 million.
U.S. v Michael Desmond Kennedey et, al Case #2:22cr2324On Wednesday, Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses sentenced Anderson to 168 months in federal prison. Judge Moses sentenced Padilla-Murillo to 188 months in federal prison on Thursday. On Feb. 13, she sentenced Kennedy to 87 months in federal prison with credit for time served since March 28, 2023. Another co-defendant, Rashad Jermaine Joshua, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 7.
ICE HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Illegal Alien Sentenced to over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Narcotics TraffickingRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 262 months in prison for conspiracy to import methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, Pedro Alvarado-Montiel aka “Pelon,” 42, was investigated after he was identified as being a drug trafficking facilitator. Alvarado-Montiel, a confirmed member of the Mexican Mafia-affiliated Sureños gang, was stopped for a traffic violation by a Bastrop County Sheriff’s deputy on Sept. 20, 2023. Following a series of questions, the deputy searched the vehicle and discovered two clear, gallon-sized bags and one sandwich bag containing a black, sticky, tar-like substance. The substance was sent to a Drug Enforcement Administration lab, where it was determined to be approximately two kilograms of heroin.
U.S. v Alvarado-Montiel Case #2:23cr3121Later that day, DEA agents executed a search warrant on Alvarado-Montiel’s residence in Dale, where they discovered a large amount of black tar-like substance spread out across the center island in the kitchen and stuck to the countertop along with plastic wrappings. Agents also found two 9mm handguns, multiple magazines, ammunition and wire transfer receipts. In another DEA lab test, the substance found in the home was determined to be approximately 2.1 kgs of heroin.
Alvarado-Montiel was charged in a five-count indictment on Dec. 6, 2023. He was charged with conspiracy to import methamphetamine, importation of methamphetamine, conspiracy to import heroin, importation of heroin and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. On May 20, 2024, Alvarado-Montiel pleaded to one count of conspiracy to import methamphetamine.
Co-defendant Horlando Depaz-Cruz, Jr. who was arrested on May 16, 2021, after being caught driving through the Del Rio Port of Entry with packages of methamphetamine and heroin inside a car battery, pleaded guilty to the same charge on July 31, 2023. He was sentenced on Feb. 5, 2025, to 120 months in federal prison and a $2,000 fine.
U.S. v Alvarado-Montiel Case #2:23cr3121The DEA and ICE Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Hawaii Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Disaster Relief Funds Intended for Lahaina and Pacific Palisades Fire VictimsRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Chelsea Johnson, 32, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday to four months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release (the first four months to be served as home confinement), along with $60,458 in restitution to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”), following her guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Her co-defendant, Daylyn Harris, who also pled guilty, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 4, 2026.
According to court records, Harris and Johnson conspired to defraud FEMA by submitting false disaster relief claims tied to the Lahaina and Pacific Palisades wildfires. They claimed lost income, housing, and property even though they did not live in the disaster area or suffer those losses.
Harris falsely claimed that he resided in Lahaina during the Lahaina wildfires and that he lost housing, income, suffered medical bills, and lost property as a result. Johnson assisted that fraud by posing as Harris’s Maui landlord. Johnson then falsely claimed to live in Pacific Palisades, California during the Pacific Palisades wildfires and falsely claimed she lost housing and incurred other expenses as a result. Together, Harris and Johnson received over $60,000 in disaster relief from FEMA intended for victims of the wildfires.
The Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted the case.
Goose Creek Man Sentenced in N. Charleston Public Corruption SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Hason Tatorian “Tory” Fields, 52, of Goose Creek, has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud, bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds, and honest services wire fraud.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Fields conspired with others to pay bribes to Sandino Moses. At the time, Moses was serving as a member of the City of North Charleston’s City Council representing District 7. Fields paid Moses two bribes as part of an effort to secure his support for the rezoning of the Baker Hospital site. The application for rezoning was pending before City Council when Fields first approached Moses.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Fields to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Fields is the first defendant to be sentenced of the eight charged in a North Charleston public corruption scheme. Six others are awaiting sentencing. Rose Lorenzo is scheduled for jury selection in July.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Sowards and Emily Limehouse prosecuted the case.###
Georgia Man Sentenced to Prison for Interstate Threats to Kill a Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Stephane Brice (23, Georgia) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 27 months in federal prison for interstate transmission of threats to assault and kill a federal law enforcement officer. Brice pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on March 18, 2025, Brice called the IRS to complain about a tax refund issue. During the call, Brice grew frustrated and threatened to go to the IRS office and kill and behead IRS employees. The following day, a federal law enforcement officer called Brice as part of an investigation into his threats. During this call, Brice began shouting profanity-laced threats to behead the federal law enforcement officer and to burn down his house with his children inside.
This case was investigated by Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the Internal Revenue Service. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler III and Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Milliron.
Fort Wainwright Soldier sentenced to 32 years in sadistic child pornography caseRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Fort Wainwright soldier was sentenced today to 32 years in prison for possessing thousands of images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and for producing CSAM.
According to court documents, on Sept. 11, 2024, the Fort Eustis Resident Unit of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army CID) received a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) cybertip reporting that five images of alleged CSAM were uploaded to the online platform, Discord. Fort Eustis Army CID reviewed the images and determined they depicted CSAM of prepubescent female children.
A subsequent investigation resulted in law enforcement executing search warrants in October 2024 for the residence of David Andres Mayoral, 21, his electronic devices and his Discord account.
A review and forensic examination of Mayoral’s account and electronic devices revealed over 2,500 images and over 680 videos of CSAM, and an additional 1,000 computer generated/artificial intelligence images depicting CSAM. Some images depicted the violent rape of children.
Court documents detail conversations Mayoral had with numerous adults and minors across several social media platforms where he discussed distribution and receipt of CSAM, rape, descriptions of sexual acts, violence and other sadistic behavior, including encouraging self-mutilation and attempting to obtain location information for victims so he could “kidnap” them. Mayoral also admitted to sexually abusing a nine-year-old victim.
Mayoral was arrested on Fort Wainwright on March 13, 2025, and a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with three counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography on March 20, 2025. Mayoral pleaded guilty to all four charges on Aug. 15, 2025.
Mayoral is required to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his custodial sentence. In handing down the sentence, the Court emphasized the need to protect children from the defendant’s unrelenting abuse.
“Mr. Mayoral hid behind the perceived anonymity of the internet and exploited children for his own sick desires,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “He was unable to hide from the dedicated law enforcement that ultimately uncovered his perversions. He will now spend over three decades behind bars.”
“Mayoral’s predatory crimes against children, both online and offline, were depraved and an affront to our society,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Protecting our children is one of the highest callings in law enforcement. I commend the outstanding work by members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in their commitment to holding child predators accountable and seeking justice for victims.”
“Mayoral betrayed the Army’s core values by preying upon and exploiting our most precious and vulnerable,” said Special Agent in Charge Michele Starostka, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Western Field Office. “This sentencing is a result of Army CID’s relentless commitment to protecting our communities from child predators.”
FBI Anchorage Field Office and Army CID investigated the case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Former USDA Official Pleads Guilty to Receiving an Illegal GratuityRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Jason Shitanishi, 60, of Honolulu, Hawaii pled guilty in federal court today to receiving an illegal gratuity as a public official. Sentencing is set for July 17, 2026, before Senior U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor.
According to information presented to the court, on or about April 17, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiated the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to provide direct payments to farmers, ranchers, and consumers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was administered by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and provided payments to producers of certain commodities that experienced COVID-19 related losses. The FSA required an applicant for CFAP assistance to complete and submit an application form. The public official responsible for reviewing and approving a CFAP application for each county was the FSA County Executive Director.
In 2020 and 2021, Shitanishi was employed by the FSA as a County Executive Director for the City and County of Honolulu. On or about April 12, 2021, a woman submitted a CFAP application to Shitanishi that falsely claimed she operated a farm with $685,500 in commodity sales in 2019. The woman also claimed the farm was in the County of Maui, which was the responsibility of another County Executive Director, who was located on Maui and familiar with the farms there. The woman asked Shitanishi if he would accept her application, rather than require her to submit her application to the Maui County Executive Director. Shitanishi obtained the necessary approvals from the FSA to consider the woman’s CFAP application and then approved it. As a result of the false representation on the woman’s CFAP application, the FSA issued the woman a payment of $65,745, to which she was not entitled.
On or about April 18, 2021, the woman then gave Shitanishi a check for $5,000, which Shitanishi understood was for accepting responsibility for the woman’s CFAP application for her Maui farm. Shitanishi later deposited the check into his own personal bank account.
“Our public officials are entrusted to execute their duties honestly and with integrity. In breaching that trust, Shitanishi not only violated the law, but he betrayed the community he was charged with serving,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who breach the public trust.”
If convicted, Shitanishi faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of not more than one year.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates is prosecuting the case.
Former Texas High School Coach to Spend 30 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – Kenneth Wayne Mulkey, a former high school teacher and coach in Sabinal, was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 30 years in prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, on Oct. 11, 2024, Mulkey, 44, used the social media application Snapchat to ask another user for their age, sex and location. After the user identified themselves as a 14-year-old boy living in Orlando, Florida, Mulkey stated that he was a 40-year-old football and track coach. Mulkey then requested a sexually explicit photo of the minor. According to the geolocation information contained within Mulkey’s cell phone, Mulkey was within 40 meters of Sabinal High School at the time he sent these initial messages. The following day, Mulkey sent a sexually graphic photo of himself to the user. Mulkey asked questions and volunteered information to the minor that was sexually explicit in nature.
Mulkey was arrested Jan. 31, 2025, and indicted Feb. 19, 2025. He pleaded guilty on Aug. 11, 2025, to one of the two counts.
“As parents and community members, we place an incredible amount of trust in the educators, administrators and coaches that our children interact with on a regular, sometimes daily, basis,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “I applaud our law enforcement partners who investigated this matter and ensured a child predator who had infiltrated our education system remains in federal prison for the next three decades.”
ICE Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando and the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Florida Man Pleads Guilty in Health Care Fraud and Kickback Scheme Involving “Foot Baths”Read the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Frank Suess (a.k.a., Franz P. Suess), age 79, of Wellington, Florida, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statute. Suess also agreed to forfeit a commercial property in Wellington, Florida that he used to carry out his offenses.
Four individuals who were charged along with Suess are still pending trial: Luis Salgado, age 51, of Naperville, Illinois and Davenport, Florida; Melissa Driscoll, age 44, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; Victor Velazco, age 36, of Loxahatchee, Florida; Dave Singh, age 38, of Pembroke Pines, Florida. Two defendants who were also charged along with Suess previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing: Warren Pizik, age 69, of Davie, Florida and Diana Castro, age 54, of Brooklyn, New York.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Suess admitted that between 2019 and 2020, he and his codefendants conspired to commit health care fraud through an arrangement designed to bill individuals’ health insurances for medically unnecessary prescription drug combinations known as “foot baths.” Foot baths were purported to be an antibiotic and antifungal “foot soak” treatment that patients were supposed to mix together and dissolve in a warm water solution, using a plastic foot tub. The combinations of prescription drugs contained in foot baths varied over time, but they generally included high-cost drugs that were not intended for or approved for use in a foot bath, including vancomycin capsules, tobramycin vials, calcipotriene cream, moxifloxacin eye drops, clindamycin phosphate solution, and ketoconazole cream.
Suess also admitted that he and certain codefendants acquired control of pharmacies in a way that allowed Suess to conceal his involvement in their business affairs. One such pharmacy was Sterling Pharmacy, which was located in Jermyn, Pennsylvania. Suess, using a company that he controlled called Medivalue Florida LLC, financed the purchase and initial operating expenses for Sterling Pharmacy through a loan to Melissa Driscoll around March 2018. In a similar manner, Suess financed the purchase of DCE Pharmacy, located in Texas, and Motto Pharmacy, located in Florida.
Once they got control of pharmacies, Suess and other defendants used those pharmacies to generate profits by steering high-cost prescription drug mail orders, including foot baths, to those pharmacies. Pharmacies were selected to fulfill prescription drug orders based on which insurance plans they could bill through and for the amounts they could bill for such drugs. When the pharmacies were investigated for those dispensing practices, Suess and his codefendants used various tactics to continue concealing Suess’s involvement. In addition, Suess and others acquired control of various pharmacies so that they could continue generating profit from prescription drug mail orders even if one pharmacy was suspended or terminated by a pharmacy benefit manager because of its business practices.
Suess admitted that the scheme to bill for fraudulent foot bath orders involved getting prechecked, templated order forms through “health fairs” in the New York area organized by certain codefendants and their associates. Each of these forms was for large quantities of certain expensive prescription drugs. The forms were prechecked to permit multiple refills without any further patient evaluation or involvement of a medical provider. Suess admitted that he and his codefendants made no effort prior to fulfilling these orders to confirm that any individual recipient wanted or agreed to receive such foot bath drugs.
Suess also admitted that he and his codefendants knowingly ignored complaints from individuals who received foot baths. These complaints included not wanting foot baths, not having ever seen a foot doctor, having their insurance “charged a lot of money,” being “freaked out” because there were no instructions regarding what to do with the medications, and being “scared of the box” of foot baths because it contained “such a huge amount of meds.” Suess admitted that he and his codefendants stopped billing for foot baths through Sterling Pharmacy only because insurance companies stopped processing the pharmacy’s orders. In addition, Suess admitted that he and other defendants continued to attempt to bill for similar prescription drug orders in 2021 even though insurance companies repeatedly communicated to them that such orders were being rejected.
Suess also admitted that he conspired with certain codefendants to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute by agreeing to pay, and actually paying, kickbacks to certain defendants for providing completed orders for foot baths using the templated order forms described above. Suess admitted that he and others caused these payments to be made knowing that the prescription drug orders that formed the basis for these kickback payments were not legitimate. Suess further admitted that he and other defendants made additional payments to third-party marketers to generate pharmacy orders for prescription drug products and medical equipment, including pain creams, skin products, and diabetic support products.
Finally, Suess admitted that he and other codefendants obstructed the government’s investigation into Sterling Pharmacy by coming up with a document that misrepresented Sterling Pharmacy’s compliance with the Anti-Kickback Statute and contained other false information. Suess admitted that this effort was purposefully calculated to thwart an investigation into the health care fraud and kickback scheme. The document, which was called a “marketing services agreement,” made it appear falsely that Sterling Pharmacy was paying MedX Marketing Solutions—a company belonging to Suess’s codefendant, Luis Salgado—on an hourly basis for legitimate marketing services, when in reality Sterling Pharmacy paid MedX illegal kickbacks for the referral of signed foot-bath order forms for individual beneficiaries.
Suess admitted that the health care fraud conspiracy generated over $700 thousand in profits through fraudulent foot bath orders from a private health insurance fund. Additional payments for foot baths were also generated from Medicare and prescription drug plans sponsored by Medicare. Suess agreed to pay restitution for fraudulent foot bath orders generated by the pharmacies named in the charges against him, including Sterling Pharmacy, DCE Pharmacy, and Motto Pharmacy.
Suess also admitted that he used a commercial property located in Wellington, Florida to facilitate his offenses and agreed, as part of his plea agreement, to forfeit that property to the United States. The property is currently estimated to be worth approximately $4 million.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ravi Romel Sharma and Sarah Lloyd are prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine, for each offense. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Final week of March sees record number of cases with 511 charged in one week for immigration and related crimesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Another 508 cases have been filed as a result of efforts along the South Texas border in support of Operation Take Back America from March 27-April 2, the most in Southern District since initiative’s implementation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
A total of 31 people are charged with human smuggling crimes. Another 200 criminal complaints were filed for illegal entry, while 274 people face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felony convictions, including narcotics, violent crime, immigration offenses and more. The remaining cases involve firearms charges and other immigration crimes.
Among those charged with felony reentry include two men with prior convictions to include possession of cocaine, discharging a firearm, assault causing bodily injury, unlawful carrying of a weapon or driving while intoxicated, according to the allegations. Roberto Efrain Portillo-Funes and Jani Manuel Pereda-Figueredo had been removed Nov. 7 and Nov. 28, 2025, according to their respective charges. However, authorities allegedly discovered them in the McAllen area without authorization to be in the United States.
Another illegal alien facing charges this week is Mexican national Jose Garza Lopez, whom law enforcement allegedly discovered unlawfully in the country near Bonito. According to court documents, he was previously removed June 15, 2023. The complaint alleges he has prior convictions for transportation or harboring of aliens, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two convictions for possession with intent to distribute.
Additional charges allege two previous felons had also illegally reentered the country. Mexican nationals Fernando Perales-Hernandez and Luis Miguel Zagaon-Melchor had both been previously removed Jan. 23, 2015, and April 14, 2017, according to their respective complaints. Perales-Hernandez allegedly has a previous conviction for manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, while Zagaon-Melchor has a previous conviction for transporting or harboring aliens, according to his complaint.
If convicted, all five men face up to 20 years in federal prison.
In addition to the new cases, a San Juan resident received a 33-month term in federal prison for transporting illegal aliens. Mario Trevino drove a tractor-trailer to the Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita and claimed it was empty, but authorities discovered six illegal aliens concealed in the sleeper area. Some were hidden underneath a blanket, while others hid in a cabinet. They reported illegally entering the United States and being transported through multiple locations in the Rio Grande Valley before being directed to enter the tractor-trailer. They further stated Trevino instructed them to remain hidden and not move.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Federal forfeiture action recovers more than $800,000 from banking scammersRead the Press Release
civil_complaint.pdf default_judgment.pdfSAVANNAH, GA: Federal investigators and attorneys halted a fraud scheme targeting individuals’ bank accounts and recovered more than $800,000 on behalf of victims in the case.
Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Margaret E. “Meg” Heap announced the forfeiture on behalf of the United States $834,592 from facilitators of a wide-ranging bank fraud scheme involving more than 1,100 financial institutions.
“The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the FBI, worked diligently to locate and forfeit these funds,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Our office remains committed to recovering fraud proceeds and mitigating the damage these criminal organizations inflict on Georgia communities.”
As described in the civil complaint and court order, in late 2023, scammers sought out individual bank account owners across the country to launder the proceeds of illicit activity. The FBI was able to track more than $3 million in fraud proceeds laundered through the fraud scheme, much of which has already been returned to the victims through the efforts of several banks.
As an example, fraudsters informed an unwitting person in south Georgia that they sold insurance policies identified as theft protection plans provided via Lifelock, a nationally branded identity theft and recovery service. Fraudsters used the person’s bank account to receive payments, falsely stating the money was legally earned when, in fact, the fraudsters were drawing remotely created checks (RCCs) from victims’ bank accounts.
The FBI was able to quickly investigate the case and seize the money before the fraud ring could collect on their criminal efforts.
“Fraudsters rely on speed, deception, and the misuse of legitimate financial systems to steal from innocent people,” said Matthew J. Ploskunak, Senior Supervisory Special Agent of FBI Georgia’s Augusta Office. “In this case, the FBI moved faster. By identifying the scheme and seizing the funds before they could be dispersed, we were able to significantly disrupt this criminal operation and protect victims. Anyone considering participating in these schemes should know the FBI will find you and work to recover every possible dollar.”
This case was investigated by the FBI. The United States was represented by Southern District of Georgia Senior Litigation Counsel J. Bishop Ravenel.
The proceeds of forfeited assets are deposited in the Justice Department’s Assets Forfeiture Fund (AFF) and used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of other law enforcement purposes. To learn more about the AFF, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/afp/assets-forfeiture-fund-aff.
Executive of Indian Chemical Company Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Smuggling Fentanyl Precursor ChemicalsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Bhavesh Lathiya pleaded guilty today to distributing and smuggling fentanyl precursor chemicals to the United States. Lathiya was the leader and founder of Raxuter Chemicals, a company based in Surat, India, that illegally sold and smuggled more than 50 pounds of chemicals commonly used to manufacture fentanyl. This guilty plea marks the first felony conviction of an India-based supplier of fentanyl precursor chemicals. Today’s proceeding was held before United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen. When sentenced, Lathiya faces up to 40 years’ imprisonment.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), announced the guilty plea.
“The defendant admitted supplying the essential ingredients to make fentanyl, knowing just what they would be used for,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office is committed to targeting every link in the fentanyl supply chain. We will continue to vigorously prosecute these purveyors of poison, both here and abroad, who are responsible for fueling our nation’s opioid epidemic without any regard for the extreme harm they are causing. The Administration, mindful that fentanyl is the leading cause of death for American ages 18 to 45, has prioritized protecting our communities from this lethal scourge.”
Mr. Nocella thanked the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for its assistance.
“Fentanyl has devastated countless families and communities across our country. Homeland Security Investigations is using every available resource to dismantle the drug trafficking networks that smuggle this poison into our country. Today’s landmark plea demonstrates HSI’s unwavering commitment to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling the fentanyl supply chain at every level, both at home and abroad. HSI and its partners will continue to pursue those responsible and will hold the individuals and organizations driving this crisis accountable,” stated HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso.
Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat currently facing the United States. It is a highly addictive synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is designated as a Schedule II controlled substance and various precursor chemicals that are used to produce fentanyl are included on the schedule’s List I and List II.
As set forth in court filings, Lathiya supplied precursor chemicals to the United States and Mexico, among other places, despite knowing they would be used to manufacture fentanyl. Lathiya and his company also sent their chemical products to the United States and Mexico using international mail and package carriers. The chemicals distributed by the defendant included all the materials necessary to manufacture fentanyl via the most common pathways. To prevent detection and interception of chemical products at the borders, the defendant employed deceptive and fraudulent practices, such as mislabeling packages and falsifying customs forms.
For example, on or about June 29, 2024, a package shipped by Raxuter Chemicals was delivered to an address in the Eastern District of New York. The package had a false manifest that listed its contents as Vitamin C. In truth, the contents were a List I chemical, 1-boc-4-piperidone, an unlawfully imported fentanyl precursor.
On October 2, 2024 and October 15, 2024, Lathiya appeared on a video call to discuss sale of fentanyl precursor chemicals with an HSI undercover officer. After being told by the undercover officer that his “clients in Mexico were very happy with the quality of what you sent me” and with “the yield they got of the final product,” Lathiya agreed to sell 20 kilograms of 1-boc-4-piperidone, which is a List I chemical used in fentanyl synthesis. Lathiya also proposed mislabeling the chemical as an antacid. The undercover officer replied and asked if it would be easier to ship the product to Mexico, stating “This is a very controversial product … Because like you said it’s banned and in Mexico I think it could be easier but there’s so much pressure on them because of fentanyl.” On or about November 23, 2024, Raxuter Chemicals and Lathiya shipped approximately 20 kilograms of 1-boc-4-piperidone to the Eastern District of New York. The package was mislabeled as an antacid.
Mexican drug trafficking organizations, including but not limited to the Sinaloa Cartel, have increasingly availed themselves of the fentanyl precursors developed and distributed by companies like the one owned by the defendant, including in India and China. This guilty plea follows the Office’s pathbreaking indictments of three Chinese chemical companies and three employees in United States v. Anhui Rencheng Technology Co. (Rencheng) Ltd et al and United States v. Hefei GSK Trade Co. Ltd, et al, charging them with similar offenses, including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute a List I chemical, distribution of a List I chemical, and customs fraud conspiracy.
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 New York comprises agents and officers from HSI; the FBI; DEA; the New York City Police Department; IRS Criminal Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Secret Service; with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York leading this prosecution.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Amir, William P. Campos, Chand Edwards-Balfour, and Katherine P. Onyshko are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Cleon Thomas and Zoubida Bicane.
The Defendant:
BHAVESH ranCHHODBHAI LATHIYA (also known as “Bhavesh Patel,” “Bhavesh Bhai” and “Bhavesh Lathia”)
Age: 37
Surat, Gujarat, IndiaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-525 (S-2) (PKC)
Durant Resident Sentenced for Felony AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Derek Michael James, age 41, of Durant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department.
On July 9, 2025, James pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on January 27, 2025, James assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.
The crime occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. James will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Drug trafficking leader gets 20 years in Homeland Security Task Force effortRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 33-year-old Houston man has been sentenced for his role in the distribution of multiple narcotics, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Cyrus Boujabadi pleaded guilty June 6, 2025, to possessing MDMA with the intent to distribute it and for engaging in a monetary transaction in criminally derived property.
U.S. District Ewing Werlein Jr. has now ordered Boujabadi to serve a total of 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. The court also imposed a $5,000 fine. In handing down the sentence, the court heard additional evidence detailing Boujabadi’s leadership role in the scheme. The court found he acted as an organizer and took steps to insulate himself from law enforcement by using couriers. He had also used his residence to distribute drugs, engaged in drug trafficking as a pattern of criminal livelihood and possessed a firearm in connection with his drug trafficking enterprise.
From January 2019 to approximately July 2023, Boujabadi conspired with others to distribute MDMA, meth, cocaine, marijuana, psilocybin and DMT. As part of the conspiracy, he coordinated drug transactions using a messaging application, directed others to deliver controlled substances and accepted payment in cash and electronic transfers.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Boujabadi’s residence and seized meth, MDMA tablets, Xanax, marijuana, DMT, THC oils and edibles and psilocybin mushrooms. They also found drug trafficking equipment, cash and cryptocurrency. Further investigation revealed the funds and digital assets were proceeds of drug trafficking.
Boujabadi deposited the drug proceeds into accounts he controlled to enrich himself, including purchasing multiple properties in Tennessee, which have now been forfeited.
To date, five others have been convicted and sentenced in connection with the conspiracy.
Boujabadi will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
This operation is now 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 Houston comprises agents and officers from Drug Enforcement Administration; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Police Department; Harris County Sherriff's Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation/IRS and Katy Police Department with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal J. Alaniz prosecuted the case. AUSAs Tyler Foster and Elizabeth Wyman handled the forfeiture matters.
District of Arizona Charges 226 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from March 28 through April 3, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 226 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 117 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 95 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 14 cases against 14 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Porfirio Astorga-Rivera. Astorga-Rivera was charged by criminal complaint on April 1, 2026, with Bringing an Alien to the United States Unlawfully for Profit. On March 31, Border Patrol agents were alerted to the presence of a potential group of illegal aliens near Tule Road in Wellton, Arizona. The agents apprehended three individuals, including Astorga- Rivera, attempting to conceal themselves and wearing camouflage clothing and carpet shoes. Agents learned that Astorga-Rivera led the group through an opening in the border wall and that he would receive $1,000 per illegal alien he led into the country. Astorga-Rivera and the two other individuals are citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-1255]
United States v. Idefonso Beltran-Aispuro. Beltran-Aispuro was charged by criminal complaint on April 1, 2026, with Bringing an Alien to the United States Unlawfully for Profit. On March 30, a Border Patrol agent discovered a group of five individuals wearing camouflage clothing and carrying camouflage backpacks between the Cabeza Prieta Mountains and Copper Mountains in Wellton, Arizona. Border Patrol agents apprehended four of the individuals in brush and later located Beltran-Aispuro hiding in a tree. Agents learned that Beltran-Aispuro guided the group of four into the United States and that he was promised $1,000 per individual he led into the country. [Case Number 26-MJ-1248]
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-057_April 3, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Defendant Who Conspired to Traffick Methamphetamine in Northeast Arkansas Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
JONESBORO—Amie Dawn Eggers of Jonesboro will spend the next 132 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence which was handed today by United States District Court Judge Lee P. Rudofsky.
On April 4, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Eggers, 41, along with eight others. On September 29, 2025, Eggers pleaded guilty to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation to combat a significant drug distribution organization operating in the Northeast Arkansas area. As a result of the investigation, agents seized 45 pounds of methamphetamine, 10 pounds of marijuana, one pound of cocaine, six firearms, various ammunition, and $125,000 in drug proceeds. During arrest operations on April 16, 2024, agents recovered additional methamphetamine, three firearms (one of which was defaced), ammunition, and approximately an additional $28,000 in suspected drug proceeds
During the investigation, agents learned that Eggers was a member of a criminal organization that was distributing methamphetamine throughout the Northeast Arkansas area. Through the investigation, agents learned that Eggers travelled to Houston, Texas, in December 2022, to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine from the organization’s leader, Cesar Cortez-Rocha. Agents conducted surveillance on Eggers and observed her traveling back to Arkansas on December 29, 2022. Agents conducted a traffic stop in Malvern, Arkansas, and after waiving her Miranda rights, Eggers admitted to possessing methamphetamine and marijuana in the vehicle. The DEA Southeast Laboratory confirmed it was methamphetamine, and the total weight was 921.5 grams.
Eggers’s criminal history includes a federal conviction in the Western District of Arkansas on August 6, 2024, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and received a 156-month sentence of imprisonment and three years’ supervised release. Eggers also has state felony convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia, breaking or entering, possession of methamphetamine, possession of Xanax with purpose to deliver, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and misdemeanor convictions for possession of clonazepam without a prescription, driving while intoxicated, third-degree assault, theft of property, and fraudulent use of a credit or debit card.
On October 6, 2025, Cortez-Rocha was sentenced to a total of 405 months’ imprisonment in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Judge Rudofsky also sentenced Cortez-Rocha to a total of five year’s supervised release.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Little Rock Field Office comprises agents and officers from Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force, Jonesboro Police Department, Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Crips Gang Member Pleads Guilty to March 2021 Bronx MurderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that ALIEU JARJOU, a/k/a “Scally,” a/k/a “Lu Scally,” pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos to his criminal activities as a member of the “Rollin 20s” set of the Crips, including the March 2021 murder of Jadon Robinson.
“On March 9, 2021, Alieu Jarjou shot and killed 30-year-old Jadon Robinson on a busy Bronx street in the middle of the day,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Jarjou committed this brutal murder to enhance his status within the Rollin 20s Crips, a violent street gang that has terrorized our communities through senseless violence and drug trafficking. There is stark reality that we need to face: for gangs like the Crips, murder is a part of business, and for gang members, murder is a status symbol. Those who tolerate, or worse, celebrate gang culture could not be more out of touch. New York families want gangs dismantled and their murderous members off the streets. The women and men of our Office are committed to relentlessly pursuing all gangs that threaten the safety of New Yorkers.”
As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
From at least January 2021 through at least January 2022, JARJOU was a member of the Rollin 20s Crips, which is based in the Bronx, New York. In order to fund the gang, protect its territory, and promote its standing, members of the Rollin 20s Crips engaged in, among other things, murders, assaults, threats of violence, and narcotics trafficking. In connection with his membership in the Rollin 20s Crips, JARJOU, together with other members of the gang, sold drugs, including oxycodone and marijuana.
On March 9, 2021, JARJOU shot and killed Jadon Robinson in the vicinity of 1268 Morrison Avenue in the Bronx. After learning that Robinson was suspected of assaulting a member of the Rollin 20s Crips, JARJOU murdered Robinson to retaliate for the suspected assault. Robinson was 30 years old.
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JARJOU, 31, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, during which he committed murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which firearm was brandished and discharged, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. JARJOU is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ramos on August 18, 2026.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christy Slavik and Jim Ligtenberg are in charge of the prosecution.
Clarkston Woman Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Role in Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced on March 31, 2026, that Shannon Louise Grove, age 53, was sentenced on fentanyl distribution charges which resulted in an overdose death. United States District Judge Rebecca L. Pennell sentenced Grove to 5 years in federal prison, to be followed by 6 years of supervised release.
Based on court documents and arguments presented through the pendency of the case, Grove was a longtime drug distributor in the Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington area. She had previously been convicted in 2015 in Asotin County, Washington of Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Deliver, as well as a conviction in Nez Perce County, Idaho of Possession of Methamphetamine. In October 2024, Grove distributed fentanyl to a Lewiston man, which ultimately resulted in his death. Phone records and other data confirmed Grove’s involvement in the distribution. Based on that conduct, Grove was indicted by a Grand Jury on June 4, 2025. She pled guilty on December 30, 2025.
“Fighting the scourge of fentanyl is a priority for the Department of Justice and for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington,” stated Serrano. “This case embodies the devastating impact illicit fentanyl has on individuals, families, and communities. Our deepest sympathies are with the victim and his family, as well as with all others who have lost loved ones due to fentanyl or other controlled substances. We commend the work of our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to prevent the introduction of these substances into this district.”
“For years, the defendant helped fuel the addiction crisis, and sadly, that cycle ended in tragedy,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI and our partners will hold accountable those who profit from addictions and cause harm in our communities.”
This case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Lewiston Resident Agency; Lewiston Police Department; and the Quad Cities Drug Task Force. The Quad Cities Drug Task Force is a multi-jurisdiction task force involving numerous law enforcement agencies including the Lewiston Idaho Police Department, Clarkston Washington Police Department, and the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca R. Perez.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been sentenced to 24 years in federal prison for sexually abusing two children and recording it.
DENIKOS HAWKINS induced two children to engage in sexual acts with him in 2023. Hawkins recorded the acts and sent the sexually explicit videos to other minors, offering to pay them if they created the same type of videos. When one of the victims stopped responding to Hawkins on Instagram, he threatened to send the videos of her to her school and to “everyone” she knew.
Hawkins, 36, of Chicago, pleaded guilty last year to federal charges of production of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang imposed the 24-year prison sentence during a hearing in federal court in Chicago on March 19, 2026.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Carlos Manuel Cotto-Cruz sentenced to fifteen years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana and heroinRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On March 26, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Carlos Manuel Cotto-Cruz to 188 months (fifteen years and eight months) in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, and heroin in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Following a five-day jury trial that concluded on March 14, 2025, the defendant was found guilty. At trial, the United States presented numerous witnesses to establish the defendant’s participation in the charged drug trafficking activities.
After a 6-month manhunt, on May 7th, 2021, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) apprehended Carlos M. Cotto-Cruz in el Gato Ward in Orocovis, PR. He had been hiding there since February 2021. During the execution of the arrest, agents found distribution amounts of narcotics, including heroin, cocaine, crack, fentanyl, prescription pills, and marihuana. Along with those drugs, officers also found tools of the drug trade, including 2 vacuum sealing machines, a cash counting machine, baggies of different sizes, thousands of vials and caps, and wrapping foil.
The sentence imposed by Judge Delgado-Colon is to run consecutively to any sentence imposed at the local level, as the defendant currently has pending murder charges in local court.
The Court also imposed a consecutive term of 24 months of imprisonment in connection with a revocation from a prior federal drug and firearms case from 2015, as defendant committed the new offense while on federal supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Assistant United States Attorneys Corinne Cordero, Joseph Russell, and Jeanette Collazo, Chief of the Violent Crime Division, prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Candler Man Sentenced to 10+ Years in Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material Using Peer-To-Peer NetworkRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A Candler, N.C., man was sentenced to prison yesterday for distributing thousands of files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) via a peer-to-peer network, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Jake Ben Paul Lohr, 48, was sentenced to 126 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Upon release from custody, Lohr will be required to register with the Sex Offender Registry Board in any state or jurisdiction where he works or resides.
“Each time an image depicting the sexual abuse of a child is shared, that child is revictimized all over again,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “For those who continue to distribute thousands of files like Lohr, we have no choice but to remove them from the community to stop them from causing further harm to victims who have already suffered too much.”
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, detectives were conducting an online investigation on the BitTorrent peer-to-peer network for offenders sharing CSAM. Peer-to-peer, or P2P, is a type of decentralized network where computers can connect directly and share files. Between December 2023 and January 2024, law enforcement successfully completed three downloads of files containing thousands of images and videos containing CSAM, that Lohr was making available for others to download.
On February 28, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence. Multiple electronic devices were seized and forensically analyzed. The forensic analysis revealed that Lohr possessed the equivalent of 571,950 images depicting the sexual abuse of children as young as infants. Some of the CSAM material maintained and distributed also portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence.
Lohr remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked HSI, the Waynesville Police Department, and the Boone Police Department for their investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Benjamin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Brazilian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Selling FirearmsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for selling 11 firearms, including one equipped with a large capacity magazine and another with an obliterated serial number.
Guilherme Fernandes-Tavares, 32, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to four years in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In November 2025, Fernandes-Tavares pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license. Fernandes-Tavares was arrested in May 2024 in an unrelated state case. Fernandes-Tavares was charged in federal court by criminal complaint in March 2025 and subsequently indicted in July 2025.
Between January and May 2024, Fernandes-Tavares sold firearms in Eastern Massachusetts. Specifically, on March 27, 2024, Fernandes-Tavares sold a pistol with a high-capacity magazine capable of holding 29 rounds. On May 7, 2024, Fernandes-Tavares sold a pistol with an obliterated serial number. When asked about the serial number, Fernandes-Tavares told a cooperating witness that Fernandes-Tavares’ source of the firearm required him to obliterate the serial number. In addition, Fernandes-Tavares sold nine other firearms to the cooperating witness during this time period.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Asian Boyz Gang Associate from Lowell Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An associate of the Asian Boyz gang was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a distribution network that produced homemade methamphetamine pills, branded as “Adderall.”
Richard Nguyen, a/k/a “Cheese,” a/k/a “Cheeseburger,” 30, of Lowell, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy to 128 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In November 2025, Nguyen was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Nguyen was arrested and charged in January 2025.
In 2021, an investigation began into the Asian Boyz gang to disrupt the manufacturing and distribution of substantial quantities of methamphetamine pills impacting the City of Lowell. Nguyen was part of the large drug distribution network that profited from the sale of thousands of these counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine. Between March 2022 and January 2025, Nguyen and other defendants sold counterfeit Adderall pills to undercover officers and cooperating witnesses on 47 different occasions.
Nguyen sold counterfeit Adderall pills to a cooperating witness at least three times between January 2024 and April 2024. Each time, Nguyen directed the cooperating witness to meet him at his home to conduct the deal, on a back porch covered with a tarp and accessible only from a narrow alleyway. Nguyen negotiated the deals with the cooperating witness using an Instagram account, “Cheese.” He gave the cooperating witness a price of $0.80 per pill, explaining that he could only get the pills for $0.70 per pill, and that he had to “make [his] dollar.” During the first deal on his back porch, Nguyen sold the cooperating witness approximately 1,000 pills. During the next two deals, Nguyen sold the cooperating witness twice as much – approximately 2,000 pills each time.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Superintendent Greg C. Hudon of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred M. Wyshak, III and Brendan D. O’Shea of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/PSN.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Akron Meth Dealer Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a large-scale conspiracy to sell illegal narcotics throughout Summit County and the surrounding areas.
Antonio Guice, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 327 months (27.25 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after pleading guilty in November 2025 to the following charges:
- Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Distribution of Methamphetamine
He was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment.
Guice was one of more than 30 people arrested last September as part of an ATF-led law enforcement initiative that was conducted over a 60-day period and focused on Akron’s most violent neighborhoods.
According to court documents, in August 2025 investigators suspected that Guice was the source of large quantities of methamphetamine being trafficked throughout the Akron metropolitan area. During the investigation into the conspiracy, federal agents linked the sale of approximately 470 grams (more than one pound) of methamphetamine directly to Guice.
Co-defendant Troy Miller, 54, of Akron, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. A second co-defendant, Wathen Milliner, 40, also of Akron, pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
The investigations leading to the indictments in this law enforcement initiative were conducted by the ATF Columbus Division’s Cleveland Field Office, Akron Police Department, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Barberton Police Department, University of Akron Police Department, and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel for the Northern District of Ohio.
Air Force Officer Indicted for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Burlington County, New Jersey, man was indicted yesterday for various child exploitation offenses, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Gabriel Perez, 31, of Eastampton, New Jersey, was charged in a two-count Superseding Indictment with attempted enticement and coercion of a minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b) (Count One), and attempted transfer of obscene materials to a minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1470 (Count Two).
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Beginning in mid-August 2024, Perez, who was then 29 years old and an officer in the United States Air Force, communicated over Reddit with an undercover law enforcement officer who purported to be a 14-year-old girl. Over the course of two weeks, Perez expressed his interest in meeting with the purported minor for sex. On August 28, 2024, Perez sent an obscene photograph of himself to the purported minor and arranged to meet her the next day to engage in unlawful sexual activity. On August 29, 2024, Perez drove to the pre‑arranged meeting location and was arrested by law enforcement with condoms in his pocket.
If convicted, Perez faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on Count One of the Superseding Indictment and a maximum prison sentence of ten years’ imprisonment on Count Two of the Superseding Indictment. Each of the offenses carry a maximum fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited law enforcement members with the Air Force Office of Special Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Bates, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the Eastampton Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Belgiovine and Richard Shephard of the Criminal Division in Trenton.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The charges and allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Ray Mateo, Esq. and Emily Arezzi, Esq.
perez.indictment.pdf