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Thursday 2 April 2026
Woodbridge man pleads guilty to sexually exploiting more than 40 minor girls on SnapchatRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge man pled guilty today to sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, between at least March 1, 2020, and Oct. 1, 2020, Malachi Morgan Thomas, 24, used a Snapchat account, which he had previously hacked and stolen from a minor, to coerce approximately 41 minor girls between the ages of 12 and 17 to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Thomas directed the victims to create and send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and ordered the girls to engage in sexually explicit conduct during live video calls.
Thomas told victims he led a criminal organization and that as long as the victims did what he told them they would be safe. To coerce compliance, Thomas made such threats as hacking the victims’ accounts or harming them and their family members. Thomas was aware that several of his victims suffered from anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues and that many had previously been victims of sexual abuse. In at least one instance, Thomas knew that the victim was in foster care.
On June 6, 2020, Thomas flew to another state and travelled to a victim’s home where he engaged in sex with the victim, which he recorded and saved in his Snapchat account. Police discovered the abuse of this victim after searching one of Thomas’ cell phones, which they seized from him three days while investigating an altercation. On July 9, 2020, Thomas traveled to Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge to meet a victim he exploited on Snapchat. The victim’s father had learned of Thomas’ actions and appeared at the mall instead of the victim. Thomas’ phone was seized when police responded to the incident.
On Oct. 1, 2020, Fairfax County Police arrested Thomas on charges of rape and sodomy of two minors in Fairfax County. With support from Prince William County Police, Fairfax County Police searched Thomas’ residence in Woodbridge where investigators located a second phone containing dozens of images and videos of child sexual abuse, including recordings of his sexual assaults of his two victims in Fairfax County.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 24 and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Halper for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Alicia A. Bove of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-327.
Virginia Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Erich Zeeb, 51, of Roanoke, Virginia, was sentenced to 28 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a child.
U.S. Attorney VerHey said, “What Zeeb did was depraved and disgusting and he richly deserved the long sentence he received from Judge Beckering. This case should remind all parents of the long reach that sex predators have because of the internet. Please do what you can to warn your children about this risk and help them avoid it. My message to others who sexually exploit our children is this—there is a prison cell waiting for you too.”
Zeeb met the victim, who was then 15 years old, online in 2012. He presented himself to the victim and her parents as an Olympian-in-training and someone who could help the victim with her own Olympic aspirations. As U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering stated at sentencing, Zeeb groomed the victim, gained her parents’ trust, and then used that access to sexually exploit the victim on multiple occasions. During the investigation, law enforcement received credible accounts of similar exploitation and abuse by Zeeb involving additional girls and young women.
“This sentencing reflects HSI’s unwavering resolve to protect our communities and hold those who prey on children fully accountable” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “We will continue to pursue justice and safeguard the most vulnerable among us.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Michigan State Police, and the Houston, Texas Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hanna Rutkowski.
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.
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting more than 40 Minor Girls on SnapchatRead the Press Release
A Virginia man pled guilty today to sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, between at least March 1, 2020, and Oct. 1, 2020, Malachi Morgan Thomas, 24, used a Snapchat account, which he had previously hacked and stolen from a minor, to coerce at least 40 minor girls between the ages of 12 and 17 to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Thomas directed the victims to create and send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and ordered the girls to engage in sexually explicit conduct during live video calls.
Thomas told victims he led a criminal organization and that as long as the victims did what he told them they would be safe. To coerce compliance, Thomas made such threats as hacking the victims’ accounts or harming them and their family members. Thomas was aware that several of his victims suffered from anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues and that many had previously been victims of sexual abuse. In at least one instance, Thomas knew that the victim was in foster care.
On June 6, 2020, Thomas flew to another state and travelled to a victim’s home where he engaged in sex with the victim, which he recorded and saved in his Snapchat account. Police discovered the abuse of this victim after searching one of Thomas’ cell phones, which they seized from him while investigating an altercation. On July 9, 2020, Thomas traveled to Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge to meet a victim he exploited on Snapchat. The victim’s father had learned of Thomas’ actions and appeared at the mall instead of the victim. Thomas’ phone was seized when police responded to the incident.
“Thomas preyed on vulnerable victims across several states using social media Apps to expand his sprawling reach to abuse young girls and threaten harm to them and their families in order to obtain his disturbing goal — child sexual exploitation,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department of Justice will investigate, prosecute, and seek justice for victims of child sexual abuse. Harm to America’s children has no place in our communities.”
On Oct. 1, 2020, Fairfax County Police arrested Thomas on charges of rape and sodomy of two minors in Fairfax County. With support from Prince William County Police, Fairfax County Police searched Thomas’ residence in Woodbridge where investigators located a second phone containing dozens of images and videos of child sexual abuse, including recordings of his sexual assaults of his two victims in Fairfax County.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 24 and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Halper for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Alicia A. Bove of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Commemorates Sexual Assault Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
This April, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin joins the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), communities nationwide, and Tribal nations in observing Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to stand with survivors and support efforts to prevent sexual violence. In Fiscal Year 2025, the OVW awarded more than $5.6 million to Wisconsin grantees through various OVW grant programs.
These programs include the Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program, the Legal Assistance for Victims Program, and the Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program.
“Survivors of sexual assault deserve safety, dignity, and justice,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Schimel. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to supporting and seeking justice for survivors. We will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to ensure survivors find a justice system that is compassionate and ready to help provide for their safety and healing.”
We encourage everyone in our district to learn more about sexual assault and take steps to support friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors who have suffered these crimes. By understanding the signs of abuse and connecting victims to available resources, we can all play a role in creating safer, supportive communities.
The Department of Justice funds essential victim services through its grants. Grantees of OVW and the Department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) run programs that support victims of sexual assault. There are many services available to help victims, including the Sexual Assault Hotline, 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), and the StrongHearts Native Helpline, 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483). In addition, OVW’s website has a “Resources for Survivors” page, which lists state sexual assault coalitions that can direct victims to local resources and services, as well as opportunities to get involved.# # #
For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
Follow us on XU.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation into Suicide During Police PursuitRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against police officers in connection with the suicide of S.J., a 36-year-old District resident, that occurred during a February pursuit.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department's Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement accounts, body-worn camera footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, and MPD reports.
According to the evidence, on Feb. 11, 2026, officers with the Prince George's County Police Department and the MPD attempted to apprehend S.J. in connection with a homicide that occurred earlier in the day. S.J. led law enforcement on a long vehicular pursuit. The chase ended in the 1500 block of 30th Street, SE, where S.J. died of suicide, despite lifesaving efforts by law enforcement and an emergency medical team. An autopsy determined SJ. died from a gunshot wound to the head.
After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers willfully violated the civilian’s rights.
Investigations generally
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.
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Trinity Hospital Agrees to Pay $1.7M to Resolve Alleged Stark Law ViolationsRead the Press Release
Trinity Hospital Holding Company (Trinity) has agreed to pay the United States $1.7 million to resolve allegations relating to improper financial relationships between Trinity and two referring physicians. Trinity operates a hospital located in Steubenville, Ohio. Trinity disclosed the arrangements at issue to the government following an independent investigation.
The Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly known as the Stark Law, prohibits hospitals from billing for certain services referred by physicians with whom the hospital has a financial relationship, unless that relationship satisfies one of the law’s statutory or regulatory exceptions. The settlement resolves allegations that from 2014 through 2020 Trinity made improper financial contributions to two referring physicians in the form of rental arrangements for office space. The United States alleged that these arrangements violated the Stark Law because the rental arrangements exceeded fair market value.
“The Stark Law is designed to ensure that decisions about patient care are not influenced by physicians’ personal financial interest,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “As this settlement reflects, we will hold accountable those who violate these important safeguards, but we will also give credit when resolving such misconduct to those who fully disclose their mistakes, take appropriate remedial actions, and meaningfully cooperate with the government’s investigation.”
In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that Trinity took significant steps entitling it to credit for cooperating with the government. Following an internal compliance review and independent investigation, Trinity promptly took remedial action, disclosed the relevant arrangements to the government, and cooperated with the government’s investigation.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Senior Trial Counsel David Finkelstein.
The claims resolved by the United States in the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Trinitarios Gang Members Plead Guilty to Murder and Violent CarjackingsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Amaury Guzmán, a member of the Trinitarios street gang, pleaded guilty to multiple carjacking and firearm offenses, including the murder of the victim of an attempted carjacking committed in Queens, New York. The proceeding was held before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie. Trinitarios gang member and co-defendant Jonathan Guzman previously pleaded guilty to some of the charges, including the murder, in July 2025. When sentenced, Guzmán faces a sentencing range of 35 to 40 years’ imprisonment. Rodríguez faces a sentencing range of 32 to 40 years’ imprisonment.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty pleas.
“Guzmán and Rodríguez caused fear and chaos through armed carjackings, robberies, and ruthless shootings. Today’s outcome is the result of relentless work by our Office and law enforcement partners and further demonstrates the goals of the Administration’s Operation Take Back America to protect our communities from violent criminals,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.
Mr. Nocella also expressed his appreciation to the Queens County District Attorney’s Office for their work on the case.
“Over the span of four months, these two gang members subjected our community to a series of carjackings, senseless shootings, and cold-blooded murder. Alongside our law enforcement partners, the FBI’s Metro Safe Streets Task Force has prioritized crushing violent crime by targeting gangs and their violence,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
According to court filings and the guilty plea proceeding, between November 2022 and February 2023, Guzmán and Rodríguez variously participated in a string of violent crimes.
November 2022 Attempted Robbery and Shooting
On November 19, 2022, Guzmán and others conspired to rob a marijuana dealer in Queens. Guzmán set up a fake marijuana deal and approached the dealer’s car after he arrived at an agreed-upon location. Guzmán approached the dealer’s car and as the dealer and his passenger tried to flee, Guzmán fired into the car, shooting the passenger in the shoulder. The passenger survived but underwent extensive surgery to remove a bullet from his neck.
November 2022 Attempted Carjacking and Murder
The next day, on November 20, 2022, Guzmán, Rodríguez, and a co-conspirator used a stolen Mercedes Benz to approach an individual’s BMW sports coupe parked on a sidewalk in Queens. Rodríguez approached the victim at gunpoint and fired in his direction as he attempted to flee. The victim was shot once in the back, quickly lost control of his car, which then flipped over onto a sidewalk. He died from the gunshot wound shortly thereafter.
November 2022 Armed Carjacking
Two days later, on November 22, 2022, Guzmán, Rodríguez, and others once again used the stolen Mercedes Benz to approach a victim who had recently parked his BMW X5 on a residential block in Queens. The crew attacked the victim at gunpoint and stole the keys to his BMW X5. They then fled in the stolen Mercedes Benz and in the victim’s BMW X5, only to crash into each other minutes later after speeding away from the carjacking. A ghost gun was recovered from the wrecked Mercedes Benz, which ballistically matched the earlier two shootings.
December 2022 Attempted Carjacking and Shooting
Several weeks later, on December 12, 2022, Guzmán and others approached the driver of a Range Rover who was parked on a residential block in Queens, intending to carjack him. As the victim attempted to flee the carjacking, a member of Guzmán’s crew fired a shot into the Range Rover, which lodged in the center console after narrowly missing the victim.
February 2023 Armed Carjacking
Less than two months later, on February 1, 2023, Guzmán and others used a stolen Dodge Charger to carjack the owner of a Ford Mustang who was parked on a residential block in Queens. Guzmán and a co-conspirator tackled the victim to the ground as he tried to run from them, stole his keys, and bashed the victim in the head with their guns. Lacerations to the victim’s head required hospitalization.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorney Andy Palacio is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
AMAURY GUZMÁN
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New YorkJONATHAN RODRIGUEZ
Age: 24
Queens, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-107 (S-3) (MKB)
Todd County Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Todd County, South Dakota, convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The sentencing took place on March 30, 2026.
Treon Eastman, age 25, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Eastman was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 8, 2026.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Between April 2023 and July 2023, Eastman engaged in a sexual act with a female victim who was between 12-16 years old.
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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Office and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Eastman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Three Philadelphia Men Charged by Superseding Indictment with Conspiring to Distribute Large Amounts of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jimmy King, 50, Jermaine King, 51, and Mahmud Sheppard, 28, all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were charged by superseding indictment with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and firearms offenses.
The superseding indictment alleges that, between January 2024 and July 2025, the three men operated a drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) responsible for distributing over 500 pounds of methamphetamine throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding region.
As further alleged, Jimmy King routinely traveled to California where he sourced bulk quantities of methamphetamine, which he shipped back to Philadelphia using fake names and addresses. With the assistance of Jermaine King and Sheppard, Jimmy King diverted these packages and then distributed the methamphetamine to customers.
FBI agents surveilled the trio for months as they obtained and distributed methamphetamine. On July 23, 2025, agents served a search warrant on Jimmy King’s residence, where they located approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine and two firearms.
If convicted, each of the defendants faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Stram and Christopher E. Parisi.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Philadelphia comprises agents and officers from, among others, FBI, HSI, DEA, and ATF, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Texas Doctor Charged with Illegally Distributing Millions of Opioid PillsRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in the Southern District of Texas charging James Robles, 70, of Weslaco, Texas, with operating a cash-only clinic in Houston that he used to sell prescriptions for controlled substances.
According to court documents, Robles, a medical doctor licensed to practice in Texas, conspired with others to illegally prescribe oxycodone, hydrocodone and carisoprodol – all controlled substances with substantial street value that were in high demand on Houston’s black market. Operating from his cash-only Houston clinic, Robles allegedly sold prescriptions to “crew leaders” who recruited others to pose as patients, filled Robles’ prescriptions at complicit pharmacies and resold the drugs on the black market. As alleged, Robles often did not see or examine his purported patients before prescribing them opioids and other controlled substances. In just over four years, Robles allegedly prescribed approximately 2.9 million pills of hydrocodone, 1.3 million pills of oxycodone and 1.1 million pills of carisoprodol. In less than three years of the conspiracy, more than $2 million in cash was deposited into bank accounts controlled by Robles.
Robles is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances, one count of distributing and dispensing controlled substances and one count of maintaining a drug involved premises. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Brian C. Leardo of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement.
DEA is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Angela Benoit and Andrew Pennebaker of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
St. Petersburg Man Charged in Child’s Fentanyl Overdose and Multiple Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Rayshawn Smith (31, St. Petersburg) has been charged by criminal complaint with distribution of a controlled substance resulting in great bodily injury, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, drug distribution, and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted on all counts, Smith faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the complaint, between May 13, 2025, and January 14, 2026, Smith sold various kinds of drugs – including methamphetamine and fentanyl – to a confidential informant. On November 13, 2025, while in the sole care and custody of Smith, a one-year-old child ingested and overdosed on fentanyl, resulting in the need for life-saving measures at the hospital.
On January 14, 2026, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Smith’s residence where they recovered drugs, guns, and drug paraphernalia. Smith was arrested at a different location in his vehicle. When law enforcement searched Smith’s car, they found additional drugs and drug packaging materials.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yara Dodin.
Southington Man Sentenced to Prison for Gun and Drug Offenses Stemming from 2020 Shooting in HartfordRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERIC D. COX, 43, of Southington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 29 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release for firearm and narcotics offenses stemming from a shooting in Hartford in 2020.
According to the evidence presented during his trial, on September 4, 2020, Cox engaged in a violent altercation near Hartford Hospital in Hartford. During the altercation, in which Cox was slashed with a knife, Cox pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots at the individual who slashed him and others in the vicinity, which resulted in a bystander being shot multiple times. Hartford Police responded to the incident and found several cartridge casings on Jefferson Street where the stabbing and shooting occurred, and a hospital employee found a discarded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol outside the entrance of the hospital’s emergency department and notified law enforcement. Police searched Cox’s car after the incident and found a bag containing approximately 28 grams of cocaine. Subsequent analysis of the firearm revealed the presence of Cox’s DNA.
Cox’s criminal history includes a federal conviction in 2008 for a crack cocaine distribution offense.
On November 21, 2025, a jury found Cox guilty of one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession of cocaine.
Cox, who is released on $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on August 6.
The Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office prosecuted the other individual involved in the altercation.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Dearington and Mary G. Vitale.
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Roland Edward Bain, 40, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to sexual exploitation of a minor, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between March 6, 2024, and May 5, 2024, Bain engaged in a pattern of activity which included persuading a minor victim to create and send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Bain and the victim communicated via their smartphones, and the victim used her phone to create sexually explicit material at Bain’s request. As part of this conduct, Bain engaged in sex acts with the victim. Throughout the course of conduct, Bain was aware the victim was under the age of 18. Bain also engaged in a pattern of activity involving prohibited sexual conduct with other minors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento Sheriff Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Harman is prosecuting the case.
Bain is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on June 18, 2026. Bain faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Repeat smuggler sent to federal prison after illegal aliens found concealed inside tractorRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 53-year-old San Juan resident has been sentenced for transporting six illegal aliens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Mario Trevino pleaded guilty Dec. 29, 2025.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Trevino to serve 33 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing how the illegal aliens were transported in a confined space and that at least one expressed concern for their safety. The court also heard about Trevino’s prior attempts to evade law enforcement. In handing down the sentence, the court noted his criminal history, which included possession with intent to distribute meth, evading arrest and a prior conviction for smuggling illegal aliens.
On Oct. 28, 2025, Trevino drove a tractor trailer to the Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita. He claimed the trailer was empty, and he was heading to pick up a load.
Law enforcement conducted a search of the vehicle where they observed six illegal aliens concealed in the sleeper area. Some were hidden underneath a blanket, while others hid in a cabinet.
The illegal aliens reported they had illegally entered the United States and were 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.
Trevino has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Izaak Bruce prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Pulaski County Woman Sentenced for Armed Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Science Hill, Ky., woman, Vicki Allred, 41, was sentenced on Thursday to 60 months by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to her plea agreement, on April 23, 2024, Allred possessed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intention of distributing it. Specifically, during the execution of a search warrant at Allred’s residence and her box trailer in the driveway, law enforcement recovered more than 280 grams of methamphetamine packaged in distribution quantities, additional plastic bags, and digital scales. Additionally, from a lockbox containing two bags of methamphetamine, law enforcement found a pistol, a loaded magazine, and four sets of digital scales. From Allred’s trailer, law enforcement also recovered a rifle, four loaded AR magazines, and a shotgun with ammunition. Allred admitted that she possessed the firearms to protect herself from the dangers associated with drug trafficking.
Under federal law, Allred must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Puerto Rican Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Role in a Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jefte Monell Diaz, 28, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, was sentenced on Tuesday by Chief U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 60 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Diaz previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
On July 1, 2024, Diaz and his co-conspirators traveled from Tucson to Phoenix with approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine, which they intended to deliver to another individual that evening. Diaz was indicted for his role in the conspiracy on Aug. 21, 2024.
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.
Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This HSTF Tucson led investigation comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS). Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-5415
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-056_Auz-Vasquez, et al.
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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 Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Prior felon arrested, charged following incident involving shooting of police officer and standoffRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Christopher Marcinkowski, 39, of Dunkirk, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with maintaining a drug involved premises and being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch and Garrett Fitzsimmons, who are handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in February 2026, the DEA began assisting the Chautauqua County Narcotics Unit with an investigation of Marcinkowski’s drug trafficking activities. In February and March 2026, investigators conducted two separate garbage pulls at a residence on Franklin Avenue in Dunkirk associated with Marcinowski. Numerous plastic baggies were located with residue that tested positive for the presence of cocaine. On March 24, 2026, investigators executed a search warrant at the Franklin Avenue residence. As the execution of the warrant began, an individual, later identified as Marcinowski, fired two rounds from a firearm, one of which struck an officer. A standoff then took place for several hours, during which Marcinowski told the police negotiator that he shot the officer. After several hours, he surrendered without further incident. After the residence was cleared, officers seized approximately 197 grams of suspected psychedelic mushrooms, approximately 11 pounds of suspected marijuana, three firearms, approximately $30,000 in cash, and drug paraphernalia.
Marcinowski has three prior federal convictions. In October 2013, he was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. In November 2021, Marcinowski was convicted of distributing cocaine.
Marcinowski will make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy on April 8, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone, the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Scott Forster, and the Dunkirk Police Department, under the direction of Chief Christopher Witkowski.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Previously Removed Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to 60 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug and Immigration Crimes in the District of UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A previously removed illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to five years’ imprisonment after he possessed and intended to distribute approximately 17 pounds of methamphetamine and illegally reentered the United States after being removed in 2020.
In addition to his term of imprisonment, Juan Alexis Castanon-Chavez, 28, residing illegally in Bountiful, Utah, was sentenced to one year of supervised release. Upon his release from imprisonment, Castanon-Chavez will be remanded to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings.
According to court documents and statements made at Castanon-Chavez’s sentencing and change of plea hearings, on March 2, 2025, agents arranged a controlled purchase of narcotics from Castanon-Chavez. On that day, Castanon-Chavez brought approximately eight kilograms of methamphetamine to sell to an undercover agent posing as a drug purchaser. Agents seized approximately 7,930 grams of field-tested positive methamphetamine from Castanon-Chavez’s vehicle. Castanon-Chavez admitted he intended to sell the methamphetamine had it not been seized by law enforcement. He further admitted that he unlawfully reentered the United States after he was removed on March 3, 2020. See prior press release: Mexican National Facing Drug and Immigration Charges.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case was investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Davis County Drug Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Vernon G. Stejskal of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for 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.
Previously Removed Illegal Alien from Honduras Indicted for Allegedly Attempting to Distribute Fentanyl in the District of UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment against a previously removed Honduran national for alleged drug trafficking after agents seized approximately 2,500 individual fentanyl pills from the defendant, his vehicle, and residence.
Lester Levi Carias Zuniga, 29, residing unlawfully in West Jordan, Utah, was initially charged by complaint on March 24, 2026.
According to the allegations in court documents, during the month of March 2026, detectives with the Utah Couty Major Crimes Task Force received information that a man, later identified as Carias Zuniga, was distributing fentanyl throughout the Salt Lake area. A controlled purchase of fentanyl was conducted, and Carias Zuniga arrived in a Toyota Camry. Through surveillance, detectives learned that Carias Zuniga lived at a residence in West Jordan. A search warrant was obtained for Carias Zuniga’s residence and the Toyota Camry. On March 18, 2026, pursuant to the search warrant, detectives stopped Carias Zuniga in the Toyota Camry after leaving his residence. Carias Zuniga was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 40 grams of fentanyl pills packaged in multiple baggies. Detectives also located and seized 4.7 grams of fentanyl powder on Carias Zuniga. Both substances field-tested positive for fentanyl. During a search of Carias Zuniga’s residence, detectives located and seized approximately 206 grams of fentanyl pills and an additional 16 grams of fentanyl powder. In total, agents seized approximately 266 grams of fentanyl pills (approximately 2,500 individual pills).
Carias Zuniga was previously removed from the United States in 2018. Despite his removal, he was found in the United States during this incident and there is no evidence that he obtained permission to be in the United States.
Carias Zuniga is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and reentry of a previously removed alien. A two-day jury trial is scheduled for June 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom 7.3 before a U.S. District Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
First Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force (UCMC). Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Special United States Attorney Pete Reichman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Previously Deported Alien Residing in Sacramento Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms and to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Luis Eduardo Torres-Hernandez, 40, a Mexican national residing in Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to one count of being an unlawful alien in possession of firearms and one count of illegally re-entering the United States after being previously removed, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in September 2024, undercover law enforcement agents found Torres-Hernandez in the Sacramento area when he sold them multiple sets of false identification documents, including Permanent Resident green cards and Social Security cards. On a subsequent date, agents recovered several firearms from his possession, including a Windham Weaponry 5.56 caliber rifle, a Ruger 9 mm caliber pistol and a Sig Sauer 9 mm caliber pistol. Torres-Hernandez is in the United States illegally and has been removed from the United States on multiple occasions and is accordingly prohibited from possessing firearms.
According to the indictment, on Aug. 29, 2014, Torres-Hernandez was deported from the United States after a conviction for selling false documents in the Eastern District of California.
Homeland Security Investigations is conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.
Torres-Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on July 9, 2026. Torres-Hernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the firearms count, and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the illegal reentry count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
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.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced in Firearm Case After Flight from PoliceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Rarkease Charles Bishop, 23, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 28 months in prison in connection with his unlawful possession of a Glock pistol while on supervised release for another gun offense, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Bishop pleaded guilty on Dec. 16, 2025, in U.S. District Court to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 28-month prison sentence, Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered Bishop to serve three years of supervised release. Prosecutors for the U.S. Attorney’s Office had requested a sentence of 37 months.
“Rarkease Bishop had multiple opportunities to turn his life around and instead chose, repeatedly and deliberately, to arm himself in defiance of the law and the courts,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He fled from officers, fought his arrest, and tried to hide the loaded gun he was carrying even after he was in handcuffs. That is not the behavior of someone who poses a manageable risk. It is the behavior of someone the community needs to be protected from."
According to court papers, on July 16, 2025, members of the Metropolitan Police Department's Sixth District Crime Suppression Team were on patrol in a marked police cruiser on the 100 block of 42nd Street NE. One of the officers recognized Bishop driving a white Nissan Maxima.
Officers attempted to stop the Nissan, a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Laurel, Maryland. Bishop fled. With the car’s trunk open, Bishop drove the car over a curb and accelerated away at high speed.
Officers located the Maxima abandoned in the 200 block of 51st Street SE. After spotting Bishop, police pursued him on foot. Officers observed Bishop clutching the right side of his waistband. After a brief chase, police took Bishop into custody and handcuffed him near the 5000 block of C Street SE. Bishop resisted arrest. He crossed his legs in an attempt to conceal a firearm in his pant leg and made an additional attempt to break free from custody.
Officers subdued Bishop and recovered a loaded Glock Model 23, .40 caliber pistol from Bishop's right pant leg. The pistol was loaded with one round in the chamber and 13 rounds in a 17-round capacity magazine. Bishop committed this offense while on supervised release for a prior gun conviction, namely, carrying a pistol without a license.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter.
This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe Again is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
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After he was placed in handcuffs by police, Bishop tried to hide the pistol he was carrying.
Officers discovered the pistol in Bishop’s pant leg.
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Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dcPortland Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in an interstate drug trafficking organization.
Luis Garcia Zurita, 38, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Garcia Zurita was both an interstate drug transporter and local distributor for a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization operating in Portland. In August 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) determined that Garcia Zurita was traveling from Los Angeles, California, to Oregon. Investigators conducted a stop of Garcia Zurita and subsequently applied for and were granted a search warrant for his vehicle. Agents seized from the vehicle approximately 4 kilograms of fentanyl pills and 2 kilograms of cocaine.
On March 5, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Garcia Zurita with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.
On December 1, 2025, Garcia Zurita pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the DEA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF). It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul T. Maloney.
CCITF, led by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, works to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in and around Clackamas County, and reduce illegal drugs and related crimes throughout the community. The task force is comprised of members from the Canby Police Department, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, the FBI, and the Oregon National Guard Counterdrug Task Force. CCITF is supported by our community with the passage of the Public Safety Levy and grant funding from the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.
Panama City Felon Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Orinthian Frazier, 46, of Panama City, Florida, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for unlawfully possessing firearms as a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Operation Take Back America continues to secure victories for the safety of our communities by targeting and aggressively prosecuting dangerous criminals, like this defendant. The safety of our citizens is non-negotiable, and my office will continue to back up the hard work of our state and federal law enforcement partners with successful prosecutions and federal prison sentences.”
Court documents reflect that in March 2025, Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigators received information that the defendant – a prior felon with convictions for sale of cocaine, sale of heroin, grand theft, and burglary – was selling illegal firearms. In an undercover capacity, investigators negotiated and then conducted the purchase of three handguns from the defendant. The defendant was arrested immediately after the undercover firearm sale and was found in possession of marked currency used for the purchase.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K Mountin.
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.
Olean man pleads guilty to drug chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Isaiah Josiah Dre Riley, 23, of Olean, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a fine of $5,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt I. Kass, who is handling the case, stated that in December 2024, law enforcement observed Riley make sales of crack cocaine utilizing a 3rd Avenue residence in Olean as his base of operation. On January 14, 2025, investigators executed search warrants at the residence, seizing quantities of suspected cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and $2,579.00 in cash. Riley was taken into custody at the scene.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone, and the Olean Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ron Richardson.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 28, 2026, before Judge Vilardo.
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Okfuskee County Resident Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2024 Okemah MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Wayne Lambert, age 56, of Weleetka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to Life in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country, and ten years in prison for one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. The Court ordered the terms to be served consecutively.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okemah Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
On September 11, 2025, Lambert was found guilty by a federal jury at trial. According to investigators, in the early morning hours of June 30, 2024, Lambert shot the victim multiple times on the stairs of an Okemah apartment complex, fled, then discarded the murder weapon off the side of the Bearden River Bridge into the North Canadian River. There, investigators recovered a Ruger 9mm from the riverbank that matched the shell casings recovered from the crime scene.
The crimes occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) 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. Lambert will be held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve non-paroleable sentences of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Ryan Conway represented the United States.
Ohio Man Admits Sex Acts with Missouri TeenRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Toledo, Ohio on Thursday admitted engaging in sex acts with a Missouri minor.
Andrew Raymond Crum, 33, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of coercion or enticement of a minor. Crum admitted meeting the girl via social media in 2021, when she was 14. Crum began driving to Missouri to have sex with the girl in February of 2024, when she was 16. He also exchanged sexually explicit images and videos with the victim via Snapchat, where he used the name “Sassy Man.”
The FBI was alerted in October of 2024 about Crum’s plans to return to Missouri and then located and contacted the victim and her mother.
Crum is scheduled to be sentenced on June 29. The charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards 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 Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Oasis Acupuncture LLC and Its Owner Agree to Pay $100,000 to Settle False Claims Act LiabilityRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Oasis Acupuncture LLC and its owner, Dr. Hui-Li Yuan, have agreed to pay $100,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting inflated claims for acupuncture services to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.
According to the settlement agreement, Oasis Acupuncture and Dr. Yuan billed the VA for acupuncture needle reinsertion services that were inflated and did not meet the minimum time requirements of 15 minutes per needle reinsertion. This resulted in the VA overpaying for Oasis Acupuncture’s claims.
“Protecting our veterans and their care is paramount,” U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “This civil settlement demonstrates our continuing commitment to ensure compliance and proper billing by all providers.”
“This settlement demonstrates the VA OIG’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the integrity of claims submitted to VA healthcare programs,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the VA Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG commends the US Attorney’s Office for their efforts in this investigation.”
This settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy R. Bloor led the investigation.
The government’s action in this matter illustrates the emphasis on combating health care fraud, and one of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs OIG Hotline, at 1-800-488-8244.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination or admission of liability.
North Haven Man Charged with Robbing Berlin Bank While on Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, and Berlin Police Chief Matthew J. McNally today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging THOMAS MARRA, 55, of North Haven, with bank robbery.
The indictment alleges that, on December 31, 2025, Marra robbed the Webster Bank on Webster Square Road in Berlin.
If convicted of the offense, Marra faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Marra has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on January 7, 2026.
In May 2023, Marra was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 60 months of imprisonment for a narcotics trafficking offense. He was released from prison in June 2025 and was on federal supervised release at the time of the alleged bank robbery. Marra faces additional penalties if he is found to have violated the conditions of his supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Berlin Police Department, and the North Haven Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan J. Guevremont and Brendan J. Keefe.
North Carolina Man Sentenced to 180 Months’ Imprisonment for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brayan Garcia-Vazquez, age 25, of Haverlock, North Carolina, was sentenced on April 1, 2026, to 180 months of imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for production of child pornography.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, a minor victim disclosed during a forensic interview that there was a video of her having sex with Garcia-Vazquez, and that he knew she was 12 years old at the time they had sexual intercourse. The minor victim explained that she had met Garcia-Vazquez on Instagram about a year beforehand.
Garcia-Vazquez came to the minor victim’s home on two separate days to have sexual intercourse. The second day he brought the minor victim a gold bracelet and they had intercourse again. Garcia-Vazquez recorded the sex act that day and shared the video with the minor victim, whose mother eventually found it and contacted law enforcement. Garcia-Vazquez was identified as the perpetrator through forensic analysis of the minor victim’s phone and matching Garcia-Vazquez with the male in the video.
Garcia-Vazquez faces deportation following the completion of this sentence.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Norfolk man sentenced to over three years in prison for laundering funds fraudulently obtained from a pandemic relief programRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for money laundering and unlawful monetary transactions relating to the fraudulent receipt of funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in May 2020, Brian Renard Manley Jr., 39, sent an email containing information about his businesses to an individual in Georgia who created fake tax returns for the business and submitted a fraudulent PPP application. PPP was administered by the Small Business Administration to provide low-interest financing to pay up to eight weeks of payroll costs for eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruption due to the pandemic.
As a result of the fraudulent PPP application, Brian Manley received $350,000, which he immediately transferred into a newly opened bank account for a different company. The next day, he forwarded an email to the same individual in Georgia from his co-defendant spouse, Lacole Manley, which contained information and data about her business. Lacole Manley later received an additional $350,000 PPP loan after a fraudulent application was submitted in her name by the same individual in Georgia. The Manleys used the PPP funds to pay for various personal expenses, including travel to Orlando and Las Vegas as well as the purchase of a luxury vehicle.
Lacole Manley is expected to be sentenced on May 19.
The IRS Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Field Office and the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony C. Mozzi and Clayton D. LaForge are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-56.
Nine Men, including Well Known Musical Artists, Federally Charged for Kidnapping at Music Studio in DallasRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – This week, nine individuals – including well known musical artists—were federally charged for kidnapping and robbing at gunpoint numerous victims at a music studio in Dallas, Texas, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Eight of the nine were arrested yesterday in Dallas, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee. The charged defendants include:
Lontrell Williams. Jr., aka “Pooh Shiesty”
Lontrell Williams, Sr.
Rodney Wright, Jr., aka “Big30”
Kedarius Waters
Terrance Rodgers
Damarian Gipson
Demarcus Glover
Kordae Johnson
Darrion McDaniel“As alleged, nine defendants travelled to Dallas, Texas, to kidnap and rob victims who thought they were coming into town for a business meeting. Instead of discussing business in a civil matter, the defendants resorted to violence and intimidation to achieve their purported business objectives,” said Ryan Raybould, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. “For anyone contemplating using violence and intimidation as a business practice, I’m here to tell you that it will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted in the Northern District of Texas. This case also highlights the outstanding contributions of my colleagues across the United States, including in the Western District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, and the Eastern District of Texas, as well as the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and our state and local partners.”
“The Western District of Tennessee employs a whole team concept with federal, state, and local partners to aggressively pursue all violent criminals who dare to commit crime or seek safe haven within our jurisdiction. Here, agents from the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, strongly supported by Task Force Officers from the Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Desoto County Sheriff’s Office, and aviation assets from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, brought these violent criminals to justice and put them behind bars. These defendants will be transported to the Northern District of Texas to face their crimes,” said D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.
“Strong partnerships with local law enforcement are key to reducing violent crime. The collaboration of multiple agencies ensured the successful arrest of several individuals in both Texas and Tennessee. The FBI remains dedicated to investigating violent offenders and holding them accountable,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.
The complaint alleges that on January 10 of this year, three music industry professionals traveled to Dallas for a scheduled business meeting. Lontrell Williams, Jr. arranged this meeting, purportedly to discuss the terms of his recording contract with one of the victims.
As alleged, once these three men were inside the studio, Williams Jr. and eight co-conspirators, several of whom traveled from Memphis, executed a coordinated armed takeover.
The complaint alleges that Williams Jr. produced an AK-style pistol and forced one of the victims to sign a release from the recording contract at gunpoint. The remaining conspirators displayed firearms and robbed the other victims of Rolex watches, jewelry, cash, and other high-value items.
One victim was choked to the point of near unconsciousness. Photos of some of his injuries were included in the complaint:
Photos of injuries sustained to the wrist and neck of one victim
Defendant Wright barricaded the studio door with his body to prevent the victims from escaping.
Court records reflect that Lontrell Williams, Jr., or Pooh Shiesty, was on home confinement for a prior firearms conspiracy conviction out of the Southern District of Florida. Part of the terms of his home detention were that he could not commit other criminal offenses or possess firearms. His father, Lontrell Williams Sr., is alleged to have helped plan and execute the federal kidnapping.
As described in the complaint, within hours of leaving the Dallas studio, the defendants added posts on social media, displaying what appeared to be some of the stolen jewelry, depicted in the photographs from the complaint:
Screenshot of video posted from Rodgers’ social media account depicted a Rolex believed to be stolen in the robbery
Screenshots from Glover’s social media account depicting him wearing purportedly stolen jewelry
As outlined in the complaint, some of the evidence establishing the defendants’ roles in the federal offense includes:
- Electronic monitoring data placing Williams Jr. at the offense location in violation of his home detention conditions;
- Cell phone records and license plate reader data corroborating the coordinated travel of multiple defendants from Memphis to Dallas;
- Rental car records confirming Williams Sr. rented a vehicle used by the group;
- Surveillance footage from the offense location, a nearby office supply store, and a hotel where several defendants stayed following the offense;
- Latent fingerprints recovered from the crime scene matching two defendants;
- Social media posts by defendants displaying what appears to be stolen property in the days following the offense; and
- Greyhound Bus records confirming the travel of multiple defendants from Dallas to Memphis the day after the offense.
If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment.
The FBI Dallas Violent Crimes Task Force investigated the case, with the assistance of the FBI’s Memphis Resident Agency and Nashville Field Office, the Memphis Safe Task Force, the Dallas Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Claire Demers and Robert Withers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###For more information, please contact [email protected].
Nine Men - Including Well Known Musical Artists - Federally Charged for Kidnapping at Music Studio in DallasRead the Press Release
This week, nine individuals – including well known musical artists—were federally charged for kidnapping and robbing at gunpoint numerous victims at a music studio in Dallas, Texas, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
8 of the 9 were arrested yesterday in Dallas, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee. The charged defendants include:
Lontrell Williams. Jr. a/k/a “Pooh Shiesty”
Lontrell Williams, Sr.
Rodney Wright, Jr. a/k/a “Big30”
Kedarius Waters
Terrance Rodgers
Damarian Gipson
Demarcus Glover
Kordae Johnson
Darrion McDaniel“As alleged, nine defendants travelled to Dallas, Texas, to kidnap and rob victims who thought they were coming into town for a business meeting. Instead of discussing business in a civil matter, the defendants resorted to violence and intimidation to achieve their purported business objectives,” said Ryan Raybould, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. “For anyone contemplating using violence and intimidation as a business practice, I’m here to tell you that it will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted in the Northern District of Texas. This case also highlights the outstanding contributions of my colleagues across the United States, including in the Western District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, and the Eastern District of Texas, as well as the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and our state and local partners.”
“The Western District of Tennessee employs a whole team concept with federal, state, and local partners to aggressively pursue all violent criminals who dare to commit crime or seek safe haven within our jurisdiction. Here, agents from the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, strongly supported by Task Force Officers from the Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Desoto County Sheriff’s Office, and aviation assets from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, brought these violent criminals to justice and put them behind bars. These defendants will be transported to the Northern District of Texas to face their crimes,” said D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.
“Strong partnerships with local law enforcement are key to reducing violent crime. The collaboration of multiple agencies ensured the successful arrest of several individuals in both Texas and Tennessee. The FBI remains dedicated to investigating violent offenders and holding them accountable,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.
The complaint alleges that on January 10 of this year, three music industry professionals traveled to Dallas for a scheduled business meeting. Lontrell Williams, Jr. arranged this meeting, purportedly to discuss the terms of his recording contract with one of the victims.
As alleged, once these three men were inside the studio, Williams Jr. and eight co-conspirators, several of whom traveled from Memphis, executed a coordinated armed takeover.
The complaint alleges that Williams Jr. produced an AK-style pistol and forced one of the victims to sign a release from the recording contract at gunpoint. The remaining conspirators displayed firearms and robbed the other victims of Rolex watches, jewelry, cash, and other high-value items.
One victim was choked to the point of near unconsciousness. Photos of some of his injuries were included in the complaint:
Photos of injuries sustained to the wrist and neck of one victim
Defendant Wright barricaded the studio door with his body to prevent the victims from escaping.
Court records reflect that Lontrell Williams, Jr., or Pooh Shiesty, was on home confinement for a prior firearms conspiracy conviction out of the Southern District of Florida. Part of the terms of his home detention were that he could not commit other criminal offenses or possess firearms. His father, Lontrell Williams Sr., is alleged to have helped plan and execute the federal kidnapping.As described in the complaint, within hours of leaving the Dallas studio, the defendants added posts on social media, displaying what appeared to be some of the stolen jewelry, depicted in the photographs from the complaint:
Screenshot of video posted from Rodgers’ social media account depicted a Rolex believed to be stolen in the robbery
Screenshots from Glover’s social media account depicting him wearing purportedly stolen jewelry
As outlined in the complaint, some of the evidence establishing the defendants’ roles in the federal offense includes:
• Electronic monitoring data placing Williams Jr. at the offense location in violation of his home detention conditions;
• Cell phone records and license plate reader data corroborating the coordinated travel of multiple defendants from Memphis to Dallas;
• Rental car records confirming Williams Sr. rented a vehicle used by the group;
• Surveillance footage from the offense location, a nearby office supply store, and a hotel where several defendants stayed following the offense;
• Latent fingerprints recovered from the crime scene matching two defendants;
• Social media posts by defendants displaying what appears to be stolen property in the days following the offense; and
• Greyhound Bus records confirming the travel of multiple defendants from Dallas to Memphis the day after the offense.If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment.
The FBI Dallas Violent Crimes Task Force investigated the case, with the assistance of the FBI’s Memphis Resident Agency and Nashville Field Office, the Memphis Safe Task Force, the Dallas Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Claire Demers and Robert Withers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
complaint_filed.pdfA complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Nicholas County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jonathan Wayne Vickers, 35, of Summersville, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 13, 2024, Vickers possessed a SCCY Industries model CPX-2 9mm pistol in the Summersville area.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Vickers knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for burglary and grand larceny on March 10, 2021, and conspiracy to commit breaking and entering on March 12, 2015, both in Nicholas County Circuit Court.
Vickers is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.00.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Nicholas County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph 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 copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-185.
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New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Weapons ViolationRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –NOLAN LONG (“LONG”), age 34, was sentenced on March 24, 2026 by U.S. District Judge Darryl J. Papillion to 15 months in prison followed by two 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 January 10, 2023, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) detectives observed a group of individuals, including LONG, exhibiting signs that they were carrying concealed firearms. When marked NOPD units arrived in the area to investigate, LONG fled on foot and discarded a loaded Walther P22, .22 caliber pistol before being apprehended. LONG is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his felony conviction for simple robbery and a prior felony conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
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 Two Counts of Firearm Possession in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –TYRONE WHITTINGTON (“WHITTINGTON”), age 40, pleaded guilty on March 26, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
According to court documents, WHITTINGTON was arrested by New Orleans Police officers on August 19, 2023, and by Louisiana State Police troopers on December 30, 2024. For each of those arrests, WHITTINGTON was in possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine that he intended to distribute, as well as two handguns that furthered those drug-trafficking crimes.
As to each conviction, WHITTINGTON faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to each other and any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, up to five years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Louisiana State Police, 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 False Statements, Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, Money Laundering, Possessing a Stolen Vehicle and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – HARDELL MACK (“MACK”), age 54, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on March 25, 2026 before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to a four count indictment charging him with making false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), conspiring to commit mail fraud, money laundering, and possessing a stolen vehicle. Additionally, MACK plead guilty to wire fraud, a matter transferred from the Middle District of Louisiana, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court records, in Count One, MACK fraudulently obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP”) loan, which was authorized during the pandemic by the CARES Act, by making a false statement on or about July 24, 2020. This resulted in a loan in the amount of $20,284. He also obtained three other fraudulent PPP loans resulting in a total loss to the Small Business Administration of $79,356. Count Two alleged that MACK also conspired to file false tax records by interstate mail in order to obtain an Employee Retention Credit from the Internal Revenue Service, that was funded by the U.S. Treasury. This resulted in a loss to the government of $625,310. Using the funds from the mail fraud, MACK committed money laundering as alleged in Count Three by sending over $10,000 to an investment company in Florida. In Count Four, MACK also pleaded guilty to possessing a McLaren automobile that was stolen from Connecticut.
Concerning the Middle District matter, MACK pleaded guilty to Count Two of the indictment, charging him with wire fraud for defrauding an investor in a concert promotion scheme.
Sentencing will occur on June 24, 2026. MACK faces up to five (5) years imprisonment for Counts One and Two, and up to ten (10) years imprisonment for Counts Three and Four in the Eastern District of Louisiana. MACK may receive up to twenty (20) years of imprisonment for his plea to Count Two in the Middle District of Louisiana matter. All the counts include up to $250,000 in fines or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person, and up to three years of supervised release along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count due after conviction.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
This case was investigated by an agent assigned to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force. The PRAC was established to serve the American public by promoting transparency and facilitating coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 21 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending. The PRAC Fraud Task Force brings together agents from 15 Inspectors General to investigate fraud involving a variety of programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program. Task force agents who are detailed to the PRAC receive expanded authority to investigate pandemic fraud as well as tools and training to support their investigations.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General (a member of the PRAC), the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera from the Eastern District of Louisiana and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth White from the Middle District of Louisiana are in charge of the prosecution.
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New Orleans Businessman Charged with Covid-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – WELLINGTON BROWN (“BROWN”) age 53, of New Orleans, was charged by bill of information on March 31, 2026 with providing a materially false statement to the Small Business Administration in an application to obtain a government sponsored loan designed to assist small business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
The maximum penalty for false statements to a federal agency is five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney, Richard R. Pickens, II, of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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New Kensington Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating a federal firearms law, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced.
William Jermaine Rodgers III, 29, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab to a one-count Indictment charging Rodgers with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on July 1, 2025, law enforcement reported to a home in the Knoxville neighborhood of Pittsburgh after learning that Rodgers—who had been a fugitive since at least February 2025—may be staying there. Upon arriving at the home, law enforcement discovered Rodgers in a second-story master bedroom. After taking Rodgers into custody, law enforcement recovered a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition stowed between the mattress and box spring of the bed in the room in which Rodgers had been staying. Rodgers was previously convicted of numerous federal felony drug offenses in Indiana, Westmoreland, and Allegheny counties, and had also been previously convicted of a felony offense for issuing terroristic threats in Westmoreland County. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Schwab scheduled Rodgers’ sentencing for July 30, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Rodgers.
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.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Assault with Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jaxson Clayton Vaughn, age 19, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on November 22, 2024, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian country, Vaughn knowingly assaulted a victim with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm.
The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Vaughn will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jaxson Clayton Vaughn, age 19, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, punishable by up to Life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on November 14, 2024, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian country, Vaughn knowingly caused the victim to engage in a sexual act by use of force and by threatening and placing the victim in fear of death, serious bodily injury, and kidnapping.
The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Jason A. Roberston, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Vaughn will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
McCurtain County Resident Sentenced for Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Allan Wayne Hilton, a/k/a Alan Wayne Hilton, a/k/a Terry L. Leonard, a/k/a Allen Wayne Hilton, age 67, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for one count of Failure to Register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force.
On September 9, 2025, Hilton pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, Hilton was required to register as a sex offender after being convicted of three counts of Rape in Miller County, Arkansas, on February 25, 1993, and from June 20, 2023, until June 10, 2025, Hilton failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within 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. Hilton 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 Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Prison for Wildlife TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Reading, Mass. man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for trafficking in wildlife parts from endangered and protected species.
Adam Bied, 40, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to eight months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Bied was also ordered to pay a $75,000 fine to fund wildlife enforcement efforts. In January 2026, Bied pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, specifically, illegally imported wildlife parts, and two counts of violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking in wildlife. The wildlife that Bied unlawfully imported and conspired to import was protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as well as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). None of the wildlife Bied imported was declared as required by law. Bied was charged in June 2024.
“Trafficking in the remains of endangered and protected animals is not a collector’s hobby – it is a crime that fuels the exploitation of vulnerable species around the world,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “As the Department of Justice has made clear, protecting animal welfare and enforcing our wildlife laws is a priority. This defendant knowingly smuggled and profited from the killing of protected animals – some of which were slaughtered at his direction – undermining global conservation efforts. Today’s sentence holds him accountable and sends a clear message: those who traffic in wildlife will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Our agency works diligently to combat the illegal international trafficking of wildlife parts due to its devastating effect on a wide variety of vulnerable species,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “In their quest for quick profit, wildlife smugglers push critically endangered animals toward the edge of extinction and undermine global conservation efforts. Halting this illegal trade remains one of our highest priorities and together with the Department of Justice, we will bring those responsible to justice.”
Beginning in at least January 2018 and continuing until at least June 2021, Bied bought, sold and traded in wildlife parts and products from threatened and endangered species knowing that many of the transactions violated U.S. laws and regulations, including the ESA and the Lacey Act. Bied also knowingly failed to declare the wildlife to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) upon importation into the United States.
Specifically, Bied placed orders with individuals in Cameroon and Indonesia who were in the businesses of killing and acquiring wildlife, including endangered and protected species, received the parts in the United States unlawfully and then resold or traded the wildlife to customers in the United States.
In text messages, Bied and a co-conspirator in Cameroon (CC-1), a person Bied knew to be a poacher of native species, discussed hunting and killing wildlife. For example, in June 2018 when CC-1 told Bied that he was unable to obtain bullets for hunting wildlife due to the ongoing civil war, Bied offered to send him bullets. After CC-1 said he could go to jail if he is caught receiving ammunition during the ongoing civil war, Bied offered to send him money for bullets in exchange for skulls including, as they discussed, chimpanzee skulls. Bied also requested a gorilla skull. Both gorillas and chimpanzees are endangered, and most gorilla species are critically endangered. Bied also sought to purchase skulls from elephants, lions, hippos and other “rare” and “large animals.”
Bied repeatedly instructed CC-1 not to send him skulls with bullet holes, writing “stop sending me skulls with holes” and “Just send me a lot of big skulls. Also no skulls with bullet holes.” In various messages with CC-1, Bied referred to his customers, advising CC-1, “I need rare things for my customers.”
Bied was aware of the laws protecting wildlife and governing wildlife importation and that it was illegal to trade in endangered and protected species. For example, on Dec. 26, 2019 Bied took photographs of an educational exhibit at a zoo about illegal wildlife trafficking, that prominently featured pangolins as the “most heavily trafficked wild mammal.” Later that day, Bied texted CC-1, “I'd like to buy the pangolin skull – I'd like to buy this pangolin still.” All subspecies of pangolins are protected under CITES.
Bied and his conspirator in Indonesia (CC-2) exchanged electronic messages about the acquisition, purchase, and sale of wildlife, and protected wildlife. Among other wildlife, Bied purchased multiple orangutans and Javan leopard skulls from CC-2. Both species are critically endangered.
Bied later sold two illegally imported leopard skulls to an undercover federal agent. During the negotiations over one skull, Bied lied about its origin, falsely claiming to the agent that the leopard skull was at least 60 years old, that he had purchased it at an auction, and that he believed the sale of this skull to be legal. In fact, the skull had been recently illegally imported from Indonesia. Bied neither sought nor obtained the necessary USFWS import/export licenses or CITES permits before importing these items, nor did he declare the wildlife to the USFWS upon import as required. Instead, Bied and his co-conspirators took steps to conceal the wildlife parts from U.S. authorities by falsely labeling them as “decorative masks” and “rodents,” among other things. Bied unlawfully imported skulls from the following wildlife species, among others: baboon, chimpanzee, pangolin, orangutan and leopard.
Bied has consented to the civil forfeiture of over 100 wildlife parts from endangered, threatened, or protected species seized by the USFWS in July 2021 from Bied’s residence, storage unit and vehicle.
The wildlife parts identified in the civil forfeiture complaint include:
- Orangutan skulls
- Tiger skulls
- Leopard skin, skulls and a claw
- Jaguar skin and skull
- African lion skulls
- Polar bear skull
- Narwhal tusk
- Otter skeleton
- Harp seal skull
- Pangolin skull
- South American fur seal skull
- Elephant seal skull
- Babirusa skulls
- Mandrillus skulls
- Wallaby skull
- Jackal skull
Federal wildlife statutes and regulations prohibit international and illegal trade in vulnerable wildlife species. The ESA, the Lacey Act and CITES, as well as the accompanying regulations, prohibit the import, export, possession, transport, purchase and sale of protected species. The restrictions apply to live and dead wildlife specimens, as well as the skins, parts and products made in whole or in part from listed species. Additional documents are also required for wildlife protected by the CITES treaty, which regulates trade in endangered or threatened species through permit requirements.
The lawful importation of vulnerable wildlife species requires a CITES permit. The lawful importation of any foreign species requires a USFWS wildlife declaration. Individuals are also required to have a USFWS import/export license to import wildlife for commercial purposes.
U.S. Attorney Foley and USFWS Assistant Director Ault made the announcement. This case was worked jointly with the United States Marshals Service and the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Casey and Carol E. Head are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the civil forfeiture case.
Mason City Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
A man who sexually exploited children, possessed child pornography, and possessed a stolen firearm pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Parker Jon Thompson, age 20, from Mason City, Iowa, was convicted of sexual exploitation of children, possession of child pornography, and possession of a stolen firearm.
Evidence at a prior court hearing demonstrated that in June 2025, Thompson helped his friends plan a burglary at a gun shop in Mason City. His friends stole several guns and gave at least two of the guns to Thompson. Law enforcement officers searched Thompson’s phone while investigating the burglary. Officers found child pornography on the phone. Additional investigation revealed that Thompson recorded multiple children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Thompson also asked a child to send him depictions of the child engaging in sex acts.
At a plea hearing, Thompson admitted that between March 2024 and September 2025, he used, persuaded, induced, and enticed minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct. Between June 2024 and April 2025, Thompson possessed depictions of child pornography. In June 2025, Thompson possessed a stolen firearm.
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.”
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.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Thompson remains in custody of the United States Marshal. Thompson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 50 years’ imprisonment, a $750,000 fine, $77,300 in special assessments, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T. Hake and Kyndra Lundquist and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mason City Police Department, the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 25-CR-2054 and 26-CR-3011.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing A Machine Gun Used in November Bronx ShootingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that DAVID MALDONADO pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff to possessing a machine gun in connection with a November 14, 2025, daytime shooting during which MALDONADO fired 12 rounds from a machinegun on a public street in the Bronx, New York.
“The illegal possession of a machine gun is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The families of New York City deserve to live free of fear from the type of gun violence these weapons can unleash. The women and men of this Office will never tire in their efforts to root out and hold accountable those who would bring this type of violence to our communities.”
As alleged in the Indictment, and in public statements made in court proceedings:[1]
On or about November 14, 2025, at around 4:00 p.m., MALDONADO, who has been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, discharged a machine gun in the vicinity of East 170th Street and Third Avenue in the Bronx, including two shots that struck a nearby vehicle.
Detectives of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), who were in the vicinity of the gunshots, spotted and promptly apprehended MALDONADO, who was in possession of an un-serialized Polymer 80, model PF940C, 9x19mm caliber firearm, also known as a “ghost gun.” During the shooting, MALDONADO used a semi-automatic handgun with an illegal machine gun conversion device installed, which converted his firearm into a fully automatic machine gun capable of shooting more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger. Photographs of the firearm and magazine seized from MALDONADO and the conversion device that was installed on the pistol slide are below:
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MALDONADO, 53, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of possession of a machine gun, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations & Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon D. Harper is in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Major Meth Supplier Linked to a Mexican Cartel Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The final of 20 defendants, a Georgia man described as the second-in-command to a Mexican national leading an illegal drug pipeline in the state, was sentenced to prison for supplying kilograms of methamphetamine and heroin resulting from a multi-agency investigation into a drug trafficking ring centered in Milledgeville, Georgia.
Noe Canela, 37, of Lilburn, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 260 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on April 2, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6, 2026.
“Noe Canela is being held accountable for trafficking large quantities of dangerous drugs from a Mexican cartel into Georgia. This case proves that justice will prevail, no matter how long it takes,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Thanks to the collective efforts of law enforcement agencies at every level, significant quantities of dangerous drugs have been kept off Georgia streets, and the offenders have been brought to justice.”
“Those who distribute methamphetamine pose a grave danger to the community. These traffickers can no longer deliver dangerous drugs on the streets and must now face the consequences of their actions,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division.
“The dangers associated with methamphetamine remain one of the most significant drug threats facing our community,” said Robert Gibbs, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Georgia’s Macon office. “With the help of our federal, state and local partners, this is a significant amount of poison that will not make it into our communities, driving crime and violence.”
“Illegal drugs are dangerous and threaten the safety of Georgia communities,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The GBI is committed to getting these drugs off the streets by bringing to justice all those that take part in the illegal drug trade, from the supplier down to the dealer.”
"Noe Canela evaded justice while maintaining his criminal enterprises and ties to a Mexican cartel," said Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee. "We are grateful he has been taken into custody, brought before the court and held accountable for his crimes. Baldwin County and Georgia are safer as a result."
The following co-defendants have been sentenced:
Jarvis Havior, aka “J Bo,” 34, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 360 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 16, 2023;
Nicholas Cuevas-Flores, 40, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 260 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28, 2023;
Anrico Taylor, aka “Rico,” 38, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 160 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 11, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 28, 2023;
Matthew Cameron, 50, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 150 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Oct. 31, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 5, 2022;
Dawn Carey, 50, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 121 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on April 6, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 13, 2022;
Bruce Harrison, 43, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Nov. 2, 2022, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Aug. 31, 2022;
Arturo Marshall, aka “Turo,” 44, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28, 2023;
Tyrone Hitchcock, aka “TY,” 51, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 85 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Jan. 4, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 12, 2022;
Paul Collins, 63, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 18, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28, 2023;
Annie Collins, 24, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 63 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on March 7, 2023;
Paul Bentley aka “Old School,” 59, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Aug. 6, 2025, after he pleaded guilty to one count conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Feb. 20, 2025;
Alicia Nugent, 41, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 28, 2023;
Lamont Jackson, 51, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communication facility on Feb. 28, 2023;
Perry Miller, 43, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to the unlawful use of a communications facility on Feb. 28, 2023;
Dwight Turner, aka “Wight,” 60, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release on Jan. 11, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Aug. 30, 2023;
Ryan Rickard, 53, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 41 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on Feb. 14, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communication facility on Feb. 16, 2023;
Amber Vanclief, 35, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on May 3, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Feb. 9, 2023;
Macarthur Reeves, aka “Mac,” 70, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve three years of probation on May 3, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility on Feb. 16, 2023; and
Paris Binion, 32, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to time served to be followed by one year of supervised release on Nov. 9, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility on Feb. 28, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell presided over the case. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, agents with the DEA, the GBI and the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force received credible information in June 2020 from multiple confidential sources that Havior was leading a multi-kilogram methamphetamine drug trafficking organization in the Milledgeville community. An investigation determined the location of his distribution “trap” houses and “stash” houses for bulk narcotics and cash that Havior and his criminal associates maintained. For more information about the Havior drug trafficking network, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/milledgeville-based-meth-distribution-leader-sentenced-30-years-prison.
Investigators found that Canela was the source of supply for Havior and that Canela would often use Flores as a go-between, who would meet with Havior and his associates to deliver the drugs. Havior would obtain bulk amounts of methamphetamine from Canela and Flores and then sell the drugs to local dealers.
On Oct. 28, 2021, Flores was stopped and arrested in Atlanta after a controlled delivery of 15 kilograms of methamphetamine. State search warrants were immediately sought and executed for a Rockbridge Road residence in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where Flores resided. When law enforcement entered the home, Canela was found inside wearing gloves, appearing as if he was cleaning out the house after learning of Flores’ arrest. Inside the home, agents found 67 pounds of methamphetamine (approximately 30.39 kilograms), one kilogram of heroin and a handgun.
The same day, authorities executed a search warrant on Canela’s Lilburn, Georgia, residence on Bailey Drive. Multiple pounds of marijuana were seized, and evidence of a methamphetamine laboratory was discovered in the basement. Agents found Canela’s cell phone used to communicate with Havior about drug transactions along with his passport and several plane tickets showing his recent trips to Texas.
On January 11, 2022, a 17-count federal indictment was issued in the Middle District of Georgia, charging the co-defendants with multiple offenses related to the Milledgeville drug trafficking ring investigation. An arrest warrant was issued for Canela, who remained a fugitive until the U.S. Marshals took him into custody on Aug. 5, 2025, in the Northern District of Georgia. Canela is being held account for supplying at least 17,069 grams of methamphetamine directly to the Havior drug trafficking organization, which was obtained in six controlled purchases conducted by law enforcement, as well as approximately 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2,020 grams of heroin, multiple pounds of marijuana and a Polymer80 firearm with an extended magazine (also known as a “ghost gun”) that was seized at the Stone Mountain residence in October 2021.
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.
This case was investigated by the DEA, the FBI, the GBI, the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Milledgeville Community Supervision Office, the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, the Atlanta-Carolina’s HIDTA Office and the Gwinnett Metro Task Force with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.
London Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A London man, Jimmy Barrett, 47, was sentenced on Wednesday to 220 months by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, on September 13, 2024, Barrett was driving back to London, Ky., after meeting with his source of supply in the Louisville, Ky., area, where he obtained approximately six pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement attempted to execute a traffic stop on Barrett’s vehicle, but he refused, leading police on a high-speed chase through Laurel County. Barrett ultimately wrecked his vehicle from the police chase, a search of which led to the location and seizure of the six pounds of methamphetamine. Barrett admitted to intending to distribute this methamphetamine to other mid- and lower-level methamphetamine traffickers in the London and Corbin areas.
Under federal law, Barrett must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Dotson is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lexington Man Convicted of Conspiracies to Commit Healthcare Fraud and Violate the Anti-Kickback Statute at Sober HomesRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.- A Lexington man, Dashawn Dawkins, 34, was convicted on Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Lexington for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and conspiracy to receive kickbacks. Dawkins was convicted of the charges following a 3-day trial.
Dawkins was a peer support specialist at Serenity Keeper’s, LLC (“Serenity Keepers”), a sober home company based in Fayette County, Ky., that purported to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services and housing for individuals enrolled in its program. The evidence at trial showed that Mr. Dawkins received $62,750 in illegal kickbacks for the ordering of urine drug testing at Serenity Keepers that cost Kentucky Medicaid and Medicare a combined $2,569,946. The evidence further showed that the urine drug testing was fraudulent in that it was not ordered by a treating medical provider, nor were the results reviewed by a treating medical provider. Instead, more than 9,000 urine drug tests were ordered under the stolen identification number and forged signature of a Nurse Practitioner who was briefly associated with Serenity Keepers.
The evidence also showed that Serenity Keepers billed for fraudulent peer support services that were not provided at all and were not supervised by licensed professionals, as required by Medicaid regulations. The company billed for 6 hours of peer support services a day for every patient in their care regardless of whether that was provided, including services purportedly provided by Dawkins. Medicaid paid Serenity Keepers $9,077,260 for behavior health claims that were not provided in accordance with Medicaid regulations, or were not provided at all.
Dawkins was the fifth defendant convicted as part of the investigation into Serenity Keepers’ scheme. Delores Jordan, the owner of Serenity Keepers, and Jerome Davis, her boyfriend, both pled guilty to their role in the kickback conspiracy. Lily Bell, who paid the kickbacks to Dawkins, Jordan, and Davis, and who facilitated the abuse of the Nurse Practitioner’s stolen identifiers, pled guilty to aggravated identity theft. Ernest Williams, who ran several of the sober homes for Serenity Keepers, pled guilty to a health care fraud conspiracy involving fraudulent urine drug testing and fraudulent peer support services.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky Attorney General, Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate K. Smith.
Dawkins will appear for sentencing on July 9. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and any restitution determined by the Court. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.
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LeFlore County Resident Pleads Guilty to Assault with the Intent to Commit Murder of Webbers Falls Police OfficerRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Billy Wayne Williams, age 47, of Wister, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to charges relating to the shooting of a Webbers Falls police officer in March of 2025.
On April 1, 2026, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by no less than 10 years consecutive to any other sentence imposed and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on or about March 16, 2025, Williams assaulted the victim with intent to commit murder.
The Indictment further alleged that on March 16, 2025, Williams assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon intending to do bodily harm; that Williams assaulted the victim resulting in serious bodily injury; and that, during that crime of violence, Williams knowingly discharged a firearm.
According to investigators, on March 16, 2025, Williams pulled his firearm and shot a Webbers Falls, Oklahoma police officer in the face during a routine traffic stop. Williams fled the scene and law enforcement issued a statewide Blue Alert for Williams, cautioning that Williams was armed and dangerous. The Webbers Falls officer was taken to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. In the early morning hours of March 17, Grants, New Mexico Police received a BOLO for Williams’ car. At 7:42 a.m., Grants officers picked up Williams’ plates on their traffic cameras and apprehended him a short time later in an area Walmart parking lot.
The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Webbers Falls Police Department, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Grants, New Mexico Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Williams will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Conway represented the United States.
Las Vegas Man Convicted at Federal Trial of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Quantiae Harris, age 49, of Las Vegas, Nevada, of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance – Fentanyl, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering following a 5-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Harris was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. The verdict was returned on March 27, 2026.
The two charges for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and up to life imprisonment, a $20 million dollar fine, and at least 10 years to life of supervised release. The charge for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, a $500,000 fine or twice the value of the monetary instruments involved (whichever is greater), and three years of supervised release.
In 2023 and 2024, Harris was the leader of a California and Nevada-based drug trafficking organization responsible for bringing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl to the Sioux Falls area. Harris and his underlings sent packages of drugs through the U.S. mail and used rental vehicles with hidden compartments to drive drugs from California to South Dakota. They began operating out of hotel rooms before switching to short-term rental properties, typically Airbnbs, in Sioux Falls, which they used as bases of operation to distribute the drugs to local sub-distributors.
The organization was careful not to conduct their sales at the places they were staying. When a customer needed to purchase more drugs, they would call or text one of the members and be directed to meet up at public location close to wherever the organization was staying at the time. The meetups were brief, often only lasting a matter of seconds. Customers were directed to pay either in cash or using an online funds transfer service, which was typically Cash App.
Testimony at trial established the drug trafficking organization sold over 100 pounds of methamphetamine and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills during the time it was operational. The criminal syndicate is also attributed to having been the first to introduce powder fentanyl—an even more potent and lethal form of the drug than the pill form—to the Sioux Falls market. Thanks in large part to Harris and his subordinates, powder fentanyl has since become the predominant illegal opioid in the local market.Harris or the drug dealers who worked for him would vacuum-seal bags of collected cash to be hidden in rental cars on return trips to Nevada and California, as well as deposit some of the illegal proceeds in local banks. Harris was specifically linked to over $1.2 million in money laundering transactions during the time his drug trafficking organization was operational in Sioux Falls.
“This was a major bust of significant figure in the lurid underworld of illegal drugs. I’m incredibly proud of the team of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and our federal prosecutors who made this case and secured the conviction of this Las Vegas drug dealer, responsible for so much misery and suffering in the Sioux Falls area,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.
“The Trump Administration has designated fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality in extremely small amounts,” U.S. Attorney Parsons continued. “In its pure powder form, it truly is a chemical weapon. If a member of your family used fentanyl in Sioux Falls over the past few years, this defendant is one of the primary drug dealers likely to have brought it here. The jury listened carefully to the evidence and returned a guilty verdict on every count. He is now out of business for good.”
Below are photographs of some of the fentanyl and methamphetamine seized during the investigation and admitted at trial.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, the Sioux Falls Police Department, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted and tried the case to a successful jury verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen assisted in the preparation of the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Minneapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, USMS, USPIS, SD DCI, SFPD, MCSO, and SDHP with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and sentencing is set for June 15, 2026. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Kansas City Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., Man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a Beretta, PX4 Storm, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Craig D. Monks, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 4 years in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On Oct. 2, 2024, Independence, Missouri Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on Monks’s vehicle due to expired tags. A patrol officer noticed a firearm lodged between the driver’s seat and center console and asked Monks if there was a firearm in the vehicle. Monks responded that there was a firearm “right here.” The officer asked Monks to exit the vehicle and then the officer secured the firearm for officer safety. The officer conducted a subsequent criminal background check and discovered that Monks had a prior felony conviction. Later, the officer learned Monks was a convicted felon. In a subsequent interview, Monks admitted to possessing the firearm and stated that he thought it was a “dumb” rule that felons could not possess firearms. It is against federal law for a convicted felon to knowingly possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo. Police Department and further assistance was provided by the Kearney, Mo. Police Department.
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.