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7 May 2026
McIntosh County Resident Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Lee Everett, a/k/a James Estes, age 36, of Checotah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that Everett was convicted of Rape in the Second Degree in Wagoner County on October 3, 2016, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from October 17. 2021, until February 26, 2026, Everett failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force.
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.
Everett will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
May Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the May Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Henry Curiel Arias. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Ammunition; Illegal Transfer of a Machinegun. Curiel Arias, 47, a Venezuelan national, is charged with possessing firearms and ammunition, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Further, he is charged with transferring a machinegun conversion device solely used to convert a semi-automatic firearm to fire automatically. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-160
Hector Contreras Perez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Contreras Perez, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in January 2004, February 2005, May 2008, and June 2016. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-171
Marco Cruz Ruiz. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cruz-Ruiz, 34, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. He is additionally charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in September 2012. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-169
Johnny Ray Leonard, Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (superseding). Leonard, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-130
Simon Martinez Gonzalez. Kidnapping of a Child; Witness Tampering by Physical Force (second superseding). Martinez Gonzalez, 44, a Mexican National, is charged with kidnapping a minor child in Dec. 2024. Additionally, he is charged with using physical force against a victim with the intent to hinder communication with law enforcement. The Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, Webb County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Richard and Ammon Brisolara are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-029
Jerald Michael Scott Newell. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Newell, 33, of Sand Springs, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Osage County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-161
Mylan Derayl Owens. Illegal Possession of a Machinegun. Owens, 20, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing a machinegun conversion device. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Dewhurst is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-162
Octavio Rendon Gonzalez. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rendon Gonzalez, 51, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. Additionally, he is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in July 2011. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-170
Jose Eduardo Rodriguez Aguirre. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien; Possession of a False Immigration Document. Rodriguez Aguirre, 34, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in May and July 2019. Additionally, he is charged with knowingly possessing a false Green Card. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-165
Jeremy Sertich. Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Sertich, 34, of Duluth, Minnesota, is charged with knowingly transporting a minor victim across state lines to engage in sexual activity. Additionally, Sertich is charged with coercing a minor child to engage in a sexually explicit activity. Homeland Security Investigations, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Duluth Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-163
David Michael Staley. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Staley, 58, of Willard, Missouri, is charged with attempting to coerce and entice an individual he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. Homeland Security Investigations and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-164
Devan Miquel Velasco Tampering with a Witness by Corrupt Persuasion. Velasco, 28, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly persuading a witness with the intent to hinder testimony in an official proceeding. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Stacey Todd are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-172
Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking in Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Maximo Pepin, aka Manny, 30, to 15 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release. Pepin pleaded guilty on July 22, 2025.
According to court records, in 2024 and 2025, Pepin oversaw what was known as the most prolific drug operation in southern Maine. He and associates brought kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine from Massachusetts to Maine, where Pepin directed downstream distribution to drug traffickers within Maine. Agents with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) developed evidence regarding Pepin’s operation, seized drugs supplied by Pepin, and ultimately intercepted Pepin’s phone and text communications in the spring of 2025. Through those interceptions, investigators learned that Pepin repeatedly threatened violence as part of his operation. He threatened to kill one associate who obtained drugs from him and discussed putting battery acid in the drugs of another individual for stealing money from him. When he was arrested in April 2025, he was found in possession of phones used to run his drug network and a handgun with an extended magazine. Pepin has prior convictions in Massachusetts for drug trafficking, armed robbery, and kidnapping.
The DEA investigated this case, with assistance from the FBI, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Maine State Police, the Portland Police Department, the South Portland Police Department, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maine Attorney General’s Office.
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. The Maine HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; DEA; Homeland Security Investigations; IRS-Criminal Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Border Patrol; Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.
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Maryland Man Sentenced for Orchestrating Counterfeit Money SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man received a prison term in federal court today, in connection with a counterfeit money scheme he orchestrated while on federal supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jason Christian Evans, 51, of Dundalk, to 32 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for the purchase of counterfeit obligations or securities. Evans purchased and possessed counterfeit federal reserve notes or United States currency that he then used at several stores.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Brian McDonough, U.S. Secret Service (USSS) – Baltimore Field Office; Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); Chief Tim Damon, York County Regional Police Department (YCRPD); Chief Todd King, Springettsbury Police Department (SPD); and Chief James Boddington, Southern Regional Police Department (SRPD).
According to court documents, on January 30, 2025, after serving a sentence for bank fraud, Evans broke the terms of his supervised release by traveling to Pennsylvania. While in Pennsylvania, Evans used counterfeit currency to make purchases at a minimum of five different Giant Food and Weis Market grocery stores.
Then on April 17, law enforcement arrested Evans, in connection with the scheme, while executing a federal search warrant on his Dundalk residence. During the search, investigators seized two cell phones; five computers, including an HP laptop; and counterfeit detecting pens.
Evans confessed to purchasing the counterfeit currency and using it in Pennsylvania. He also acknowledged he used his HP laptop to purchase the counterfeit currency on the dark web from the site “Abacus Market.”
A forensic analysis of the HP laptop revealed zip files that included information about how to age counterfeit currency. The laptop also contained a video demonstrating how to avoid counterfeit-pen detection.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USSS, BCPD, YCRPD, SPD, and SRPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reema Sood and John J. Truex Chung who prosecuted the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Participating in Armed Robbery That Led to Death of Innocent BystanderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that JADHIAN CORDERO was sentenced today to eight years in prison by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff for aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm in connection with an August 27, 2025, midday armed robbery in which a 69-year-old bystander was shot and killed.
“Jadhian Cordero chose to participate in the armed robbery of a drug dealer in the middle of the day on the street in East Harlem, which led to the death of Robin Wright, a 69-year-old, wholly innocent woman,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New York City families deserve to live free of senseless and destructive violence on our streets. Today’s sentence demonstrates that the women and men of this Office are dedicated to holding all participants in violent gun crimes accountable.”
As alleged in public court filings, statements in public court proceedings, and the charging documents in the case:
On August 27, 2025, shortly before 12:30 p.m., CORDERO and two co-conspirators (“CC-1” and “CC-2”) robbed a drug dealer (“Individual-1”) near East 109th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan. During the robbery, CORDERO and his co-conspirators got into a physical altercation with Individual-1 before grabbing backpacks from Individual-1—which contained marijuana—and fleeing north on Madison Avenue.
CC-1 pulled a black firearm—equipped with a machine-gun conversion device—out of his right sweatshirt pocket and discharged 15 shots in quick succession in the general direction of Individual-1. A 69-year-old woman, Robin Wright, was standing with a walker on the northwest corner of East 110th Street and Madison Avenue—in the direction that CC-1 shot the firearm—when she was struck by gunfire. The victim was transported to the hospital, where she died.
Multiple members of the victim’s family submitted letters to the Court describing the victim as a loving parent and grandmother who was simply enjoying her afternoon when she fell victim to this senseless crime.
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In addition to the prison term, CORDERO, 19, of New York, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department. He also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and the New York State Board of Parole.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra S. Messiter, Kathryn Wheelock, and Brandon D. Harper are in charge of the prosecution.
MS-13 Member Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for RacketeeringRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a previously-unsolved murder.
Adam Rodriguez, a/k/a “Pelon,” 35, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 15 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In July 2024, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. Rodriguez was charged in November 2023.
Rodriguez, along with co-defendants William Pineda Portillo, a/k/a “Humilde” and Jose Vazquez, a/k/a “Cholo” a/k/a “Little Crazy,” conspired with others to murder a 28-year-old man on Dec. 18, 2010 in Chelsea, Mass. That evening, law enforcement responded to a 911 call in the vicinity of the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1 in Chelsea. There, law enforcement found the victim with approximately 10 stab wounds to his chest and back, along with injuries to his head. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. A recent re-examination of evidence collected during the initial investigation identified members of MS-13, including Vasquez, as having committed the murder.
In the week leading up to the incident, Rodriguez, Vasquez and other MS-13 members conspired to murder the victim because they believed the victim belonged to a rival gang. Evidence revealed that on the day of the murder, Pineda Portillo picked up Rodriguez, Vasquez, other MS-13 members, and the victim in Allston and drove the group to Chelsea. Once there, Rodriguez, Vasquez and the other gang members led the victim to an area under the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1. Once in the secluded area under the highway, an MS-13 member hit the victim in the head with a rock, another MS-13 member stabbed the victim with a machete and Vasquez stabbed the victim with a knife. Vasquez’s palm print was identified on the handle of a silver kitchen knife recovered from the murder scene. The victim’s blood also was found on the knife.
An undercover recording of an MS-13 meeting that took place on Jan. 27, 2011 – approximately six weeks after the murder – captured Rodriguez acknowledging his participation in the murder and other gang members disciplining him for leaving Massachusetts after the murder without the gang’s permission. Vasquez was also identified as being present for the meeting.
In July 2025, Vasquez was sentenced to 25 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Vasquez was already serving a 212-month prison sentence for a May 2018 federal conviction for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. Vasquez will serve a total of 37 years for his crimes. Also in July 2025, Pineda Portillo, an illegal alien from El Salvador, was sentenced to 16 years in prison and will be subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence.
MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization with tens of thousands of members located in the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere. MS-13 branches, or “cliques,” operate throughout the United States, including in Massachusetts. In furtherance of its mission, MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, specifically against rival gang members; kill informants; and support and defend fellow MS-13 members in attacks. MS-13 members maintain and enhance their status in the gang and the overall reputation of the gang by participating in such violent acts.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Chief Shumeane Benford of the Somerville Police Department; and Chief Keith Houghton of the Chelsea Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division; United States Customs and Border Protection; United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Pohl, Meghan C. Cleary and Brian A. Fogerty of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Louisiana Man Detained on Turtle Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
A federal magistrate judge in Phoenix yesterday ordered Albert Bazaar held in custody following his arrest on charges relating to trafficking turtles. The court unsealed an indictment from San Francisco charging Bazaar, formerly of Angie, Louisiana, on conspiracy and Lacey Act violations. A status conference will be held on May 14 in Phoenix.
The indictment alleges that between January 2022 and December 2023, Bazaar poached and sold over 1,700 loggerhead musk turtles, 100 stripe-neck musk turtles, and 15 striped mud turtles from their native habitats in Florida. Florida law protects fresh and marine turtle species from unregulated harvest. The indictment charges Bazaar with aiding and abetting a co-conspirator who exported the turtles from San Francisco to Taiwan, falsely claiming they were captive-bred to obtain export permits. The turtles are estimated to be worth more than $550,000 in the Asian pet trade.
The indictment describes eight transactions where Bazaar sold illegally collected turtles to the San Francisco exporter. The exporter financed Bazaar’s poaching trips from Louisiana to Florida, including sending money so Bazaar could buy a boat and van. Bazaar is charged with creating a declaration of captive bred wildlife that falsely stated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) that the turtles were lawfully bred in Alabama and Georgia.
The federal Lacey Act criminalizes selling or transporting wildlife in interstate commerce that was taken in violation of state law. It is also a Lacey Act violation to provide false information relating to wildlife involved in international or interstate commerce. Loggerhead musk turtles, stripe-neck musk turtles, and striped mud turtles are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The United States and 184 other governments are signatories to the CITES treaty, which restricts international wildlife sales without a permit to support sustainable trade.
If convicted, Bazaar faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $250,000 fine on each of the conspiracy and Lacey Act charges. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California, and Assistant Director Doug Ault, USFWS Office of Law Enforcement, announced the arrest and charges.
Bazaar was investigated and charged as part of the USFWS Operation Southern Hot Herps, which was a joint federal and state law enforcement operation to detect and deter turtle poachers in the southeastern United States. Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources worked closely with USFWS in the investigation.
Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Chambers for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lafayette Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal Prison for Crimes Against ChildrenRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE– On April 30, 2026, Moses Hernandez, a 34-year-old former Lafayette resident, was sentenced to 228 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to receipt of child pornography. In addition to his prison sentence, Hernandez will serve 25 years of supervised release following his release from federal prison.
Evidence presented in court showed that in July 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) received a tip that Hernandez had confessed to an acquaintance that he had molested a young girl and produced material of the molestation. Using the information, the FBI found Hernandez, who then resided in Lafayette, and opened an investigation. During investigation, the FBI obtained a warrant to search Hernandez’s cell phone. The search of his cell phone revealed images and videos that included child rape, bestiality, and other forms of graphic child pornography.
The FBI investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 25-cr-00257.
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Knoxville Man Sentenced to over Five Years for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On May 7, 2026, Timir X. Thomas, 20, currently of Knoxville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 70 months in prison by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. After his imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for five years.
Thomas previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(D), and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. 924(C).
According to court filed documents, in March 2025, law enforcement from multiple state and federal agencies began a joint investigation into Thomas and his co-conspirators for drug trafficking and the possession of firearms. The investigation revealed that Thomas and other members of the drug trafficking organization were utilizing social media platforms, such as Instagram, to sell marijuana and firearms. On Instagram, Thomas posted photographs and videos of himself and others possessing thousands of dollars of drug proceeds, firearms, and large quantities of marijuana. The investigation further revealed that, since October 2024, Thomas obtained large quantities marijuana from California and distributed those drugs in Knoxville.
On April 20, 2025, investigators conducted a traffic stop and arrested Thomas. Thomas was in possession of distribution quantities of marijuana, a Glock 19x, 9mm pistol, a Glock 23, 40 caliber pistols, and a Micro-Draco, AK-47 style, 7.62x39mm pistol. Following the arrest, KPD obtained search warrants for Thomas’s cell phones and found photographs, videos, and text messages showing that Thomas had distributed large quantities of marijuana and possessed numerous firearms while trafficking marijuana.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge, Jamey VanVliet, of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Knoxville Police Department Community Engagement Response Team (CERT), Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and ATF.
This investigation was led by ATF Special Agent James Makemson.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael T. Gilmore represented the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations 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.
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Katy man sent to prison for leading multimillion-dollar Ponzi schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 40-year-old suburban Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a scheme to defraud dozens of victims of over $17 million, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Christopher Knight Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud Feb. 19.
After today’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison ordered Lopez to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard statements from 13 victims, each of whom described the impact Lopez’s crime had on their lives. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ellison noted he had never seen a white-collar crime more offensive during his time on the bench.
From May 2015 to January 2025, Lopez and his brother, Jayson Lopez, ran an investment business and conspired with others to defraud their clients by providing false information about the companies in which the clients invested. They used forged bank letters and fabricated account statements to mislead investors about the companies’ financial strength.
The bothers operated under several LLCs, to include Knight Nguyen Investments, Knight Advisory and Planning, Aevum Holdings Inc., Exempt Management LLC and Ping An Financial Services Pte.
The Lopez brothers misappropriated client funds for personal use and used additional investor money to pay purported returns to other victims to falsely portray the investments were profitable.
Christopher and Jayson Lopez also admitted they falsely claimed access to $2 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds. They told their clients they could use these funds to finance their clients’ businesses if the clients paid large advance fees. The brothers collected the fees from their clients but never issued the loans.
The scheme resulted in an approximately $17 million in losses to more than 40 victims, including senior citizens and others seeking to invest retirement savings and college funds, as well as local and international businesses.
Jayson Lopez, 43, Orlando, Florida, previously pleaded guilty to the same charge and will be sentenced May 8.
Nadir Abdel Torres 46, Mandan, North Dakota, was also charged and previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting he assisted the brothers by helping them obtain the forged letters and bank statements. He will be sentenced May 22.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin R. Martin prosecuted the case.
Kansas City Woman Pleads Guilty to Possessing Unregistered Destructive DevicesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman waived indictment and pleaded guilty in federal court today for knowingly possessing unregistered destructive devices.
Dara S. O’Connor, 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to one count of knowingly possessing two destructive devices that were not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
According to court documents, on Feb. 12, 2026, O’Connor attempted to destroy by fire a warehouse located on Botts Road in Kansas City, Mo. Prior media reporting had indicated that the federal government attempted to purchase the warehouse. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) wanted to utilize the real estate to house illegal aliens during the adjudication of their removal proceedings. That real estate transaction, however, did not occur. News agencies were at the scene of the warehouse reporting on the fact that the real estate transaction did not go through when they observed and video recorded O’Connor approach the building. O’Connor threw two incendiary devices, colloquially known as Molotov cocktails, at the building. The incendiary devices had cloth wicks that were not lit when O’Connor threw the incendiary devices. After multiple attempts at throwing the incendiary devices at the building, both bottles shattered, and the flammable liquid contained in the devices spread over the surface of the building. O’Connor then used fire to ignite the flammable liquid that was on the building, which started a fire. O’Connor then attempted to spread the fire by squeezing a bottle that contained an accelerant which caused the accelerant to spray out of the bottle and spread the fire.
After initiating the fire, O’Connor then sat on a nearby curb and was observed using her cellular phone. The fire started by O’Connor went out after a few minutes. O’Connor then left the area in her vehicle.
Below are screenshots of O’Connor attempting to set fire to the warehouse.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, O’Connor paid full restitution in the amount of $43,612 to the victim of her crime.
Under federal statutes, O’Connor is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trey Alford and David Wagner and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Chlarson. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kansas City, 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.
Justice Department Requires Agri Stats to End Exchange of Competitively Sensitive Information Among Nation’s Largest Meat Processors that Suppressed Competition and Increased Prices for DecadesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division filed a proposed settlement today to resolve the United States’ claims against Agri Stats Inc. (Agri Stats) for unlawful information sharing of price, output, and costs among competing meat processors. Filed in the District of Minnesota, the proposed settlement will help lower food prices, undo decades of distorted competition in the broiler chicken market, and ensure that the pork and turkey markets remain free from these anticompetitive practices that harmed American consumers across the country.
“A stable and affordable food supply is critical to our country’s well-being,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This Department of Justice is laser-focused on making everyday life affordable for all Americans.”
“A fair market depends on real competition, not privileged access to competitors’ playbooks,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “When dominant firms share sensitive data in ways that exclude buyers and the public, they gain an artificial advantage that weakens market discipline and drives up prices for everyday Americans. This settlement proves the Department’s commitment to promoting transparency in the marketplace, enforcing the law, and delivering real relief for American consumers at the grocery store.”
“The American people should not have to tolerate business models that only increase their cost of living. The Antitrust Division’s mission is to use the antitrust laws to protect American consumers from inflated prices,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This settlement delivers immediate relief in the meat section of grocery stores across our nation. I am grateful for my talented staff’s dedicated efforts in securing instant justice and to the Attorneys General from California, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah for partnering with us on this matter.”
Agri Stats is a data-sharing and consulting company that currently operates in the broiler chicken market and has historically operated in the pork and turkey markets. Agri Stats collects information on prices, output, and costs directly from meat processors’ accounting systems, standardizes that data, and redistributes it back to the processors in granular detail through digital and written reports and in-person meetings. Agri Stats and meat processors have historically refused to make this information available to meat buyers like restaurants, grocery stores, and food distributors. “When companies decide certain information is too sensitive to share with the broader market, but not too sensitive to share with their closest competitors, that is a significant red flag that competition is being harmed,” said Mr. Assefi.
As alleged in the complaint, this one-sided information exchange reduced competition and enabled systematic price increases and coordinated decisions about how much meat to produce.
The proposed settlement brings an end to important anticompetitive features of Agri Stats’ information exchange. If approved by the court, the proposed settlement will require Agri Stats to:
- Stop providing any sales reports or non-public pricing information, which chicken, pork, and turkey processors have systematically used to identify opportunities to increase prices;
- Stop reporting production, cost, and labor data at either the company or facility level, which enabled competing processors to adjust output, pricing, or both based on near-total visibility into their rivals’ operations;
- Make the vast majority of information that Agri Stats distributes available to all interested domestic purchasers on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, eliminating the asymmetry of its prior information sharing and increasing market transparency;
- Adhere to restrictions on the timeliness of the information that Agri Stats shares;
- Report to a court-approved monitor selected by the Department of Justice who will be responsible for reporting on and ensuring compliance with the proposed settlement; and
- Establish an antitrust compliance program to ensure data security, whistleblower protections, and mandatory reporting of any future potential violations of the antitrust laws.
Agri Stats’ subsidiary Express Markets Inc. (EMI) will be permitted to continue to provide its price reports in substantially the same manner as it has in the past. Because EMI’s price reports are less detailed and provided to all interested parties, not only meat processors, they were not the focus of the case.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any interested person should submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Kate Riggs, Acting Chief, Anti-Monopoly and Collusion Enforcement Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8000, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
Anyone with information about anticompetitive conduct in agricultural industries or any other violations of the antitrust laws is encouraged to contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or [email protected]. Information about anticompetitive practices in livestock and poultry markets can also be submitted to the USDA’s and Justice Department’s Agricultural Markets Enforcement Partnership at www.farmerfairness.gov.
Agri Stats is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Note: Read the Proposed Final Judgement here, and the Stipulation and Order here.
Jury finds Westerville man guilty of impersonating federal agent, making unlawful arrestRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted a Westerville man of impersonating a federal law enforcement agent and making an arrest as an impersonator.
Brendan Conklin, 45, pretended to be a federal officer and unlawfully detained, searched and arrested a victim.
The verdict was announced yesterday following a trial that began on May 4 before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley.
According to court documents and trial testimony, in December 2023, Conklin, driving a former police SUV with police lights, unlawfully pulled over the victim. Conklin pointed a firearm at the victim, who had just departed her Westerville home with her minor child in the car.
Conklin told the victim that he was a federal officer and wore a vest with various badges and insignias suggesting he was law enforcement. Conklin also had an illegal license plate registered to the Columbus police headquarters.
Conklin searched and detained the victim. After handcuffing the victim and placing her in his vehicle, Conklin mistakenly locked himself out with the victim in the car and had to have Blendon Township officers let her out.
Conklin then called the Columbus division of police’s non-emergency line and inquired about a warrant with them. After that conversation, Conklin told the victim it was her “lucky day” and he would have to release her. He then released the victim.
Conklin had previously registered the Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Program (O.F.A.P.) as a nonprofit organization that provided the Columbus police headquarters as its address.
Conklin’s internet searches in winter and spring of 2023 included “howbto determine if a us marshal is legit,” “us marshals fugitive task force badge” and “fake federal license plate.”
He was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2026.
Impersonating a federal officer and conducting a search or arrest while impersonating are each federal crimes punishable by up to three years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Westerville Police Chief Holly Murchland and Blendon Township Police Chief John Belford announced the verdict. Assistant United States Attorneys Damoun Delaviz and Kevin W. Kelley are representing the United States in this case.
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Jennings Felon Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Shooting at Ex-GirlfriendRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Divine on Wednesday sentenced a convicted felon who shot at his ex-girlfriend and triggered a police standoff to 13 years in prison.
Judge Divine also ordered Jairell Allmon to pay a $2,000 fine.
On Feb. 18, 2025, Allmon fired a shot at his ex-girlfriend after spending the night in her car, which was parked outside her house in Jennings. The victim told police that Allmon made threats against her and her children throughout the night, and in the morning threatened to shoot her if she tried to get in her car. He fired a shot at her but missed. When St. Louis County Police Department officers arrived, Allmon refused to reply or comply when officers ordered him out of the vehicle, triggering a three-hour standoff. After it ended, police found a 9mm handgun in the trunk of the car, which was accessible from the inside of the vehicle. Allmon is a convicted felon and is thus barred from possessing a firearm.
This is Allmon’s fourth conviction involving a firearm and third involving the possessing and brandishing of a gun, Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christian Goeke wrote in a sentencing memo, adding that the crime was one of a long string of domestic crimes.
Allmon, 40, of Jennings, Missouri, pleaded guilty in January to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The St. Louis County Police Department, including the Tactical Unit, the Crisis Intervention Team, Crisis Negotiation Team and Special Response Team, handled the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christian Goeke 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Jenks Man Sentenced After Breaking Girlfriend’s Leg in Three PlacesRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Jenks man was sentenced after being found guilty by a federal jury for breaking his girlfriend’s shin and ankle during an argument, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Jamon Charles Phetsacksith, 27, to 33 months imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release.
In January, a federal jury convicted Phetsacksith of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. In November 2024, Phetsacksith was drinking and hanging out with his girlfriend. Phetsacksith had a key to his work and drove his girlfriend to pick up his paycheck after hours. After arriving, the two began arguing.
The victim testified at trial and explained to the jury that she attempted to de-escalate the situation by leaving. Video surveillance shows Phetsacksith chasing after the victim and keeping her from leaving. He is then seen pushing the victim.
The jury heard the defendant's 911 call, where he claimed that she had fallen down a flight of stairs and was in need of medical attention. When the victim was separated from Phetsacksith, she told EMSA personnel that he assaulted her. Tulsa Police officers responded to the scene and spoke with EMSA, the victim, and Phetsacksith. The body camera played for the jury showed Phetsacksith explaining that they were drunk, had a fight, and “it got out of hand.” He later told officers that he threw her around.
When the trauma surgeon testified, he explained that the victim broke her leg in three places. Her left ankle was fractured, and her tibia and fibula bones were broken in half, requiring surgical rods and screws to be implanted.
Phetsacksith is a member of the Osage Nation, and he will continue to remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Richard and Stacey Todd prosecuted the case.
If you think that you or a loved one may be in an abusive relationship, Domestic Violence Intervention Services offers services for all survivors. You can call the 24-hour information and crisis line at (918) 743-5763 or (918) 7-HELP-ME for more information. You can also get more information by texting our 8 PM to 1 AM Text Line: Text SAFE to 207-777
Jacksonville Drug Trafficker Sentenced to over Eleven Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – James Herbert Asberry, III (39, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl and methamphetamine. As part of his sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of $18,938, the proceeds of Asberry’s drug trafficking, which were seized at the time of his arrest. Asberry pleaded guilty on July 17, 2024. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, during a series of meetings in late 2023 and early 2024, Asberry sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) undercover task force officer and confidential source. On February 23, 2024, the DEA arrested Asberry and law enforcement executed search warrants both at his home in St. Johns County and at a Jacksonville apartment where Asberry stored drugs. Investigators located $18,938 in cash, as well as cocaine, fentanyl, and nearly two kilograms of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole M. Andrejko.
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 Neighborhoods (PSN).
Italian National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Luigi Esposito, age 60, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Esposito was encountered in the United States in Franklin County on or about April 21, 2026, after having previously been removed in 2019, and that he did not receive permission to reenter the United States, as required by law.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Scalera 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.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Illegal reentry into U.S. lands three-time DUI offender in federal prisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 32-year-old illegal alien from Mexico with a felony criminal history has been sentenced for illegally reentering the country without authorization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Jose Alejandro Luna-Rangel pleaded guilty Feb. 25.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal ordered Luna-Rangel to serve 40 months in federal prison, and he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court cited the need to deter further criminal conduct and considered Luna-Rangel’s pattern of dangerous behavior and repeated disregard of the law.
Authorities previously removed Luna-Rangel from the United States in July 2016 following his conviction for driving under the influence with a child in the vehicle.
He later illegally returned to the United States. Law Enforcement discovered Luna-Rangel again Nov. 5, 2022, in Harris County following convictions for assault-family violence and felony driving while intoxicated (third offense).
Luna-Rangel has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration Customs Enforcement – Enforcement Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Law 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.
Illegal alien sentenced for kidnapping-for-hire plot to collect drug debtRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Mexican national was sentenced to 120 months in prison for orchestrating a kidnapping-for-hire plot to collect on a drug debt.
According to court documents, Carlos Niebla-Machado, 51, who was illegally residing in Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted kidnapping.
In February 2024, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) learned from confidential sources that Niebla-Machado was allegedly selling large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California in the Kansas City metro area. Niebla-Machado told the KBI sources he wanted to have a person kidnapped who owed him a $300,000 drug debt.
In June 2024, an undercover KBI agent met with Niebla-Machado. Niebla-Machado provided the agent with the victim’s full name, age, home address, photographs, and background information. Niebla-Machado said he wanted the victim’s fingers cut off and a torch used on the victim’s face to coerce the victim to sign over property. Niebla-Machado gave the agent a firearm and a 2004 Dodge Ram truck as a down payment for the kidnapping. The agent asked Niebla-Machado if he wanted to be involved in torturing the victim. The defendant said he was too old for that, but he wanted to visit the rural Kansas location where the victim would be held. There, the defendant planned to question the victim about the locations of houses he wanted the victim to sign over.
Investigators contacted the victim and disclosed the kidnapping-for-hire plot. The victim agreed to cooperate and talked about having given Niebla-Machado home furniture, electronics, $20,000 in cash, a Dodge pickup truck, and a tow truck towards an approximate $100,000 debt. The victim said the defendant kept adding interest to the debt.
On July 1, 2024, the undercover agent informed Niebla-Machado that the victim had been kidnapped and was being held captive. The agent picked up Niebla-Machado in Missouri and drove him to a location in rural Kansas. Once they arrived at the location, KBI agents arrested the defendant.
“Unfortunately, there are people in our country who view violence as a way of life and have no problem inflicting torture,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “After listening to the gruesome details of the torment Niebla-Machado planned for the kidnapping victim, it’s apparent that had he been speaking with a willing violent criminal rather than an undercover agent, this case would have likely ended in tragedy.”
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trent Krug and Christopher Oakley prosecuted the case.
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Illegal alien sent to prison for role in cocaine trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 52-year-old illegal alien from Mexico living in Laredo has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than $1 million in cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Luis Manuel Castillo Garcia pleaded guilty Nov. 3, 2025, to conspiring with others to organize and transport cocaine from Laredo to other locations across the United States and to being found illegally residing in the United States following his removal.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana ordered Garcia to serve 135 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess cocaine and 120 months for illegally reentering the country after removal. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected again to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding Garcia’s criminal history, including prior convictions for drug possession and illegal reentry following removal. The court also heard evidence Garcia coordinated cocaine shipments from Mexico and participated in transporting large quantities of cocaine over an extended period.
In March 2025, Garcia recruited tractor-trailer drivers, including Luis Alonzo Pena Jr., to haul several loads of cocaine stored at a local yard.
Garcia arranged for two trailers containing hidden compartments of cocaine to be transported from Laredo. He paid $9,000 per trailer. Authorities seized the vehicles March 4 and 5, 2025, and discovered a total of 50 kilograms of cocaine.
Approximately two months later, law enforcement observed Garcia meet Pena at a location in Laredo. Pena arrived in a red Chevrolet Silverado and accepted a duffle bag of cocaine for transport.
A subsequent traffic stop led to the discovery of the bag, which contained 15 bundles of cocaine weighing approximately 18.5 kilograms.
The more than 65 kilograms of cocaine had an estimated street value of over $1 million.
Pena, 31, Laredo, was previously sentenced to 56 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
Both men will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Laredo Police Department, Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Lou Castillo prosecuted the case.
Illegal Alien from Mexico Pleads Guilty for his Role in an International Conspiracy to Smuggle Aliens from Canada into the U.S.Read the Press Release
An illegal alien from Mexico pleaded guilty today for his role in an international human smuggling conspiracy that illegally brought aliens from Mexico and Central and South America across the northern border with Canada into the United States for profit.
According to court documents, Edgar Sanchez-Solis, 24, was a leader in an alien smuggling organization (ASO) while he was living illegally in Kansas City, Missouri. The ASO smuggled hundreds of aliens into the United States. Once the aliens were inside the U.S., the ASO employed drivers to pick them up and drive them further into the country. The defendant personally participated in and coordinated smuggling events with other leaders of the ASO. During one smuggling event in May 2023, a van carrying aliens became involved in a high-speed chase with U.S. Border Patrol. Border Patrol had to stop their pursuit due to the risk to the public. Ultimately the local sheriff’s department used a tire deflation device to stop the vehicle after it failed to yield.
Sanchez-Solis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and five counts of alien smuggling for commercial advantage and private financial gain. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10. He faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York, and Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo Field Office made today’s announcement.
HSI Rouses Point and U.S. Border Patrol (BP) Burke Station investigated the case, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.
Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carling Dunham for the Northern District of New York is prosecuting the case.
The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; and more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
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 other transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to over Two Years in Prison for Selling Firearms Without a LicenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salvadoran national unlawfully residing in Chelsea was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for making multiple illegal firearms sales.
Melbi Ovidio Ortez, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to 27 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence.
In February 2026, Ortez pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. In June 2025, Ortez was arrested and charged.
Ortez was identified as an 18th Street Gang associate who supplied firearms and controlled substances to gang members. On four different occasions between April 3, 2025 and May 2, 2025, Ortez sold firearms and ammunition behind his Chelsea residence. Ortez sold a Glock 9mm caliber pistol; a Sturm and Ruger .22 caliber revolver; a Glock .40 caliber pistol; a Colt .380 caliber pistol; magazines; and over 100 rounds of ammunition. In addition, the serial numbers on both the Glock 9mm pistol and the Colt .380 pistol had been defaced. TheGlock 9mm pistol had been purchased only 20 days earlier from a licensed firearms dealer in New Hampshire. Ortez also sold cocaine two times during that same period.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Falmouth, Lynn, Medford, Nantucket and Revere Police Departments; Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Fraud Detection and National Security Unit; Massachusetts Department of Correction; and the Suffolk County and Middlesex County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecutedthe case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Luis Virgilio Hilario, a/k/a Virgilio Luis Hilario, a/k/a Virgilio Hilario, a/k/a Agustin Santiagocordovas, a/k/a Liuis Virgiliohilario, a/k/a Luis Hilario Virgilio, a/k/a Luis Hilario-Virgilio, a/k/a Luis Virgilio-Hilario, age 35, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Atoka County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Stringtown Police Department.
The Indictment alleged that on March 27, 2026, Hilario, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on November 2, 2018, and July 20, 2018, and after previously being convicted of a felony.
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 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.
Hilario will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie Pippin and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Homeland Security Task Force Indicts Eighteen Defendants in Wide-Ranging Drug Trafficking Organization Operating Out of S2 Real Estate Owned PropertiesRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 5, 2026, a grand jury returned an indictment charging eighteen defendants with offenses related to drug-trafficking organizations that operated out of apartments owned and operated by Samuel P. Stair through his S2 Real Estate business.
Included among the defendants is Samuel P. Stair, who is described as the owner and registered agent of forty-three LLCs that are alleged to have facilitated the drug-trafficking offenses described in the indictment. According to a criminal complaint issued prior to the indictment, Stair rented properties he owned to drug traffickers for the purpose of storing and distributing controlled substances, including cocaine and fentanyl.
The indictment charges Stair with six counts, including charges of maintaining a drug house, conspiracy to maintain a drug house, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846, and 856. The indictment also charges Stair, along with employees of his business and drug-trafficking co-conspirators, with a money laundering conspiracy based on his use of business accounts to conceal drug proceeds. The indictment alleges that Stair used the air of legitimacy created by his business to conceal the nature of his criminal conduct and to facilitate drug trafficking and money laundering. It seeks forfeiture of Stair’s ownership interest in forty-three property-holding LLCs, six specific real properties, and over $700,000 seized from Stair’s home and bank accounts.Charged with Stair are seventeen defendants who are alleged to have participated in drug trafficking conspiracies involving the distribution primarily of cocaine and fentanyl and maintaining a drug house. Several defendants are also charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The defendants charged in the indictment, all of whom are from Milwaukee, are the following: Jeanette Lopez, Russell V. McDade, Sr., Walter J. Ringersma, Laura F. Knezic, Javarius J. Williams, Stacey L. Berry, Alberto L. Boffil, Jr., Cristal F. Nokes, Wesley R. Bynum, Victoria T. Allen, Kerry Howell, Sr., Jermaine Erving, Otis Lockett, Martin L. Sinclair, Ser Jimmy L. Shepherd, Larry A. Shepherd, Shareerah J. McCay, and Samuel P. Stair.
On April 22, 2026, federal, state, and local law enforcement executed coordinated search warrants at fourteen locations in Chicago and Milwaukee. In prior months, local law enforcement conducted related searches of other Stair-owned properties. These searches resulted in the seizure of kilogram quantities of fentanyl as well as cocaine, cocaine base, and methamphetamine. Law enforcement also seized over 22 firearms, over $270,000 in cash, over $500,000 in securities, and three vehicles.
Sixteen defendants are charged in a conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl and 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine. If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and up to life in prison. Some defendants are also charged in separate counts related to the distribution of controlled substances that carry a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to 40 years in prison.
Six defendants are charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. They face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence. Two defendants are charged with possession of a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking, which carries a mandatory minimum of thirty years in prison.This indictment is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. This investigation was conducted by agents and officers from HSTF agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security- Homeland Security Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation as well as other agencies, such as the West Allis Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation. The prosecution is being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Hastings Man Charged with Stealing More than $100,000 in Federal Taxpayer FundsRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced that on May 5, 2026, a grand jury charged Michael Lee Brooks, 47, of Hastings, Michigan, with two counts of theft of federal taxpayer funds in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641.
Count 1 of the indictment alleges that Brooks, who was the representative payee for his father’s Social Security retirement benefits, failed to notify the Social Security Administration that his father died in September 2019, and thereafter continued to collect his father’s Social Security benefits for seven years, through August 2025. The indictment alleges that Brooks submitted false annual representative payee accounting statements to the Social Security Administration as part of the theft, which totaled $99,055.00.
Count 2 of the indictment alleges that Brooks stole $4,218.00 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by making false statements and material omissions of fact.
If convicted, Brooks faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count.
The case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Glen Park Woman Pleads Guilty to Accessing with Intent to View Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Paige Kincheloe, age 27, of Glen Park, New York pled guilty on May 5, 2026, to accessing with intent to view child pornography. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
As part of her guilty plea, Kincheloe admitted that, in May through August 2024, she engaged in social media chats on Telegram with a man in Colorado who sent her several child pornography files, including some depicting very young children engaged in sex acts with adults, and that she viewed those files. She admitted further that she sent messages back indicating how much she liked the material and asking for him to send her more child pornography.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone said: “This defendant’s admitted conduct is deeply disturbing. She not only viewed child pornography, but she encouraged someone else to send it to her, normalizing the sexual abuse of children and apparently being gratified by it. The defendant should have gotten help for her depraved instincts, but instead she committed crimes and victimized children. Now, she will the pay the price.”
FBI SAC Tremaroli said: “Ms. Kincheloe’s actions are deeply depraved and incredibly damaging to the victims, especially considering she requested more videos be sent. This plea ensures she will spend time in federal prison for that victimization. FBI Albany’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force remains steadfast in our mission of aggressively investigating these sick predators and bringing them to justice for terrorizing our most vulnerable.”
At sentencing on September 1, 2026, before United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi, the defendant faces a maximum imprisonment term of 20 years, a post-release term of supervision of at least 5 years and up to life, a $250,000 fine, various special assessments, restitution to victims, and will be required to register as a sex offender upon her release from prison.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based upon the statute the defendant violated, the United States Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
FBI investigated the case with the assistance of the New York State Police and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Adrian LaRochelle are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Geneva man charged with production and possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Rafael Arroyo-Ubiles, 27, of Geneva, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, a lifetime period of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
According to the complaint, in January 2026, Arroyo-Ubiles came to the attention of the Geneva, NY, Police Department during an investigation into illegal narcotics sales in the City of Geneva. Geneva Police executed multiple search warrants related to illegal narcotics sales. During the execution of one of the search warrants, investigators discovered an online account belonging to Arroyo-Ubiles. While searching for evidence of narcotics activity in the account, investigators observed videos depicting Arroyo sexually abusing a five-year-old girl.
The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Colleen D. Holland and was detained.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi. The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Geneva, NY Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ronald Eveland, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
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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Gainesville Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug Distribution and Illegal Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Khalil Keari Barnett, 30, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to seven years in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, another violent, drug-peddling criminal has been removed from our streets. Operation Take Back America was launched to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward eliminating the threats to our communities posed by violent criminals like this defendant, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those offenders until our streets are safe and drug-free.”
Court documents reflect that Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic violence call for service. When law enforcement arrived on scene, the defendant left out the back door of the residence and attempted to enter a rideshare vehicle before fleeing on foot. As the defendant was fleeing, he threw a bag from his person, which included 600 grams of marijuana and a black mask. A firearm and box of ammunition were also recovered near the defendant. The defendant is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as he has a prior conviction for possession of a weapon by a delinquent.
Alachua County Sheriff Scott said: “The arrest and subsequent federal conviction of Mr. Barnett is, once again, strong evidence to our community that we will not allow violent criminals who inflict physical harm, unlawfully possess weapons, and traffic narcotics to roam our streets in search of their next victim. As your Sheriff, I stood before this community and made a commitment to keep you safe while you enjoy all that Alachua County has to offer. It is through partnerships like our relationship with the US Attorney’s Office, along with our federal law enforcement partners, that we are able to uphold that promise.”
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt 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.
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.
Fraud Promoter Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Fraud Charges Involving Manipulation of Stolen ChecksRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Shamarri Tache Brooks has pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges in connection with a scheme arising from the widespread theft of checks from the mail.
“Brooks used his music and social media accounts to promote fraud as a lifestyle rather than a scourge,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Those who treat fraud like a game gamble with their freedom because my office will vigorously prosecute the perpetrators of financial crimes that undermine our postal and financial systems, erode trust, and disrupt the lives of everyday people.”
“For those who think they can take the easy road to financial gains by stealing money people have worked hard for, the FBI will hold you accountable for the pain and losses you cause,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham.
“The FDIC Office of Inspector General is pleased to join our law enforcement partners in this impactful prosecution,” said Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles, of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), Atlanta Region. “This investigation reflects the FDIC OIG’s unwavering commitment to investigate all allegations of fraud that threaten to undermine the integrity of our Nation’s financial system.”
“The brazenness of the defendant is almost unfathomable,” said Robert Donovan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “He openly recruited participants in his criminal enterprise on social media while teaching others how to victimize members of the public by selling financial fraud tutorials. We are grateful to our federal partners for their teamwork in the investigation and the successful prosecution of this defendant.”
“Today’s guilty plea serves as a clear reminder that individuals who believe they can conceal their fraud schemes behind encrypted messaging services are mistaken,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “Our special agents, in collaboration with our federal and local law enforcement partners, remain unwavering in their commitment to protect the sanctity of the U.S. Mail and maintain the public’s trust.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the indictment, and other information presented in court: From at least January 2022 through November 2025, Brooks committed bank fraud by negotiating checks stolen from the mail. As part of the scheme, Brooks used social media to recruit individuals with existing bank accounts to use as depository accounts for stolen checks. Brooks altered the stolen checks to list the cooperating accountholders as the intended recipients or payees of the checks. Brooks deposited altered checks at ATMs throughout the Atlanta area, often wearing balaclava-style masks with a logo stating “No Free Sauce.”
Brooks also promoted and sold tutorials for committing various forms of financial fraud, including check fraud. He sold a collection of these tutorials under the name “Sauce Book” or “SB.” Brooks also sold images of stolen checks, referred to as “slips,” as a part of his fraud business.
When law enforcement arrested Brooks earlier this year, they recovered over 600 stolen checks from his residence.
Shamarri Tache Brooks, a/k/a Juney Knotzz, 33, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty today to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. The sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. The Dunwoody Police Department and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration also provided valuable assistance in the investigation.
To protect yourself from becoming the victim of mail theft and check fraud, the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service recommend the following steps:
- Pick up your mail promptly after delivery. Do not leave mail in your mailbox overnight or for long periods of time.
- If you are heading out of town, submit a USPS Hold Mail™ request asking your local Post Office to hold your mail until you return.
- Sign up for Informed Delivery® at USPS.com to receive daily email notifications of incoming mail and packages.
- Contact the sender if you do not receive a check, credit card or other valuable mail you are expecting.
- Consider buying and using security envelopes to conceal the contents of your mail.
- Use the letter slots inside your local Post Office to send mail. If using a blue USPS collection box, be sure to drop your mail as close to the posted pickup time as possible and before the last collection of the day
- When using checks, educate yourself about the steps you can take to prevent fraudsters from exploiting stolen checks, such as setting up positive pay with your financial institution.
If you think you were targeted by fraudsters, file a report with your bank and request copies of all fraudulent checks. Report the incident to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), www.ic3.gov. If you believe you are the victim of mail theft-related check fraud, report to your local police and the United States Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report or 1-877-876-2455.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica C. Morris is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Franklin County Drug Dealer Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl that Killed a ManRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. - A federal judge sentenced Cordell Antonio Mendoza to 21 years in federal prison for selling fentanyl that caused an individual in Franklin County, North Carolina to overdose and die. On February 17, 2026, Inmate Mendoza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell and possess with the intent to sell heroin and fentanyl, and selling of fentanyl resulting in death.
“Selling poison that you know kills people goes far beyond just run of the mill drug dealing. The defendant accepted death as the cost of doing business, and went right back to the street to find his next victim after he knew of at least one dead customer. 21 years in federal prison protects the residents of the EDNC for decades and punishes this murderous scofflaw for his heinous crimes. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
In October 2024, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) found an individual at his home in Franklin County who died from a drug overdose. FCSO found fentanyl in the victim’s pocket with the label “Try This” and empty fentanyl bindles in the trash can eponymously labeled “Dead on Arrival.” FCSO and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case and determined that Inmate Mendoza sold the victim the deadly fentanyl just over an hour before the victim was found dead. Two days later, Inmate Mendoza spoke on a recorded telephone call describing how one of his customers had died from an overdose from using his product, before immediately pivoting to say he would keep selling drugs. In November 2024, law enforcement searched Inmate Mendoza’s house and found 102 bindles of a fentanyl and heroin mixture.
“This sentence underscores the relentless efforts of federal and local law enforcement to deliver justice when drug trafficking leads to a tragic loss of life,” said Mark M. Zito, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North and South Carolina. “The combined dedication of the FCSO, HSI, and the EDNC United States Attorney’s Office demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting the community. HSI will continue to pursue and hold accountable those dealers who knowingly distribute deadly fentanyl, recognizing the devastating impact these actions have on families and neighborhoods.”
“The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has made addressing drug trafficking in our county a priority and this case and the results of it are proof that we can and will hold those individuals accountable for the tragedies they cause when dealing drugs that kill. I am grateful for our investigators and the relationships we have with HSI and the EDNC United States Attorney’s Office to partner together to enhance our efforts.” said Franklin County Sheriff, Kevin White.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. HSI and the FCSO investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Casey L. Peaden prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-365-M-RJ.
Four defendants sentenced to prison for kidnappingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Four defendants in a kidnapping received prison sentences in a crime where the victim was bound and blindfolded for approximately 10 hours.
According to court documents, Tahreon L. Allen, 23, of Lawrence, Kansas, Jean Willy Petit Frere, 26, of Lawrence, Kansas, Mustafa D. Muhammad-Springs, 22, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Tamara U. Jackson, 25, of Kansas City, Missouri, all pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping.
Allen was sentenced to 262 months in prison.
Muhammad-Springs was sentenced to 204 months in prison.
Petit Free sentenced to 135 months in prison.
Jackson was sentenced to 54 months in prison.
In May 2023, Tahreon L. Allen, Jean Willy Petit Frere, and a third suspect forced a 65-year-old man from his home in Lawrence, Kansas, at gunpoint and demanded he give them money. They bound the victim’s hands with duct tape and put a pillowcase over his head. The kidnappers stole money from the victim and stole two vehicles. They transported him to various locations before eventually meeting up with Muhammad-Springs in Kansas City, Kansas, where Petit Frere and the third suspect withdrew from the conspiracy. The victim was driven back to his home in Lawrence, where a third vehicle was stolen.
After returning with the victim to the Kansas City area, Muhammad-Springs called Tamara Jackson and asked her to find a place where the victim could be concealed. She orchestrated putting the victim into the basement of the apartment where she was residing in Kansas City, Missouri. As Muhammad-Springs and a co-conspirator attempted to transfer the victim, who still had the pillowcase over his head, back into one of the victim’s stolen vehicles, they were confronted by bystanders, who physically removed the victim from the vehicle. Muhammad-Springs and the co-conspirator then fled in the stolen vehicle, which was later found abandoned in Kansas City, Missouri.
Allen was arrested later that day after he drove one of the victim’s vehicles to his place of employment.
“The victim spent hours bound, blindfolded, and in mental anguish fearing that at any moment his captors would end his life, but the perpetrators didn’t care. Their utter depravity means our society is safer with them behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.
The Lawrence Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel prosecuted the case.
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Former Walgreen’s Store Manager Sentenced for Her Role in Seven Inside-Job Drug Store RobberiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – London Teeter, 22, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 32 months in prison for her role in a series of seven inside-job robberies of the Chinatown drug store where she was employed as a store manager, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Teeter pleaded guilty Feb. 13, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery). In addition to the 32-month prison term, Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Teeter to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 100-month prison sentence.
“London Teeter was a key architect of a seven-month scheme that repeatedly turned her own workplace into a crime scene,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The sentencing guidelines called for 87-to-108 months. This sentence, which is significantly lighter, does little to protect the citizens of the District.”
According to court documents, Teeter, and three co-conspirators devised a scheme to carry out armed robberies of the Walgreens store in Chinatown nearly once a month, beginning in July 2023, when either she or her co-conspirator were working. As a store manager, Teeter knew the timing of cash transfers within the business. In each robbery, a masked gunman entered the store, forced an employee into the manager’s office or accessed the manager’s office using a code provided by Teeter or her co-conspirator. The gunman then robbed the employees and fled through a rear exit. Teeter and her co-conspirator took turns pretending to be the victim manager on duty, knowing that the robberies would be captured on internal surveillance.
The robberies occurred on July 18, 2023, Aug. 2, 2023, Sept. 2, 2023, Nov.10, 2023, Dec. 4, 2023, Jan. 9, 2024, and Feb. 11, 2024. Teeter was present in the manager’s office and pretended to be the victim of a robbery during the July 18, 2023, and Jan. 9, 2024, robberies.
In response to the robberies, the Chinatown Walgreens hired armed Special Police Officers to protect the business. Teeter was aware that armed Special Police Officers would be present during the robberies and that a co-conspirator robbed the officers of their firearms during the robberies that occurred on Dec. 4, 2023, and Feb. 11, 2024.
In the plea agreement, Teeter admitted that the co-conspirators stole and split at least $28,983. She also acknowledged that she reviewed surveillance footage from the Aug. 2, 2023, robbery during which a co-conspirator briefly placed his firearm on a chair Teeter acknowledged that she sent a co-conspirator a text message stating: “the vid looks so bad,” “idk why he put the gun down,” and “he can’t do it next time [not gonna lie].”
Law enforcement arrested Teeter on Feb. 22, 2024. During the search of her home that preceded her arrest, law enforcement recovered a loaded Glock 45 pistol loaded with 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Co-defendant Michael Robinson, 35, who was also a Walgreen’s store manager, was sentenced to 147 months in prison. Co-defendant Kamanye Williams, 26, who acted as the gunman, was sentenced to 198 months. Gianni Robinson, 28, who is Michael Robinson’s nephew, was sentenced to 126 months.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force with assistance from the MPD. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin.
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Former School District Employee Pleads Guilty to Using AI Technology to Produce Sexual Abuse Images of Children in his CareRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Defendant William Michael Haslach, 30, a former employee of Independent School District #622 (North St. Paul—Maplewood—Oakdale) and ISD #834 (Stillwater), has pleaded guilty to attempted production of child pornography and production of an obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
According to court documents, defendant Haslach, of Maplewood, Minnesota, occupied several positions of trust with children. From August 2021 until January 2025, Haslach served as a lunch monitor and traffic guard for ISD #622. From 2021 through 2024, Haslach also served as a paraprofessional and later as a youth summer programs assistant for ISD #834. Haslach used his access to children to take non-explicit photos of children in his care. Haslach then used those images to produce morphed/AI photos of those minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Haslach admitted to creating obscene visual representations of at least 91 minor victims in more than 690 morphed images through AI morphing. He also admitted to surreptitiously photographing a pre-pubescent minor’s genital area when she was wearing a swimsuit.
To date, there is no evidence that Mr. Haslach distributed or shared the images he created.
If you are a parent of a child that has at any point been under the care of Haslach, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has set up a website to provide you with resources and further information about this case: www.justice.gov/usao-mn/haslach-child-exploitation-case-school-district-employee-0
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. 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.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Secret Service, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Maplewood Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Mattessich is prosecuting the case.
Former President and CEO of Failed Oklahoma Bank Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Danny Seibel, the former president and Chief Executive Officer of the now-defunct First National Bank of Lindsay (FNBL), pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of bank fraud.
According to court documents, Seibel, 55, of Lindsay, Oklahoma, was an executive at FNBL from in or around February 2007 until his termination in September 2024. Seibel caused FNBL to issue loans to certain customers, many of whom were his personal friends and neighbors, that the borrowers never repaid. Seibel then manipulated the bank’s records and falsified various bank reports to falsely overstate the performance of the loans, including by using new loans or transfers of the bank’s own funds to cover overdrafts of outstanding loans. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) appointed a receiver for the bank in October 2024.
Seibel pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. He faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Robert Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma; Acting Special Agent in Charge Joseph Melle of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Altemus of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Dallas Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Korey Brinkman of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General (FHFA-OIG) made the announcement.
FDIC-OIG, FBI, IRS-CI, and FHFA-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Mark Goldberg, Elysa Q. Wan, and J. Ryan McLaren of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia E. Barry and Jackson D. Eldridge for the Western District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section's mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
Former Citrus County Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Accepting a BribeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Dekarri Nixon (28, Jasper) has pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe as a public official. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The government is also seeking forfeiture from Nixon of $4,000, the proceeds that Nixon obtained by accepting a bribe. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Nixon worked as a correctional officer at the Citrus County Detention Facility (CCDF), a facility where federal detainees are held as they await trial and sentencing. In his role, Nixon was responsible for supervising federal inmates on behalf of the United States. While working at CCDF, Nixon agreed to receive $4,000 in exchange for bringing a cellphone into the facility. Smuggling contraband, including cellphones, was a violation of Nixon’s official duty. The introduction of contraband, such as cellphones, into secure detention facilities presents a security risk to those both inside and outside the facility.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Buchanan.
Folsom Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Paul Joseph Richards, 51, of Folsom, pleaded guilty today to receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, from December 2023 through April 2025, Richards used the web browser BitTorrent to access and download large quantities of pornography, including over 10,000 files containing CSAM. When law enforcement searched Richards’s devices pursuant to a warrant, they located CSAM on Richards’ desktop computer, on an external hard drive found attached to the computer, and on Richards’ iPhone. In an interview with law enforcement, Richards admitted he downloaded the files and viewed the files, including describing some of the content.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Folsom Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Harman is prosecuting the case.
Richards is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on Aug. 27, 2026. Richards faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 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.
Federal jury convicts Alexandria man on charges relating to the deletion of U.S. Government databasesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted Sohaib Akhter, 34, of Alexandria, today on charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, password trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Sohaib Akhter, and his twin brother and co-defendant, Muneeb Akhter, worked for a Washington, D.C., company that provided software products and services to more than 45 federal government agencies and hosted data for some federal government clients on servers in Ashburn. On Feb. 1, 2025, Muneeb Akhter asked Sohaib Akhter for the plaintext password of an individual who submitted a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Public Portal, which was maintained by the Akhters’ employer. Sohaib Akhter conducted a database query on the EEOC database and then provided the password to Muneeb Akhter. That password was subsequently used to access that individual’s email account without authorization.
When the company discovered Sohaib Akhter’s felony conviction, it terminated both brothers’ employment during an online remote meeting on Feb. 18, 2025. Immediately after being fired during this meeting, the brothers sought to harm their employer and its U.S. government customers by accessing computers without authorization, write-protecting databases, deleting databases, and destroying evidence of their unlawful activities. The compromised information included case management and Freedom of Information Act response processing software. Over the course of several hours, approximately 96 databases storing U.S. government information hosted by the company were deleted.
A search of Sohaib’s cellphone revealed that he had obtained firearms as early as January 2025 and, following the execution of a search warrant on March 12, 2025, took steps to sell them. On March 18, 2025, Sohaib drove to a firearm company in Farnham, Virginia, with his domestic partner, who completed paperwork for a transaction to sell the company seven firearms. As a convicted felon, Sohaib could not legally possess firearms.
On June 6, 2015, Muneeb and Sohaib pled guilty in the Eastern District of Virginia to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to access a protected computer without authorization, and conspiracy to access a government computer without authorization. Muneeb also pled guilty to accessing a protected computer without authorization, making a false statement, and obstructing justice. On Oct. 2, 2015, Muneeb was sentenced to three years and three months in prison; Sohaib was sentenced to two years in prison.
Sohaib Akhter is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9 and faces a maximum penalty of 21 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FDIC-OIG, DHS-OIG, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by: the Department of Agriculture OIG; Department of Education OIG; Environmental Protection Agency OIG; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission OIG; Federal Reserve Board OIG; Department of Health and Human Services OIG; DHS Office of the Chief Security Officer; Department of Housing and Urban Development OIG; Department of the Interior OIG; International Development Finance Corporation OIG; Department of Justice OIG; Department of Labor OIG; Nuclear Regulatory Commission OIG; Small Business Administration OIG; Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; Department of Veterans Affairs OIG; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; United States Capitol Police; Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department; and the Alexandria, Virginia Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Strobbe for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorneys George Brown and Stefanie Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the case.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
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-307.
Federal Jury Convicts Virgina Man on Charges Relating to the Deletion of U.S. Government DatabasesRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted Sohaib Akhter, 34, of Alexandria, Virgina, today on charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, password trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
“Sohaib Akhter harmed Americans who trusted their government with personal information and sensitive requests,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His conviction shows that getting fired from a job is not an invitation to retaliate.”
“The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General’s (FDIC-OIG) Electronic Crimes Unit is proud to stand alongside our law enforcement partners in holding Sohaib Akhter accountable for conduct that compromised sensitive government information and targeted the integrity of federal systems,” said Inspector General Jennifer L. Fain of FDIC-OIG. “As proven at trial, Akhter participated in the unauthorized access of protected computer systems, the theft of credentials, and the destruction of government data affecting numerous federal agencies. The deliberate deletion of databases containing sensitive government information and the subsequent attempts to conceal that criminal activity demonstrated a blatant disregard for the security and integrity of federal information systems. Today’s conviction reflects the FDIC OIG’s continued commitment to aggressively investigating cyber-enabled threats, protecting government networks and data, and pursuing those who seek to exploit positions of trust for personal gain.”
“This was a calculated abuse of trust and access. Attempting to profit from stolen sensitive information shows a complete disregard for the law, and this verdict shows that those who abuse access to government information will be held accountable,” said Joseph V. Cuffari Ph.D. of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS- OIG). “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners and the agencies that worked alongside us throughout this investigation to ensure those responsible were brought to justice.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Sohaib Akhter, and his twin brother and co-defendant, Muneeb Akhter, worked for a Washington, D.C., company that provided software products and services to more than 45 federal government agencies and hosted data for some federal government clients on servers in Ashburn. On Feb. 1, 2025, Muneeb Akhter asked Sohaib Akhter for the plaintext password of an individual who submitted a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Public Portal, which was maintained by the Akhters’ employer. Sohaib Akhter conducted a database query on the EEOC database and then provided the password to Muneeb Akhter. That password was subsequently used to access that individual’s email account without authorization.
When the company discovered Sohaib Akhter’s felony conviction, it terminated both brothers’ employment during an online remote meeting on Feb. 18, 2025. Immediately after being fired during this meeting, the brothers sought to harm their employer and its U.S. government customers by accessing computers without authorization, write-protecting databases, deleting databases, and destroying evidence of their unlawful activities. The compromised information included case management and Freedom of Information Act response processing software. Over the course of several hours, the brothers deleted approximately 96 databases storing U.S. government information hosted by the company.
A search of Sohaib’s cellphone revealed that he had obtained firearms as early as January 2025 and, following the execution of a search warrant on March 12, 2025, took steps to sell them. On March 18, 2025, Sohaib drove to a firearm company in Farnham, Virginia, with his domestic partner, who completed paperwork for a transaction to sell the company seven firearms. As a convicted felon, Sohaib could not legally possess firearms.
On June 6, 2015, Muneeb and Sohaib pled guilty in the Eastern District of Virginia to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to access a protected computer without authorization, and conspiracy to access a government computer without authorization. Muneeb also pled guilty to accessing a protected computer without authorization, making a false statement, and obstructing justice. On Oct. 2, 2015, Muneeb was sentenced to three years and three months in prison; Sohaib was sentenced to two years in prison.
Sohaib Akhter is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9 and faces a maximum penalty of 21 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FDIC-OIG, DHS-OIG, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by: the Department of Agriculture OIG; Department of Education OIG; Environmental Protection Agency OIG; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission OIG; Federal Reserve Board OIG; Department of Health and Human Services OIG; DHS Office of the Chief Security Officer; Department of Housing and Urban Development OIG; Department of the Interior OIG; International Development Finance Corporation OIG; Department of Justice OIG; Department of Labor OIG; Nuclear Regulatory Commission OIG; Small Business Administration OIG; Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; Department of Veterans Affairs OIG; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; United States Capitol Police; Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department; and the Alexandria, Virginia Sheriff’s Office.
Trial Attorneys George Brown and Stefanie Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Strobbe for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
Federal Jury Convicts Two Tampa Men of Distributing Fentanyl Which Caused the Death of a University of South Florida StudentRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –A federal jury has found Miguel Cintron (38, Tampa) and Darrius Gustafson (22, Tampa) guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. Each faces a minimum penalty of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Cintron, Gustafson, David Chudhabuddhi, and Marquis Trant distributed a lethal amount of fentanyl that resulted in the death of Victim-1. After Victim-1’s death, all four individuals continued to distribute fentanyl to undercover deputies and detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
On April 10, 2024, all four were arrested and a search warrant was executed at Cintron’s residence where law enforcement recovered more than seven kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl, and over $200,000 in cash.
Chudhabuddhi and Trant previously pleaded guilty and are scheduled for sentencing on June 18, 2026.
This case was investigated by the University of South Florida Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich.
Eleven Men Charged in D.C. in Federal Indictment Targeting Transnational Methamphetamine and GBL Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
gblxmeth_indictment_redacted.pdfWASHINGTON - Eleven defendants are charged in a five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in connection with a sprawling, transnational drug trafficking organization that imported massive quantities of methamphetamine from California and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) from South Korea for distribution in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere along the East Coast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order.
“This long-term investigation peeled back the layers of a sophisticated drug trafficking empire—one that recruited well-educated operatives, laundered its proceeds through sham beauty companies, and flooded our streets with two of the most dangerous and lethal drug combinations available,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “As part of President Trump’s Homeland Security Taskforce and its whole-of-government approach, this case reflects the coordinated efforts of law enforcement and national security partners across jurisdictions and borders. From a storage unit in Northeast Washington to a warehouse in Seoul, we followed the supply chain end-to-end—and we’ve shut it down.”
“Drug traffickers only care about making a profit and living ‘the good life.’ This investigation started after a fatal poisoning of a DMV resident. The DEA, alongside federal, state, and local partners, are committed to a safer capital,” said Christopher Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge- DEA Washington Division. “The operation highlighted today by Judge Pirro removed dangerous individuals and poisonous substances from the streets and serves as a great example of our partnership, as well as a testament to our collective efforts to protect American citizens.”
“Today's announcement demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to disrupting the illicit flow of money that enables narcotics traffickers to launder millions in illegal proceeds,” said Kareem Carter, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (CI), Washington D.C. “IRS-CI special agents will continue to proactively leverage our knowledge and unique skills for the betterment of our communities. Whether it is money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act violations, complex financial fraud, or leveraging our tax authority, we will continue working alongside our federal partners to take criminals off the street and dismantle transnational criminal organizations.”
“This investigation disrupted a drug trafficking network that was allegedly pumping highly addictive, dangerous drugs into our Nation’s Capital,” said Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, Washington, D.C. “Working alongside our federal, local, and global partners, we traced the supply chain from an international parcel to a local distributor, and ultimately to a broader transnational criminal organization. It cannot be overstated: every drug seizure means less poison on our streets and in our neighborhoods. Together with our Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) counterparts, HSI will not allow criminals to profit by endangering our communities, undermining our safety, or threatening our livelihoods.”
The indictment charges Artemio Jacobo-Magana, Aaron James Landry, Matthew Thomas Kent, Colton Keet Huthsing, Rene Alexander Acosta, Joshua Glen Taylor, Robert David Fitch, Michael Robert Spitzer, Scott Patrick Morgan (aka “Scotty Rox”), and Kenneth Harold Archer with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine (actual), and a detectable amount of GBL.
Three defendants — Spitzer, Morgan, and another individual — are additionally charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with their drug trafficking activity. Kent also faces three counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) for specific transactions in the District of Columbia. A twelfth defendant, Gregory Wallace, is separately charged by complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and GBL, and with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Chief Judge James E. Boasberg is presiding over the case. All defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years to life in prison.
According to court documents, from at least January 2023 through April 2026, the defendants and their co-conspirators operated a multi-layered drug trafficking network stretching along the Northeast Corridor from New York City to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. The conspiracy had active expansion efforts underway into Chicago, Florida, and Southern California. The organization sourced methamphetamine in California and imported GBL from South Korea, distributing both substances to an established customer base while actively recruiting new markets.
The conspiracy operated with a defined division of labor. Upstream suppliers sourced narcotics in bulk; regional distributors stored, repackaged, and moved product; and downstream distributors sold to customers while collecting and concealing proceeds. Members used encrypted messaging applications, coded language, commercial parcel services, stash locations, and shell business entities to facilitate and conceal operations. The conspiracy accepted drug payments through peer-to-peer payment platforms and laundered the funds through business accounts designed to disguise the proceeds as legitimate income.
The Drug Combination: Meth and GBL
GBL is an industrial solvent with legitimate commercial applications as a paint remover, adhesive, and nail polish remover. When illegally sold for human use, it is a Schedule I controlled substance. The body rapidly metabolizes GBL into GHB, one of the most pervasive date rape drugs currently available. GBL is sometimes called “Liquid Ecstasy” and is abused as a euphoria-inducing club drug. GBL has a dangerously narrow safety margin: a small increase in dosage can produce unconsciousness, seizures, slowed heart rate, severe respiratory depression, coma, or death.
The organization distributed methamphetamine and GBL together for simultaneous consumption in a poly-drug combination known as “sexchem.” The pairing is considered lethal and unpredictable. The investigation identified that local D.C.-based distributors were selling the drugs together as party drugs, compounding the risk to users.
The Network: From Seoul to the Northeast Corridor
The GBL supply chain traced back to South Korea, where a businesswoman and exporter, Sohyeon An, was shipping GBL in enormous quantities to destinations in Australia, Europe, and the United States. To facilitate the importation, members of the conspiracy established sham beauty product companies in New York and Washington, D.C. and used the companies to import GBL from South Korea at a rate of about 600 liters per month at the organization’s peak. The conspiracy falsely declared the shipments of GBL shipments as cleaning solutions and beauty supplies. On multiple occasions, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted the shipments.
Working with South Korean law enforcement, U.S. prosecutors and agents traveled to Seoul to identify GBL exporters and disrupt the supply chain at its source. That bilateral cooperation resulted in the arrest of five South Korean nationals by South Korean authorities and, in September 2025, the seizure of approximately 1.5 metric tons of GBL — the largest domestic seizure of a controlled substance ever recorded in South Korea.
Methamphetamine, sourced in California, was shipped in distribution-weight quantities across state lines using commercial parcel services including UPS and the U.S. Postal Service, with shipments coordinated through encrypted applications. Nearly all methamphetamine seizures in this case exceeded 90% purity.
The D.C.-Based Defendants
According to court documents, Matthew Thomas Kent, 40, served as a primary distributor in the District of Columbia, acquiring multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine and kilogram quantities of GBL for redistribution from stash locations in Northeast Washington, D.C. Kent was arrested in March 2024 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, where law enforcement recovered approximately 480 grams of methamphetamine from his vehicle. In June 2024, agents executed a search warrant at his residence in Northeast D.C. and recovered approximately 210 grams of methamphetamine and a Glock 9mm pistol.
Kent continued trafficking after his arrest: in April 2025, he directed a controlled purchase of approximately 221 grams of methamphetamine, which tested at 98% purity, at his residence in the District. In July 2025, he was found at Union Station in possession of approximately 400 grams of methamphetamine at 97% purity that he had transported from Philadelphia by train. A drug ledger shared between Kent and co-defendant Huthsing, recovered from Kent's phone, included a transaction record, written in coded language, detailing the narcotics the two were allegedly trafficking.
Colton Keet Huthsing, 30, of Washington, D.C., operated as a distributor and organizer, coordinating with other members to obtain and distribute methamphetamine and GBL, maintaining drug ledgers, and directing subordinate participants. Following the September 2025 South Korean seizures and arrests, Huthsing attempted to fill the resulting void in the U.S.-based GBL market by incorporating a shell corporation and importing bulk quantities of GBL from abroad. In February 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a parcel destined for Huthsing’s Washington, D.C. apartment. The package contained more than six kilograms of GBL. Law enforcement searched Huthsing’s apartment on April 29, 2026, and recovered large quantities of narcotics, packaging materials, a money counter, multiple digital scales, and flight records reflecting international travel to Switzerland and other destinations.
Joshua Glen Taylor, 47, of Washington, D.C., was a supplier and redistributor of large quantities of methamphetamine in the District of Columbia. Financial records for Taylor obtained over the course of the investigation reflect hundreds of thousands of dollars in transactions consistent with narcotics trafficking. Agents arrested Taylor on April 29, 2026, at a hotel in Short Pump, Virginia, where approximately a half pound of methamphetamine and a half ounce of fentanyl were recovered from his room.
Also charged as members of the conspiracy were Robert David Fitch, 40, of Baltimore, Maryland; Michael Robert Spitzer, 52, of New York City; Scott Patrick Morgan, 44, of New York City; Kenneth Harold Archer, 46, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Rene Alexander Acosta, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland; Aaron James Landry, 39, of Los Angeles; and Artemio Jacobo-Magana, 26, of Santa Ana, California.
The Takedown
On April 29, 2026, law enforcement arrested eight of the East Coast-based defendants and executed search warrants across eight federal judicial districts, including the District of Columbia, the District of Maryland, the Eastern District of Virginia, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of New York, the Northern District of New York, and the Southern District of Florida.
This morning, May 7, 2026, law enforcement arrested two California-based defendants, Jacobo-Magana and Landry, and executed two additional search warrants in Central District of California.
During the two takedowns, law enforcement recovered approximately 7.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, about 24 kilograms of GBL, additional narcotics including cocaine and pills, and more than $150,000 in cash.
Over the full course of the investigation and prior to takedown, law enforcement seized more than 35 kilograms of high-purity methamphetamine. Agents recovered about 800 kilos of GBL in the United States, one of the largest seizures of GBL in the East Coast. More than 1.5 metric tons of GBL was seized in South Korea.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were DEA Special Agent in Charge Christopher Goumenis of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; HSI Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of Homeland Security Investigations Washington D.C.; IRS-CI Asst. Special Agent in Charge Cynthia Hearn of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; and Assistant Inspector in Charge Charles Wickersham of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division.
This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; Homeland Security Investigation Washington Field Office; the DEA New York Division Office; the DEA Seoul Country Office; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Metropolitan Police Department and Arlington County Police provided valuable assistance.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey, George P. Eliopoulos, and Solomon S. Eppel of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking (VCNT) Section for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. 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 Washington D.C. comprises agents and officers from the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, IRS Criminal Investigations and others with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
GBL seized by investigators at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
GBL seized by investigators in Seoul, South Korea.
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Eight-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Usoro E. McWhorter, who has eight prior felony convictions, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. His accomplice, Omari Nicks, was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison last year on the same charges.
“This serial convicted felon sold deadly quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs from an Atlanta apartment and dumped heroin out of a window in a failed attempt to evade seizure by law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “McWhorter’s and Nicks’s lengthy sentences are the result of close collaboration between federal and local law enforcement officers committed to aggressive prosecutions of drug traffickers in north Georgia.”
“An individual with eight prior convictions who continues to traffic drugs demonstrates a clear disregard for the law and for human life,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Through strong collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we were able to bring this case forward and ensure accountability. Together, we remain committed to removing repeat offenders who threaten the safety and well-being of our communities.”
“The recent federal conviction and 10-year sentence of a fentanyl distributor underscore the devastating impact this drug continues to have on our communities. Fentanyl trafficking fuels addiction, overdoses, and loss of life at an alarming rate,” said Major Mark Mayton of the Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of the offense and the commitment of law enforcement and the judicial system to hold those responsible accountable. We remain dedicated to working with our partners to combat the spread of fentanyl and protect the safety and well-being of our citizens.”
“The Cartersville Police Department has always taken an aggressive approach to drug enforcement, and this case was no different. It really is a shining example of what happens when local and federal law enforcement work together to achieve a common goal. This collaborative effort created a true local impact by dismantling an illicit pipeline of drugs and firearms into not only our community, but all of the communities that these defendants sought to exploit,” said Chief Kevin Cloninger of the Cartersville Police Department.
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In January 2025, Omari Nicks was selling methamphetamine and fentanyl from his Atlanta apartment. Some of Nicks’s customers traveled into the city from as far as Bartow County, Georgia. On February 6, 2025, DEA agents searched Nicks’s apartment after seeing Nicks sell drugs while Usoro McWhorter acted as a lookout. When agents entered the apartment, Nicks attempted to flee by climbing out a third-story window, but he fell off the side of the building and was quickly apprehended. Agents arrested McWhorter while he was dumping heroin out of another apartment window.
Inside the apartment, agents found approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram of cocaine, 50 grams of fentanyl, a hydraulic press to form powdered drugs into bricks, approximately $5,400 in cash, and an AR-15 style rifle loaded with a 30-round magazine. Law enforcement also recovered approximately 100 grams of the heroin McWhorter dumped out of the apartment window.
Before this incident, McWhorter had been convicted of eight felony offenses. Most of those convictions involved drug sales.
On May 6, 2026, Usoro E. McWhorter, 48, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. McWhorter was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, after he pleaded guilty.
On August 27, 2025, Omari A. Nicks, 47, of Smyrna, Georgia, was sentenced to 12 years and 6 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Nicks was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force, and the Cartersville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold, III and Thomas M. Forsyth, III 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.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Eight Gang Members and Associates Charged with Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A federal indictment was unsealed today against seven members and associates of the Boston-based Columbia Point Dawgs and Johnston Road gangs and their associates for firearm and drug charges. A federal complaint was also filed against an eighth defendant for being a felon in possession of ammunition. One defendant is currently on pre-trial release for a pending state murder case.
According to charging documents, from at least January 2025 through on or about April 21, 2026, four of the defendants, Raughn Williams, a/k/a “Pancho;” Champion Brown, a/k/a “Champ,” a/k/a “C. Brown;” William Brown, a/k/a “EBK;” and Jillian Karabello, conspired to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without the required license. Williams is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. It is alleged that these four defendants sold 18 firearms to an undercover agent and cooperating witness during the investigation, including numerous high-powered rifles and tactical rifles with extended clips (pictured below). It is also alleged that the firearms these defendants sold during the investigation included a Glock pistol with an obliterated serial number and a machinegun conversion device (MCD) attached, four additional MCDs, and another high-powered rifle (pictured below).
A federal search warrant was executed today at Champion Brown’s apartment where approximately 21 switches and five firearms were recovered. Two of the firearms were AR style pistols and two had obliterated serial numbers. One firearm had a switch attached to it.
According to court documents a switch, or MCD, is designed to convert a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic machinegun, capable of firing all rounds in a magazine with a single pull of the trigger. The device typically attaches to the rear of a pistol’s slide, defeating the mechanism that limits firing to one round per trigger pull. Pistols equipped with switches are difficult to control because they are not manufactured to support fully automatic gunfire, and the use of switches therefore increases the danger to the public of being shot.
“The conduct alleged is frightening to say the least. In addition to two AR style pistols and other firearms, today we seized approximately 21 machinegun conversion devices, commonly referred to as “switches” in just one apartment,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “These devices convert a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic machinegun, capable of firing hundreds of shots in seconds. I think it goes without saying that today’s arrests and seizures have made our communities safer.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Thomas Greco said, “Today’s arrests highlight ATF’s mission in the fight against violent crime. For those looking to commit drug and violent crimes in our community, you will not find safe haven in the City of Boston. ATF is committed to using every available resource to target those contributing to the cycle of violence in these neighborhoods by distributing drugs and trafficking firearms. The success of this investigation included the efforts of many state and local partners, in ATF’s continued all-hands approach to making communities safer.”
A photograph of the 18 guns purchased during the course of the investigation is included below. (See Appendix B)
According to charging documents, Raughn Williams; Myles King, a/k/a “Mizzie Cash;” Husnain Akram, a/k/a “Frenchy;” and Junior Jean Louis, a/k/a “Jiggy,” conspired to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. These defendants are also charged with distribution of fentanyl and/or crack cocaine. A federal search warrant was executed today at the residence of Husnain Akram and over a kilogram of fentanyl was seized. A search warrant was also executed at the residence of Malachi Martins where a privately made firearm (PMF) or so-called “ghost” gun, containing ammunition was recovered. Martins was charged by complaint with being a felon in possession of ammunition.
According to court documents, the defendants are members or associates of the Boston based Columbia Point Dawgs or the Johnston Road gangs and work together to sell guns and drugs to gang members and others throughout Boston, Brockton, Randolph and other parts of Southeastern Massachusetts. Two of the defendants have prior federal convictions and are currently on federal supervised release. According to court documents, Myles King is on pre-trial release for a pending state murder case.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of no less than 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base provides for a sentence of no less than five and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, supervised release for up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of unlawful possession of a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, supervised release for up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, supervised release for up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston and Cambridge Police Departments; Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department; Boston Housing Authority; Drug Enforcement Administration; and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys John T. Dawley, Jr. and David Cutshall of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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APPENDIX A
- Raugh Williams, a/k/a “Pancho,” 28, of Randolph, is charged with conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, felon in possession of a firearm, conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of fentanyl, distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl and distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base;
- Champion Brown, a/k/a “Champ,” 22, of Dorchester, is charged with conspiracy to deal firearms without a license;
- William Brown, a/k/a “EBK,” 27, of Dorchester, is charged with conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and unlawful possession of a machinegun;
- Husnain Akram, a/k/a “Frenchy,” 27, of South Easton, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession to distribute controlled substances and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
- Myles King, a/k/a “Mizzie Cash,” 26, of Weymouth, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base;
Junior Jean Louis, a/k/a “Jiggy,” 26, of Miami, Fla., is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base;
7. Malachi Martins, 31, of Brockton, is charged with felon in possession of ammunition; and
8. Jillian Karabello, 23, of Medford is charged with conspiracy to deal firearms without a license.
APPENDIX B
Drug Trafficking Investigation Leads to Federal Charges for 3 Central TexansRead the Press Release
WACO, Texas – Multiple individuals were arrested this week in the Waco area as the result of an investigation into an alleged drug trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, Broughm Cheyenne Pate, Matthew Devin Badger, and Christopher Monroe Sanders were arrested and federally charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. An additional subject was arrested in the operation for unrelated outstanding state warrants.
The operation, led jointly by the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office Organized Crime Unit and Waco Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, spanned across McLennan, Limestone, and Freestone counties and involved the execution of search warrants in the Waco area, the Mexia area, and Teague. In total, six search warrants were executed in the course of the operation.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of numerous items of evidence, including more than 826 grams of methamphetamine, approximately seven grams of cocaine, and 47.25 grams of marijuana. Three firearms were also seized, along with $4,384 in suspected drug proceeds and one vehicle.
If convicted, Pate, Badger and Sanders each face 10 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, McLennan County Sheriff's Office, Waco Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, Teague Police Department, and Limestone County Sheriff's Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Smith-Burris is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Dominican National Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Dominican national was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Dewar Francisco Beriguete-Hernandez, 21, to three years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Beriguete-Hernandez was convicted on October 24, 2025, following a two-day jury trial.
According to court records, Beriguete-Hernandez was part of a drug trafficking organization that delivered fentanyl from Massachusetts to customers in Maine. Beriguete-Hernandez was arrested in Kittery in April 2024, in possession of approximately 196 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. Following trial, a jury convicted him of possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute. He was acquitted of a separate count charging him with distributing controlled substances.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case, with the assistance of the Kittery 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.
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Defendant Pleads Guilty in $48 Million Nationwide Book Publishing Scam Targeting Hundreds of SeniorsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, a 34-year-old citizen of the Philippines, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he conspired to perpetrate a book publishing scam that caused losses of over $48 million to more than 800 victims throughout the United States.
Sordilla is the first of four defendants to admit his role in a scheme that targeted authors — most of them seniors — by promising to elevate their work to major publishing deals and Hollywood film adaptations, all in exchange for millions of dollars in fraudulent fees.
According to his plea agreement, Sordilla was the founder and CEO of Innocentrix Philippines, which purported to be a “business process outsourcing” company in the Philippines. Sordilla admitted that he and his co-conspirators created and registered phony business entities in the United States, including:
- PageTurner Press and Media LLC (“PageTurner”), which was incorporated in California in September 2017 and claimed to be a book publishing business located in Chula Vista, California
- The Metro Films LLC (“Metro Films”), which was incorporated in California in April 2022 and claimed to be a motion picture and sound recording business located in Los Angeles, California
- WP Lighthouse LLC (“WP Lighthouse”) was registered in Indiana in July 2024 and claimed to be a book publishing business in Indianapolis, Indiana.
From 2017 until 2024, under the guise of these fictitious businesses, Sordilla and co-conspirators operated a fraudulent network of scammers in the Philippines to enrich themselves by selling false hopes of tremendous professional success to writers in the United States.
According to his plea agreement, Sordilla’s role in the conspiracy was using Innocentrix Philippines to manage a call center in the Philippines where dozens of sales representatives contacted victims in the United States pretending to be literary agents from PageTurner or WP Lighthouse. As part of the conspiracy, the scammers falsely told victims their works had been selected for acquisition by publishers or movie studios, and fraudulently convinced victims to send payments for various services including pre-payment of taxes and transaction fees, before the victim-author’s work could be published or optioned to studios. According to court documents, the conspirators made false representations regarding PageTurner and WP Lighthouse to the victims, including by falsely representing the location of operations, their contacts and communications with literary agents, major traditional publishers, motion picture studios, and popular video streaming services.
As part of the conspiracy, the conspirators impersonated literary agents and executives from major publishers, motion picture studios, and popular video streaming services, or pretended to be representatives from the fake motion picture business Metro Films. In reality, PageTurner, WP Lighthouse, and Metro Films were fictitious businesses with no relationship to either traditional publishers or Hollywood entertainment companies.
Sordilla directed co-conspirators to open and manage bank accounts in the name of PageTurner and WP Lighthouse LLC at various financial institutions, his plea agreement said. After victim funds were received in bank accounts established on behalf of PageTurner and WP Lighthouse, in order to conceal the location and control of proceeds of the book publishing scam, Sordilla directed co-conspirators to withdraw and transfer victim funds to domestic and international bank accounts in the Philippines controlled by Sordilla and co-conspirators. As part of the conspiracy, Sordilla directed co-conspirators to launder at least $42 million, and received approximately $2,725,951.
As part of the guilty plea, Sordilla agreed to forfeit $2,725,951 in proceeds from the offense. Sordilla will also be subject to an order of restitution to the victims of the offense in the amount of at least $48,719,156.38.
“The defendants didn’t just steal money — they stole dreams, leaving victims with empty promises and devastating losses,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Today’s guilty plea delivers justice for victims and serves as a warning that legitimate publishers and filmmakers do not demand upfront fees.”
“Michael Sordilla and his co-conspirators callously preyed on the hopes and dreams of authors to have their stories come to life, costing hundreds of victims more than $48 million in losses,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Today’s guilty plea is the beginning of holding all those involved in this Hollywood dream scheme accountable for their crimes. FBI San Diego, along with our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in our pursuit of justice of any scammers attempting to steal Americans’ hard-earned money.”
“The defendant knowingly used the mail to execute a fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims for financial gain,” said Matt Shields, Inspector in Charge of the Los Angeles Division. “This guilty plea represents a significant step in holding the defendant accountable and seeking justice for all of those impacted.”
If you or someone you know is aged 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
As of today, three of the four defendants charged in the case are awaiting trial. Law enforcement previously seized the PageTurner domain and over $6 million from bank accounts linked to PageTurner and WP Lighthouse.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Oleksandra “Sasha” Johnson.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24CR2712-JLS
Gemma Traya Austin Age: 60 Chula Vista, CA
In custody. Arrested in Chula Vista on December 12, 2024
Michael Cris Traya Sordilla Age: 34 Philippines
In custody. Sentencing set for July 24, 2026
Bryan Navales Tarosa Age: 35 Philippines
In custody. Arrested in San Diego on December 9, 2024
Micheal Glenn Austin Age: 35 Chula Vista, CA
Released on bond
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)
Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the amount laundered
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States Postal Inspection Service
Cuban Man Charged with Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on May 7, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Yasser Rivera-Reyes, 42, a Cuban citizen with ties to Miami, Florida, with unlawfully reentering the United States after having departed the United States with an order of removal outstanding. Rivera-Reyes was initially charged by Criminal Complaint after he was apprehended by the United States Border Patrol on April 24, 2026 in Derby, Vermont. Rivera-Reyes entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle previously ordered that Rivera-Reyes be detained pending trial.
According to court records, Border Patrol agents received alerts that a person had likely entered the United States from Canada around 10pm on April 24, 2026, in the area of the bike path in Derby, Vermont. Agents responded to the bike path, and encountered Rivera-Reyes wearing clothing and a backpack similar to imagery obtained near the border. Rivera-Reyes was identified as a Cuban citizen, who had been ordered removed from the United States in 2017 while an inmate in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. A search of Rivera-Reyes’ belongings revealed a number of items indicating Rivera-Reyes had been living in Canada, including a Quebec driver’s license (issued in September 2025), a debit card from a Canadian bank, a membership certificate from a Canadian union, and receipts dated in April 2026 related to the purchase and return of items from a business in Charlemagne, Quebec.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Rivera-Reyes is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Rivera-Reyes faces up to 2 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol.
The prosecutor is Special Assistant United States Attorney Craig Nolan. Rivera-Reyes is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
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.
Coosada Man Sentenced to 130 Months in Federal Prison Following Federal Drug and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that a Coosada, Alabama man has been sentenced to prison following convictions for methamphetamine distribution and the illegal possession of a firearm.
On May 6, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 39-year-old Deandre Maurice Jennings to 130 months in prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Jennings will serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his agreement and other court records, on February 20, 2025, law enforcement in Montgomery conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jennings. A search of the vehicle revealed 434 grams of methamphetamine and a handgun. Jennings has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
On October 6, 2025, Jennings pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Millbrook Police Department, Montgomery Police Department and Elmore County Drug Task Force investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Christine Levi prosecuted.
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.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Stockpiling Homemade Explosives and Possessing 30+ FirearmsRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A Hancock County man has been sentenced to prison for possessing homemade explosives and for being a felon in possession of over 30 firearms.
Robert J. Niederbrack, 70, of Findlay, Ohio, was sentenced to 57 months (4.75 years) in prison after pleading guilty to the following charges:
- Felon in Possession of Firearms
- Possession of Unregistered Firearm Silencers
- Felon in Possession of Explosives
Niederbrack’s prior convictions were in 2009 and included: Possession of Firearm/Ammunition by a Felon; Possession of Place for Trafficking/Sale/Manufacture of Controlled Substances; Cultivation of Cannabis; and Possession of Cannabis over 20 grams.
U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick imposed the sentence May 5. Judge Helmick ordered Niederbrack to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment as well as the forfeiture of 16 rifles, 11 pistols, and 6 shotguns.
According to court documents, federal agents were following up on a report about explosives being manufactured out of a home. Niederbrack was subsequently identified. During a search warrant execution of his storage unit in Ottawa, Ohio, agents seized 33 firearms, firearm silencers, and ammunition. They also found sealed tubes containing explosive powder and fitted with fuses to enable detonation. Additionally, about 25 pounds of explosive powders, including aluminum and sulfur, were in a unit. Instruments for measuring explosive powers, funnels, cardboard tubes, end cap seals, and fuse cords were also found. Agents recovered several materials about warfare devices and techniques. During a second court ordered search where he was residing, additional firearms, firearm silencers and parts, ammunition, and a taser were seized.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI Cleveland Division, and the NW Ohio Joint Terrorism Task Force.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Dexter L. Philips for the Northern District of Ohio.
Convicted Felon Indicted for Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Lamar Bunch, 35, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Bunch appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for June 22, 2026, in Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Court Judge Mark E. Walker.
Bunch faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon.
The case is being jointly investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
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.
Chatham County woman sentenced to prison for setting fire to occupied residenceRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Chatham County woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting she set a fire that injured four people in a rooming house.
Tamekia Mumford, 50, of Savannah, was sentenced to 84 months in prison after pleading guilty to Arson Resulting in Personal Injury, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Mumford to pay $2,190 in restitution and to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Arson is a senseless and often deadly crime,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “It’s a tribute to the quick response of the Savannah Fire Department that all of the occupants of this residence were rescued with only minor injuries.”
As described in the guilty plea, Savannah firefighters were called at approximately 7:31 a.m. on Oct. 21, 2024, to a house fire at 1834 Capital Street. The residence operated as a boarding house with up to 25 tenants, including Mumford. Firefighters and other first responders were met on the street by multiple residents who had evacuated and rescued two people from the second floor while fighting the fire. One of those residents was transported to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta and treated for smoke inhalation. Three others were treated for injuries they received while escaping the fire.
During the evacuation, Mumford stood outside the home while flicking a lighter and yelled that the house was “evil.” She later told investigators that she was angry with everyone in the house. Security footage from the morning of the fire showed Mumford lighting a mattress outside the open kitchen window of the house. It also showed her entering the home and exiting with additional material she then added to the fire. She did not alert any of the residents, many of whom were sleeping, as the blaze grew and smoke billowed into the house through the open window.
“I’m thrilled to see this arsonist will not be on the streets and putting more lives in danger,” said Fred Anderson, chief investigator for the Savannah Fire Department Arson Unit. “This case was able to be solved quickly due to a strong working partnership with local and federal partners working together to keep Savannah safe from senseless crimes like this.”
“This incident could have resulted in loss of life. The deliberate nature of this act – targeting a residence with multiple occupants – demonstrates the serious threat arson poses to public safety,” said Charles M. Mulherin, special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “ATF will continue to prioritize these cases and support efforts to prevent similar tragedies.”
The case was investigated by the Savannah Fire Department Arson Unit, the Savannah Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank M. Pennington II.