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Thursday 19 March 2026
St. Cloud Man Indicted for Trafficking a Minor while Stationed at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in AntarcticaRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Justin Vancott-Harnish (29, St. Cloud) has been charged by federal indictment for trafficking of a minor. If convicted, Vancott-Harnish faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, between February 28 and March 28, 2025, at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station – a location within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, while a U.S. Antarctic Program subcontract employee, Vancott-Harnish solicited a minor victim to engage in a commercial sex act.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the U.S. National Science Foundation – Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the St. Cloud Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson for the Middle District of Florida and Department of Justice Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Crime for Racially Motivated ShootingRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced that Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis for violating the housing rights of his Black neighbor, J.M., in violation of 42 U.S.C. §. 3631.
As the defendant admitted at the plea hearing, on July 17, 2025, Felkel, while driving into the community where both he and J.M. lived, fired a gun and shouted at J.M., “You better keep running, boy!” while J.M. was standing at the community gate. Felkel further admitted that, during the investigation, he told law enforcement officers that he believed Black people were committing crimes in his neighborhood, that he had assumed J.M. was a criminal due to his race, and that he had hoped to convey to J.M. that he should “leave” and “not be around this area.”
“The defendant’s actions were deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “We hope his conviction brings a sense of peace to the victim and greater security to Black communities across the country.”
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina; and Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI Columbia Field Office made the announcement.
Felkel will be sentenced at a later date. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison.
The FBI Columbia Field Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall of the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Social Media Influencer Pleads Guilty to Investment Adviser FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that KENNETH THOM, a/k/a “K$,” a/k/a “K Money,” pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos to investment adviser fraud. THOM is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ramos on June 25, 2026.
“Kenneth Thom pretended online to be a successful investor and adviser when in fact he was a suspended broker and grifter,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “He recruited social media followers, convinced them to invest with him, and then stole their money. Our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect investors from fraud no matter where they seek their investment advice. Especially on social media, we remind investors to always protect themselves from fraud by verifying the credentials of those they invest with, and to always protect investments through due diligence.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and other information in the public record:
In May 2006, THOM passed securities licensing examinations and registered as a broker with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). In or around January 2011, FINRA suspended THOM’s broker registration after he failed to pay an arbitration award to an investor. THOM also admitted around that time to the FBI that he had commingled that investor’s money with his own money in a brokerage account that THOM controlled and lost most of the money through unsuccessful trading. THOM further admitted that when the investor sought to withdraw her funds, he did not tell the investor that he had lost her money and instead invented fake excuses and then ignored the investor altogether.
After being suspended by FINRA, THOM turned to social media and promoted himself online as a successful trader. Using the monikers “K$” and “K Money,” THOM described himself as a “Wall Street veteran,” a “luminary,” and a “beacon of knowledge,” and he used his online platforms to sell trading courses and trade suggestions to his followers. One of THOM’s platforms was a Facebook group called, at relevant times, the “K$ Trading Group” (the “K$ Facebook Group”), in which THOM posted the results of his purportedly successful trades.
Beginning in late 2023, THOM invited members of the K$ Facebook Group to participate in “shared accounts” that THOM would manage in exchange for a percentage of the trading profits. THOM eventually raised nearly $800,000 from approximately 67 clients. Of this sum, THOM invested only approximately $350,000, diverting most of the remainder for his own personal use, including on travel, dining, and luxury goods.
Of the $350,000 that THOM invested, he lost more than $250,000 trading options, for a net loss of approximately 73% between in or around March 2024 and March 2025. To hide these losses, THOM published false performance updates showing significant gains. For example, on or around July 3, 2024, THOM posted in the K$ Facebook Group that each of his three purported shared accounts was positive year-to-date, with returns ranging from 4% to 120%. In fact, as of the close of the preceding trading day, THOM had lost approximately 31% of the client funds he invested to date.
In or about January 2025, the name of the K$ Facebook Group was changed to “AYBABTU”—an acronym for the Internet meme “all your base are belong to us”—and THOM stopped responding to clients.
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THOM, 42, of Westfield, New Jersey, pled guilty to investment adviser fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Li is in charge of the prosecution.
Sisseton Man Sentenced to More Than 2 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a man from Sisseton, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on March 13, 2026.
Robert Wolfe, Jr., 45, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to forfeit the firearm and pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Wolfe, Jr. was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on November 17, 2026.
On April 19, 2024, deputies with the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on Wolfe’s residence in Sisseton. During the search, deputies found a Remington bolt-action rifle in the residence. Wolfe is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2014 felony conviction for Possession of a Controlled Substance.
This case was investigated by the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office, the BATF, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Wolfe, Jr. was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Sioux City Man to Federal Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Anthony Girard, age 40, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced today to 97 months’ imprisonment. Girard pled guilty to receiving child pornography on November 12, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from September 2023 through January 13, 2025, Girard received and possessed child pornography. Girard admitted he used file sharing services to exchange over 24,000 files over the course of two years. During the investigation, agents from around Iowa were able to connect Girard’s IP address to thousands of files of child pornography in 2023 and 2024. Agents searched his home and electronic devices on January 13, 2025. Girard admitted he deleted file sharing apps off his phone while driving home on January 13, 2025, as law enforcement officers searched his home. Girard possessed child pornography that included depictions of infants and toddlers as well as sadistic and masochistic conduct. Girard also has a prior conviction in South Dakota state court for sexual contact without consent.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Girard to 97 months’ imprisonment along with a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Girard was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victims in the case and $1,100 in fines and assessments. Girard remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-4023.
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Saratoga County Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking Family Member of Slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian ThompsonRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Shane Daley, age 40, of Galway, New York, pled guilty today to cyberstalking for sending harassing and threatening voicemail messages to a family member of murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
As part of the guilty plea, Daley admitted that between December 4 and 7, 2024, beginning just hours after Thompson’s murder in midtown Manhattan, Daley placed multiple calls to a work phone line used by a member of Thompson’s family. Daley further admitted that in a series of voicemail messages, Daley used threatening and harassing language that focused on, among other things, Thompson’s killing, expressed satisfaction over the fact and manner of his death, and stated that the victim and Thompson’s children deserved to meet the same violent end.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Shane Daley celebrated the cold-blooded murder of Brian Thompson and senselessly tried to maximize the Thompson family’s suffering. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that federal law enforcement will not tolerate such sickening conduct. I commend the hard work of the FBI and members of my office and the Southern District of New York for bringing Daley to justice.”
Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said: “Shane Daley’s conviction is just and sends two important messages. We will protect victims – Daley tormented the family of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, after Thompson’s 2024 murder. This reprehensible conduct demands swift justice. Also, and more broadly, threats and other acts of violence, particularly when motivated by commercial, social, political, or religious factors, are not acceptable in our free society. Freedom means freedom from violence. We thank the women and men of the Northern District for protecting those freedoms. Today’s federal conviction reflects the grave and calculated nature of Daley’s criminal actions and underscores this Office’s unwavering commitment to aggressively prosecuting those who target and terrorize victims through stalking and harassment. This outcome was achieved in close partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, demonstrating the strength of coordinated federal efforts to hold offenders accountable and protect victims.”
James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), said: “Just hours after Brian Thompson’s brutal public murder, Shane Daley repeatedly terrorized a grieving family by glorifying the loss of their loved one and threatening similar fates. The FBI does not tolerate those who hide behind screens and keyboards to exploit the suffering of others for senseless torment.”
Sentencing is scheduled for July 17, 2026, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Daley faces a maximum term of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal of the Northern District of New York and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic A. Gentile of the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
San Joaquin County Woman Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Defrauding the IRS of over $1.2 MillionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Amy Evangelista, 60, of Lathrop, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for two counts of aiding or assisting in the preparation or presentation of a false or fraudulent tax return, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“This tax preparer betrayed her clients and the American public by creating phantom companies and fake business expenses, resulting in $1.23 million in fraudulent tax refunds,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Her prison sentence is a reminder that we will pursue and seek punishment for those who corrupt our tax system.”
“This case highlights the importance of choosing a trustworthy and qualified tax return preparer, especially during the height of tax filing season,” said Linda Nguyen, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation’s unwavering commitment to protecting taxpayers and upholding the integrity of the communities we serve.”
According to court documents, for the tax years from 2017 through 2020, Evangelista falsified more than a thousand of her clients’ tax returns to increase the refund amounts without her clients’ knowledge or consent. Evangelista reported false businesses, false income, and false expenses for her clients to the Internal Revenue Service. In one instance, Evangelista prepared a client’s 2019 tax return and falsely reported $8,830 in business losses when the client did not operate any business in 2019, nor had she told Evangelista that she operated any business or had any business expenses. Additionally, there were no business records to support the false tax schedule filing except for a fraudulent Form 1099-MISC that was prepared for the client. Evangelista repeated similar conduct with respect to hundreds of her clients.
During the investigation, investigators contacted one of Evangelista’s clients to inquire about the preparation of the client’s return. Evangelista later told the client to lie and tell investigators that the client worked as a caregiver for a particular employer when the client did not work as a caregiver for that employer. Evangelista also prepared a false Form 1099-MISC for the client to make it appear as though the client worked as a caregiver when the client did not.
In total, Evangelista helped file approximately 1,087 fraudulent income tax returns that contained false Schedules C resulting in a loss to the IRS of approximately $1,234,430, which Evangelista was ordered to pay in restitution to the IRS. Evangelista pleaded guilty on Nov. 6, 2025.
The IRS-CI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nchekube Onyima prosecuted the case.
Rockingham Man Sentenced for Possession of Ammunition after Discharging Gun Multiple Times near Residential BuildingRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. – A Reidsville, North Carolina man was sentenced today in Greensboro to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to a possession of ammunition as a previously convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
LINDSEY L. HAYES, age 41, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment plus 3 years post release supervision by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Chief/Senior United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC.
According to court records, on January 7, 2025, at approximately 8:22 p.m., officers with the Reidsville Police Department responded to an apartment complex located on Marcellus Street in Reidsville after receiving a 911 call regarding a shooting. When officers arrived, they spoke with various tenants who stated they heard arguing followed by gunshots. One tenant said prior to the shooting he/she heard a man banging on the door of a neighboring apartment and heard a man say something to the effect of “watch this.” Another said he/she heard a man say, “Open this door before I shoot this shit up.”
Officers obtained video surveillance which showed HAYES getting out of a white SUV and walking up the steps to the front door of the apartment where the mother of his child resided and knocking on the door multiple times. In the video, HAYES appeared to be yelling through the door. When no one answers, HAYES walks back down the stairs and returns to the white SUV before heading back to the same apartment, this time while carrying a handgun. HAYES uses the handle of the gun to knock on the door again. After standing at the door for a short time, he walks back down the stairs and gets into the driver seat of the white SUV. Before he exits the parking lot of the apartment complex, HAYES slows down while driving past the apartment. His left arm extends out of the front driver side window and muzzle flash and smoke are seen as multiple shots were fired.
While canvasing the area, officers observed two bullet holes in the siding of the apartment building and two spent shell casings in the parking lot near where his vehicle was at the time of the shooting. No firearm was recovered.
During the sentencing hearing, evidence was presented that at the time of the shooting the apartment was occupied by at least two people.
Prior to his arrest, HAYES was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on four separate occasions. Additionally, HAYES was on post release supervision for convictions for Felony Discharge of a Weapon into Occupied Property and Felony Assault with Physical Injury of a Detention Employee. HAYES had been released to supervision about two months before committing the shooting.
HAYES pleaded guilty on December 4, 2025, to being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
The case was investigated by the Reidsville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by MDNC Assistant United States Attorney Tracy M. Williams-Durham.
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Richardson man convicted of federal child pornography violationsRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Richardson man has been convicted of federal child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Justin Philip Ciruti, 42, was found guilty by a jury of distribution and possession of child pornography following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on March 19, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in September of 2024, a social media platform reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a user had distributed child pornography via a direct message. That referral was received by the Richardson Police Department, who investigated the case and determined that the child pornography distribution resolved back to Ciruti’s residence in Richardson.
On December 2, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Ciruti’s residence and electronic devices were recovered. A forensic analysis of the devices revealed some 200 images and approximately 200 videos of child pornography saved in various places, including in an encrypted application and a video player application. The video file which was originally reported by the social media platform was also recovered.
Under federal statutes, Ciruti faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing 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 U.S. Probation Office.
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 United States 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Richardson Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa Miller and Calli Bailey.
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Rehoboth Man Arrested for Sexually Exploiting Multiple MinorsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rehoboth man has been arrested and charged with allegedly sexually exploiting four minor females between 12 and 16 years old.
Christopher Mota, 29, was charged by criminal complaint with four counts of sexual exploitation of children. Mota was arrested this morning in Rehoboth and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston later today.
On June 5, 2025, Mota was scheduled to board a flight from Boston Logan International Airport to Aruba. During a border search of Mota’s luggage, an iPhone 16 Pro Max. was observed which contained a hidden folder in the Photos application containing apparent child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”). The device was subsequently seized.During a recorded interview by federal authorities Mota admitted that he stored CSAM in a hidden folder on his phone and that he obtained CSAM from minors via Snapchat, text and Telegram. Mota allegedly stated that he estimated he has received CSAM from approximately 20 to 25 minor girls. When asked how many images or videos of CSAM he has received, Mota allegedly stated, “it’s a lot” and said, “probably hundreds.”
A preliminary forensic review of Mota’s phone revealed that he had sexually explicit communications and exchanges of CSAM with at least four identified minor females, whose identities are known to law enforcement.
The charge of sexual exploitation of minors (and attempt and conspiracy) provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release 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 Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office and Rehoboth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Real Estate Developer Indicted for Multimillion Dollar Loan FraudRead the Press Release
Real Estate Developer Indicted for Multimillion Dollar Loan Fraud
CONCORD – A Bow resident and real estate developer was indicted for fraudulently obtaining a $3.8 million loan, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Charles Sargent, 37, was charged with Bank Fraud. According to the indictment, Sargent was a real estate developer who sought to purchase the Chase Block Building located at 1037-1045 Elm Street in Manchester. The true owner of the Chase Block Building sold the property for $2.7 million to a person acting at Sargent’s direction. Sargent then took possession of the Chase Block Building. However, to get a $3.8 million loan, Sargent claimed he purchased the Chase Block Building for $4.7 million and sent the lender fabricated bank statements, leases, and checks.
The charging statute provides a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of the Inspector General and FBI led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Previously Deported Dominican Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United States and Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Previously Deported Dominican Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United States and Distributing Methamphetamine
CONCORD – A Dominican man pleaded guilty today in federal court to immigration and drug offenses, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Joel Castillo-Soto, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, specifically methamphetamine, and one count of reentry after deportation. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Samantha Elliot scheduled Castillo-Soto’s sentencing for June 25, 2026.
According to the court documents and statements made in court, beginning in early 2024, the DEA began an investigation into an unknown individual who was selling multiple-ounce quantities of methamphetamine in the Rochester, New Hampshire area. During the investigation, a DEA cooperating source (or “CS”) communicated with Ariel Castillo-Solano, who was using the identity of Jose Antonio Santiago, an American citizen from Puerto Rico. Between October 21, 2024 and January 10, 2025, the DEA, using a CS and a DEA undercover Task Force Officer negotiated several sales totaling more than five pounds of methamphetamine from Castillo-Solano. Between January 10, 2025 and January 23, 2025, Castillo-Solano arranged to sell the undercover officer an additional 15 pounds of methamphetamine, about 21 ounces cocaine, and 40 grams of fentanyl. They agreed to a purchase price of $69,000. On January 24, 2025, Castillo-Solano met the undercover officer in a parking lot in Seabrook, where Castillo-Solano stated that his “brother,” later identified as the defendant, Joel Castillo-Soto, would be arriving in an Uber to deliver the product. Thereafter, Castillo-Soto arrived and delivered the methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl to the undercover officer, at which point the DEA arrested both Castillo-Solano and Castillo-Soto.
Castillo-Solano pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on March 12, 2016.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance carries a sentence of up to 20 years’ incarceration, not less than 3 years of supervised release, and a fine up to $1,000,000. The charge of illegal reentry after a conviction of a qualifying felony carries a sentence of up to 20 years’ incarceration, not less than 3 years of supervised release, and a fine 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.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Pittsburgh Attorney Charged with Embezzling More Than $1.3 Million from Incline Preservation Society for Which He Served as Board PresidentRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, attorney has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of wire fraud and money laundering, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The 10-count Indictment named Christopher Furman, 53, of Pittsburgh, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, in 2020, Furman was selected President of the Board of Trustees for the Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline—the organization that has operated the Duquesne Incline since the Society’s founding in 1964—based on his history as a former employee of the incline and familiarity with the incline’s mechanical operations, as well as his background as an attorney. In his role as President of the Board, Furman was neither authorized to view the Society’s bank accounts nor to use its money for personal purposes. The Indictment alleges that, from October 2024 to September 2025, Furman transferred approximately $1,379,300 from the Society’s bank accounts into his own account via more than 25 electronic transactions. Furman then transferred that money to an online cryptocurrency exchange and digital asset management platform, where he purchased and sold cryptocurrency for his personal profit.
At each count of wire fraud, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of the greater of $250,000 or an alternative of twice the gross pecuniary gain, or both. At each count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from wire fraud (money laundering), the law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of the greater of $250,000 or an alternative of twice the amount of criminally derived property, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Persistent armed fentanyl dealer gets 20-year prison sentenceRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 34-year-old Seattle resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 20 years in prison for three counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Leon Henderson was arrested by Seattle Police in January, May, and September 2023. Each time Henderson had more than a thousand fentanyl pills, and on two of the arrests he had loaded firearms. A jury convicted Henderson in November 2025, following a three-day trial.
At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead noted that Henderson knew he was dealing to homeless addicts who would struggle to resist the temptation. “The numbers in this case speak volumes.” Mr. Henderson had “over 18,000 fentanyl pills, 220 grams of fentanyl powder, and 700 grams of methamphetamine.” Selling the fentanyl pills for “a dollar per pill,” he could have caused “18,000 potential overdoses in our community.” Judge Whitehead said.
“This case exemplifies the effort federal law enforcement is making around crime hotspots in our city, such as the North Aurora emphasis area,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “The FBI and Seattle Police Department identified this area as one where federal attention could make a difference. This case took significant deadly drugs, firearms, and a habitual criminal off the street.”
“Even though Mr. Henderson had multiple chances to change his destructive behavior, he persisted in selling fentanyl to homeless and vulnerable individuals while illegally in possession of stolen, loaded firearms,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Every time Mr. Henderson was arrested, he had even more fentanyl pills than the last, thousands on each occasion, showing he still has not learned his lesson even after repeated arrests. The FBI and our partners will continue to pursue dangerous drug traffickers to hold them accountable and keep our communities safe.”
According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, on January 25, 2023, Henderson was contacted at his car, parked outside the Park Plaza Motel on Aurora. He had $2770 cash in his pocket. When the car was searched, law enforcement found around 600 grams methamphetamine, 1,700 fentanyl pills, 200 grams of fentanyl powder, and a loaded pistol under the driver’s seat. Henderson’s DNA was on the pistol and on a second gun found in a bag with narcotics.
On May 5, 2023, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, Henderson was contacted by Seattle Police and was found to have about 7,000 fentanyl pills, a firearm, and cash.
And finally on September 13, 2023, Henderson was arrested in Ballard near a homeless encampment. Henderson possessed a backpack with nearly 10,000 fentanyl pills.
Henderson’s crimes result in a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years: ten years for drug possession counts and a consecutive five years for each of the drug-related firearm counts.
The jury also found that Henderson illegally possessed the firearms due to his previous felony convictions for promoting prostitution and felony harassment.
It is that criminal history that particularly concerned prosecutors and those working to fight crime in the North Aurora neighborhoods. “The underlying details of his 2019 conviction for promoting prostitution are quite alarming; Mr. Henderson forced the victim to work as a sex worker by injecting her with heroin and threatening her with death. As the Court is aware, each time Mr. Henderson was arrested in this case, he was arrested with a different female companion. The first female who was with Mr. Henderson during the January 25 arrest, was allegedly involved in prostitution. The third female, who was with him during the September 13 arrest, had been reported as a missing person in Clallam County. At a minimum, this suggests that Mr. Henderson involved others in his drug trafficking activity. At worst, he continued to promote prostitution alongside his drug trafficking business. Under either scenario, his illegal possession of guns endangered his female associates.”
Henderson will be on 5 years of supervised release following his prison term.
The case was investigated by the Seattle Police and the FBI as part of an emphasis on crime in the North Aurora area. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives provided key assistance.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Manca, Jin Kim, and Carolyn Forstein.
Othello Man Sentenced to 15 Months Incarceration for Odometer TamperingRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on March 17, 2026, in Spokane, Washington, U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca L. Pennell sentenced Reynaldo Garza, age 53, of Othello, Washington, to 15 months incarceration and ordered he pay $21,080 in restitution to four victims of his scheme to rollback odometers in used vehicles. Judge Pennell also ordered that, following his incarceration, Garza be on supervised release for 1 year. As a condition of his supervised release, Judge Pennell ordered that Garza is not permitted to sell any vehicles.
On October 1, 2025, a federal jury in Spokane, Washington convicted Garza of five felony counts of Odometer Tampering. As evidence presented at the trial established, a thorough investigation initiated by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office determined that Garza would purchase used high-mileage cars for cheap. Garza would replace the odometers in the vehicles with an odometer purchased from wrecking yards or used auto parts sellers. The new odometer would display many fewer miles than the vehicle’s actual mileage. Garza then sold the vehicles under the false and fraudulent representation that they had fewer miles than was true. In some cases, Garza sold cars by misrepresenting the mileage by up to 100,000 miles less than the actual mileage. In other cases, the difference was tens of thousands of miles. In doing so, Garza made thousands of dollars in profits for each fraudulent sale.
In total, Garza tampered with the odometers of at least 21 different vehicles. At sentencing, the United States offered the testimony of an expert who calculated that the total miles removed by Garza via odometer rollback was 2,142,682 miles.
In sentencing Garza to 15 months, Judge Pennell acknowledged that Garza’s conduct was not an isolated event, but had been ongoing for years, and that Garza committed a significant offense where he targeted his own community and breached their trust. Judge Pennell further stated that the dollar amount lost did not fully reflect the pain and suffering that Garza’s conduct had caused to his victims. In argument, the United States explicitly referenced how several victims still have to drive the vehicle Garza tampered with because they simply cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle.
“Mr. Garza is not the first nor the last person commit odometer fraud in the Eastern District of Washington. Our office takes these crimes seriously and will investigate and prosecute all instances of odometer tampering. Mr. Garza’s sentence reflects the harm he imposed on our community. This sentence should serve as a message that odometer tampering is a significant and serious offense that will not be tolerated in our community,” stated First Assistant Serrano.
“Odometer fraud is a serious and costly crime. It's also dangerous. These purchasers were defrauded into believing that the vehicles were more than 100,000 miles newer than in reality—taking on additional risks from safety-critical components affecting steering and braking. NHTSA is committed to working with U.S. Attorneys’ offices to investigate, prosecute and sentence those who defraud unsuspecting car buyers. This sentencing provides justice for the numerous victims who suffered significant financial losses. NHTSA will continue to protect Americans from these deceptive and dangerous practices,” stated NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Odometer Fraud and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy J. Kelley. and Jacob E. Brooks.
Individuals with information relating to odometer tampering should call NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. More information on odometer fraud, including prevention tips, is available on NHTSA’s website.
Online couple sentenced to prison for sexually exploiting and abusing toddler and infantRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A New Jersey man and a Virginia woman were sentenced to prison for their roles in the exploitation and abuse of two children to share child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, in early April 2024, Michael J. Machonis, 30, of Bridgewater, New Jersey, and Asia Tamara Billups, 20, of Gloucester, Virginia, met online. They originally shared sexually explicit content of themselves with each other and engaged in sexually explicit conversations. Those sexually explicit conversations eventually led to the discussion of minors and the exchange of CSAM.
On May 31, 2024, and June 1, 2024, Billups used a cellphone to produce four sexually explicit videos of a three-year-old toddler and a four-month-old infant. Billups transmitted the videos to Machonis.
Billups pled guilty on April 14, 2025, to two counts of production of CSAM and one count of distribution of CSAM. She was sentenced on Sept. 19, 2025, to 15 years in prison.
Machonis pled guilty on Oct. 24, 2025, to two counts of coercion and enticement and one count of receipt of CSAM. He was sentenced today to 17 years in prison.
The FBI’s Norfolk Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Somerset County (New Jersey) Prosecutor’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-70.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati man, Bryant Adams, 43, was sentenced on Thursday to 120 months by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, law enforcement used a cooperating witness to purchase 55.9 grams of methamphetamine from Adams on August 28, 2024. Adams agreed to make another sale of methamphetamine on September 3, 2024, and law enforcement arrested Adams when he arrived at the designated pickup location. Adams was found with 80.2 grams of methamphetamine and admitted distributing approximately one pound of methamphetamine per week in the six months leading up to his arrest.
Under federal law, Adams must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Director Scott Hardcorn, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Oakland Man Charged for Sex Trafficking of a 17-Year-Old VictimRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today, against Keynin McGee, 27, of Oakland, charging him with sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion for compelling a 17-year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in late 2020, McGee met and recruited the minor victim online. In early 2021, McGee bought the victim a bus ticket so she could travel to Oakland, where he lived. When she arrived, McGee took her shopping and brought her to a motel where he posted photographs of her on a website used to sell and purchase commercial sex. Afterward, McGee had sex with the victim, telling her he wanted to test “the product,” even though he acknowledged she was a minor. McGee then drove the victim to International Boulevard in Oakland, an area known for commercial sex activity, and instructed her to have sex with men for money. When the victim followed his instructions, McGee seized her earnings and kept all the proceeds of her commercial sex acts for himself. Additionally, McGee sent the victim threatening text messages. In several of the messages, McGee threatened to “shoot” or “kill” the victim.
McGee also took the victim to San Francisco, where he again trafficked her. The victim ultimately escaped when an officer with the San Francisco Police Department encountered her on the street and connected her with local human trafficking service providers.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Leah Branch of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa for the Eastern District of California are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, McGee faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and mandatory minimum penalties of 15 years in prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and 10 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor. Any sentence, however, would 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Music Streaming Fraud Aided by Artificial IntelligenceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the guilty plea today of MICHAEL SMITH for his role in a scheme to defraud music streaming platforms and musicians of royalty payments. To carry out the scheme, SMITH created hundreds of thousands of songs with artificial intelligence and used automated programs called “bots” to fraudulently stream his AI-generated songs billions of times, in an effort to mimic the genuine streaming activity of real consumers. SMITH pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl.
“Michael Smith generated thousands of fake songs using artificial intelligence and then streamed those fake songs billions of times,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Although the songs and listeners were fake, the millions of dollars Smith stole was real. Millions of dollars in royalties that Smith diverted from real, deserving artists and rights holders. Smith’s brazen scheme is over, as he stands convicted of a federal crime for his AI-assisted fraud.”
According to the charging documents and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
Music can be streamed through music streaming platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music (the “Streaming Platforms”). Each time a song is streamed through one of the Streaming Platforms, the songwriter who composed the song, the musician who performed it, and in certain cases other rights holders, are entitled to small royalty payments. Royalty payments are made proportionately to musicians and songwriters from a pool of funds. As a result, streaming fraud diverts funds from musicians and songwriters whose songs were legitimately streamed by real consumers to those who use automation to falsely create the appearance of legitimate streaming.
SMITH created thousands of accounts on the Streaming Platforms (the “Bot Accounts”) that he could use to stream songs. He then used software to cause the Bot Accounts to continuously stream songs that he owned.
SMITH spread his automated streams across thousands of songs to avoid anomalous streaming as to any single song, which would likely cause the Streaming Platforms to discover his scheme. To obtain the necessary number of songs for his scheme to succeed, SMITH turned to artificial intelligence, which he used to create hundreds of thousands of AI-generated songs for which he could manipulate the streams.
SMITH’s hundreds of thousands of AI-generated songs were streamed by his Bot Accounts billions of times, which allowed him to fraudulently obtain more than $8 million in royalties.
* * *
SMITH, 54, of Cornelius, North Carolina, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. SMITH also agreed to pay $8,091,843.64 in forfeiture.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. SMITH is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Koeltl on July 29, 2026.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas W. Chiuchiolo and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.
North Carolina Man Convicted in Cyber Extortion Scheme That Targeted D.C.-based Tech CompanyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday against a Charlotte, North Carolina, man for carrying out an extensive cyber extortion scheme against a D.C.-based international technology company, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Cameron Curry, 27, was convicted of six counts of transmitting or willfully causing interstate communications with the intent to extort a victim company. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell of the Western District of North Carolina presided over the three-day trial.
According to court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, Curry was contracted to work as a data analyst for about six months with the victim company. In that capacity, Curry had access to the victim company’s data files and other personnel and corporate information.
Trial evidence established that Curry misused his position to access the victim company’s personnel and other sensitive corporate records, which he then used to carry out the cyber extortion scheme after he learned that his contract was not going to be renewed and that he would no longer be employed by the company.
According to evidence presented at trial, from Dec. 11, 2023, to Jan. 24, 2024, Curry, identifying himself online as “Loot,” sent more than 60 email messages to company employees and executives, threatening to disclose sensitive information unless he was paid $2.5 million in cryptocurrency.
Trial evidence further established that the email messages contained threats to disclose sensitive corporate information and employee data, including employees’ personally identifiable information (PII), as well as threats to harm the reputation of the victim company by reporting a breach of its information and publishing the information publicly if the victim company failed to pay him via cryptocurrency.
On Jan. 24, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Curry’s residence and seized various electronic devices. A forensic analysis revealed that Curry was committing the extortion scheme under the “Loot” alias.
At sentencing, Curry faces up to two years in prison for each of the six charges. A sentencing date is pending.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office with significant assistance from the FBI Charlotte Field Office.
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in District of Columbia, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Warren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
25cr148 NC
24mj26 DC
Norfolk man convicted on federal drug trafficking and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Norfolk man yesterday on charges of using a drug involved premises, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Dec. 18, 2025, law enforcement searched the Norfolk residence of James Edward Sweat, 40. Agents located two firearms, including a shotgun and a handgun, and six ammunition magazines, including a 100-round drum magazine. Agents also found three separate kits to manufacture drugs, 14.3 grams of crack cocaine, fentanyl packaged for sale, and nine types of ammunition.
Sweat was previously convicted of abduction, two counts of robbery, and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. As a convicted felon, Sweat cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Sweat faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison when sentenced on July 14. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case with assistance from the Chesapeake Police Department and Norfolk Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph E. DePadilla and Megan M. Montoya are 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-5.
U.S. Attorney's Office U.S. Attorney's Office U.S. Attorney's OfficeNew Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Drug-Related Firearm Possession OffenseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HARRY WHITLEY, 23, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 4, 2024, Whitley, who had an active state arrest warrant and was on probation, was observed participating in a suspected drug transaction in New Haven. Whitley was arrested a short time later in Waterbury. At the time of his arrest, he possessed fentanyl, cocaine, and oxycodone, and a Glock 17 9mm semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine and a Glock-style machine gun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch.”
Whitley’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for firearm possession and larceny offenses.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for June 11.
Whitley has been detained since his arrest.
This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the New Haven Police Department, and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Lembo and Nathan Guevremont.
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.
New Castle Felon Sentenced to More Than 6.5 Years in Prison for Trafficking of Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine and Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 80 months in prison, to be followed by six years of supervised release, on his conviction of drug trafficking and firearm crimes as part of a Homeland Security Task Force prosecution, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Jauan Searcy, 44, who, in July 2025, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine between August 2023 and August 2024, and to possessing a firearm following a felony conviction.
According to information presented to the Court, Searcy—who had previously been convicted of a felony—was part of a drug trafficking conspiracy that was based in Detroit and in New Castle. Searcy participated in the conspiracy by retailing controlled substances to his customers in the New Castle area. When law enforcement arrested Searcy at his New Castle residence on August 1, 2024, following his federal indictment, agents found a shotgun next to Searcy’s bed. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Mercer County Drug Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security, and Douglas County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Searcy.
This prosecution was 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 toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations that 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.
Moses Lake Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced today that Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Billy Gene Pinson, age 45, 35 years imprisonment for three counts of Production of Child Pornography, two counts of Possession of Child Pornography, and one count of Commission of a Felony Sex Offense by an Individual Required to Register as Sex Offender. Pinson pleaded guilty on October 15, 2025. Judge Bastian sentenced Pinson to 35 years in prison, followed by a life term of supervised release. Judge Bastian also ordered restitution for one victim in the amount of $3,000, imposed a $10,000 assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act, and ordered the forfeiture of electronic devices used in connection with Defendant’s crimes.
According to court documents, Pinson is a repeat sex offender, convicted in 1994 of two counts of Rape of a Child in the First Degree and in 2013 of Communication with a Minor for Immoral Purposes. Required to register as a sex offender, Pinson was already abusing his next victims before probation expired on his 2013 sex offense. Between February 2014 and October 2018, Pinson raped and sexually abused eight more children and exploited at least two more identifiable victims. Pinson’s victims were as young as four years old.
The case came to light in March 2019, according to the filed plea agreement, when one of Pinson’s minor victims – then six years old – disclosed abuse at Pinson’s residence in Moses Lake. The ensuing investigation led to four more children disclosing years of sexual abuse by Pinson. Some of the victims described being photographed nude and in sexual poses and seeing these images on Pinson’s phone. Additional victims were identified when computer hard drives belonging to Pinson were forensically reviewed and found to contain child pornography produced by Pinson, in addition to child pornography Pinson obtained online. A safe in Pinson’s garage contained printed child pornography photographs, a baggie of one of his victim’s hair, and several pairs of used little girls’ underwear. Pinson’s DNA was matched to semen on the underwear.
“Crimes involving the sexual exploitation and abuse of minor children are the most reprehensible crimes,” said Serrano. “Pinson has proven over and over that he will harm a child he desires if given the chance, and the sentence today puts that to end. Our office is committed to working alongside our state and federal partners to seek justice for these victims, and I’m grateful for a sentence that removes Pinson from our community. My heart goes out to the victims and their families, but I hope the length of Pinson’s sentence helps them healing.”
“This defendant’s actions caused devastating harm to multiple victims, and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of those crimes,” said Grant County Prosecuting Attorney Brandon Guernsey. “The Grant County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office takes crimes involving the victimization of children with the utmost seriousness, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community. Our office is grateful to see this defendant finally held accountable for the profound harm he inflicted on multiple victims. We appreciate the U.S. Attorney’s Office for taking on such a significant and challenging prosecution. The thorough investigation by the Moses Lake Police Department, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made this outcome possible, and we hope the victims can now begin the process of healing and moving forward.”
Captain Mike Williams, of the Moses Lake Police Department added, “While we are happy to close the book on the prosecution phase of this repugnant and tragic case, we are reminded that there are eight victims whose lives were irrevocably changed by this criminal. Our hope is that this sentence will bring some measure of peace to them. MLPD would like to thank our federal partners with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and United States Attorney's Office for their work on this case. The scope of the investigation was staggering, and with their help, all of the victims were able to have their voices heard.”
“This substantial prison sentence removed Pinson from our community where he can never again groom, exploit, or terrorize another child,” said Homeland Security Investigations Seattle Acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “HSI was able to bring this case to justice because brave young victims spoke up and our special agents, with assistance from Moses Lake Police Department and the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office, quickly stepped in to investigate without hesitation. We know that no sentence can erase the lifelong trauma these children carry, but HSI will stand with them—for as long as it takes—and we will not stop. HSI is unwavering in our mission to protect children, pursue predators like this repeat, dangerous sex offender and work with our communities to find, stop, and prosecute anyone who dares to harm a child.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated jointly by Homeland Security Investigations and the Moses Lake Police Department. Pinson was first prosecuted by the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office. This federal case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick.
Missouri Registered Sex Offender Charged with Attempted Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was charged by criminal complaint in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City for attempting to produce child pornography while being required to register as a sex offender.
Addison Jones, 28, was charged with attempted production of child pornography and an additional charge for committing the crime while being required to register as a sex offender.
An affidavit filed with the complaint alleges that Jones communicated over the internet with a 10-year-old boy to attempt to obtain depictions of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa A. Moore. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Mississippi Man Ordered to Pay $31 Million for Role in Healthcare Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that the United States has obtained a civil judgment against a Batesville, Mississippi man for his role in orchestrating a commission-based referral scheme targeting federal healthcare programs, in violation of the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Anti-Kickback Statute.
On March 16, 2026, a federal judge entered judgment against 67-year-old Robert L. Crites, the owner of Health Services Plus and TriCom, LLC, and a contractor of Extraordinary Scripts, Inc., in the amount of $31,039,134.82.
According to court records, Crites and others associated with Extraordinary Scripts participated in an illegal kickback scheme in which they identified and referred patients across the country to Cloverland Pharmacy in Montgomery, Alabama. Crites primarily recruited beneficiaries of TRICARE, the health care program for members of the U.S. military and their families. In turn, the pharmacy paid Crites and his co-conspirators kickbacks for each referral.
The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits the offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving of compensation to induce referrals for items or services reimbursable by federally funded healthcare programs. The statute is designed to safeguard medical decision-making by ensuring that patient care is not influenced by improper financial incentives.
The $31,039,134.82 judgment against Crite includes $16,342,424.82 in damages — which is three times the $5,447,474.94 in losses sustained by TRICARE — as required under the False Claims Act, as well as $14,696,710 in civil penalties imposed by the court. Crites was the last remaining defendant in the case. The United States previously settled with five other co-defendants named in the suit as well as others involved in a parallel civil forfeiture action.
This matter reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to combating healthcare fraud and protecting the integrity of federal healthcare programs. The False Claims Act remains one of the government’s most effective tools in this effort.
This case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was handled for the United States by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen D. Wadsworth.
Milton Felon Indicted for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
Penscaola, Florida – Terrell Ta’Quez Parker, 27, of Milton, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance involving more than 40 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and cocaine; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Parker appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for April 20, 2026, in Pensacola before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
If convicted, Parker faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to 40 years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute count; and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.
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.
Mexican National Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Marcos Jimeniz-Gonzalez (45) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger to 30 months in federal prison for illegal reentry by a previously removed alien. Jimeniz-Gonzalez pleaded guilty on December 11, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court records, Jimeniz-Gonzalez was found in the United States on April 13, 2025, after being arrested by local authorities for driving under the influence and operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver license. Prior to being found, Jimeniz-Gonzalez had been previously deported on multiple occasions between 2008 and 2020 and had not received permission from immigration authorities to reenter the United States. Additionally, Jimeniz-Gonzalez has a prior conviction for illegal entry into the United States and two prior convictions for illegal reentry into the United States. Following his arrest, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who checked ICE records and learned that Jimeniz-Gonzalez was a citizen of Mexico who had no legal authority to be in the United States. An additional check into the system established that Jimeniz-Gonzalez had entered the United States illegally on at least four prior occasions and had been deported.
This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chuck Griffith.
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.
Methamphetamine Trafficker Convicted by Federal Jury in AmarilloRead the Press Release
A methamphetamine trafficker was convicted on March 18, 2026, by a federal jury in Amarillo, Texas, for his role in possessing and conspiring to distribute approximately $400,000 worth of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Cameron Nesbitt, 33, of Lancaster, California, was indicted in late August 2025 for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, after agents found almost 100 pounds of the drug in his rental vehicle during a traffic stop on August 2, 2025, in Oldham County, Texas, according to evidence at trial. In the two-day trial that began on March 17, 2026, jurors heard testimony from a handful of law enforcement witnesses and considered over 40 exhibits supporting the charges against Nesbitt.
“This defendant traveled in the Northern District of Texas with nearly a half-million dollars’ worth of methamphetamine in his vehicle,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “The astute work of DPS Troopers and DEA agents interrupted his plan to dump these dangerous drugs onto our streets, and the jury held him accountable. Credit to the AUSAs in my office for trying a fantastic case.”
“Traffickers who exploit North Texas as a distribution hub for moving dangerous drugs across the United States will face the full weight of federal law,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “The DEA, alongside our state and local law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in our commitment to disrupting these criminal networks and protecting the communities we serve.”
Testimony and other evidence at trial established that a drug interdiction DPS trooper on patrol the morning of Saturday, August 2, 2025, stopped the vehicle in which Nesbitt was a passenger for speeding. During his interactions with the driver and Nesbitt, the trooper noticed signs of drug trafficking, including:
• The vehicle was rented in Lancaster, California, and had been rented by a third party;
• The driver and Nesbitt informed the trooper that they were traveling from Lancaster to Atlanta to visit Nesbitt’s brother for a couple days, and gave conflicting stories about where they would be staying;
• The vehicle had a lived-in look and had energy drinks scattered throughout the vehicle;
• Both the driver and Nesbitt seemed very nervous.Evidence at trial revealed that the rental car was also equipped with a dashcam mounted on the front and rear windshields, along with a receipt showing the camera was purchased from a Lancaster, California store the morning the vehicle was rented. Agents testified that during the traffic stop, a drug canine alerted on the vehicle for narcotics. During a subsequent search of the car, law enforcement agents found three duffle bags, one of which contained 15 bundles of methamphetamine. The duffle bag holding the large bundles of methamphetamine still had a store tag attached. The total weight of the methamphetamine was over 44 kilograms, or 97.26 pounds. Testimony at trial established that the methamphetamine’s street value in the Amarillo area would be at least $400,000. Prosecutors introduced photographs of the packaged methamphetamine during trial:
Govt. Ex. 10; photo of seized methamphetamine on top of rental car Govt. Ex. 34; photo of seized methamphetamine at the Oldham County Sheriff’s OfficeThe driver of the vehicle, Johian Scott, 34, also of Lancaster, California, was arrested with Nesbitt that day and indicted along with Nesbitt in late August 2025. Scott pled guilty in February this year to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Nesbitt and Scott each face a minimum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of life imprisonment. Scott is set for sentencing on June 30, 2026, and Nesbitt is set for sentencing on July 21, 2026. Both men will be sentenced before United States District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk who oversaw Nesbitt’s trial.
The Drug Enforcement Administration - Amarillo Resident Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Amarillo Police Department, with assistance from an investigator with the 47th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, handled the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ann Howey and Stephen Rancourt are prosecuting the case.
Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Making a Bomb ThreatRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Meridian man pleaded guilty on March 19, 2026, to the charge of threatening to unlawfully damage and destroy a building on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Gabriel Billie, Director of Choctaw Public Safety for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
According to court documents, Joshua Mark Davis, 37, of Meridian, used a phone inside the Silver Star Hotel & Casino of the Pearl River Resort on the Choctaw Indian Reservation to make a bomb threat.
In May of 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Davis on the charge. Davis pleaded guilty to the charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2026. Davis faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger commended the work of the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, who investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy.
Mendocino County Man Sentenced to 10.5 Years in Prison for Attempted Enticement of A Minor and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A Mendocino County resident was sentenced yesterday to 126 months in federal prison for attempting to coerce and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and distribution and possession of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Jaqueline Scott Corley handed down the sentence.
Nathanial Alfonso Burke, 34, of Willits, Calif., was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 9, 2024, and pleaded guilty on July 9, 2025, to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. According to the plea agreement, between February 22, 2024, through April 25, 2024, Burke messaged individuals whom he believed to be a father and his 11-year-old daughter, sending sexually explicit messages and child pornography via messaging applications. He eventually arranged a meeting with the father and 11-year-old to engage in sexual acts. Burke was arrested by law enforcement upon his arrival at the meet-up location with condoms in his pocket.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo made the announcement.
Burke has been in custody since April 2024. He will begin serving his prison term immediately. In addition to the prison term, Judge Corley also ordered Burke to serve 15 years of supervised release which will begin after his term of imprisonment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara E. Henderson is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Soana Katoa. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI with assistance from the Willits Police Department and Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety.
Maximiliano Davila Perez, Former Director of Bolivia’s National Anti-Narcotics Agency, Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Import Cocaine and Related Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Terrance Cole, announced that MAXIMILIANO DAVILA PEREZ was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for participating in a cocaine-importation conspiracy and a related weapons offense. DAVILA PEREZ is the former director of Bolivia’s chief anti-narcotics law enforcement agency, Fuerza Especial de Lucha Contra el Narcotráfico (“FELCN”) and was extradited to the United States from Bolivia in December 2024. Davila Perez was convicted on October 23, 2025, following a one-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote, who imposed today’s sentence.
“Maximiliano Davila Perez wielded extraordinary power as Bolivia’s top counternarcotics officer and chose to abuse that power to support the very drug traffickers he was sworn to investigate, all to send massive quantities of cocaine to New York,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Now, because of Davila Perez’s corruption and brazen attempt to flood our streets with cocaine, he will spend 25 years in federal prison. Our Office, alongside our partners at the DEA’s Special Operations Division, will continue to root out high-level narco-corruption around the globe that threatens our country and New Yorkers.”
“Betrayal of public trust by a law enforcement official is a complete abandonment of the oath they swore to uphold,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “Maximiliano Dávila Pérez turned his office into a criminal enterprise—protecting traffickers, ensuring the movement of cocaine, and directly enabling the flow of drugs into the United States. His actions fueled violence, corruption, and addiction. Today’s sentence makes clear that no badge, no title, and no position will shield those who choose crime over duty. DEA will identify, expose, and bring to justice anyone who abuses power to traffic drugs into our communities, wherever they operate.”
As reflected in the Superseding Indictment, other filings in Manhattan federal court, evidence at trial, and statements made in court proceedings:
Between approximately February 2019 and November 2019, while DAVILA PEREZ served as the Director of FELCN, and thereafter, he exploited his office and his powerful political and law enforcement connections to facilitate massive, international-scale cocaine trafficking. DAVILA PEREZ’s methods included both diverting law enforcement from investigating favored cocaine traffickers and providing heavily armed FELCN personnel as security for cocaine shipments leaving Bolivian airports. DAVILA PEREZ conspired with others to manufacture, ship, and provide armed protection for more than one metric ton of cocaine destined for the United States, and specifically, for New York.
DAVILA PEREZ did so during meetings and calls with his co-conspirators that were recorded by DEA confidential sources (the “CSes”) who also participated between approximately 2019 and 2020. Those meetings and calls resulted in the arrangement of a 10-kilogram sample of cocaine, authorized by DAVILA PEREZ, to be provided to the CSes in Lima, Peru, in December 2019. Throughout the conspiracy, DAVILA PEREZ repeatedly emphasized his willingness to participate in and provide protection for a shipment of over one ton of cocaine leaving Bolivia and transiting through the Dominican Republic before ultimately reaching New York.
DAVILA PEREZ made explicit his plans to facilitate that shipment. During recorded calls and meetings, DAVILA PEREZ suggested certain airports where he controlled airport security and could divert FELCN personnel to ensure a plane would successfully be loaded with cocaine. Specifically, DAVILA PEREZ said that on the day of the cocaine shipment, he would carry out an operation elsewhere and “take out everyone,” that is, ensure no investigative or operational FELCN personnel were available to interfere with the drug plot. He also committed to sending certain FELCN agents to guard the plane with their standard issue firearms—high-powered machineguns— as it was loaded with cocaine. DAVILA PEREZ also made explicit that he intended to profit from this cocaine deal, telling one of the CSes on a recording that “you are also going to profit, I am going to win too.” As the plot progressed over several months, DAVILA PEREZ continued to assure his co-conspirators and the CSes that he would arrange for the armed protection of the cocaine shipment so that it could safely leave Bolivia. And DAVILA PEREZ made clear that he had no regard for the fact that the cocaine was destined for the United States, telling a co-conspirator that he did not “give a shit,” because “the important thing is that the plane should take off and that we receive our money.”
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In addition to the prison term, DAVILA PEREZ, 62, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J.C. Hellman, David J. Robles, and Chelsea L. Scism are in charge of the prosecution.
March Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the March Federal Grand Jury 2025-B 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.
Quincy Jay Adams. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country. Adams, 32, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with assaulting the victim with a firearm, intending to do harm. Additionally, he is charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting his intimate dating partner by strangulation. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Dewhurst is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-106
Vismar Erick Atahuichi Alanoca. Advertising to Receive, Exchange, Produce, Display, Distribute, and Reproduce Child Pornography; Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Alanoca, 38, a Bolivian national, is charged with advertising to exchange child pornography. He is further charged with knowingly receiving and distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-088
Venkateswara Chagamreddy*. Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; Conspiracy to Demand Money and Property While Falsely Impersonating a Federal Officer; and Conspiracy to Obstruct, Delay, and Affect Commerce by Extortion (superseding). Chagamreddy, 27, a citizen of India, is charged with conspiring with others to defraud a Delaware County resident and demanding money or property while impersonating a federal officer. Further, he is charged with knowingly conspiring to obstruct and affect commerce by extortion. Homeland Security Investigations and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Greenough and Augustus Forster are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-441
Abram Lee Hiram Hobbs. False Statements Made to an Agency of the United States. Hobbs, 51, of Burbank, is charged with making false statements about a plot to kill an Assistant United States Attorney. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Osage County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Michel is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-089
Stephen Dale Homer. Production of Child Pornography; International Production of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography; Attempt to Tamper with Records and Proceedings (superseding). Homer, 57, of McAlester and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is charged with using a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of child sexual abuse material. He also coerced a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct outside of the United States for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the sexually explicit conduct. This visual depiction was then transported to the United States. Homer is additionally charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. Lastly, Homer attempted to destroy a record with the intent to impair its use in an official proceeding. The FBI Tulsa, the FBI Charlotte, the Federal Air Marshal Service, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Nathan Michel are prosecuting the case with assistance from the Western District of North Carolina USAO. 25-CR-171
Carlos Javier Diaz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Diaz, 43, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in January and October 2006 and in July 2007. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-099
Matthew Don Kernal. First Degree Murder in Indian Country. Kernal, 34, transient and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with deliberately and maliciously stabbing and killing Robert Shearhart with premeditation and malicious intent. The FBI, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Dunn and Blithe Cravens are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-097
Rogelio Trejo Martinez. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. Trejo Martinez, 34, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. He is additionally charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm while engaging in drug trafficking. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elmore is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-090
Noah McClary. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate/Dating Partner in Indian Country; Tampering with a Victim by Intimidation and Threats. McClary, 42, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with assaulting his spouse by strangulation. He is accused of assaulting his spouse, which resulted in bodily injury. Further, McClary is charged with knowingly using intimidation and threats to prevent a witness from testifying in an official proceeding. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blithe Cravens is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-096
Michael Edgar Ray. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Ray, 51, of Valley Center, Kansas, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm while engaging in drug trafficking. Additionally, Ray is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-095
Angel Rivera Escelante. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Rivera Escelante, 31, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. Homeland Security Investigations and the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-108Luis Alberto Rodriguez Ruvalcaba.Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rodriguez Ruvalcava, 30, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in March 2014 and in March 2016. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-109
Artenio Jairro Torres. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Torres, 40, a transient, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from December 2025 through February 2026. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-091Raul Vasquez Escarcega; Jose Ramon Rivas Alanis. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition (Counts 1 and 2). Vasquez Escarcega, 46, a Mexican national, and Rivas Alanis, 23, a Mexican national, are separately charged with possessing several firearms and assorted ammunition, knowing they are unlawfully residing in the United States. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Michel is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-098
Raheem Travon Walker. Escape from Federal Custody. Walker, 23, of Muskogee, is charged with escaping federal custody and knowingly departing the Turley Residential Center without permission. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-094
*Venkateswara Chagamreddy was tried by a federal jury in April 2026. He was found guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. Chagamreddy was acquitted of Conspiracy to Demand Money and Property While Falsely Impersonating a Federal Officer; and Conspiracy to Obstruct, Delay, and Affect Commerce by Extortion.
Man Sentenced for Stealing Mail from Gretna Post Office and Possessing Postal Service Key Used to Steal MailRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –TERRENCE THOMPSON, JR. (“THOMPSON”), age 24, of New Orleans, was sentenced on March 18, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to Unlawful Possession and Use of a United States Postal Service “arrow” key used by Postal Service employees to access authorized mail receptacles, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1704, and Theft of approximately 232 pieces of United States Mail that had been deposited into authorized mail receptacles, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, on September 12, 2021, and September 20, 2021, THOMPSON stole mail from the Gretna Post Office in Gretna, Louisiana. He was also found in possession of a United States Postal Service “arrow” key on October 5, 2021. U.S. District Court Judge Greg G. Guidry sentenced THOMPSON to fifteen (15) months in the Bureau of Prisons, 2 years of supervised release and a mandatory $300 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Office of the Inspector General, the Gretna Police Department, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is charge of the prosecution.
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Mail Thief Sentenced to 27 Months in Federal Prison for Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MARQUIS WILLIAMS, 49, last residing in Colchester, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 27 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release that followed a prior federal conviction related to his operating a mail theft, identity theft, and bank fraud scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018 and 2019, Williams and his then-girlfriend stole mail from hundreds of residential mailboxes in Connecticut and used information contained in the mail to steal identities, produce fake identification, forge checks, and cash or deposit checks stolen from the mail. More than 70 bank fraud victims were identified during the investigation. Williams pleaded guilty and, in April 2023, was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 78 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release.
On September 9, 2025, approximately one month into his five-year term of supervised release, Williams was arrested by the Old Saybrook Police Department following a traffic stop and charged with driving under the influence and operating a motor vehicle under suspension. During a search of his vehicle, officers found approximately 132 pieces of mail that Williams had recently stolen from mailboxes in Old Saybrook, Guilford, Milford, and Old Lyme.
Williams has been detained in federal custody since September 22, 2025. He will be on supervised release for 33 months when he completes his 27-month prison term.
Williams’ criminal history also includes a federal conviction in 2002 for conspiracy, identity fraud, and credit card fraud offenses for which he was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment.
This matter was investigated by the Old Saybrook Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon.
Individuals who believe they are a victim of mail theft may file a complaint by calling 877-876-2455 or by visiting https://www.uspis.gov/report.
Mahoning County Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Abuse Materials ChargesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 41-year-old Mahoning County man has been sentenced to prison for possessing more than 2,700 images and videos of children being sexually abused and using social media to receive and distribute the files.
Christopher Helmick, of Youngstown, Ohio, has been sentenced to 280 months (23 years and three months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko, after pleading guilty in December 2025 to Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and to Possession of Child Pornography, also known as Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $63,500 in restitution.
During a search warrant executed at the defendant’s residence in July 2024, officers seized several electronic devices. Analysis of Helmick’s electronic devices led to the discovery of 1,898 images and 848 videos that depicted the sexual abuse of infants and the torture and rape of prepubescent children. In addition, investigators learned that Helmick used social media chat groups to engage with others for the purpose of exchanging CSAM.
Helmick was also found to be communicating with underage girls through social media platforms. He would befriend the minors and give them his credit card number to buy sexual toys and lingerie. Helmick also sent sexually explicit photos of himself and manipulated the girls into sending him nude photos.
The investigation leading to the indictment was led by the FBI Youngstown Resident Agency and the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. King for the Northern District Ohio prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Lexington County Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Charges in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — De’Marionne Zaquann Miller, 22, of Lexington, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on June 14, 2025, deputies from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department responded to an apartment after a family reported that they were concerned that Miller was holding a victim captive in the apartment. The victim sent her family alarming text messages the day before this incident. The victim’s family drove from Florida to check on the victim and were waiting outside of the apartment during this ordeal.
As deputies were en route to the location, they learned that Miller had an outstanding warrant for a probation violation. As law enforcement arrived on scene, Miller ran out of the apartment with an AK style rifle and a backpack. When deputies caught Miller, he did not have the rifle, but after arresting Miller, the deputies retraced his path and found the AK style firearm.
In the seized backpack, deputies located cash, numerous individual bags of marijuana, and two cellphones. A subsequent search of the apartment found a large vacuum sealed bag of marijuana, a scale used in weighing the marijuana, and ammunition for the firearm. Miller is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition based upon prior convictions for escape and unlawful carrying of a pistol.
Miller faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Miller after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by FBI Columbia Field Office and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
###LaPorte Man Sentenced to 100 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Edwardo Trevino, 43 years old, of LaPorte, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after a jury convicted him of distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Trevino was sentenced to 100 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Trevino sold methamphetamine to another person. On another occasion, Trevino was the front seat passenger in a car that was pulled over by police. Officers located a backpack on the front passenger seat floorboard containing methamphetamine, clear plastic baggies used for packaging and distributing drugs, a wallet with Trevino’s ID card, and a loaded pistol. Trevino’s criminal history includes a felony conviction for residential entry, and he is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm.
“This case is an example of how collaboration between state, local, and federal law enforcement can achieve the most effective available response to drug and gun offenses. We thank LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney Sean Fagan and his office, along with the agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the LaPorte County Drug Task Force, the Michigan City Police Department, and the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division, for partnering with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to help make Hoosiers safer to live, work, and raise their families. Due to their efforts, a repeat felon who was intending to poison our community with methamphetamine while armed with a handgun will serve 8 years followed by three years of community supervision,” said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
“The Drug Enforcement Administration, along with its law enforcement partners, will continue to hold accountable those who choose drug trafficking, violent crime, and the poisoning of Hoosiers over civility and decency. There is no room in northern Indiana for the cruelty and evilness of drug traffickers. Mr. Trevino will be out of society for a long time, and we will be a safer and healthier northern Indiana because of it,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the LaPorte County Drug Task Force, the Michigan City Police Department, the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division, and the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lydia T. Lucius and Joel Gabrielse.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Kansas City, Missouri Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Belton, Mo., man was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 360 months’ imprisonment in the Bureau of Prisons followed by 30 years of supervised release.
Steven Michael George, 45, previously pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography. George faced an enhanced range of punishment due to his prior Missouri state convictions for first-degree statutory sodomy, first-degree child molestation, and possession of child pornography.
Between approximately March 17, 2023, and July 12, 2023, George distributed images and videos of child pornography (also referred to as “child sexual abuse material” or “CSAM”) over the Internet through a peer-to-peer file-sharing program. Investigators also located CSAM images and videos on several devices possessed by George. In addition to his sentence, George was ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution to the victims depicted in those CSAM images and videos.
George will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Robert J. Thomas, 30, of St. Albans, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 27, 2024, Thomas possessed a Glock Model 27 .40-caliber pistol in the Jefferson area of Kanawha County.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Thomas knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Putnam County Circuit Court on October 9, 2019.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Gabriel Price is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-40.
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Justice Department Resolves Foreign Bribery Investigation with Balt SAS; Healthcare Executive and Sales Consultant Indicted in Alleged Years-Long Foreign Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today a resolution of a foreign bribery investigation into Balt SAS (Balt), a medical device company headquartered in France, relating to an alleged scheme to pay bribes to a physician who served in a senior role at a state-owned public hospital in France (the Official), in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Pursuant to the resolution, under Part I of the Justice Department’s Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy (CEP), because Balt voluntarily self-disclosed the misconduct, fully cooperated with the Department’s investigation, and timely and appropriately remediated the wrongdoing, the Department declined to prosecute Balt, which agreed to pay approximately $1.2 million in disgorgement. In addition to the Department’s enforcement action, the Parquet National Financier (PNF) in France entered into a coordinated resolution with Balt following a court hearing earlier today.
Separately, a federal grand jury in the Central District of California returned an indictment on March 4, 2026, charging two businessmen for their roles in the alleged years-long criminal scheme. David Ferrera, 58, of Coto de Caza, California, worked as an executive at Balt’s U.S. subsidiary. Marc Tilman, 68, of Belgium, was hired by Balt’s U.S. subsidiary as a consultant. According to court documents, between approximately 2017 and continuing into 2023, Ferrera, Tilman, and others allegedly paid bribes to the Official in order for the Official to cause the hospital to purchase medical devices — specifically, endovascular embolization coils and ancillary products — from Balt. As alleged, Ferrera caused Balt to make corrupt payments — disguised as purported consulting fees and bonuses — to Tilman, knowing that Tilman would pay a portion of those funds to the Official as bribes. To conceal the scheme, the co-conspirators allegedly used sham consulting agreements, fake invoices, and personal email accounts.
“Today’s resolution – the first ever under the Department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy – demonstrates the value of voluntarily self-reporting wrongdoing to the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This corporate resolution, which is coordinated with our foreign partners at the PNF in France, credits Balt’s self-report to the Department as well as its full cooperation and timely remediation. Our related indictment of two individuals associated with Balt demonstrates the Criminal Division’s unwavering pursuit of culpable individuals that engage in corrupt conduct.”
“Ferrera and Tilman allegedly conspired to pay bribes to a French physician, who in turn caused a hospital in France to purchase medical devices from their company,” said Assistant Director in Charge Darren Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Let their indictment serve as a testament to the FBI's long reach. When corruption extends beyond our borders, the FBI works with our international partners to bring individuals to justice.”
The Department declined prosecution of Balt based on an assessment of the factors set forth in the Department-wide CEP and the Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations (Justice Manual 9-28.300), including, but not limited to: (1) Balt’s timely and voluntary self-disclosure of the misconduct, which was identified during an internal investigation that was ongoing at the time of the disclosure; (2) Balt’s full and proactive cooperation in this matter (including its provision of all known relevant facts of the misconduct and information regarding the individuals involved) and its agreement to continue to cooperate with any ongoing Department investigations and any prosecutions that have resulted or might result in the future; (3) the nature and seriousness of the offense; (4) Balt’s timely and appropriate remediation, including disciplinary action against relevant personnel, termination of the business relationships that gave rise to the misconduct, tailored compliance training for Balt senior management, and improvements to its compliance program and internal controls; (5) the absence of aggravating circumstances that, when weighed against Balt’s voluntary self-disclosure, cooperation, and remediation, would warrant a disposition other than a resolution under Part I of the CEP; (6) Balt’s acceptance of responsibility for the criminal conduct and entry into a parallel resolution with authorities in France, which will also include corporate compliance requirements imposed under the French system; and (7) that Balt agrees to disgorge the amount of its ill-gotten gains.
Ferrera and Tilman are each charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA, two counts of violating the FCPA, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of money laundering. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each of the bribery conspiracy and bribery charges and 20 years in prison for each of the money laundering conspiracy and money laundering charges.
The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case.
Fraud Section Trial Attorney Patrick Brown and Senior Counsel Peter Cooch of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance.
The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA and FEPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department Disrupts Iranian Cyber Enabled Psychological OperationsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced the seizure of four domains as part of an ongoing effort to disrupt hacking and transnational repression schemes conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The affidavit supporting the seizure warrant can be found here. The seized domains – Justicehomeland[.]org, Handala-Hack[.]to, Karmabelow80[.]org, and Handala-Redwanted[.]to – were used by the MOIS in furtherance of attempted psychological operations targeting adversaries of the regime by claiming credit for hacking activity, posting sensitive data stolen during such hacks, and calling for the killing of journalists, regime dissidents, and Israeli persons. For example, the MOIS used the Handala-hack[.]to domain to claim credit for a March 2026 destructive malware attack against a U.S.-based multinational medical technologies firm.
“Terrorist propaganda online can incite real-world violence — thanks to our National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, this network of Iranian-backed sites will no longer broadcast anti-American hate,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our cyber assets will remain ever-vigilant to root out and deactivate networks that pose a threat to American citizens.”
"Iran thought they could hide behind fake websites and keyboard threats to terrorize Americans and silence dissidents,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “We took down four of their operation's pillars and we're not done. This FBI will hunt down every actor behind these cowardly death threats and cyberattacks and will bring the full force of American law enforcement down on them.”
“Iran, the leading state sponsor of terrorism worldwide, used the seized domains to dox and harass dissidents and journalists, incite violence against Jewish communities, and spread Tehran’s anti-American propaganda,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “NSD is committed to dismantling Iran’s cyberwarfare infrastructure and detecting and preventing Iran’s cyber-enabled terrorism.”
“Unleashing terroristic ideology into the cybersphere is a direct threat to our national security. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to collaborating with our law-enforcement partners to identify threats, shut them down, and hold bad actors accountable,” said Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. “We will not hesitate to use all our resources and available tools to do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety and security of our nation.”
"The Iranian regime exploits cyberspace to advance authoritarian objectives, suppress democratic institutions, and undermine our national and economic security,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “The FBI will act swiftly, deliberately, and proactively to disable cyber threats to America and use every available authority to ensure those responsible are identified, apprehended, and held accountable.”
The FBI’s investigation revealed that the four seized domains were linked to each other through shared leak sites, Iranian IP ranges, and a common operational "playbook." That playbook includes: destructive and disruptive cyber-attacks; and “faketivist” psychological operations using data stolen via hacking.
The Domains handala-hack[.]to and handala-redwanted[.]to
As alleged in court documents, after the U.S.-Iran conflict began on February 28, 2026, the MOIS-controlled domains handala-hack[.]to and handala-redwanted[.]to published personally identifiable information (“PII”) associated with targeted individuals. The domain handala-hack[.]to also claimed responsibility for hacks conducted by the group. Specifically:
- On March 11, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-hack[.]to domain, claimed credit for conducting a destructive malware attack against a U.S.-based multinational medical technologies firm. The Handala Hack persona claimed the hack was retaliation for “ongoing cyber assaults against the infrastructure of the Axis of Resistance.”
- As of March 9, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-redwanted[.]to domain, posted the names and sensitive PII of approximately 190 individuals associated with or employed by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and/or Israeli government. The Handala Hack posting contained threats indicating the individuals were being monitored, their residences were known, and that consequences would soon follow.
- On March 6, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-hack[.]to domain, posted names and confidential data corresponding to individuals Handala Hack claimed worked for the IDF. The post stated, in part, “Your iPhone 12 Pro Max holds no security for us; we even know your exact location…,” and urged “People of the Axis of Resistance! See these names and respond to these Zionist pigs yourselves.”
- On March 6, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-hack[.]to domain, claimed it stole 851 gigabytes of confidential data from members of the Sanzer Hasidic Jewish community, including “documents of financial cooperation, witchcraft ceremonies, and secret correspondences with Netanyahu ...” The post continued “We warn the leaders and members of the Sanzer Hasidic community: No place is safe for you. Betrayal of the oppressed leads to nothing but disgrace and shame. Expect more documents to be revealed. Handala Hack[.]”
These threats and the related information were not just publicly posted. The FBI’s investigation also revealed that the email account Handala_Team@outlook[.]com was used to send death threats to Iranian dissidents and journalists living in the United States and abroad. In those communications, Handala Hack offered bounties and openly called for Mexican cartel “partners” to commit acts of violence against Handala Hack’s targets. Specifically, on or about March 1, 2026, the Handala_Team@outlook[.]com account was used to email two victims, located in the United States and abroad. In an email with the subject line “Death to [redacted victim names],” the sender wrote:
"We the Handala Hack team, the loyal followers of the supreme leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, declare war on all the enemies of Islam in the West. Our partners, the CJNG [Jalisco New Generation Cartel] cartel in America and Canada have been given a list of our enemies who are responsible for our great leaders [sic] death. [Redacted names], you laughed like hyenas during the [redacted] show. We have hacked and revealed your home addresses in [redacted] and [redacted] to our partners in the CJNG who are in [redacted U.S. state] and [redacted foreign country] now. Both of you will be executed soon, and we have offered a reward of $250,000 for the operatives who kills [sic] and beheads both of you. ALLAHU AKBAR[.]"
The domain handala-hack[.]to was also used as part of a broader effort to intimidate and harass Iranian dissidents and journalists living in the United States and abroad. According to investigators, threat actors associated with the domain directed online threats toward individuals who publicly criticized the Iranian government. In those cases, the MOIS attempts to embarrass and discredit its targets by circulating messages and content intended to damage their reputation. By leveraging online platforms linked to the domain, MOIS sought to amplify its online threats, pressure critics, and discourage independent reporting, while creating fear among members of the Iranian diaspora critical of the regime.
The Domains Justicehomeland[.]org and Karmabelow80[.]org
The domains Justicehomeland[.]org and Karmabelow80[.]org were the official websites of a shell hacktivist entity used by MOIS. On or about July 15, 2022, and September 9, 2022, MOIS actors used the Justicehomeland[.]org domain to claim responsibility for stealing sensitive documents from Albanian government organizations. The motivation for leaking this information appears to be the Albanian government’s decision to support an Iranian dissident group called Mujahedeen e-Khalq or “MEK.” MEK has, in the past, openly advocated for the overthrow of the Iranian government.
In addition to these enforcement actions, the Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, engages in certain malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse. Read more about this reward offer on the Rewards for Justice website.
The FBI Baltimore Field Office is investigating the case, in coordination with FBI Cyber Division.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case.
Justice Department Disrupts Iranian Cyber Enabled Psychological OperationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, the Justice Department announced the seizure of four domains as part of an ongoing effort to disrupt hacking and transnational repression schemes conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The affidavit supporting the seizure warrant can be found here. The seized domains – Justicehomeland[.]org, Handala-Hack[.]to, Karmabelow80[.]org, and Handala-Redwanted[.]to – were used by the MOIS in furtherance of attempted psychological operations targeting adversaries of the regime by claiming credit for hacking activity, posting sensitive data stolen during such hacks, and calling for the killing of journalists, regime dissidents, and Israeli persons. For example, the MOIS used the Handala-hack[.]to domain to claim credit for a March 2026 destructive malware attack against a U.S.-based multinational medical technologies firm.
“Terrorist propaganda online can incite real-world violence — thanks to our National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, this network of Iranian-backed sites will no longer broadcast anti-American hate,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our cyber assets will remain ever-vigilant to root out and deactivate networks that pose a threat to American citizens.”
"Iran thought they could hide behind fake websites and keyboard threats to terrorize Americans and silence dissidents,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “We took down four of their operation's pillars and we're not done. This FBI will hunt down every actor behind these cowardly death threats and cyberattacks and will bring the full force of American law enforcement down on them.”
“Iran, the leading state sponsor of terrorism worldwide, used the seized domains to dox and harass dissidents and journalists, incite violence against Jewish communities, and spread Tehran’s anti-American propaganda,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “NSD is committed to dismantling Iran’s cyberwarfare infrastructure and detecting and preventing Iran’s cyber-enabled terrorism.”
“Unleashing terroristic ideology into the cybersphere is a direct threat to our national security. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to collaborating with our law-enforcement partners to identify threats, shut them down, and hold bad actors accountable,” said Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. “We will not hesitate to use all our resources and available tools to do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety and security of our nation.”
"The Iranian regime exploits cyberspace to advance authoritarian objectives, suppress democratic institutions, and undermine our national and economic security,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “The FBI will act swiftly, deliberately, and proactively to disable cyber threats to America and use every available authority to ensure those responsible are identified, apprehended, and held accountable.”
The FBI’s investigation revealed that the four seized domains were linked to each other through shared leak sites, Iranian IP ranges, and a common operational "playbook." That playbook includes: destructive and disruptive cyber-attacks; and “faketivist” psychological operations using data stolen via hacking.
The Domains handala-hack[.]to and handala-redwanted[.]to
As alleged in court documents, after the U.S.-Iran conflict began on February 28, 2026, the MOIS-controlled domains handala-hack[.]to and handala-redwanted[.]to published personally identifiable information (“PII”) associated with targeted individuals. The domain handala-hack[.]to also claimed responsibility for hacks conducted by the group. Specifically:
- On March 11, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-hack[.]to domain, claimed credit for conducting a destructive malware attack against a U.S.-based multinational medical technologies firm. The Handala Hack persona claimed the hack was retaliation for “ongoing cyber assaults against the infrastructure of the Axis of Resistance.”
- As of March 9, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-redwanted[.]to domain, posted the names and sensitive PII of approximately 190 individuals associated with or employed by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and/or Israeli government. The Handala Hack posting contained threats indicating the individuals were being monitored, their residences were known, and that consequences would soon follow.
- On March 6, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-hack[.]to domain, posted names and confidential data corresponding to individuals Handala Hack claimed worked for the IDF. The post stated, in part, “Your iPhone 12 Pro Max holds no security for us; we even know your exact location…,” and urged “People of the Axis of Resistance! See these names and respond to these Zionist pigs yourselves.”
- On March 6, 2026, Handala Hack, via the Handala-hack[.]to domain, claimed it stole 851 gigabytes of confidential data from members of the Sanzer Hasidic Jewish community, including “documents of financial cooperation, witchcraft ceremonies, and secret correspondences with Netanyahu ...” The post continued “We warn the leaders and members of the Sanzer Hasidic community: No place is safe for you. Betrayal of the oppressed leads to nothing but disgrace and shame. Expect more documents to be revealed. Handala Hack[.]”
These threats and the related information were not just publicly posted. The FBI’s investigation also revealed that the email account Handala_Team@outlook[.]com was used to send death threats to Iranian dissidents and journalists living in the United States and abroad. In those communications, Handala Hack offered bounties and openly called for Mexican cartel “partners” to commit acts of violence against Handala Hack’s targets. Specifically, on or about March 1, 2026, the Handala_Team@outlook[.]com account was used to email two victims, located in the United States and abroad. In an email with the subject line “Death to [redacted victim names],” the sender wrote:
"We the Handala Hack team, the loyal followers of the supreme leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, declare war on all the enemies of Islam in the West. Our partners, the CJNG [Jalisco New Generation Cartel] cartel in America and Canada have been given a list of our enemies who are responsible for our great leaders [sic] death. [Redacted names], you laughed like hyenas during the [redacted] show. We have hacked and revealed your home addresses in [redacted] and [redacted] to our partners in the CJNG who are in [redacted U.S. state] and [redacted foreign country] now. Both of you will be executed soon, and we have offered a reward of $250,000 for the operatives who kills [sic] and beheads both of you. ALLAHU AKBAR[.]"
The domain handala-hack[.]to was also used as part of a broader effort to intimidate and harass Iranian dissidents and journalists living in the United States and abroad. According to investigators, threat actors associated with the domain directed online threats toward individuals who publicly criticized the Iranian government. In those cases, the MOIS attempts to embarrass and discredit its targets by circulating messages and content intended to damage their reputation. By leveraging online platforms linked to the domain, MOIS sought to amplify its online threats, pressure critics, and discourage independent reporting, while creating fear among members of the Iranian diaspora critical of the regime.
The Domains Justicehomeland[.]org and Karmabelow80[.]org
The domains Justicehomeland[.]org and Karmabelow80[.]org were the official websites of a shell hacktivist entity used by MOIS. On or about July 15, 2022, and September 9, 2022, MOIS actors used the Justicehomeland[.]org domain to claim responsibility for stealing sensitive documents from Albanian government organizations. The motivation for leaking this information appears to be the Albanian government’s decision to support an Iranian dissident group called Mujahedeen e-Khalq or “MEK.” MEK has, in the past, openly advocated for the overthrow of the Iranian government.
In addition to these enforcement actions, the Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, engages in certain malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse. Read more about this reward offer on the Rewards for Justice website.
The FBI Baltimore Field Office is investigating the case, in coordination with FBI Cyber Division.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case.
# # #
Jury Convicts D.C. Fentanyl Dealer on Multiple Firearms and Narcotics CountsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Derrick Thomas Martin, 33, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was convicted yesterday by a federal jury in the U.S. District Court on four federal charges stemming from his 2024 arrest before which he flung a backpack containing a loaded firearm and substantial quantities of cocaine and fentanyl from an apartment building window, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The jury deliberated for less than one day before finding Martin guilty of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and of possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.
“Derrick Martin stashed large quantities of drugs and cash in an apartment where a child slept just feet from a loaded, micro draco pistol, a gun that fired the same bullets as an AK-47 assault rifle,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “With 31 prior arrests, this career criminal posed a clear danger to our community. The streets are safer now that we have put an end to this one-man crime spree.”
Sentencing is scheduled for July 10, 2026, before United States District Judge Trevor N. McFadden. Martin faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.
According to the evidence presented at trial, members of the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Apprehension Unit went to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue SE on Nov. 25, 2024, to arrest Martin on an outstanding warrant from Cecil County, Maryland. Martin had failed to appear for trial on charges of illegal firearm possession and drug distribution.
As officers knocked at the apartment door, Martin opened a window and threw a black backpack onto the street below. Police recovered the bag which was found to contain a loaded Century Arms Micro Draco semi-automatic pistol, about 700 grams of cocaine, and over 5,700 fentanyl pills.
Officers entered the apartment. Following a struggle, they arrested Martin. A search of the apartment yielded a second loaded firearm — a Glock 19 pistol that had been illegally modified and bore two different serial numbers — along with additional ammunition, about 150 grams of suspected heroin, additional suspected fentanyl pills, a digital scale, and a cash counting machine.
Police discovered nearly $12,000, much of which was inside the apartment’s washing machine. Martin's four-year-old child was present in the dwelling at the time of the arrest.
Martin, who has been arrested 31 times, previously was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction) and sentenced in 2017 to 730 days imprisonment, with 364 days suspended, and placed on supervised probation for one year. Additionally, Martin was found guilty in 2017 of grand larceny in Arlington, Virginia and sentenced to three years in prison.
When he was arrested on Nov. 25, 2024, on the Cecil County warrant for failing to appear for trial, he had been charged with conspiracy (multiple counts), possession with intent to distribute (multiple counts), possession (multiple counts), possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, and illegal possession of a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, and the DEA Washington Division Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin A. Helfand and Michael Lee.
24cr556Jury Convicts New York Man in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – New York Ny., man was found guilty by a federal trial jury for fentanyl and methamphetamine conspiracy charges.
Ahmaad Jarvis, 39, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, unlawful use of a communications device, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.
In October of 2023, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) were conducting a Title-III wiretap investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking organization. As part of that investigation, law enforcement intercepted telephone calls between Jarvis and a co-conspirator wherein Jarvis discussed traveling to Los Angeles, Ca., to obtain narcotics and bring them to Springfield, Mo., for distribution.
On Oct. 20, 2023, investigators conducted a traffic stop on Jarvis as he traveled from the Kansas City area, to Springfield, Mo. Jarvis’ vehicle was searched, and inside the vehicle investigators located approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately 400 grams of fentanyl. Jarvis was the final remaining defendant after 13 co-defendants pleaded guilty.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., deliberated for approximately 30 minutes before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark, ending a trial that began Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Under federal statutes, Jarvis is subject to a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life 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 was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron A. Beaver and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah R. Lucas. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department, the Branson, Missouri, Police Department, the Taney County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office, the Greene County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Homeland Security Task Force
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
Indictment Charges Mexican National with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging JULIO CESAR FERNANDEZ-SALAZAR, 44, a citizen of Mexico, with unlawful reentry of a removed alien.
As alleged in court documents, Fernandez-Salazar has used numerous aliases, including Julio Fernandez, Julio Cesar Salazar, J. Cesar Fernandez-Salazar, Paulo Cesar Salazar, Alejandro Lugo, Jorge Ortigoza, and Julio C. Fernandez-Salazar. Fernandez-Salazar was first convicted of an immigration violation in October 2007 in the District of Arizona, was sentenced to 45 days of imprisonment, and was voluntarily returned to Mexico. In June 2009, after he returned to the U.S. and was convicted in Tempe Municipal Court in Arizona of failure to appear and driving with a suspended license, Fernandez-Salazar was deported to Mexico. In July 2009, U.S. Border Patrol encountered and arrested Fernandez-Salazar near the U.S./Mexico border and he was again deported to Mexico.
It is further alleged that Fernandez-Salazar illegally reentered the U.S. and, in April 2017, was convicted in Maricopa County of unlawful imprisonment and solicitation to commit misconduct involving weapons. In April 2018, he was convicted in the U.S. District Court in Arizona of unlawful reentry and was again deported to Mexico.
It is further alleged that on November 27, 2024, Fernandez-Salazar was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Colchester and charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and other offenses. He was subsequently released on bond.
On July 18, 2025, the U.S. District Court in New Haven issued a criminal complaint charging Fernandez-Salazar with unlawful reentry. He was located and arrested in Arizona on February 25, 2026, and has been detained since that date. The indictment was returned on March 17, 2026.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Fernandez-Salazar faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Lembo.
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.
Illegal alien from Mexico charged with alien smugglingRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andres Carrillo-Hernandez, 27, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with alien smuggling, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of three years in prison, and a maximum of 10 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan W. Fitzgerald and Evan K. Glaberson, who are handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on March 15, 2026, Buffalo Border Patrol agents received information regarding possible alien smuggling. Agents were told that multiple subjects, including two adult males and an adult female carrying a small child, were spotted on infrared camera inflating a raft on the Canadian shoreline at Boyers Creek. The subjects then boarded the raft and began crossing the upper Niagara River, heading to the United States shoreline. Border Patrol agents proceeded toward the possible landing site near a residence on West River Road in Grand Island, NY. The raft was located, and the raft driver, later identified as Carrillo-Hernandez, was taken into custody for illegally entering the United States and suspected alien smuggling. Agents, who then heard a child crying, discovered another adult male, an adult female, and an infant child. The adult male and female were also arrested for illegal entry into the United States. Carrillo-Hernandez admitted to federal agents that he was paid approximately $2,000 to transport the two adults and child, via raft, from the Canadian shoreline to the United States. Subsequent investigation determined that Carrillo-Hernandez, and the three individuals smuggled across the river, had not applied for or received any authorization or approval to enter the United States.
Carrillo-Hernandez made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was held pending a detention hearing on March 24, 2026.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato.
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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Illegal Aliens from Mexico Indicted for Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute Methamphetamine Related to a Clandestine Lab in Calaveras County, CaliforniaRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment today against five illegal aliens from Mexico, charging them with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, as well as various other drug trafficking and firearms offenses, Attorney General Pamela Bondi and U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“These illegal aliens allegedly operated a secret lab on American soil producing thousands of pounds of deadly drugs to poison our communities,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This clandestine and illegal operation has now been dismantled — we will continue protecting Americans from the dangerous results of the prior administration’s open-border policies.”
- Luis Reyna Carrillo, 33, is charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; two counts of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; and being an alien in possession of a firearm.
- Carrillo’s wife, Mariana Vanessa Mendoza Camacho, 33, is charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and two counts of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
- Juan Jesus Manriquez Diaz, 31, is charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; and being an alien in possession of ammunition.
- Alvaro Rosales, 44, is charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
- Manuel Juan Madrid Perez, 38, is charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; three counts of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Perez is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions in California including a conviction on Sept. 19, 2022, for false imprisonment and preventing a victim from reporting a crime.
According to Department of Homeland Security records, Carrillo and Camacho arrived in the United States in March 2021 and were given a notice to appear. Diaz was previously removed from the United States in 2018. Rosales was removed in August 2024.
According to court documents, in October 2025, law enforcement authorities began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization suspected of manufacturing methamphetamine in a remote area of Calaveras County. During the investigation, Carrillo and his associates were identified as part of that conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine.
On Feb. 27, 2026, multiple law enforcement agencies engaged in a coordinated operation and executed search warrants at three locations connected to Carrillo and his associates in Valley Springs, Turlock, and Modesto, California.
While executing the search warrants, law enforcement located a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Calaveras County. They seized approximately 1,430 pounds of methamphetamine and 1,270 pounds of suspected methamphetamine in a partially processed state.
Law enforcement agencies searched two additional residences in Stanislaus County that were associated with Carrillo and his associates. In Turlock, law enforcement located and seized an additional 300 pounds of methamphetamine packaged for distribution, nine firearms, and multiple magazines and rounds of ammunition. In Modesto, they seized 2 pounds of methamphetamine, 107 pounds of processed marijuana, 1,900 marijuana plants, and three firearms. As aliens, Carrillo and Diaz are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, and Perez is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his prior felony convictions.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit in coordination with Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (MAGNET), the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, the Sacramento Area Intelligence Narcotics Team (SAINT), the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caily Nelson is prosecuting the case.
If convicted on the drug-trafficking charges, Carrillo, Camacho, Diaz, Rosales, and Perez each face a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. Carrillo, Diaz, and Perez face additional penalties if convicted of the firearm- or ammunition-related offenses. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is part of 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 Sacramento comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Illegal Aliens from Mexico Indicted for Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute Methamphetamine Related to a Clandestine Lab in Calaveras CountyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment today against five illegal aliens from Mexico, charging them with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, as well as various other drug trafficking and firearms offenses, Attorney General Pamela Bondi and U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced today.
“These illegal aliens allegedly operated a secret lab on American soil producing thousands of pounds of deadly drugs to poison our communities,” said Attorney General Bondi. “This clandestine and illegal operation has now been dismantled — we will continue protecting Americans from the dangerous results of the prior administration’s open-border policies.”
- Luis Reyna Carrillo, 33, is charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; two counts of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; and being an alien in possession of a firearm.
- Carrillo’s wife Mariana Vanessa Mendoza Camacho, 33, is charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and two counts of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
- Juan Jesus Manriquez Diaz, 31, is charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; and being an alien in possession of ammunition.
- Alvaro Rosales, 44, is charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
- Manuel Juan Madrid Perez, 38, is charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; three counts of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Perez is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions in California including a conviction on Sept. 19, 2022, for false imprisonment and preventing a victim from reporting a crime.
According to Department of Homeland Security records, Carrillo and Camacho arrived in the United States in March 2021 and were given a notice to appear. Diaz was previously removed from the United States in 2018. Rosales was removed in August 2024.
According to court documents, in October 2025, law enforcement authorities began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization suspected of manufacturing methamphetamine in a remote area of Calaveras County. During the investigation, Carrillo and his associates were identified as part of that conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine.
On Feb. 27, 2026, multiple law enforcement agencies engaged in a coordinated operation and executed search warrants at three locations connected to Carrillo and his associates in Valley Springs, Turlock, and Modesto, California.
While executing the search warrants, law enforcement located a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Calaveras County. They seized approximately 1,430 pounds of methamphetamine and 1,270 pounds of suspected methamphetamine in a partially processed state.
Law enforcement agencies searched two additional residences in Stanislaus County that were associated with Carrillo and his associates. In Turlock, law enforcement located and seized an additional 300 pounds of methamphetamine packaged for distribution, nine firearms, and multiple magazines and rounds of ammunition. In Modesto, they seized 2 pounds of methamphetamine, 107 pounds of processed marijuana, 1,900 marijuana plants, and three firearms. As aliens, Carrillo and Diaz are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, and Perez is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his prior felony convictions.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit in coordination with Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (MAGNET), the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, the Sacramento Area Intelligence Narcotics Team (SAINT), the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caily Nelson is prosecuting the case.
If convicted on the drug-trafficking charges, Carrillo, Camacho, Diaz, Rosales, and Perez each face a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. Carrillo, Diaz, and Perez face additional penalties if convicted of the firearm- or ammunition-related offenses. Any sentence, however, would 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 Sacramento comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
Illegal Alien Convicted for Prior Sex Offense Sentenced to Three Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Arturo Sanchez-Morales (54, Mexico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell to three years in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after a prior deportation. Sanchez-Morales pleaded guilty on January 9, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents and information presented at sentencing, Sanchez-Morales was illegally present in the United States for the third time, having previously been deported on one occasion and granted a voluntary return on another. On May 13, 2025, Sanchez-Morales was arrested by officers from the Cape Coral Police Department following a traffic stop. At the time of his arrest, Sanchez-Morales was in possession of a Mexican birth certificate bearing his name. That same day, after being transferred to the Lee County Jail, Sanchez-Morales was encountered by immigration officials who realized that his identifying information was associated with the alien file of a previously deported alien.
In July 2014, Sanchez-Morales was convicted in California Superior Court for committing incest and a lewd or lascivious act involving a child.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.
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.