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29 September 2026
West Monroe Woman, Her Family Members, and Their Associates Indicted for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Arson Conspiracy Involving 13 Residential FiresRead the Press Release
MONROE – On September 29, 2026, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller, along with federal, state and local partners, held a press conference to announce federal charges returned by a grand jury against seven defendants in a massive arson-related insurance fraud and money laundering conspiracy. (1) Lashaundalyn Whitlock Brown, 41, of West Monroe, (2) LaQuadra Whitlock, 26, of West Monroe, (3) Latricia Whitlock, 20, of Monroe, (4) Romenique Whitlock, 37, of Monroe, (5) Jonika James, 25, of Monroe, (6) Iesha Alexander, 26, of Monroe, and (7) Travericka Williams, 27, of Dallas, Texas, are charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Use of Fire to Commit Federal Felony, with Lashaundalyn, LaQuadra, and Latricia Whitlock further charged with Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, Concealment Money Laundering, and Structuring. Defendants were arrested on September 23, 2026, and each face decades in federal prison if convicted on all charges, with substantial mandatory minimums as well.
“Setting homes ablaze to allegedly collect fraudulent insurance payouts is a brazen violation of trust,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Thanks to the outstanding work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Louisiana and their federal, state, and local partners, this case is moving forward with charges that hold these defendants accountable for their alleged acts that put innocent lives at risk for profit.”
“The audacity, the recklessness, and the greed of these defendants to allegedly turn fire setting into a for-profit operation is staggering. The conspirators charged here fed their greed by putting innocent lives at risk, including those of first responders, and destroyed the hard earned property of others while contributing to higher insurance costs for us all,” said U.S Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Our Office, alongside our federal, state, and local partners, are eager to see this matter through to its conclusion and will pursue a full accounting and real justice for those responsible for these alleged crimes.”"The cost to Louisiana policyholders is impossible to calculate," said FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp. "But every single one of us pays the price when criminals take advantage of programs meant to help actual victims. There is also real damage done to the businesses who invest in our communities. It is up to the FBI and our partners to investigate fraud and hold individuals accountable to protect everyone across this state."
The indictment alleges that the defendants carried out a years long fraud scheme involving intentionally set residential fires, fraudulent insurance claims, and fraudulent disaster relief claims in the Monroe and West Monroe areas. It is further alleged that between 2019 and 2026, the defendants routinely rented homes, obtained homeowners insurance policies, and then caused approximately 13 fires at those residences. They allegedly submitted false insurance claims seeking payments for fabricated personal property losses and extended stay hotel reimbursements. It is further alleged that the defendants submitted fraudulent relief claims with a national humanitarian organization for which they received cash payments under false pretenses. The indictment provides photos of the fires that reflect the extent of the damage done in furtherance of the scheme, including one photo of a residence ablaze as first responders endangered their lives to control the fire:
FBI FBIU.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Louisiana State Fire Marshal, the Monroe Fire Department, and the Louisiana State Police.
This case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller and Assistant U.S Attorney Amy J. Miller, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills and Investigator Carl Richard.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is pending assignment.
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(337) 262-6704West Mifflin Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison for Possessing and Distributing Cocaine While on Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 206 months in prison, to be followed by six years of supervised release, on his conviction of cocaine trafficking while on federal supervised release, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Richard Jasek, 43.
According to information presented to the Court, Jasek engaged in cocaine trafficking between December 2024 and February 2025, including possessing with intent to distribute, and distributing, quantities of cocaine on both December 17, 2024, and January 29, 2025, and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base on February 20, 2025. Jasek was on federal supervised release for a previous conviction during the time he committed these offenses. This is Jasek’s third federal drug trafficking conviction during the last 15 years, with Jasek also having been on federal supervised release at the time he engaged in the criminal conduct that led to the second of those convictions.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and West Mifflin Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Jasek.
U.S. Attorney encourages facts, not rumors about Kansas ICE operationsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser of the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) cautions that irresponsible rumors about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations could potentially harm the Kansas agricultural industry. He urges Kansans to wait for law enforcement agencies to release information rather than speculate or spread false information.
“Claims suggesting that these efforts were discriminatory ‘sweeps’ based on skin color and race are misguided and irresponsible. Such rhetoric stokes fear and risks unnecessary harm to Kansas industries,” said Kriegshauser. “We encourage everyone discussing this topic, especially on social media, to pause, wait for the facts to be released, and avoid amplifying sensational or unsubstantiated rumors.”
Kriegshauser emphasized, “When people witness ICE agents making an arrest, they do not know why that person is being detained. Because of laws, agency policies, and security safeguards, information about arrests is not always immediately made public. I ask people not to jump to conclusions and to instead wait for the facts to come out.”
On September 29, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security informed USAO-KS about the results of “Operation Safe Community - Kansas”, a three-day operation that took place between September 22 and September 24, 2026. ICE carried out this initiative designed to apprehend criminal aliens in Kansas.
ICE agents made 104 arrests in Southwestern Kansas. They arrested alien offenders with criminal histories, including assault, domestic battery, aggravated battery, criminal threat, knowingly using a weapon to cause great bodily harm, disfigurement or death; criminal carrying of a weapon or concealed carry of a pistol or firearm; and fleeing or eluding law enforcement officers.
Kriegshauser said, “The operations that took place in Southwest Kansas were not arbitrary but part of a larger effort to apprehend specific criminal aliens, some of whom were convicted of crimes like murder, assault, and rape,” said Kriegshauser. “Operation Safe Community - Kansas was a targeted operation designed to put some of the worst of the worst behind bars. Contrary claims are inaccurate. Instead, ICE officers conducted intelligence driven targeted immigration enforcement actions throughout Southwestern Kansas.”
Among those apprehended were:
• Kham Khamchanh — a criminal illegal alien from Laos convicted of homicide who was residing in Hutchinson.
• Raul Duquenzne-Batista — a criminal illegal alien from Cuba convicted of aggravated assault with weapon, kidnapping, rape of disabled person, aggravated assault with a gun, burglary, and rape with a gun who was residing in Larned.
• Jose Garcia Villa — a criminal illegal alien from Mexico convicted of kidnapping and sexual assault who was residing in Dodge City.
• Ky Sayapheth — a criminal illegal alien from Laos convicted of homicide, aggravated assault of public officer with weapon, aggravated assault of police officer with weapon, aggravated assault with weapon, and escape from custody who was residing in Hutchinson.
• Flora Elvira De La Cruz Bustillos — a criminal illegal alien from Mexico convicted of cruelty toward child and larceny who was residing in Liberal.“Wanted criminals sometimes go to small towns thinking they can lie low and move undetected by law enforcement. I believe that people living in rural communities like Southwestern Kansas deserve the same protection as residents of any major city by not having to live with violent offenders in their midst,” said Kriegshauser. “Because of these law enforcement agents, more than 100 criminals are no longer freely walking our streets, thereby making our Kansas communities safer places to live and work.”
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U.S. Attorney Moore Capito to Present Excellence in Law Enforcement Awards During Ceremony on Wednesday, September 30, 2026Read the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito will honor more than 60 law enforcement professionals during the 2026 Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse in Charleston.
The annual awards ceremony recognizes the exemplary service of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who have provided invaluable assistance to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia in cases and initiatives.
Capito will present awards for outstanding law enforcement work on major cases involving drug crimes, violent crimes, firearms offenses, white-collar crimes, and the sexual exploitation of minors. He will also present the U.S. Attorney’s Office Distinguished Service Award and awards honoring the federal, state, and local Law Enforcement Officers of the Year and the Task Force of the Year.
WHAT: 2026 Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony
WHEN: Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse, Charleston, Fifth Floor
*** NOTICE: cameras and other recording devices will be permitted on the fifth floor of the Courthouse for the ceremony only. ***
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.
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U.S. Attorney Announces Federal Indictments in West Texas Oil Theft CaseRead the Press Release
MIDLAND, Texas – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons, announced during a press conference today the indictments of Leandro Juarez, Moses Juarez and Eduardo Lopez for several counts related to oil theft.
According to court documents, the FBI began investigating Vallee Oil & Gas Inc. in January 2024. Founded by company president Leandro Juarez, Vallee is a company documented as a salt water disposal, which grants the company with the authority by the state of Texas to accept and dispose of produced water, a byproduct of oil production. The company does not have the authority to purchase crude oil.
The FBI investigation allegedly revealed that, beginning on or about Sept. 20, 2023, and continuing until on or about Feb. 18, 2025, Leandro Juarez, along with the head of Vallee’s West Texas operations Moses Juarez, and principal yard manager Eduardo Lopez, devised and executed a scheme to purchase and receive crude oil that had been stolen from locations in the Permian Basin region of New Mexico and transported across the Texas-New Mexico state line.
Vallee’s employees were allegedly directed by the defendants to pay drivers who were hauling the crude oil at approximately half the value of the product they were transporting. The indictment alleges that, during the months of March and April 2024 alone, the defendants directed Vallee employees to issue over $290,000 to a single driver in amounts below $10,000, a tactic used to evade reporting requirements.
“The fraud ran deep in this case but, essentially, these defendants were just common thieves stealing from those who had spilled their blood sweat and tears to extract that oil from the ground,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “When costs for oil and gas producers go up, the cost for the end purchase—the American taxpayer—also goes up. That’s why we will continue, through this whole of government approach, to take down and hold accountable those who steal oil from other producers.”
“Those who knowingly purchase, move, or profit from stolen oil and other products help create the demand that drives these crimes” said Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Briton Goad of the FBI El Paso, Midland Resident Agency. “We will continue working with our partners to identify those individuals and businesses and hold them accountable.”
The three defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to receive stolen goods and three counts of receipt of stolen goods, aiding and abetting. Leandro and Moses Juarez are also charged with one count of conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions with funds derived from a specified unlawful activity.
Leandro Juarez, Moses Juarez and Eduardo Lopez were arraigned in the beginning of September and released on bond. The deadline for any plea agreement is Oct. 16. If the defendants choose to go to trial, jury selection is currently set for Nov. 2.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Railroad Commissioner, the Loving County Sheriff’s Office and the Reeves County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Parker is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two Men Charged in Scheme to Defraud Investors Seeking to Invest in Pre-Ipo Companies and Trading FundRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and the Acting Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Darnell Edwards, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging JACOB FRANKEL and CHRISTOPHER DINELLI with securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, and charging FRANKEL with investment adviser fraud and making false reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission. FRANKEL will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figuerdo in Manhattan federal court, and DINELLI will be presented today in the District of Maryland. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman.
“Prosecuting white collar crime is a top priority of this Office, and we are increasingly focusing on the pre-IPO markets as those markets grow,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “This alleged fraud left investors, including U.S. Navy veterans, with millions in losses after they were promised access to pre-IPO opportunities and sophisticated trading strategies that did not exist. As alleged, Jacob Frankel and Christopher Dinelli sold investors a fiction—exclusive investments, extraordinary returns, and professional management—while losing and diverting millions of dollars behind the scenes. When the truth threatened to catch up with them, they allegedly responded with more lies, including fabricated account statements designed to make devastating losses look like enormous gains.”
“Beyond Alpha Ventures billed itself as a company investing in AI, technology, and cryptocurrency startups; however, as alleged, the founders’ real business was diverting investors’ money for their own personal gain,” said USPIS Acting Inspector in Charge Darnell Edwards. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service relentlessly investigates investment fraud to protect investors and the integrity of the U.S. financial system. If you suspect investment fraud, please report it at USPIS.GOV.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:
From 2023 through February 2026, FRANKEL and DINELLI perpetrated a scheme in which they fraudulently obtained over $8.7 million from approximately 35 investors in connection with their fund, Beyond Alpha Ventures LLC (“BAV”). As part of that scheme, FRANKEL and DINELLI repeatedly lied to investors who sought to invest in pre-IPO companies by falsely telling some investors that they were purchasing direct shares in a pre-IPO company and falsely telling other investors that a third-party administrator would create a special purpose vehicle for their investment, hold the investors’ funds, and oversee the investment. The defendants further oversubscribed one of the offerings and used the additional funds to, among other things, fund BAV’s margin calls and unprofitable options trading. The defendants further lied to investors by claiming that BAV had previously invested in numerous other major companies before they went public, that BAV currently held interests in several pre-IPO companies, and that FRANKEL and DINELLI were personally investing in the two pre-IPO companies for which they solicited investments.
FRANKEL and DINELLI further misled investors who sought to invest in BAV’s hedge-fund-style trading fund by falsely telling investors that BAV used a proprietary algorithm for its trading, had a long track record of producing exceptional returns, provided full liquidity, and real-time, verifiable access to the investors’ portfolios. In fact, BAV had no proprietary algorithms, limited trading history, and suffered catastrophic losses due to FRANKEL’s reckless margin options trading, which included losing approximately $1.9 million on a single trade. To hide the losses, the defendants created fabricated account statements and screenshots that purported to show investors’ double and triple-digit returns.
FRANKEL further lied repeatedly on his Form ADV filings by failing to disclose that he had previously been charged and convicted of felony offenses and had previously been disciplined by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, including for failing to notify his prior employer of his criminal history.
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FRANKEL, 32, of Kinnelon, New Jersey, is charged with one count of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, one count of investment adviser fraud, and one count of making false reports to the SEC, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
DINELLI, 34, of Frederick, Maryland, is charged with one count of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the USPIS. Mr. McDonald further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed a parallel civil action.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Finkel, Courtney L. Heavey, and Daniel G. Nessim are in charge of the prosecution.
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As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two Indian Nationals Found Guilty of Participating in Cargo Theft Scheme in Which Freight Was Stolen from ShippersRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two Indian nationals were found guilty by a jury today of conspiring to steal cargo from warehouses across Southern California by buying or fraudulently using legitimate trucking companies to bid on authentic shipping contracts, picking up the cargo loads, and never delivering the loads to the agreed upon destinations.
Arshpreet Singh, 28, of Sacramento, and Vikramjeet Singh, 31, of Fontana, were found guilty of one count conspiracy to commit theft from interstate or foreign shipments. Arshpreet Singh also was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to evidence presented at a seven-day trial, from March 2024 to June 2025, Arshpreet Singh and his co-conspirators purchased or fraudulently used real trucking companies to bid on authentic shipping contracts. After winning the bids, the defendants and others took possession of the cargo but stole it rather than deliver it to the correct destination.
The stolen cargo was often high value electronics such as televisions and laptops, appliances and other high-value consumer goods. Other items stolen during the conspiracy included vacuums, LED lights, shoes and tires, with an estimated loss of at least $2 million.
The thefts occurred across Southern California, including in Fontana, Vernon, Santa Fe Springs, Perris, City of Industry, Long Beach, Compton, Commerce, Pico Rivera, Chino, and Moreno Valley, as well as in Grand Prairie, Texas.
The defendants purchased established trucking companies to further their scheme. For example, in March 2024, Arshpreet Singh met with the owner of a Texas-based carrier company named Z&F Transportation LLC to purchase the company for approximately $22,000. Later that month, a co-conspirator, on behalf of Z&F Transportation LLC, picked up a load of televisions in Fontana and never delivered it to its intended destination in Florida.
In May 2024, co-conspirators purchased a carrier company named Skyways Trucking LLC and then used it to steal laptops, televisions, solar panels and other items. Co-conspirators booked loads through brokers such as Uber Freight, picked up loads, then did not deliver the loads to their intended destinations.
Vikramjeet Singh was acquitted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
United States District Judge Anne Hwang scheduled sentencings hearings for January 20, 2027, at which time Arshpreet Singh will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, and Vikramjeet Singh will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
The FBI’s Inland Violent Crime Suppression Task Force, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Fontana Police Department, the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department, the Riverside County Sheriff Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department, and the Fort Worth (Texas) Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Chang of the Transnational Organized Crime Section and Lloyd Masson of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Two Indian Nationals Charged in Connection with Transnational Counterfeit Ozempic SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL — A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Florida charged two individuals, Swapnadip Roy, 33, and Vicky Ramancha, 37, both Indian nationals, with conspiracy and smuggling related to an alleged transnational counterfeit prescription drug distribution scheme. The indictment alleges that Roy, Ramancha, and their co-conspirators sold counterfeit Ozempic to distributors in the United States at deeply discounted prices. Roy was extradited from Italy to the United States and made his initial appearance in Tampa, Florida, today.
“This indictment reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting Americans from potential harm from counterfeit prescription drugs,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Murray for the Middle District of Florida. “Our office will not tolerate bad actors corrupting our pharmaceutical supply chain.”
“Counterfeit prescription drugs — especially common ones — threaten the health and safety of every American who depends on the integrity of our pharmaceutical supply,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These defendants allegedly exploited people’s health to pay themselves. We will keep pursuing anyone who seeks to deceive American consumers with counterfeit drugs.”
“While the U.S. wholesale distribution market is highly regulated, those who choose to subvert the safeguards of the legitimate drug regulatory regime and supply chain by introducing counterfeit drugs into the U.S. market put American consumers at significant risk,” said Assistant Commissioner Justin Green of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA OCI). “Drug safety and quality do not begin or end at the U.S. border. FDA takes reports of possible counterfeit medicines seriously and works closely with other federal agencies, foreign counterparts, and the private sector to help protect the nation's drug supply.”
According to court documents, beginning in at least July 2023 and continuing to April 2024, Roy and Ramancha allegedly obtained counterfeit Ozempic from unauthorized sources in China. The counterfeit Ozempic allegedly distributed by Roy, Ramancha, and their co-conspirators included counterfeit packaging, package inserts, pen labels, and needles meant to deceive downstream customers into believing they were purchasing authentic Ozempic authorized by the manufacturer. The scheme continued even after the FDA seized some of the counterfeit Ozempic in December 2023 and issued a public warning regarding the products.
Roy and Ramancha are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit smuggling and to defraud the United States, three counts of smuggling, and two counts of selling counterfeit drugs and holding counterfeit drugs for sale. If convicted, Roy and Ramancha each face a maximum penalty of 71 years in prison.
FDA OCI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Roberts for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Peter Leininger of the Criminal Division’s Health & Safety Unit are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs secured Roy’s continued detention, following his arrest pursuant to an INTERPOL Red Notice, and then timely filed a request for his extradition from Italy.
The Health and Safety Unit within the Department’s Criminal Division works with law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute violations of federal laws designed to protect public health and safety. The unit focuses on corporations and individuals who make and sell dangerous drugs, food, and other consumer products that could cause significant harm to Americans. For more information, see https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-safety-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Indian Nationals Charged in Connection with Transnational Counterfeit Ozempic SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Florida charged two individuals, Swapnadip Roy, 33, and Vicky Ramancha, 37, both Indian nationals, with conspiracy and smuggling related to an alleged transnational counterfeit prescription drug distribution scheme. The indictment alleges that Roy, Ramancha, and their co-conspirators sold counterfeit Ozempic to distributors in the United States at deeply discounted prices. Roy was extradited from Italy to the United States and made his initial appearance in Tampa, Florida, today.
“Counterfeit prescription drugs — especially common ones — threaten the health and safety of every American who depends on the integrity of our pharmaceutical supply,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These defendants allegedly exploited people’s health to pay themselves. We will keep pursuing anyone who seeks to deceive American consumers with counterfeit drugs.”
“This indictment reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting Americans from potential harm from counterfeit prescription drugs,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Murray for the Middle District of Florida. “Our office will not tolerate bad actors corrupting our pharmaceutical supply chain.”
“While the U.S. wholesale distribution market is highly regulated, those who choose to subvert the safeguards of the legitimate drug regulatory regime and supply chain by introducing counterfeit drugs into the U.S. market put American consumers at significant risk,” said Assistant Commissioner Justin Green of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA OCI). “Drug safety and quality do not begin or end at the U.S. border. FDA takes reports of possible counterfeit medicines seriously and works closely with other federal agencies, foreign counterparts, and the private sector to help protect the nation's drug supply.”
According to court documents, beginning in at least July 2023 and continuing to April 2024, Roy and Ramancha allegedly obtained counterfeit Ozempic from unauthorized sources in China. The counterfeit Ozempic allegedly distributed by Roy, Ramancha, and their co-conspirators included counterfeit packaging, package inserts, pen labels, and needles meant to deceive downstream customers into believing they were purchasing authentic Ozempic authorized by the manufacturer. The scheme continued even after the FDA seized some of the counterfeit Ozempic in December 2023 and issued a public warning regarding the products.
Roy and Ramancha are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit smuggling and to defraud the United States, three counts of smuggling, and two counts of selling counterfeit drugs and holding counterfeit drugs for sale. If convicted, Roy and Ramancha each face a maximum penalty of 71 years in prison.
FDA OCI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Peter Leininger of the Criminal Division’s Health & Safety Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Roberts for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs secured Roy’s continued detention, following his arrest pursuant to an INTERPOL Red Notice, and then timely filed a request for his extradition from Italy.
The Health and Safety Unit within the Department’s Criminal Division works with law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute violations of federal laws designed to protect public health and safety. The unit focuses on corporations and individuals who make and sell dangerous drugs, food, and other consumer products that could cause significant harm to Americans. For more information, see https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-safety-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Defendants Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Obtain over $80 Million in Government Contracts Through FraudRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Thomas E. Lauer, age 64, and Rebecca J. Davis, age 77, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to one count of conspiracy to commit major fraud against the United States.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Lauer and Davis (formerly Rebecca J. Numer and Rebecca J. Elstner) each admitted that, from 2007 to 2014, they conspired with each other, and with other individuals, to obtain five contracts awarded to Davis’s company, Elstner Construction Company, at Letterkenny Army Depot. These contracts were “set aside” for eligible small, disadvantaged businesses who were participating in an SBA program devoted to their development, known as the 8(a) Business Development Program. The collective value of these contracts exceeded $80 million.
Lauer also admitted to conspiring with others to obtain a $5.3 million contract awarded to Bon Secour Management, at the VA Medical Center in Salem, Virginia. This contract was awarded to Bon Secour Management, which was a participant in a small business program devoted to small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.
Davis, through Elstner Construction Company (ECC), joined the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development Program in or around 2001, despite not being eligible because she had previously entered the program under a different company name. Davis admitted that her 2001 entry into the program violated the rule on “one-time eligibility.”
Lauer assisted others to obtain certification for Bon Secour Management as a “service-disabled veteran owned small business,” or SDVOSB, in or around 2011.
Lauer and Davis admitted to entering contracts awarded to ECC at Letterkenny Army Depot knowing, based on their agreement with one another and with others, that ECC would violate certain 8(a) Program rules. The contracts awarded to ECC at Letterkenny Army Depot also imposed various specific requirements, including requirements relating to performance by the prime contractor, ECC. Lauer and Davis admitted to knowingly violating these contract provisions as well.
Davis also admitted to making false and fraudulent submissions to the U.S. Small Business Administration during and in relation to this criminal conduct, including a false 2008 certification that she and her company were in compliance with 8(a) Business Development Program rules relating to “control” and “one-time eligibility.”
Lauer also admitted that Bon Secour Management was awarded a Salem VAMC contract in March 2013 based on the company’s false representation that at least 15 percent of the cost of the contract performance would be spent on Bon Secour Management’s employees.
As part of her plea agreement, Davis agreed to pay $6 million in restitution, which she agreed was the approximate revenue that ECC retained and was derived from contracts awarded to ECC at Letterkenny Army Depot. Lauer agreed to pay about $6.45 million in restitution. Lauer also agreed to pay $6 million for the loss associated with the Letterkenny Army Depot contracts, as well as the approximately $459 thousand in proceeds maintained by Bon Secour Management from the Salem VA Medical Center contract.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ravi Romel Sharma, Christian T. Haugsby, and K. Wesley Mishoe are prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit major fraud against the United States is 5 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Two Chinese Nationals Charged with Misusing U.S. Passports Belonging to Real Citizens at John Wayne Airport in O.C.Read the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – Two Chinese nationals have been charged in a federal criminal complaint alleging they presented United States passports belonging to other people when they tried to enter the U.S. from Mexico last month at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, the Justice Department announced today.
Jin Fu Wei, 44 of Guangxi Province, China, and Xiaodan Lei, 47, of Henan Province, China, are charged with misuse of passport.
They have been in federal custody since their arrest last month and are expected to make their initial appearances today in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
“Thanks to the diligent work of customs officers, two Chinese nationals attempting to use U.S. passports belonging to real American citizens were detained and now face federal felony charges,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “This case is not only a criminal matter. It also raises serious national security concerns when foreign citizens are able to enter the United States under false identities. We have a right to know exactly who is crossing our borders and what their intentions are.”
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, on August 26, Wei and Lei – both citizens of China – traveled by commercial airliner from Los Cabos International Airport in Mexico to the U.S. port of entry at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana. Upon arrival, the defendants presented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers U.S. passports of actual U.S. citizens for inspection and admission into the United States.
CBP officers determined that the biometric identifiers associated with the U.S. passports did not match those of Wei and Lei, namely that there was a mismatch between the facial recognition scans of the defendants and the scanned U.S. passports they presented. Neither of the defendants’ names appeared on the flight manifest, an official document that lists all the passengers and crew on board an aircraft.
Law enforcement detained the defendants for further review of their admissibility into the U.S.
On his person, Wei had one Chinese credit card and one Chinese bank card, both of which were in his name – not the name of the individual whose U.S. passport he used. Wei also had in his possession an expired Texas driver’s license for the rightful passport holder.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The FBI is investigating this matter with assistance from CBP.
Assistant United States Attorney Kent M. Walters of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Twin Brothers Plead Guilty to Tax Crimes from Their MRI Technician Jobs and Their Golf Tee-Time Brokering Side HustleRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two twin brothers and MRI technicians pleaded guilty today to deliberately failing to report to the IRS more than $1.3 million in income, including money they made from running a golf tee-time brokering business as a side hustle.
Se Youn “Steve” Kim, 42, of Buena Park, pleaded guilty to one count of subscribing to a false tax return.
Hee Youn “Ted” Kim, 42, of Pomona, pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion.
According to their plea agreements, beginning in 2021, the Kim brothers operated a golf tee-time brokering business in which they reserved thousands of golf tee times at numerous golf courses in Los Angeles and Orange counties and resold them for a fee to members of the public.
Kim brothers directed reservation fees from their tee time business to be deposited into their personal financial accounts even after they formed a corporate entity for the venture, assigned an Employer Identification Number, and opened a business account.
Neither brother ever reported to the IRS any income from their tee time business, and both admitted to using some of the funds in this corporate account to pay for personal expenses and make cash withdrawals.
For the tax years 2021 through 2023, Steve Kim received approximately $810,919 in income. For the tax years 2022 and 2023 Ted Kim received in income approximately $496,998.
Steve Kim admitted that his 2021 federal income tax return omitted approximately $27,510 in income he earned from the tee-time brokering business he ran with his brother. His tax return that year further omitted income from capital gains, unemployment compensation, and early retirement distribution in the amounts of approximately $4,747; $8,723; and $8,635, respectively.
Both Steve and Ted Kim falsely claimed to their employers, who hired them as MRI technicians, that they were exempt from federal income tax withholdings, resulting in their employers ceasing any federal tax withholding for them.
For the tax years 2022 and 2023, Steve Kim willfully evaded the assessment of income tax in the amount of $155,021 while Ted Kim willfully evaded the assessment of income tax in the amount of $97,354.
Steve Kim further admitted to willfully failing to pay income tax due for the tax years 2012 through 2021, resulting in at least $221,004 in payments, interest, and penalties owed to the IRS. Rather than using available funds to pay his outstanding tax balance, Steve Kim spent his money on various other purchases and services. He caused a tax loss in the amount of at least $387,221 for tax years 2012 through 2023.
Ted Kim admitted to willfully failing to pay approximately $97,041 owed in payments, interest, and penalties for the tax years 2016 through 2021, and instead spent that money on other purchases and services. He caused a tax loss in the amount of $194,395 for tax years 2016 through 2023.
United States District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld, Jr., scheduled January 12, 2027, sentencing hearings, at which time Steve Kim will face a statutory maximum sentence of three years in federal prison and Ted Kim will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Yervant P. Hagopian of the Major Frauds Section and Assistant United States Attorney Sebastian Bellm of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Twice deported illegal alien with seven DWI convictions sentenced to 74 months in federal prisonRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that an illegal alien from Mexico, with seven convictions for driving while intoxicated, was sentenced to 6+ years in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States.
Fernando Salvador Perez Morales, 46, was indicted in November 2025 for illegally reentering the U.S. Perez-Morales pled guilty in March. U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr sentenced him to 74 months in federal prison on Sept. 23.
“Individuals who repeatedly violate our immigration laws and endanger our communities by driving drunk—especially after multiple removals—are not welcome in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “With seven DWI convictions, including hit and run crashes, Perez-Morales continued to illegally return and put North Texans at risk. This sentence underscores our commitment to protecting the public and enforcing federal immigration law. We appreciate the work of our ICE partners and the prosecutors who secured this conviction.”
“After violating our nation’s laws to illegally re-enter the country three times, this criminal alien repeatedly put the lives of innocent Americans in jeopardy by driving while he was intoxicated on seven different occasions, fleeing the scene twice,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office Director Miguel Vergara. “While sanctuary politicians and the media work to shield dangerous criminal aliens like this from deportation, our officers will continue to work tirelessly to enforce our nation’s immigration laws and remove illegal aliens who pose a threat to our communities.”
According to court records, between 2009 and 2025, Perez-Morales was convicted seven times of DWI, two of which involved hit and run accidents. In August 2025, Perez-Morales was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement his seventh conviction. Perez-Morales was removed from the U.S. in 2013 and 2020 and will be removed again once he fulfills his 74-month sentence in federal prison.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the Investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marbel Leonel Munoz and Eric Bales from the Major Crimes Section prosecuted the case.
Trio sentenced for fentanyl, heroin trafficking near Laredo elementary schoolRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – The final defendant in a three-person drug trafficking conspiracy has been ordered to federal prison for distributing fentanyl and heroin.
Freddy Serano, 42, pleaded guilty April 7.
On Sept. 16, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered Serano to serve 18 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
From May 8 through Aug. 25, 2025, law enforcement conducted an undercover investigation that resulted in the purchase of 3.916 grams of fentanyl and 9.95 grams of heroin from Maritza Navarro. The investigation revealed Navarro received her drug supply from Arturo Martinez and Serano.
The undercover activity occurred across the street from Kawas Elementary School.
Co-defendants Navarro, 43, and Martinez Jr., 34, received 48 and 24 months, respectively, for their roles in the conspiracy.
Serano has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Ann Cortez prosecuted the case.
Three Oregon Men Charged with Bank FraudRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging three Oregon men with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Cody James VanWinkle aka COUNTUPCODY, 30, Gresham, and Kei-Jian Buckley, 32, Beaverton, had their initial appearances and arraignments today. Bruce Edward Jones, Jr. aka Juice, 30, Eugene, had his initial appearance and arraignment on September 24, 2026.
According to court documents, VanWinkle, Buckley, and Jones stole or obtained stolen checks and altered the payee line and dollar amount so that the check could be deposited by them instead of the intended payee. VanWinkle and Buckley formed an LLC called Pacific Swift Logistics, which was a sham business, to assist in their fraud. VanWinkle, Buckley, and Jones, along with others they recruited, deposited or transferred via wire the fraudulent and forged checks into the accounts controlled by VanWinkle, Buckley, or Jones. VanWinkle, Buckley, Jones, and others they recruited, withdrew, attempted to withdraw, or otherwise transferred the money before the financial institutions were able to flag the deposit as fraud and halt the withdrawals or transfers. When the recruits received money, they provided a portion of the stolen money to VanWinkle, Buckley, and Jones.
At their arraignments, VanWinkle and Buckley pleaded not guilty. Jones previously pleaded not guilty. All defendants are scheduled for trial November 24, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigations are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Sax is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Suspected members of an interstate drug ring make their initial appearance in federal courtRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – Two Michigan men and a Montanan made their initial appearance in federal court today on suspicion of trafficking methamphetamine onto the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Vincent Earl Thompson, 26, from Clayton, Michigan; Derrick Byrd, 38, from Detroit, Michigan; and Michael Dean Grey Bear, 24, from Poplar, were arrested in September 2026 on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
The government alleges in court documents that Grey Bear was part of a drug trafficking operation that included Thompson and Byrd, who together moved significant amounts of meth from Michigan to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The three men were arrested while traveling together onto the Fort Peck Indian Reservation with methamphetamine in the vehicle.
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 Montana comprises agents and officers from federal, state and local agencies with the prosecution being led by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Godfrey for the District of Montana.
Springfield Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his illegal possession of a firearm.
Douglas Dockery, Jr., 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to one year imprisonment to be followed by three years of post-conviction supervision for being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm. Dockery was charged as a part of Operation Spring Cleaning, that was coordinated by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri and law enforcement across southwest Missouri.
On Jan. 3, 2026, Dockery was contacted by Ozark, Mo. police officers during an investigation into a recent theft at a local Walmart. During that contact, Dockery admitted to law enforcement there was a .45 caliber firearm within his vehicle. After consenting to a search, law enforcement located a Tisas .45 caliber M1911-A1 firearm, matching the description he had provided to officers. During the search, officers found a .22 caliber semiautomatic firearm, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and marijuana. Dockery was sentenced within a guideline range sentence of 12 months’ and one day imprisonment with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, followed by three years of post-release supervision, and payment of a $100 Special Assessment as required by law.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Ozark Missouri Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Controlled Substance OffenseRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Mark Murphy, Jr., 37 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Murphy was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
"For too long, methamphetamine has torn apart Indiana families, fueled violent crime, and devastated our streets. This individual chose to profit by spreading poison directly into the neighborhoods of South Bend, actively endangering our communities. Police executed a search warrant at Murphy’s residence and recovered about 439 grams of pure methamphetamine packaged in a suitcase. Today’s ten-year sentence sends a definitive message: if you bring deadly drugs into our communities, you will face severe consequences in a federal prison. This successful prosecution was made possible through the robust partnerships between the Elkhart Intelligence and Covert Enforcement Unit, the ATF, and the South Bend Police Department. By combining local expertise and neighborhood knowledge with federal resources and intelligence, investigators successfully cut off a dangerous pipeline of narcotics before it could cause further harm to South Bend families. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains dedicated to removing chronic offenders from the streets, disabling drug trafficking operations, and building safer, more resilient neighborhoods for everyone,” said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Elkhart Intelligence and Covert Enforcement Unit, and the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Shelby County Man Sentenced for Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Shelby County, Ky., man, James Shuck, 41, was sentenced on Tuesday to a total of 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of fluorofentanyl and methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
In 2023, law enforcement began investigating Shuck’s drug trafficking activities, ultimately leading to a search of his residence on December 19, 2024. During that search, law enforcement found flurofentanyl, fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine that Shuck admitted he intended to distribute to others. He further admitted selling $300-$500 of drugs per day, most of which was methamphetamine, as well as fentanyl he obtained from Louisville. Agents also found a firearm that was located under Shuck’s mattress and in close proximity to the drugs. Shuck possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Bruce Gentry, Shelbyville Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Shelbyville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Morgan and James Chapman prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Sex Offender Sentenced for Failing to Register and Hiding Accounts Used to View Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Matthew Randall Gigot, 40, a previously convicted sex offender residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 56 months in federal prison in connection with his trafficking of child sexual abuse material and his failure to register as a sex offender, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Matthew Gigot, a convicted sex offender, was required to report all of his online accounts. Instead, he hid them and used those accounts to seek out child pornography with other predators,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He chose concealment and exploitation; this sentence shows those choices have consequences. We will keep exposing those who target children and those who try to hide in the shadows.”
Gigot pleaded guilty on April 6 before U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan to sexual performance using minors and to failure to register as a sex offender. In addition to the 56-month prison term related to his conviction involving Sexual Performance Using Minors and 24-month sentence related to his conviction involving a violation of his requirement to register as a sex offender, Judge Chutkan ordered Gigot to serve 10 years of supervised release on each offense. Gigot will also be required to register as a sex offender for life in D.C.
According to court documents, between November 2024 and June 2025, Gigot traveled to a residence in the District to meet with other individuals to view child sexual abuse materials, at times engaging in sexual conduct with other adults while doing so. The material depicted young, prepubescent children being sexually abused by adults. Gigot also joined online video sessions from his D.C. home for the same purpose.
Separately, between July 2024 and March 2026, Gigot failed to report a secondary email account, a Snapchat account, and several Telegram accounts he was actively using, despite his being required to report any change in his registration information within 72 hours.
Gigot had been registered as a sex offender in the District of Columbia since 2016, following a prior conviction for sexual performance using minors. During a January 23, 2026, search of his residence, FBI agents recovered the unreported accounts from electronic devices.
This marks Gigot’s second conviction for trafficking in child sexual abuse material.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department.
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard S. Kelley.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Sarasota Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Arson of Federal Property and a Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Trang Johnny Nha Phan (34, Sarasota) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle to eight years in federal prison for attempted arson of federal property and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Phan pleaded guilty on June 2, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on February 14, 2025, a law enforcement officer saw a fire ignite on the front of an M60A3 Full Tracked Combat Tank displayed as a war memorial outside a VFW facility in Sarasota. The VFW was open, with customers inside. The officer saw Phan walking away from the tank toward his vehicle. Officers recovered a white spray-painted glass liquor bottle and burned paper towels that smelled of gasoline. Phan’s fingerprints were found on a spray-paint canister and his DNA was found on the bottle. A destructive device expert with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives concluded that the bottle and paper towel wick constituted a Molotov cocktail and a destructive device. The device failed because the bottle did not break on impact.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sarasota Police Department, and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Whitney Mackay and Adam W. McCall.
Rochester man and North Carolina man plead guilty for their roles in gun trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Hassian Humphrey, 24, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit firearms offenses, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. In addition, co-defendant Keishawn Turner, 25, of Kannapolis, NC, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in the firearms business without a license, which also carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Between May 2022, and June 24, 2025, Humphrey and Turner conspired with Jylin Woods, Benjamin Martin a/k/a Benji a/k/a Ben10 a/k/a Gun Man, and Jerry Antonio Baine a/k/a Bank 3x, to illegally sell firearms.
During the course of the conspiracy, Humphrey and Turner exchanged several photographs and/or videos of firearms and negotiated the price of various firearms with Humphrey indicating he was soliciting buyers for the firearms. In October 2023, Humphrey and Turner transported five firearms, including a ghost gun, from North Carolina into the Western District of New York to be sold. Two of those firearms were recovered during the execution of search warrants in Buffalo in December 2023.
In addition, in May 2022, Humphrey and Jylin Woods attempted to transport two firearms from North Carolina to Buffalo. However, their vehicle was stopped by law enforcement in Oak Hill, West Virginia, and the two firearms were seized. During the course of the conspiracy, Humphrey and Woods shared photographs of firearms they possessed, updated each other regarding the solicitation of buyers, and on at least two occasions, they successfully transported North Carolina-purchased firearms to Buffalo to be resold. Humphrey also communicated with Jerry Antonio Baine regarding firearms transactions, with Baine sending photographs of approximately 19 firearms to Humphrey, including several privately manufactured firearms bearing no serial number, indicating that they were for sale. Humphrey and Baine would then discuss potential sale prices for the firearms. Baine also purchased multiple firearms from retail establishments in North Carolina that were ultimately sold to Humphrey. One of those firearms was recovered in Buffalo, in July 2024, in a separate criminal investigation.
None of the defendants involved in the conspiracy were licensed importers, manufacturers, dealers, or collectors of firearms.
Charges remain pending against Jylin Woods, Benjamin Martin and Jerry Antonio Baine.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis A. Testani and Monica Benjovsky. The pleas are the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Erika Shields and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
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Richmond man sentenced to 11 years in prison for trafficking cocaine and fentanylRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – Drequan Keymontay Peoples, 35, of Richmond, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.
According to court documents, on Sept. 11, 2025, law enforcement searched two residences associated with Peoples. As officers approached one of the residences, Peoples fled in a vehicle. Virginia State Police troopers followed and ultimately apprehended Peoples, who was in possession of a backpack that contained $42,290 in cash, 23 oxycodone pills, 20 alprazolam pills, and two cellphones.
During the searches of the residences, investigators recovered more than 950 grams of cocaine, more than 250 grams of heroin/fentanyl, nine firearms, and ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, Peoples cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division; and Col. Jeffrey S. Katz, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. ATF and the Virginia State Police 1T Tri-County Drug Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Henrico County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Blanchard prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-27.
Repeat Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
EL DORADO – An El Dorado, Arkansas man was sentenced on September 28, 2026, to 210 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for possessing with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine—his second drug trafficking conviction. The Honorable Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court, at El Dorado.
According to court records, on October 21, 2024, Lucas Wyatt Smith, age 34, was the sole passenger in a vehicle stopped by the El Dorado Police Department, for having expired tags. During the traffic stop, it was determined that Smith had an active search waiver on file. A K-9 handler for the 13th Judicial Drug Task Force arrived at the scene of the traffic stop and the K-9 alerted on the vehicle occupied by Smith. A search of Smith’s person revealed four small plastic baggies containing suspected methamphetamine. Based on the narcotics found on Smith’s person, a search was executed at Smith’s residence subject to a search warrant obtained by the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force. The search of Smith’s residence by the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force, resulted in Investigators locating 798 grams of pure methamphetamine, over 700 grams of marijuana, and over 30 firearms. Following Miranda warnings, Smith admitted to transporting large quantities of methamphetamine from Texas to Arkansas.
Smith previously served an 180-month state prison sentence for possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver. (See Union County Circuit Court; Docket No: 70-2018-150).
United States Attorney Kevin R. Holmes made the announcement. The 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the El Dorado Police Department, and the ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case for the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. 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.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
Randolph Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Randolph man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for cocaine trafficking and firearm charges, following a series of arrests targeting gangs in the Brockton and Randolph areas.
London Cohen, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy to 90 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In June 2026, Cohen pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Cohen was charged in February 2026.
Cohen was arrested on Dec. 17, 2025, after authorities executed search warrants at numerous residences and stash houses associated with the Brockton-based Harvard Street Gang and their Randolph-based affiliates. During a search of Cohen’s residence, three handguns and ammunition were located in a bathroom trash can.
Elsewhere in Cohen’s residence, controlled substances including cocaine, fentanyl, MDMA and marijuana were recovered. In the basement living room, there were various items commonly used in large-scale drug trafficking, such as a kilogram press device, a respirator mask, digital scales, plastic bags and bottles of cutting powder.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Division; the Abington, Acushnet, Ashland, Boston, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Chelsea, East Bridgewater, Medford, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Stoughton, Taunton and West Bridgewater Police Departments; Plymouth and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Departments; Massachusetts Department of Correction; and the Plymouth, Norfolk and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cutshall and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Quincy Man Arrested for Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Distribution of Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Quincy man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston with being a felon in possession of a firearm and distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Joseph King, 48, is charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm and four counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. King was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in August 2026. He remains in federal custody.
According to the charging documents, on four occasions in June, July and August 2026, King sold a controlled substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine to an undercover federal agent. Additionally, on Aug. 11, 2026, King allegedly purchased two firearms – a Glock 19M, 9mm pistol and a Glock 27, .40 caliber pistol – from an undercover agent. King is prohibited from possessing firearms due to several prior state court convictions, including a 2025 conviction for breaking and entering in Taunton District Court and a 2009 conviction for larceny in Quincy District Court, among other convictions.
The charge of being a felon in possession provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance provides for a sentence of up to 20 years, three years 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.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department; and the Boston and Quincy Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit 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.
Provincetown Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Possessing and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Provincetown man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for child pornography offenses. The defendant possessed several thousand image and video files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Laurence Pagnoni, 66, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to five years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In February 2026, Pagnoni pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. Pagnoni was arrested and charged in April 2024.
An individual arrested in a child exploitation sting reported to law enforcement that, in March of 2023, Pagnoni distributed CSAM to him via the online cloud storage platform Mega. It was determined that Pagnoni had sent thousands of CSAM files to this individual. During a search of Pagnoni’s home in Provincetown in May of 2023 a number of items, including Pagnoni’s cellphone, were seized. During a subsequent search of Pagnoni’s cellphone, several thousand image files and video files containing CSAM, including at least 54 known series of CSAM as identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, were discovered.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Previously removed illegal alien sentenced for multiple violent offenses in Houston areaRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 35-year-old illegal alien from Mexico who unlawfully resided in Houston has been sentenced for robbery, carjacking, brandishing a firearm, and illegal reentry.
Jose Luis Reyes-Martinez pleaded guilty July 10.
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake ordered Reyes-Martinez to serve 264 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Reyes-Martinez sexually assaulted a woman after breaking into her home and restraining her and her husband at gunpoint. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of the offenses and Reyes-Martinez’s threats to harm the victim’s children if she did not remain silent during the assault. Judge Lake also noted the victim continues to suffer trauma as a result of Reyes-Martinez’s actions.
On Sept. 9, 2023, Reyes-Martinez entered the Fiesta Supermarket on Airline Drive in Houston. He brandished a handgun at two employees, forced one into a frozen meat locker, and demanded cash before fleeing on a bicycle.
Reyes-Martinez then broke into a nearby residence and held a family hostage at gunpoint for several hours. He tied one of them up, sexually assaulted a woman while again brandishing the firearm, and then stole their car.
Forensic analysis on a condom recovered from the assault linked Reyes-Martinez to the crime.
Authorities first encountered Reyes-Martinez in Arizona in 2012 after he illegally entered the United States. Authorities subsequently removed him from the country. Law enforcement later discovered him in Houston on Oct. 21, 2023.
The FBI and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez prosecuted the case.
Pike County Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON Ky. – A Virgie, Ky., man, Charles Hopkins, 35, was sentenced on Tuesday to 80 months by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for possession of child pornography.
On May 6, 2025, law enforcement received a tip that a sexually explicit video of a minor victim (who was under the age of 12) was uploaded to Hopkins’ internet-based Verizon cloud storage account. Law enforcement seized and searched Hopkins’ phone and discovered additional child pornography, including images depicting minors under the age of 12 and infants engaged in sexual activity.
Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
Under federal law. Hopkins 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 15 years.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Philadelphia Man Sentenced to over 15½ Years in Prison for Armed Robbery of Montco Credit UnionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Charles Thomas Clark, 31, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 188 months in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Juan R. Sánchez for the gunpoint robbery of a Montgomery County credit union.
The defendant was charged by indictment in April 2024. In October of last year, he was convicted at trial of aiding and abetting armed bank robbery, and aiding and abetting using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
As detailed in court filings and proven at trial, on January 9, 2024, just before 3:30 p.m., Clark and co-defendant Emmanuel Glass entered the American Heritage Credit Union branch located on the 1300 block of Old York Road in Abington, Pa. At gunpoint, they demanded money from credit union employees, putting the cash in a paper McDonald’s bag. They also took deposited checks.
Throughout the encounter, employees heard Clark say, “It’s not worth it, this is all insured”; “…it’s not worth your life,” in reference to pushing alarm buttons, and warning employees not to move or they would get shot.
After exiting the credit union with the stolen cash, the robbers fled in a gold 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The bank manager then called 911 to report the robbery.
Police spotted the Chevrolet Cruze a few miles away from the credit union and began to follow the vehicle. Clark, who was driving, struck multiple vehicles as he fled from police at a high rate of speed, then crashed into a marked Abington Police vehicle. Both robbers took off on foot and were apprehended shortly thereafter by police.
Clark’s co-defendant Glass, who pleaded guilty in July 2025, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 21.
This case was investigated by the Abington Township Police Department and FBI Philadelphia’s Fort Washington Resident Agency and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Catherine S. Dos Santos and Meghan A. Farley.
Pensacola Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Stolen Identity and Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida –Vontavius Jamaal Bradley, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison after having previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, use of a false passport, and aggravated identity theft. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges and sentence today.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “These defendants victimized several innocent individuals in order to fraudulently enrich themselves, but thanks to the excellent investigative work of our federal law enforcement partners we have dismantled their scheme and now hold them accountable for their crimes. With support from the National Fraud Enforcement Division, my office is aggressively prosecuting fraudsters and ensuring they see the inside of a prison cell for ripping off the American people.”
According to court documents, Bradley conspired with his co-defendants, Elizabeth Ann Rogers and Donny Bernard Ross, and others to open accounts at various banks and credit unions in the Pensacola area using stolen identities. Once opened, the defendants used the accounts to cash stolen, altered, or counterfeit checks. Bradley obtained and provided to his accomplices fraudulent identification documents, including false U.S. passport cards. He also provided the fraudulent checks to conduct fraudulent transactions, and the co-defendants all split the proceeds. As part of the conspiracy and scheme, Bradley and his co-defendants fraudulently obtained and used personal identifying information of real people without their knowledge or authorization.
In addition to having to serve 42 months in prison, Bradley was ordered to pay $18,264 in restitution to financial institution and identity theft victims. Rogers and Ross have also pleaded guilty to the same charges and are awaiting sentencing before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
“Safeguarding U.S. passports and visas is central to the Diplomatic Security Service mission and critical to protecting our national security,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan McSeveney of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Miami Field Office. “U.S. passports and visas are among the most sought-after travel documents in the world, and DSS is firmly committed to protecting their integrity. We thank our law enforcement partners for their outstanding collaboration in this case and will continue to pursue those who use identity theft and document fraud to facilitate criminal activity and defraud the American people.”
The case resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes prosecuted t case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The 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 available 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.
Pensacola Felon Indicted for Federal Drug & Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Lavon Trinere Mars, 39, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of a methamphetamine 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.
Mars 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 November 16, 2026, in Pensacola before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
If convicted, Mars faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment on the drug conspiracy 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 and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker.
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.
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.
Northwest Arkansas Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Fayetteville man was sentenced on September 29, 2026, to 180 months in prison on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Honorable Chief Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, officers with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were seeking the arrest of Dakota Wenger, age 29, related to an aggravated robbery. On December 12, 2025, detectives with the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force received information as to Wenger’s location. A Springdale Police Officer attempted to make a traffic stop on Wenger and he fled in his vehicle, discarding two firearms. The pursuit, which lasted more than seven minutes, carried into Fayetteville through high density neighborhoods. Court records show Wenger has an extensive criminal history, including crimes of violence.
U.S. Attorney Kevin R. Holmes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. The Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Springdale Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.Nineteen defendants charged in sweeping federal drug trafficking indictment following Homeland Security Task Force investigationRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced today that nineteen individuals have been federally charged in a sweeping 24-count indictment that alleges their involvement in a years‑long drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana throughout the Dallas area.
“Today’s charges against 19 North Texas drug dealers reflect the unwavering commitment of the Homeland Security Task Force to protect our communities from violent criminal networks,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Through HSTF’s unprecedented interagency collaboration, we are able to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating near locations and public spaces where families and community members should feel safe. My office will use every tool available to hold drug traffickers accountable and to safeguard the people of North Texas.”
“This investigation reflects what is possible when local and federal law enforcement agencies work together with a shared commitment to protecting our communities,” said Dallas Police Chief Daniel C. Comeaux. “Our officers and investigators worked alongside our federal partners over an extended period to identify and disrupt an alleged drug trafficking network operating in Dallas neighborhoods. We will continue working with our partners to hold those who bring drugs, guns and violence into our communities accountable and to keep Dallas safe.”
“As this investigation unfolded, the DEA and our law enforcement partners identified a highly organized, poly-drug distribution organization, feeding our streets with cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine, and fentanyl,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge, Joseph B. Tucker. “Working alongside our Homeland Security Task Force partners, the DEA Dallas Division dismantled this network and remains fiercely committed to removing these poison peddlers and violent organizations from our communities to ensure our neighborhoods and parks are safe for our children.”
“This investigation highlights the mission of the HSTF, which includes targeting transnational criminal organizations engaged in drug trafficking,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We will continue our collaboration through the Dallas HSTF to produce real, impactful outcomes for the safety of our communities.”
“Task force cases make our communities safer. In this case, IRS Criminal Investigation special agents helped uncover alleged money laundering activities involving drug proceeds tied to drug houses near where our children learn and play,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of IRS-CI’s Texas Field Office. “HSTF is designed to bring together the expertise of its members, and IRS-CI contributes to the team by focusing on tracing the illicit funds.”
According to the indictment, the charges stem from a long‑term investigation into convicted federal drug trafficker Avery Wayne Davis, identified as a leader in the organization alongside Sterling Lawrence Taylor. Working with cultivated sources and historical investigative intelligence, Dallas Police Department officers and FBI, DEA, and IRS-CI special agents uncovered multiple narcotics distribution networks, four wire targets and numerous drug houses operating across Dallas, many of which are located adjacent to schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, and public parks.
Agents seized cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, multiple firearms—including a .50‑caliber Desert Eagle, Glock Model 33, Taurus pistols and other weapons—and more than $40,000 in drug‑related proceeds, along with additional currency and jewelry totaling more than $500,000.
The indictment charges a wide range of alleged criminal conduct, including drug‑trafficking conspiracies, money laundering, firearms offenses, drug house operations and unlawful use of communication facilities.
The following are categories of the violations of federal drug trafficking and firearms law that the named defendants are alleged to have committed and the sentencing range if convicted:
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine, 10-life
- Avery Wayne Davis a.k.a. AD
- Sterling Lawrence Taylor a.k.a. Bo
- Phillip Hernandez-Martinez a.k.a. Phillip Martinez-Hernandez
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine, 5-40 years
- Avery Wayne Davis a.k.a. AD
- Sterling Lawrence Taylor a.k.a. Bo
- Oltin Coneius Ward a.k.a. Lump
- Tiffany Nicole Alphonse
- Samantha Rodriguez a.k.a. Sam a.k.a. Bonnie
- Adonis Jamaal Moore a.k.a. Mall
- Anthony Taylor a.k.a. Ant
Possession with the Intent to Distribute 0-5 or 0-20 years
- Paul Perkins
- Darrin DeShon Ray
Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, a mandatory 5 years consecutive to any sentence imposed in other counts
- Avery Wayne Davis a.k.a. AD
- Sterling Lawrence Taylor a.k.a. Bo
- Adonis Jamaal Moore a.k.a. Mall
- Paul Perkins
- Darrin DeShon Ray
Maintaining Drug Involved Premises and aiding and abetting
- Avery Wayne Davis a.k.a. AD
- Sterling Lawrence Taylor a.k.a. Bo
- Tiffany Alphonse
- Reteecia Te Shane Handy a.k.a. Retecia Handy
- Adonis Jamaal Moore a.k.a. Mall
- Anthony Taylor a.k.a. Ant
- James Harrison
- Darrin DeShon Ray
Use of a Communications Facility to Further Drug Trafficking
- James Harrison
Money Laundering
- Avery Davis a.k.a. AD
- Tiffany Alphonse
- Shydale McNickels a.k.a. Missy, and
- Reteecia Te Shane Handy a.k.a. Retecia Handy
* * * *
Summary of All 24 Counts
- Count 1 – Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine
- Count 2 – Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine
- Count 3 – Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments involving drug‑trafficking proceeds
- Counts 4–8 – Using or maintaining drug‑involved premises at multiple Dallas locations, including Roberts Ave., Munger Ave., Cedar Mountain Circle, Woodmeadow Parkway, and Abrams Road
- Counts 9–10 – Possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Count 11 – Possession with intent to distribute marijuana
- Counts 12–17 – Possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, involving multiple weapons including Taurus pistols, a Glock handgun, a Canik pistol, and a 300 Blackout rifle
- Count 18 – Unlawful use of a communication facility, specifically a cellular telephone, to facilitate cocaine distribution
- Count 19 – Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Count 20 – Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base
- Counts 21–22 – Maintaining drug‑involved premises on Coolidge Street
- Counts 23–24 – Possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, involving a .50‑caliber Desert Eagle and a .357 Magnum revolver
The FBI, DEA, IRS-CI and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Myria Boehm from the Major Crimes Section is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. 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 Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and United States Secret Service in partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety, City of Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement entities.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
indictment_avery_wayne_davis_et_al.pdfNew Jersey Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Relating to Stolen U.S. Treasury CheckRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MADISYN PETTAWAY, 31, of Newark, New Jersey, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to an offense related to her attempted deposit of a stolen U.S. Treasury check at a Connecticut credit union.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 27, 2024, Pettaway, using a stolen identity and a fraudulent New Jersey driver’s license, opened an account at a branch of Charter Oak Federal Credit Union. On September 13, 2024, Pettaway attempted to deposit a U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $410,085.48 at the credit union. Charter Oak FCU ultimately did not accept the deposit.
In June 2025, Pettaway opened another account at a branch of Charter Oak FCU using a fraudulent identity. On July 28, 2025, East Lyme Police arrested Pettaway and charged her with state offenses. Pettaway possessed a fake New York driver’s license and three debit cards in the name of the fraudulent identity at the time of her arrest. She was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on August 20, 2025.
Pettaway pleaded guilty to bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. She is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for December 21.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the East Lyme Police Department, and the Montville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Morris County man sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
MARSHALL, Texas – A Daingerfield man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Reco Tyrone Hayes, 51, was convicted by a jury for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap on September 28, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Hayes supplied more than a kilogram of methamphetamine to a street-level drug dealer for further distribution. Hayes operated his drug business from a drug location in Daingerfield known as The Compound.
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.
This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division, and Daingerfield Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucas Machicek and Dustin Farahnak.
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Montgomery County Man Charged with Defrauding Dozens of Investors in His Cannabis-Related Company Out of More Than $8.8 MillionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that David Dinenberg, 54, of Penn Wynne, Pennsylvania, was charged today by information with securities fraud and four counts of wire fraud, arising from alleged schemes to defraud investors in his company and to defraud the State of Rhode Island.
As detailed in court filings, in or around 2013, Dinenberg established KindManage, LLC (“KindManage” or “Kind”), for the purpose of providing payment processing and related services to cannabis growers and distributors in states that had authorized, or were on the verge of authorizing, marijuana sales for medicinal and/or recreational purposes.
The information alleges that, from about April 2014 to about April 2023, Dinenberg fraudulently induced dozens of people into buying shares of Kind and/or affiliated entities by: (a) making false representations about Kind’s revenues, valuations, and business prospects; and by (b) misleading the investors into believing that their entire investments were being used for the benefit of Kind, when, in reality, the defendant embezzled more than a half-million dollars from Kind and used it to pay for unauthorized personal expenditures, such as his sons’ college tuitions, rent on a luxurious California home, and social club memberships.
In total, the information alleges, Dinenberg defrauded these investors out of more than $8.8 million.
The information further alleges that Dinenberg also used Kind to defraud the State of Rhode Island out of approximately $175,000 in fees paid by Rhode Island marijuana growers in 2020 and 2021. Instead of remitting most of the fees to the Rhode Island government, per the terms of his contract with the state, Dinenberg diverted the funds to his personal bank accounts and used them to pay for personal expenses.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison on the securities fraud charge and 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud charges.
This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Newtown Square Resident Agency and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff.
The charges and allegations contained in the information are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Missouri Man Who Installed Hidden Camera in Bathroom Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A Cape Girardeau County, Missouri man who placed a hidden camera in a residential bathroom was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison.
Ross Andrew Schaefer, 50, will be on supervised release for 20 years after his release from prison. Schaefer pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of production or attempted production of child pornography. He admitted placing the camera in the bathroom beginning at least in 2022, when his victim was 12 years old. Investigators discovered videos on Schaefer’s phone and a thumb drive.
The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office, the Children’s Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry After Being Previously DeportedRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mexican national pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States after being previously deported.
Cecilio Paz-Serafin, 33, pleaded guilty before Federal Magistrate Judge David P. Rush, to the sole count of an indictment charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. During a traffic stop by Christian County, Missouri Sheriff’s deputies on Aug. 26, 2026, Paz-Serafin was found voluntarily in the United States after he was deported in 2024.
Under federal statute, illegally reentering into the United States after being previously deported is in direct violation of existing federal immigration law and is subject to a sentence of up to two years imprisonment. The maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and the Christian County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department.
Operation Take Back America
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Mexican Couple Extradited from Mexico for Smuggling Unaccompanied Alien Children into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Two Mexican nationals were arraigned in the Western District of Texas after being extradited from Mexico to face charges for smuggling unaccompanied alien children into the United States. A federal grand jury in the Western District of Texas returned an indictment on Sept. 24, 2025, charging Susana Guadian, 51, and Daniel Gaudian, 51, both of Juarez, Mexico, with conspiracy to transport aliens and bringing aliens illegally to the United States for financial gain.
“These defendants are charged with smuggling multiple children across the southern border. The allegations include that they risked the safety of children by giving them THC-laced gummies to sedate them while smuggling them from Mexico into the United States to avoid the children answering questions from border law enforcement,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Protecting kids from smugglers, who will stop at nothing to exploit them, will always be one of the Department’s highest priorities.”
“Having Susana and Daniel Guadian in custody on this side of the border one year after they were indicted is a major development in a case that highlights the dangerous tactics that human smugglers employ when smuggling children,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Like their co-defendants before them, these two will be aggressively prosecuted in federal court and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“There is nothing more reprehensible than exploiting vulnerable children for profit. Smuggling children across our border is not a victimless crime,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan G. McRae of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso. “Giving children cannabis-infused candy to sedate them is an especially disturbing abuse of their trust and safety. HSI will continue to hold accountable those who facilitate these dangerous schemes that treat children as commodities for financial gain and puts them in harm's way.”
According to court documents, between on or about May 1 through Oct. 17, 2024, Susana and Daniel Guadian were part of an alien smuggling organization that brought unaccompanied alien children between the ages of 5 and 13 illegally into the United States from Juarez, Mexico. The complaint alleges that Susana Guadian and Daniel Guadian recruited drivers to transport the children by car from Mexico to a port of entry at the U.S. border. The drivers and their coconspirators would then present U.S. documents to inspecting officers falsely claiming the documents belonged to the children and that they were the children’s parents.
During at least one smuggling event, the alien children were given gummy candies containing marijuana to sedate them. One of the children was taken to a local hospital and later diagnosed with marijuana poisoning. Once inside the United States, the children were then transported to El Paso, where, according to the complaint, others would pick up the children and provide payment to the drivers. The drivers were paid $900 for each minor that they brought into the United States. Co-defendant Manuel Valenzuela was sentenced on July 1 to five years in prison for his role in the child smuggling scheme and another co-defendant Dianne Guadian pleaded guilty for her role in the scheme on July 28.
A photo of THC gummies recovered by agents during secondary inspection at the port of entryHSI El Paso and U.S. Border Patrol led investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., and Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.
Trial Attorney Bethany Allen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mathew Engelbaum for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Susana and Daniel Guadian.
The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecutors from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 483 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 436 U.S. convictions; and more than 371 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and TCOs, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Member of Interstate Drug & Gun Trafficking Network Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of an interstate drug and firearm trafficking network pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to drug and firearm conspiracy charges.
Nilbel Ventura Amaro, a/k/a “Nino,” a/k/a “Megamind,” a/k/a “Ben,” a/k/a “Migo,” 26, of Lawrence, Mass., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, manufacture and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Jan. 6, 2027. Ventura Amaro was charged in June 2026 along with four other members of the drug and gun network.
Ventura Amaro was an associate of the Trinitarios transnational criminal organization who operated a drug trafficking network in Maine in coordination with the Trinitarios and under their protection. In May 2024, Ventura Amaro was allegedly kidnapped by members of the Trinitarios and held in a basement for multiple days after he took over drug distribution in certain areas of New Hampshire and Maine. In June 2025, two members of the Trinitarios were charged with kidnapping Ventura Amaro and are pending trial. In addition to the Trinitarios members and associates that he supplied, Ventura Amaro also supplied Mackenzie Bimpson, a large-scale dealer in drugs and firearms. Ventura Amaro also sold fentanyl and cocaine to Bimpson and would receive cash and firearms in exchange.
During the investigation, numerous photos and videos of, and conversations between, the defendants documenting their drug and gun conspiracy were recovered.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute, manufacture and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, supervised release for up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Division; Colonel Mark B. Hall, Director of the New Hampshire State Police; and Paul J. Smith, Chief of the Littleton (N.H.) Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Division; Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire; New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; Massachusetts State Police; the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; the Grafton County (N.H.) and Coos County (N.H.) Sheriff’s Departments; and the Berlin (N.H.), Lebanon (N.H.), Norway (Maine), Rumford (Maine), Lawrence (Mass.), New Haven (Conn.), Andover (Mass.) and Lowell (Mass.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cutshall and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Maryland Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Violent ThreatsRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A Rockville, Maryland, man was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for a campaign of violent, graphic threats against at least 25 people and their families.
According to court documents, Justin Dynlacht, 57, sent more than 20 emails, faxes, and letters between November 2022 and April 2024 to employees of companies in Delaware and several other states. The messages grew more violent over time: Dynlacht described torturing, sexually assaulting, and killing the recipients, and at least one message contained racist language. He signed some of his messages with the names of mass murderers. Several recipients and their families changed how they lived their lives because of the threats.
FBI agents arrested Dynlacht at his home in May 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 19, 2025, to one count of stalking a Delaware resident who received the threats, in violation of Title 18 U.S. Code § 2261A(2). U.S District Judge Richard G. Andrews imposed a sentence above the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines range of 30 to 37 months after prosecutors argued that the Guidelines range did not reflect the full scope of Dynlacht’s conduct or the fear it caused. Judge Andrews also ordered 3 years of supervised release with special conditions tailored to the safety of the community.
“Threat campaigns terrorize innocent people, robbing them of their peace of mind and safety, even in their own homes,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. “For more than a year, Justin Dynlacht threated to torture and kill people who had done nothing but go to work every day, and he dragged their spouses and children into his horrific campaign. Threats like these are not free speech. They are federal crimes. Anyone who tries to settle a grievance with threats of violence will be found, prosecuted, and held accountable. Dynlacht’s sentence should leave no doubt about this Office’s commitment to ensuring these perpetrators receive just punishment and deterring others who might consider committing similar crimes.”
“Justin Dynlacht earned every minute of his sentence with each graphic letter he mailed and every harassing message he sent to more than two dozen innocent victims,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “The FBI is committed to investigating those who threaten or intimidate others to ensure they are brought to justice.”
The FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case Criminal Chief Carly A. Hudson and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli H. Klein prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-CR-63-RGA
Anyone who receives threats of violence by email, mail, phone or social media should report them to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
Manhattan Beach Family Therapist Sentenced to Nearly 17 Years in Federal Prison for Installing Hidden Bathroom Camera to Film GirlsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A South Bay family therapist was sentenced today to 200 months in federal prison for installing a hidden camera in the stall of a women’s bathroom located at his place of work where he provided therapy services to, among others, young girls.
Joseph Toews, 31, of Manhattan Beach, was sentenced by United States District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld, Jr., who also fined him $50,000, ordered him to pay a special assessment of $55,000, and ordered him placed on supervised release for a term of 25 years once Toews eventually is released from prison.
Toews pleaded guilty on June 23 to one count of production of child pornography. He has been in federal custody since April 14.
According to court documents, in January 2023, Toews installed a video-recording device in the bathroom stall of a women’s bathroom, located at his place of work. Toews, while providing therapy services, affixed a video recording device in the publicly available women’s bathroom in the same building as his office. His video recording included the minor victims, some of whom received therapy services from him, including, among other methods, play therapy.
While the recording device was active, Toews captured at least 11 separate videos of the minor victims.
Toews further admitted in his plea agreement that, from January 2023 to December 2025, he knowingly received child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including purchasing sexually explicit videos of children via darknet online video stores.
“His conduct was not a spur of the moment happening,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “[Toews] had been stockpiling CSAM prior to his decision to create CSAM of his own.”
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Clifford D. Mpare of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Man Who Robbed Winston-Salem Convenience Store Sentenced to 35 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – A man was sentenced today in Winston-Salem to a total of 420 months in prison after being found guilty of robbery, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
TODD ALBERT LAWTON, aged 43, was convicted in March by a jury in federal district court of one count of interference with commerce by robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a), and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). He was sentenced today to 240 months imprisonment on the robbery charge by the Honorable David A. Bragdon, United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina. Judge Bragdon sentenced LAWTON to an additional 180 months on the brandishing charge to run consecutively to the other sentence, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.
Evidence presented at trial showed that LAWTON entered the Family Fare BP convenience store at 1427 West First Street in Winston-Salem at approximately 2:05 a.m. on March 30, 2019. He walked up behind a man standing at the counter and put a gun to the back of the man’s head. He then turned the gun on the gas station cashier and demanded the money from the register. He demanded access to the store safe but was told by the cashier that the key to the safe was not inside the store at that time. Along with the money from the register, LAWTON took several boxes of Black & Mild cigars and a can of beer, then left the store. He was found by officers of the Winston-Salem Police Department several minutes later, still in possession of the money, cigars, and beer.
LAWTON, who is originally from Washington D.C., has a criminal record that dates back to 2002, and includes multiple felony convictions, including Robbery, Felony Assault on a Federal Officer, Federal Felony Inmate Possessing Contraband Weapon, and Felony Distribution of Cocaine.
The case was investigated by the Winston-Salem Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Martin and Assistant United States Attorney Randall S. Galyon.
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Leesville and Many Men Sentenced for Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE–On September 24, 2026, United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced Charles Jackson, 38, of Many, Louisiana, to 63 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release, for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, after his guilty plea on June 22, 2026.
The same day, Judge Summerhays also sentenced Andrew Bulloch, 58, of Leesville, to 60 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. He pled guilty on June 8, 2026.
Jackson and Bulloch were members of the same indicted conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
BULLOCH
According to court documents, Bulloch conspired with others to obtain distribution-level quantities of methamphetamine. On one occasion, federal agents intercepted telephone calls between Bulloch and a co-conspirator in which Bulloch sought three ounces of methamphetamine due to high customer demand.
JACKSON
According to court documents, Jackson conspired to acquire distribution-level quantities of methamphetamine. Investigators intercepted discussions involving Jackson and co-conspirators discussing the purchase of large quantities of methamphetamine for future sales on August 6, 2025. The next day, the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office (VPSO) stopped Jackson and his co-conspirators after they had completed a methamphetamine purchase, with VPSO recovering a black bag containing 231.6 grams of methamphetamine during the stop.
These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and VPSO. They were prosecuted by Assistance U.S. Attorney LaDonte Murphy with the assistance of Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.
These cases were prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more at www.justice.gov/psn.
Related court documents for Bulloch may be found at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or via CM/ECF under case number 6:26-CR-00027-09; Jackson, under case number 6:26-CR-00027-08.
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Facebook: USAO_WDLALeader of Nationwide Scheme to Defraud Staffing Companies Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison and Ordered to Pay More Than $3 Million in RestitutionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Crispian Atkins (52, Valrico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virgina M. Hernandez Covington to 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. As part of his sentence, the court also ordered Atkins to pay $3,017,667.53 in restitution and to forfeit $1,563,292.24, the proceeds of his criminal conduct. Atkins pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, between May 2021 and March 2024, Atkins and several co-conspirators defrauded 10 victim-companies, located throughout the United States, that provide employment and payroll services, as well as financial funding. Atkins falsely represented to the victim-companies that he had business contracts with other companies to perform IT-related work, and that he needed the victim-companies’ services to fulfill those contracts. The victim companies agreed to provide financial funding or hire Atkins and his co-conspirators as “temporary employees” to complete the purported work. Atkins submitted fraudulent timesheets to the victim-companies that reflected work performed by the “temporary employees,” and the victim-companies paid Atkins and his associates, via wire transfers, according to those timesheets. Atkins and co-conspirators then transferred the fraudulently obtained proceeds to other accounts, withdrew proceeds in cash to conceal their source, and shared in the fraudulently obtained proceeds.
This case was investigated by the FBI Las Vegas Division, Reno Resident Agency, and the FBI Tampa Division, with assistance from the Norwood (MA) Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Illegal alien sent to prison for second illegal reentry convictionRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 28-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to federal prison for illegally entering the country again.
Javier Alejandro Gallegos-Rangel pleaded guilty July 14.
U.S. District Judge Nicholas J. Ganjei ordered him to serve 63 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
Gallegos-Rangel has a prior federal conviction for illegal reentry as well as convictions for evading arrest or detention in a vehicle, burglary of a vehicle, and assault of a family member. He was previously convicted of illegal reentry in February 2019.
Authorities have removed Gallegos-Rangel from the United States three times: July 2016, December 2019, and May 2025. He illegally returned to the United States following those removals.
On Dec. 16, 2025, law enforcement again discovered Gallegos-Rangel in Houston without authorization to be in the United States.
Gallegos-Rangel has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ekua Assabill prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal alien gets federal prison time for another illegal reentry into the U.S.Read the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Honduran national who illegally resided in Houston has been sentenced for illegally reentering the county again.
Edwin Omar Ferrera Casares pleaded guilty July 13.
U.S. District Judge Nicholas J. Ganjei ordered Casares to serve 60 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
Casares has prior convictions for illegal reentry.
Law enforcement removed him from the United States four times since the first instance in June 2008. He repeatedly returned illegally.
On May 6, law enforcement again discovered him Houston with no authorization to be in the country.
Casares has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Whitney prosecuted the case.
Illegal Alien from Venezuela Charged with Assaulting and Resisting a Federal Officer in AustinRead the Press Release
An illegal alien from Venezuela made his initial appearance in federal court today after being charged with one count of assaulting, resisting, interfering, and impeding a federal officer, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, on Sept. 20, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) officers initiated a traffic stop for Wilber Rafael Garces-Perez, 28. The stop was initiated due to confirmation of an immigration judge having issued a final order of removal on Garces-Perez.
The criminal complaint alleges that, during the stop, Garces-Perez provided the ICE ERO officers with his driver’s license. After verifying Garces-Perez was the person they were seeking, the officers asked Garces-Perez to place his vehicle in park and step out—orders which he allegedly ignored. The complaint alleges and body camera footage shows that after further direction from the officers in Spanish, Garces-Perez abruptly closed his window and drove off, striking one of the ICE ERO officers in the torso with the driver’s side-view mirror.
The ICE ERO officers pursued Garces-Perez in their vehicles with their emergency lights and sirens activated. The complaint alleges Garces-Perez led them on a high-speed chase through a commercial and residential area. While one of the officers lost sight of Garces-Perez during the pursuit, the other ICE ERO officer caught up to Garces-Perez, who allegedly attempted to strike the officer with his car, causing the officer to fire his pistol.
Garces-Perez made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Howell of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. A detention hearing is set for Friday, Oct. 2. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Verdeja 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 criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illegal Alien from Venezuela Charged with Assaulting and Resisting a Federal Officer in AustinRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – An illegal alien from Venezuela made his initial appearance in federal court today after being charged with one count of assaulting, resisting, interfering, and impeding a federal officer, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, on Sept. 20, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) officers initiated a traffic stop for Wilber Rafael Garces-Perez, 28. The stop was initiated due to confirmation of an immigration judge having issued a final order of removal on Garces-Perez.
The criminal complaint alleges that, during the stop, Garces-Perez provided the ICE ERO officers with his driver’s license. After verifying Garces-Perez was the person they were seeking, the officers asked Garces-Perez to place his vehicle in park and step out—orders which he allegedly ignored. The complaint alleges and body camera footage shows that after further direction from the officers in Spanish, Garces-Perez abruptly closed his window and drove off, striking one of the ICE ERO officers in the torso with the driver’s side-view mirror.
The ICE ERO officers pursued Garces-Perez in their vehicles with their emergency lights and sirens activated. The complaint alleges Garces-Perez led them on a high-speed chase through a commercial and residential area. While one of the officers lost sight of Garces-Perez during the pursuit, the other ICE ERO officer caught up to Garces-Perez, who allegedly attempted to strike the officer with his car, causing the officer to fire his pistol.
Garces-Perez made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Howell of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. A detention hearing is set for Friday, Oct. 2. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Verdeja 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 criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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