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Friday 13 March 2026
Port Charlotte Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Tyler Kuhn (30, Port Charlotte) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven to 24 years in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material. Kuhn pleaded guilty in December 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, in October 2019, Kuhn engaged in an online conversation with another individual. During the conversation, Kuhn produced a video and image of child sexual abuse material involving himself and a toddler. Kuhn distributed this video and image over the internet, to the individual to whom he was speaking.
This case was investigated by the FBI – Tampa and Houston Field Offices, and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 235 Months for Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Duane Walker, Jr., 29, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 12, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., sentenced Walker Jr. to 235 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Walker’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
In November 2024, an FBI task force began investigating Walker as a fentanyl pill dealer in Omaha. In January 2025, law enforcement facilitated purchases of fentanyl pills from Walker three times. On February 3, 2025, investigators seized a USPS package destined for an address in Omaha, which was later determined to belong to Walker’s grandmother. Investigators searched the package pursuant to a warrant and found almost 5,000 fentanyl pills inside. Walker was arrested on an unrelated warrant with a backpack containing $49,688 in cash.
A postal inspector determined the package was mailed from Seattle by co-defendant Alvin Mitchell. Postal records uncovered seven earlier packages that were mailed from Seattle to the same address in Omaha dating back to October 2024. Cell phone evidence secured pursuant to search warrants uncovered text message conversation between Walker and Mitchell about the packages. At sentencing, Walker was held responsible for a drug weight equivalent to approximately 29,000 fentanyl pills based off the weights of the earlier packages.
Mitchell, 38, of Seattle, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison at sentencing, scheduled for March 20, 2026. The cash seized from Walker will be forfeited to the United States as proceeds of drug trafficking.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Omaha Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Ohio Man Indicted for Possessing Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Sharion Motley-Lipscomb, age 29, of Cleveland, Ohio, was indicted on March 10, 2026, by a federal grand jury on one count of possessing contraband in prison.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Motley-Lipscomb, an inmate at Federal Correctional Institute Schuylkill, possessed a weapon, specifically a four-inch piece of plexi-glass sharpened to a point with a cloth handle on January 17, 2016, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.
The Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense 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.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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New Orleans Lawyer Indicted for Defrauding Client’s FamilyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On Friday, March 13, 2026, a Federal Grand Jury indicted TANZANIKA RUFFIN (“RUFFIN”), age 48, for wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the indictment, RUFFIN defrauded approximately $250,000 from her clients’ family. RUFFIN made numerous misrepresentations to the family regarding the $250,000. RUFFIN falsely told her client and his family that they had to compensate a New Orleans Police Department (“NOPD”) officer for various fictitious injuries and harms that the officer had allegedly suffered. RUFFIN also falsely represented that she had confected a “Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement” (“NDA”) with the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office and the NOPD officer. According to RUFFIN, this fabricated NDA required her client’s family to keep confidential any discussions about a financial settlement. In truth and in fact, no such NDA existed. Instead, RUFFIN spent all the money on personal and unauthorized expenditures and did not give any funds to the NOPD officer.
If convicted, RUFFIN faces a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years of imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. United States Attorney David I. Courcelle of the Eastern District of Louisiana and Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Public Integrity Unit are in charge of the prosecution.
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New Britain Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ELI SAMUEL O’FARRILL-FERNANDEZ, also known as “Maple,” 48, of New Britain, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for trafficking cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and New Britain Police Department investigated a drug trafficking organization, headed by Wilfredo Ortiz, that was operating out of Supreme Automotive, a car dealership located on Main Street in New Britain. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical and electronic surveillance, and several controlled purchases of narcotics, primarily cocaine, from Ortiz and other members of the conspiracy.
Investigators identified O’Farrill-Fernandez as a supplier of cocaine to Ortiz. On September 24, 2024, O’Farrill-Fernandez supplied Ortiz with approximately two kilograms of cocaine, and on October 12, 2024, he delivered four kilograms of cocaine to Ortiz at Supreme Automotive.
O’Farrill-Fernandez, Ortiz, and other members of this drug trafficking organization were arrested on November 14, 2024. In association with the arrests, investigators conducted court authorized searches of Supreme Automotive and residences and other locations connected to the organization and seized more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than 200 grams of fentanyl, approximately 30 grams of heroin, a kilogram press, seven firearms, ammunition, approximately $75,000 in cash, and 26 vehicles. A search of O’Farrill-Fernandez’s residence on Maple Street revealed numerous items used to process and package narcotics, including multiple metal press plates used for pressing narcotics into kilogram size bricks.
O’Farrill has been detained since his arrest. On November 17, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Wilfredo Ortiz pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on March 9, 2026, was sentenced to 135 months of imprisonment.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Police, and the New Britain, Hartford, West Hartford, Waterbury, Naugatuck, East Hartford, Brookfield, Milford, Norwich, Orange, North Haven, Meriden, Berlin, and Manchester Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth, Reed Durham, and David Nelson.
Murder investigation leads to federal drug trafficking and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 49-year-old Houston resident is now facing federal charges for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Johna Robinson has now been taken into federal custody.
He is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan March 16.
According to allegations in the criminal complaint filed under seal Feb. 27 and unsealed upon the arrest of Robinson, authorities were conducting a murder investigation Feb. 24 at a Houston apartment complex where a victim was found shot to death. Per the criminal complaint, a vehicle linked to Robinson had been used in the shooting.
Law enforcement located Robinson at a nearby residence and observed him entering and exiting the location several times before departing in a different vehicle, according to the complaint. Court documents show authorities conducted a stop after Robinson committed a traffic violation. At that time, they allegedly discovered a loaded Taurus .38-caliber revolver in his waistband.
The criminal complaint further alleges Robinson has prior federal convictions for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in the Northern District of Florida and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine in the Southern District of Texas. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law, according to court documents.
The investigation also revealed law enforcement had allegedly encountered Robinson during a traffic stop in July 2025. Robinson fled the scene, but authorities soon took him into custody, according to the charging document. A search of his vehicle allegedly yielded a plastic bag in the rear passenger floorboard area containing 972.8 grams of methamphetamine.
The criminal complaint states that the drugs were intended to be used to press pills, a method commonly associated with the manufacture of counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Authorities also allegedly discovered communications involving Robinson related to drug trafficking.
If convicted, Robinson faces up to life in federal prison if convicted of the drug offense with a mandatory minimum of 25 years and a possible $20 million maximum fine. He could also receive up to 15 years and a possible $250,000 maximum fine on the firearm charge.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron H. Black is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Mexican illegal alien and convicted felon both face federal charges after Norcross drug bustsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Benjamin Alberto Lozoya, a convicted felon, and Arturo Carreno-Rivera, an illegal alien from Mexico, face federal charges after law enforcement seized at least 30 pounds of fentanyl, 10 pounds of methamphetamine, and two loaded firearms in drug trafficking operations in Norcross, Georgia this week.
“The defendants conducted their alleged narcotics trafficking in public with no fear of being caught,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “These arrests and charges send yet another strong message to the methamphetamine and fentanyl traffickers operating in our communities: we work in lockstep with our law enforcement partners to take your deadly drugs off the street and prosecute you in federal court.”
“Fentanyl and methamphetamine destroy lives, and those who traffic these drugs while carrying firearms put entire communities at risk,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Through the DEA’s Fentanyl Free America Campaign, we will continue to pursue and dismantle the networks responsible for distributing these deadly substances.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On the afternoon of March 11, 2026, DEA agents observed Benjamin Alberto Lozoya allegedly sell over four pounds of methamphetamine to an individual in a Norcross, Georgia parking lot. Agents then followed Lozoya to a trailer residence a short distance away. While watching the area, agents observed Lozoya exit a nearby shed, walk to another suspected drug transaction, and deliver approximately $11,000 in cash to a waiting vehicle. Agents quickly arrested Lozoya and found a stolen loaded handgun in his pocket and approximately six pounds of methamphetamine in his backpack. Agents searched the shed and found over 18 pounds of fentanyl in the form of purple bricks, as well as about 25 pounds of a white crystalline substance that was consistent in appearance with methamphetamine.
The investigation revealed that Lozoya was previously convicted in DeKalb County Superior Court in April 2023 of drug distribution, possessing a firearm or knife during the commission of a felony, and evidence tampering.
That same afternoon, DEA agents observed Arturo Carreno-Rivera allegedly conduct a suspected drug transaction with an individual at a Norcross gas station. A short time later, a Georgia State Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop of Carreno-Rivera’s car on Buford Highway in Norcross. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found over a pound of fentanyl. DEA agents subsequently executed a search warrant atCarreno-Rivera’s Norcross residence, where they located an additional 11 pounds of fentanyl and a loaded semi-automatic handgun.
The investigation revealed that Carreno-Rivera is a Mexican national with no legal status in the United States.
Benjamin Alberto Lozoya, 27, of Chamblee, Georgia, and Arturo Carreno-Rivera, 45, of Mexico, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Elizabeth McBath earlier today on criminal complaints charging them with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine (Lozoya) and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl (Carreno-Rivera).
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaints only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Gwinnett County Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Forsyth, III, Johnny Baer, and Bernard Eyth are prosecuting the cases.
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.
These prosecutions are also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Mexican National with Multiple Felony Convictions Charged for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national who has multiple drug-related felony convictions made his initial court appearance Thursday to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.
Elvin Francisco De La Rosa-Alvarez is charged with one-count of deported alien found in the United States. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 26, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe.
According to allegations contained in the criminal complaint and statements made during court proceedings, De La Rosa-Alvarez is a citizen and national of Mexico who was previously deported on June 13, 2013, and reentered the United States illegally.
On February 25, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Fugitive Operations Team took De La Rosa-Alvarez into custody after he was encountered in Las Vegas, Nevada. De La Rosa-Alvarez has two separate drug trafficking convictions from 2010, one from Mineral County, Nevada and a second from Clark County, Nevada. De La Rosa-Alvarez was also convicted in 2022 in the Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada, for Conspiracy to Violate Uniform Controlled Substance Act, and High-Level Possession of Controlled Substance. On February 9, 2022, De La Rosa-Alvarez was sentenced to 24 to 60 months in custody and ordered to self-surrender on February 11, 2022. De La Rosa-Alvarez failed to surrender and there is an active warrant for his arrest in that case.
If convicted, De La Rosa-Alvarez faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Ruben Levya made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Mexican Firearms Smuggler Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison, $15,000 Fine in Del RioRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 180 months in prison for conspiracy to traffic firearms, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, Jose De La Cruz-Cardoza, 52, of Piedras Negras, provided a negative declaration for firearms, ammunition, or currency over $10,000, during an outbound inspection at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on July 12, 2025. A Customs and Border Protection search of his vehicle revealed eight handguns and 19 magazines.
USA v. Hernandez-Nino et. al. Case 2:25cr1979Cruz-Cardoza stated he would be paid between $150 and $200 for each firearm he smuggled to Mexico. He further stated that he had smuggled firearms to Mexico on approximately 10-12 previous occasions. Cruz-Cardoza pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms in September.
On July 16, 2025, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, together with the San Antonio Police Department and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, executed a search warrant for the San Antonio residence of co-conspirator and illegal alien Reymundo Hernandez-Nino. A total of 24 firearms were immediately recovered, to include handguns, AR-15 style assault rifles, and a shotgun. ATF also recovered more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition from the residence and multiple sets of body armor. Based on other evidence obtained during the investigation, ATF determined that the weapon, ammunition and accessories were bound for a Mexican drug cartel.
USA v. Hernandez-Nino et. al. Case 2:25cr1979“My office remains committed to prosecuting the most serious criminal conspiracies, particularly those benefiting Mexican drug cartels,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “Great things happen when aggressive prosecutors are combined with federal law enforcement agencies determined to disrupt and ultimately dismantle criminal organizations without concern for which agency ultimately gets the credit. This case is the model for how a Homeland Security Task Force should work.”
"The illegal trafficking of firearms to Mexico directly fuels cartel violence and threatens the safety and communities on both sides of the border,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel. “ATF remains committed to working with our federal, state, local, and international partners to identify and disrupt firearms trafficking networks and hold those responsible, accountable.”
Co-defendant Francisco Cardoza Jr. pleaded guilty in October to one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 23. Edgar Josue Montelongo-Loera pleaded guilty to the same charge on Feb. 23 and is pending a sentence hearing. Hernandez-Nino and Kenia Lizbeth Montelongo both pleaded guilty to two counts each on Feb. 26 and are awaiting sentencing.
ATF and ICE are investigating the case with assistance from state and local partners.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner is prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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.
USA v. Hernandez-Nino et. al. Case 2:25cr1979 Additional La Santa Muerte (Saint Death) statues inside Reymundo Hernandez-Nino’s San Antonio residence, where law enforcement executed a search warrant on July 16, 2025. La Santa Muerte is a spiritual icon found among members of various Mexican drug cartels.###
Mescalero Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual acts with a minor.
According to court documents, between December 2019, and February 2021, Deverne Torres, Jr., 45, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, performed multiple sex acts with Jane Doe, a minor who had not attained the age of 16.
Torres pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor. At sentencing he faces up to 15 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Tanisha V. Henson and Kirk Williams are prosecuting the case.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is seeking other potential victims of Torres. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs at (575) 464-4479.
Memphis Woman Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison on Gun and Methamphetamine Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley sentenced 30-year-old Kristain Harris, of Memphis, Tennessee, to 120 months imprisonment on each of three counts of distribution of 50 or more grams of methamphetamine (“ice”) and one count of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (“ice”), all to be served concurrently. She must also serve five years of supervised release.
At the sentencing hearing on March 10, 2026, the government presented information that beginning in June 2024, a confidential informant with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) purchased methamphetamine from Harris in Peoria, Illinois. Unbeknownst to Harris, each of the purchases was recorded. In total, ATF purchased a total of 597.7 grams of ice methamphetamine from Harris. During one of the purchases, Harris also sold a 9 mm pistol to the confidential informant. Harris was indicted in September 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2025.
The statutory penalties for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine are a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, followed by a minimum five-year term of supervised release. Distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine requires a mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment of five to 40 years’ imprisonment, followed by a minimum four-year term of supervised release.
The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. Criminal Chief Darilynn J. Knauss represented the government in the prosecution.
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.
Massachusetts Man Arrested and Charged with Making ThreatsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Massachusetts man has been arrested and charged with making threats in interstate commerce.
Alden Welch Ruml, 26, was charged with one count of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another. Ruml will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston later today.
According to the indictment, on Feb. 28, 2026, Ruml allegedly sent an email to the victim’s email account. In that email, Ruml is alleged to have referred to the victim in obscene terms and stated that he would be “happy” when her face is “canoed by an assault rifle.”
The charge of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Looney 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.
Man with History of Violence Who Threated Two People with a Loaded Firearm Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Capri Rogers, age 37, from Alexandria Virginia, was sentenced today to more than 7 years in federal prison, after pleading guilty on October 1, 2025, to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence in the case revealed on July 4, 2025, law enforcement responded to a report of harassment and that the subject had a firearm. Rogers had approached two women who were riding bicycles and threatened them with the firearm. Later in the day, law enforcement located Rogers. Rogers denied any knowledge of the incident and fled on foot from the officer, dropping a firearm in the street as he ran. A child was within feet of the weapon when it struck the pavement. Rogers was taken into custody.
Rogers’ criminal history includes two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon in 2022, an assault and battery of a family member in 2016, the use of a firearm in a robbery in 2008, and a robbery in 2008. At the sentencing hearing, evidence showed that during the 2022 firearm offense Rogers had actually used the firearm to subject a live-in girlfriend to prolonged abuse.
Rogers was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 90 months’ imprisonment. Judge Strand described Rodgers’ conduct relating to the 2022 firearms offense as “sadistic.” Rogers must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Rogers is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-4043.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Man Federally Charged with Assaulting Officers at Dallas Love Field Security CheckpointRead the Press Release
A man has been federally charged with assaulting a federal officer at Dallas Love Field Airport after he punched two TSA officers and seriously injured a Dallas police officer while attempting to proceed through security without identification, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
According to a federal complaint filed on Wednesday this week, Idress Vinay Solomon, 33, of Oakland, California, was ticketed for a Southwest Airlines flight to the Oakland International Airport in California on March 10, 2026. Solomon approached the security checkpoint at Dallas Love Field Airport without any identification. A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer directed Solomon to a different lane so that TSA could attempt to properly identify Solomon using TSA’s ConfirmID process. When the process failed to verify Solomon’s identity, Solomon allegedly became verbally disruptive and aggressive.
“Violent conduct perpetrated against TSA and law enforcement officers will never be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “We will prosecute such offenses to the fullest extent to seek justice for the victims here and to deter others from resorting to aggressive attacks against officers responsible for ensuring the public’s safety while traveling.”
The complaint alleges that after the TSA officer called for a supervisor because of Solomon’s escalating behavior, Solomon punched him in the back of the neck. Dallas Police Department officers were present in the main lobby and responded to the disturbance to assist TSA. Solomon then allegedly punched one of the Dallas Police Department officers multiple times in the face, causing a serious orbital blowout fracture to his left eye that required him to seek treatment from an ophthalmologist at Parkland Hospital.As alleged in the complaint, Solomon next punched a second TSA officer multiple times before additional Dallas Police Department officers subdued Solomon. Surveillance video at Dallas Love Field captured Solomon’s alleged assaults of the officers, as depicted below in still shots from the video:
Solomon was eventually handcuffed and arrested. As a uniformed Dallas Police Department officer attempted to put Solomon into a police vehicle, Solomon deliberately spit saliva onto the officer’s right arm, according to the complaint. Throughout the incident, Solomon allegedly refused to follow lawful verbal commands and continued to yell and pull away from officers even after he was handcuffed.If convicted, Solomon faces a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison for the charge of forcibly assaulting a federal officer and inflicting bodily injury. Solomon remains in custody pending further court proceedings.
TSA, the FBI, and DPD conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lewiston Man Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Michael Benjamin Hendren, 35, of Lewiston, Idaho, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for attempted sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, as part of their efforts to combat exploitation of children online, investigators with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) in Colorado ran undercover profiles pretending to be minors on a social media application in May of 2024. A user, later identified as Hendren, initiated contact with two separate undercover investigators at JCSO during this time. In both conversations, Hendren repeatedly solicited sexually explicit materials from the purported minors and sent them sexually explicit images of himself.
The same month, Hendren chatted on the same social media application with an investigator from the Evesham Township Police Department in New Jersey, who also maintained an undercover social media profile on the application to combat online child exploitation. In that chat, Hendren again attempted to persuade the purported minor to produce sexually explicit materials for him.
Hendren chatted with a fourth user, who was not an uncover law enforcement officer, on the same social media application. Hendren sent sexually explicit images of himself and attempted to persuade the user to produce sexually explicit images for him.
Following a thorough investigation, law enforcement identified the fourth user as a fifteen-year-old girl. They discovered that Hendren had engaged in sexually explicit conversations with several other purported children on the online messaging application.
Chief United States District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford ordered that Hendren be placed on supervised release for 10 years following completion of his prison sentence. Hendren will be required to register as a sex offender because of this conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the collaboration of the Lewiston Police Department, the Idaho State Police, the Moscow Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Evesham Township Police Department, the Nez Perce County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney April Smith prosecuted this 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. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal 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.
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Lehigh County Man Who Defrauded Victims of Nearly $2 Million Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Chinedu Ekuma, 45, of Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, two years of supervised release, a $10,000 fine, and $1,751,968 in restitution by United States District Judge John M. Gallagher yesterday for carrying out a scheme that defrauded victims of nearly $2 million through various internet scams.
The defendant was charged by information and pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in November of last year.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, from about August 2020 through March 2023, Ekuma was part of a scheme to defraud victims and to obtain money and property of these victims by materially false pretenses, representations, and promises. The victims were individuals and businesses that intended to make payments to businesses and individuals for personal and/or business reasons. Several of the victims were led to believe their money was being used for investment opportunities (which turned out to be nonexistent) and several more were victims of romance/friendship scams.
Ekuma owned entities called Intelaris Solutions, LLC (“Intelaris Solutions”) and Verge Capital (“Verge Capital”), and opened several bank accounts in the name of these entities.
He and others caused the fraud victims to send payments to the Intelaris Solutions and Verge Capital bank accounts, by falsely representing to the victims that those accounts were associated with the businesses and individuals who the victims intended to pay, when, in fact, the Intelaris Solutions and Verge Capital bank accounts were controlled by Ekuma, and Intelaris Solutions and Verge Capital had no legitimate relationship with any of the victims. After the fraud proceeds were received into the Intelaris Solutions and Verge Capital bank accounts, Ekuma transferred most of the fraud proceeds to other co-schemers and retained other amounts of the fraud proceeds for himself.
As part of the scheme, the defendant and co-schemers created, or caused the creation of, fraudulent documentation that falsely represented that Intelaris Solutions and Verge Capital were entitled to payments from the victims.
In total, the scheme resulted in victims losing over $1.75 million and attempted to cause an additional approximately $650,000 in losses.
This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Francis A. Weber.
Lame Deer man sentenced to 12 years in prison for assaulting federal officers on the Northern Cheyenne Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man who assaulted federal officers on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 150 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Caleb Raymond Carter, 40, was found guilty at a December 2025 trial of two counts of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, and one count of use of a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that John Does 1 and 2 are federal law enforcement officers employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. On May 2, 2025, John Doe 1 responded to a 911 call in Lame Deer. The caller, Jane Doe, advised Carter was drunk and was yelling at her mother, causing her to fear for her mother’s safety. By the time Doe 1 responded, the disturbance had subsided. Doe 1 contacted Jane Doe and her brother and confirmed they were safe. He instructed Jane Doe to call 911 again if there were any other issues. He cleared the residence.
Later the same day, Jane Doe called 911 again to report Carter had woken up and was “yelling around.” Again, Jane Doe expressed concern for her family’s physical safety. She also advised Carter may be armed with a firearm. John Does 1 and 2 responded to the residence in separate, marked patrol vehicles. Both officers activated their emergency lights and parked at the northeast corner of the property.
They approached a camper trailer on the property Carter had been using as a bedroom but no one responded to their knock on the door or their announcement that they were BIA police.
John Doe 1 proceeded to the nearby residence and was greeted at the door by Jane Doe’s brother. As he was speaking with the brother, Doe 1 heard a loud bang that he immediately recognized as a gunshot. Both Doe 1 and Doe 2 drew their duty weapons and retreated from the door. They advised dispatch that shots had been fired and commanded the occupants of the camper to exit. Eventually, Carter and his wife emerged from the trailer with their hands raised and both were taken into custody.
Law enforcement searched and photographed the camper trailer, noting a hole in the door consistent with a gun shot. They seized a 20-gauge shotgun in an overheard cabinet across from the door of the camper and observed a spent shell casing stuck inside the chamber. They also located and seized a box of 20-gauge ammunition from a kitchen cabinet.
During an interview with law enforcement, Carter claimed he had had “issues” with law enforcement entering onto the property in the past, and had posted a “No Trespassing” sign on the gate in an effort to deter them from doing so. He admitted he watched John Doe 1 access the property the first time and said he locked a gate after the officer left.
An FBI analyst examined the firearm and determined it functioned normally and would not have discharged accidentally.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Yerger prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the BIA.
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Kansas City Man Sentenced to 5 1/2 Years for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for illegally possessing a stolen Taurus 9mm handgun.
Zyair J. Taylor, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to sixty-six months in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On May 21, 2025, officers conducted surveillance of a residence in the 400 block of Lawn Avenue, Kansas City, Mo., to arrest Taylor for his outstanding warrants. When Taylor exited the residence and saw officers, he fled on foot. During the foot chase, Taylor retrieved from his jacket a black handgun with a large drum magazine. Despite commands from officers to drop the gun, Taylor threw the handgun over his head as he continued to run. Thereafter, Taylor was physically combative with officers as they attempted to place him under arrest. Following arrest, officers retrieved the handgun, a Taurus, Model G3c 9mm handgun that was loaded with one round in the chamber and 49 rounds in the drum magazine. The firearm had been reported stolen in 2023 from Columbia, Mo.
Taylor, who is a convicted felon, had been found guilty of five prior felony offenses before yesterday’s hearing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Jury Finds D.C. Man Guilty of Armed Kidnapping of Case WorkerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Thomas Venable, 59, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a Superior Court jury yesterday of charges stemming from an incident where he held his case worker hostage in his apartment in September 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Venable was found guilty of one count of armed kidnapping, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of threatening to kidnap or injure a person, and related weapons offenses on March 12, 2026. Sentencing is scheduled for May 29, 2026, before Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe.
According to the government’s evidence, on September 29, 2025, at approximately 12:30 p.m., Venable was in his home located in the 5400 block of Connecticut Avenue NW. Venable had secured his apartment with assistance from “Friendship Place,” an organization that helps homeless people get back on their feet. The victim, Venable’s case worker, had stopped by Venable’s apartment for a monthly check-in, as he had done for the past six months.
The victim knocked on Venable’s door for their scheduled check-in when Venable answered the door, holding a metal pole. Venable believed Friendship Place had been taking his Bitcoin and failing to help him with his bedbug infestation. Venable refused to allow the victim to leave until the victim called his supervisor. The victim called, but his supervisor did not answer. Enraged, Venable picked up an axe. The victim tried to leave, but Venable ordered the victim to “sit the f**k down” and that there was “no way you're leaving this apartment unless it’s in a million little pieces.” Venable told the victim, “I’m going to jail or I’m going to hell, and I’m not going back to jail.” After a tense negotiation, the victim’s supervisor called him back and convinced Venable to let the victim go. Venable was arrested the next day and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Augustin Horner.
2025 CF3 012651
Jamestown man pleads guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy and drug conspiracy chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kelvin Thomas, 43, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between October and December 2022, Thomas conspired with Zaid Mendoza and Cora Waddington to conduct a sex trafficking operation involving two individuals with drug addictions, Victim 1 and Victim 2. As part of the conspiracy, Thomas, Mendoza, and Waddington, provided shelter to the victims at a W. Main Street residence in Falconer, NY, and provided them with food, clothing, and daily quantities of heroin/fentanyl in exchange for their performance of commercial sex acts for money, with the proceeds going to Mendoza. Thomas assisted the operation by securing and communicating with commercial sex buyers, posting online advertisements with photographs of Victim 1 and Victim 2 on Skipthegames.com, transporting Victim 1 and Victim 2 to “out calls” away from the residence, and providing protection and assistance to sex trafficking victims while they were on out calls. In exchange for his assistance, Thomas was paid in drugs by Mendoza or Waddington.
Thomas’s involvement in the sex trafficking conspiracy also involved him in Mendoza and Waddington’s drug trafficking operation. He distributed heroin/fentanyl and methamphetamine for Mendoza and Waddington, in addition to using the drugs himself. Between August 30 and October 30, 2023, investigators conducted three controlled purchases fentanyl and methamphetamine from Thomas. On November 1, 2023, a search warrant was executed at a Newland Avenue residence associated with Thomas, during which quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine HCL were seized.
Mendoza and Waddington were previously convicted.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Acting Chief Scott Forster, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 22, 2026, before Judge Sinatra.
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Jacksonville Man Indicted for Attempting to Entice a 13-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Adeis Jonathan Francis (25, Jacksonville) has been charged by indictment with attempted enticement of a child to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Francis faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment and other court documents, between February 17 and March 6, 2026, an FBI agent (UC), posing as a 13-year-old child, conducted an undercover operation in Jacksonville and Pensacola using an online social media application (“app”) to identify adults who were seeking to make online contact with and engage in sexual activity with children. During this period, UC and app user “Jay” exchanged several online messages on the app and by text messaging. After UC advised “Jay” that the “child” was 13 years old, “Jay,” who was subsequently identified as Francis, asked the “child” if “she” was ok talking with him, and requested the “child” to send him photos.
On March 5, 2026, Francis asked the “child” if she was a “virgin” and texted, “I can show you how to have sex ...” Francis also described by text message the sexual acts that he wanted to perform on the “child.” After more text conversations discussing his plans and desire to meet the “child” in person for sex, on March 6, 2026, Francis boarded a bus in Jacksonville and rode to the vicinity of the “child’s” purported residence, where he was arrested by FBI agents.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville and Pensacola. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case brought 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Illegal Alien and Convicted Felon Sentenced to More than 15 Years in Prison for Trafficking Cocaine Across US-Mexico BorderRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Mexican national has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally entering the United States and then trafficking kilogram-quantities of cocaine in Northeast Ohio.
Jaime Ortega-Urquidi, 63, was sentenced to 188 months (15 years and 6 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after pleading guilty in November 2025 to the following charges:
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, with Notice of Prior Serious Drug Felony Conviction; and
- Illegal Reentry of Alien Following Removal, with Notice of Prior Aggravated Felony Conviction.
According to court documents, on May 28, 2025, Lorain police officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Ortega-Urquidi was a passenger. During the stop, a drug detection K-9 alerted to the odor of illegal drugs in the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and found cocaine weighing approximately two kilograms. Officers also seized more than $29,000 in cash. During further investigation into Ortega-Urquidi, law enforcement discovered he was part of an organization that smuggled kilograms of cocaine across the US-Mexico border. The organization then shipped the cocaine from Texas to Ohio, where Ortega-Urquidi distributed it to local drug dealers in the city of Lorain. Investigators also learned that Ortega-Urquidi was in the United States illegally at the time of his arrest. He was previously removed in October 2017, after serving a sentence for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division, the Lorain Police Department, the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station, and the Elyria Police Department.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney James Lewis for the Northern District of Ohio.
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 to protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to 10 Years for Seventh Illegal Reentry ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mexican national was sentenced to 10 years in prison following her seventh conviction for re-entry of a removed alien.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on October 11, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered Elena Ernestina Pedroza, 60, a Mexican national, in Doña Ana County, New Mexico. Records revealed that Pedroza had previously been convicted of re-entry of a removed alien and deported to Mexico six times, most recently in August 2025. Pedroza was previously sentenced to a total of 88 months (7 years, 3 months) for all her prior reentry convictions combined. The United States requested a longer sentence for deterrence.
Pedroza subsequently pled guilty to re-entry of a removed alien and was sentenced to 120 months in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Muñoz of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector made the announcement today.
The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Silvia Delgado prosecuted the case.
Illegal Alien Arrested for Possessing Fentanyl Meant for Distribution in TulsaRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A criminal complaint was unsealed charging an illegal alien with possessing fentanyl with the intention of distributing it after previously being deported.
In January, Juan Lopez Olvera, 25, a Mexican national, was pulled over for a traffic violation in Tulsa. When officers approached the vehicle, they could smell marijuana and asked the driver to step out of the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and found a large bag of white powdery substance. A laboratory test determined that the substance was fentanyl. While officers booked Lopez Olvera into jail, they discovered that he was deported in February 2024 and has not lawfully returned to the United States.
The complaint shows that Lopez Olvera is charged with Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute and Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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.
Honduran Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Marvin Aleman Zepeda, 37, originally of Honduras, was sentenced on March 13, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, following his December 16, 2025, jury trial conviction for forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with a federal officer. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., sentenced Zepeda to imprisonment for a term of 14 months. There is no parole in the federal system. Zepeda will be removed to Honduras by immigration authorities after he completes his sentence.
Despite the defendant requesting a time-served sentence at the hearing Friday, Chief Judge Rossiter issued the 14-month sentence.
Evidence at trial established that on June 10, 2025, law enforcement, including Deputy United States Marshals, were assisting with the execution of a court-authorized civil search warrant at Glenn Valley Foods in Omaha when they encountered Zepeda hiding in a crawl space. Despite receiving repeated commands from law enforcement to come out and surrender, Zepeda refused to comply. After more than 30 minutes of Zepeda failing to comply with law enforcement commands, two Deputy United States Marshals entered the crawl space to secure Zepeda. As the Deputy United States Marshals approached Zepeda, giving him commands to show his hands, Zepeda instead armed himself with a box cutter, or utility knife, with an open blade.
Additional attempts were made to secure Zepeda’s compliance, including the presence of a K9 officer and a K9. All told, it took nearly 90 minutes for law enforcement to ultimately secure Zepeda into custody.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office assisted in securing Zepeda.
Hillsborough County High School Teacher Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Provide Firearms to Trinidad-Based Transnational Criminal OrganizationRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Shannon Nicole Samlalsingh (47, Temple Terrace) was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung to one year and one day in federal prison for conspiracy to make false statements to a firearms dealer. The court also ordered Samlalsingh to forfeit the firearms purchased as a result of the offense. Samlalsingh pleaded guilty on June 20, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Samlalsingh, then a Hillsborough County high school teacher, bought seven firearms for a Trinidad-based transnational criminal organization. Samlalsingh falsely stated on Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives forms that those firearms were for her. In actuality, Samlalsingh gave the firearms to members of the transnational criminal organization. Those individuals then smuggled the firearms into Trinidad.
On April 21, 2022, Trinidad authorities seized a shipment from the United States containing two punching bags and other goods at Piarco International Airport. Concealed within the two punching bags were approximately eleven 9mm pistols, two .38 caliber special revolvers, a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun, three AR-15 barrel foregrips, 19 lower pistol grip assemblies, 11 forearm bolt assemblies, three AR-15-style barrels with forearm grips, 32 AR-15 magazines, one AR-15 drum magazine, 470 rounds of AR-15 ammunition, 34 9mm magazines, three 9mm drum magazines, 284 9mm rounds, fifteen .38 caliber rounds, 36 shells, six magazine couplers, and two shotgun chokes. Samlalsingh had purchased four of the seized firearms: a SAR-9 9mm pistol, a Ruger-9 9mm pistol, a Taurus G3 9mm pistol, and a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, including HSI’s Attaché, Caribbean, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance provided by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (Transnational Organized Crime Unit and Special Investigations Unit), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.
Helena man sentenced to over 11 years in prison for trafficking meth and fentanylRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Helena convicted of selling methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced Wednesday to 136 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Michael Wayne Hagman, 40, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement intercepted a package in February 2025 containing two pounds of methamphetamine and destined for Hagman’s residence. They searched that residence on February 28, 2025, and seized a large quantity of methamphetamine and fentanyl, $39,704 in U.S. Currency, and several firearms.
During an interview with law enforcement on March 20, 2025, Hagman admitted he was receiving meth and fentanyl from a co-conspirator and distributing the drugs in the Helena area. The co-conspirator would sometimes front Hagman drugs to sell. Hagman said he sold fentanyl powder for the same price he paid for it and his source compensated him with user amounts of the drug. He also discussed the purchase and sale prices of meth, fentanyl, and M30s (fentanyl pills) and admitted he resold the meth at a higher price to make a profit.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force, Helena Police Department, Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office, and FBI Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.
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Harrison County Man Admits to Selling Fentanyl Near SchoolsRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Clarksburg, West Virginia man has admitted to selling fentanyl near two schools, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Joseph Angiulli, also known as “Joey,” 32, pled guilty to the distribution of fentanyl within 1000 feet of a protected location. According to court documents, Angiulli was selling fentanyl from his home, which is near North View Elementary School and Emmanuel Christian School, both protected locations.
Angiulli is facing at least one year and up to 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
Greer Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering related to Cares Act FraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Jonathan Wade Sumter, 54, of Greer, has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering related to a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs of over $1.8 million.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that between June 2020 and January 2022, Jonathan Wade Sumter, his twin brother Jason Elijah Sumter, and Gerothia McCullough devised a scheme to defraud the PPP and EIDL programs by applying for funds on behalf of sham or defunct companies. Jonathan Sumter and the others submitted applications containing phony company expenses, employee wage statements, and other false documents on behalf of the sham companies Living Water Outreach, High Consulting, Lyons Transport, GSM Home Care, Challenge Consulting, and Omni Holdings. Using these fraudulent applications, they obtained over $1.8 million of EIDL and PPP payments. Jonathan Sumter was the ringleader and submitted the applications on behalf of and with the permission of the others. When the loans were funded, the three split the proceeds.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Johathan Sumter to 80 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Jonathan Sumter’s sentence will run concurrent with a 92-month sentence he was already serving for a 2023 federal conviction for health care fraud. Jason Elijah Sumter was recently sentenced to three years for his role in the fraud and Gerothia McCullough was sentenced to 12 months for her role.
To recover ill-gotten gains from the defendants, Jonathan Wade Sumter was ordered to pay $1,802,741 in restitution. Jason Elijah Sumter was ordered to pay $739,786 in restitution and he was ordered to forfeit a parcel of real property in Orangeburg County. Gerothia McCullough was ordered to pay $478,366 in restitution and she was ordered to forfeit a 2018 GMC Canyon.
This case was investigated by the Small Business Administration and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson prosecuted the case.
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Garryowen man sentenced for vehicular death on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Garryowen man who caused the death of his female passenger in a motor vehicle crash was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Cade Cleatus Birdinground, 20, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of involuntary manslaughter.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents that at approximately 4:30 A.M. on May 18, 2024, police responded to a motor vehicle crash on Highway 384 near Hardin, Montana on the Crow Reservation. There, police located a truck that had gone off the road and was partially submerged in the Big Horn River. Upon recovering the vehicle from the river, police discovered the body of a deceased female on the floorboard in the passenger seat area.
Police learned Birdinground had been taken in by neighbors near the scene of the crash. He had the key to the truck in his pocket and was intoxicated. Birdinground’s blood alcohol content was 218 mg/dL at 6:00 a.m., approximately 90 minutes after the crash.
Through the investigation, witnesses identified Birdinground as the driver. Police learned Jane Doe was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Witnesses reported Birdinground was driving recklessly and crashed the truck. The Montana Highway Patrol conducted a crash investigation and confirmed the driver failed to negotiate a curve in the road and crashed down an 18-foot embankment into the river.
An autopsy revealed Jane Doe’s cause of death was drowning and the manner of death was an accident related to being a passenger in a motor vehicle collision into a river.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks prosecuted the case. The BIA, FBI, Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.
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Gallatin County Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Warsaw, Ky., man, David Vonarb, 26, was sentenced on Friday to 132 months by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for the distribution of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, on June 13, 2024, an online covert employee with the FBI engaged in a direct-messaging conversation with user “dirtydad69” on an end-to-end encrypted application, in which the user distributed child pornography to the online covert employee. Following the direct messaging conversation, the user continued to distribute depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in various chatrooms. In total, the user distributed at least 13 videos and 8 images. Law enforcement discovered that the user was Vonarb, and on October 23, 2024, law enforcement searched his residence, and he admitted that he used the encrypted application to receive, view, and distribute child pornography, and that he had used the application the day before the search. A forensic review of Vonarb’s laptop revealed evidence of thousands of images and videos of child pornography.
Under federal law, Vonarb 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 25 years.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow is prosecuting 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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Former commander of local AMVETS Post sentenced to more than 3 years in prison for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollarsRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A former local AMVETS Post commander was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 41 months in prison for embezzling more than $620,000 from the non-profit organization’s bank accounts.
Danny Dale Gordon, 49, of Kettering, served as the commander for AMVETS Post #24 on Leo Street in Dayton from January 2022 until May 2024.
According to court documents, during that timeframe, Gordon engaged in more than 1,900 fraudulent banking transactions using the Post’s credit and debit cards to make ATM withdrawals.
Gordon used the money at various local gambling casinos, for travel and hotel expenses, to pay for his personal truck loan and to frequent a Dayton-area “gentlemen’s club.”
Gordon was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to wire fraud.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal; and Lt. Col. Seth Newfang, Commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, 10th Field Investigations Squadron; announced the sentence imposed on March 12 by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Special Assistant United States Attorney Dwight K. Keller and Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith are representing the United States in this case.
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Former Western New York man sentenced for lying while testifying during his fraud trialRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael W. Luehrsen, 41, of Miami, Florida, who was convicted of perjury, was sentenced to serve three years’ probation by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Luehrsen will also pay approximately $2,000,000 in restitution and forfeit approximately $2,000,000 in assets, including investments and real estate proceeds.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles M. Kruly and Grace Carducci, who handled the case, stated that in February 2022, Luehrsen testified under oath in his previous jury trial before the United States District Court for the Western District of New York as follows:
Q. Mike, I want to start by talking about your dad. You told Mr. Kruly that on the days that those prescriptions were faxed you were not in town, is that what you said?
A. That’s correct.
Q. Can you tell the jury, where were you?
A. On June 27, 2014, I was actually in California visiting Cornerstone Pharmacy with two physicians. On July 11, of 2014, I was in Boston, Massachusetts.
Q. And how do you remember that?
A. I have photographs from my phone showing me in those particular cities.
Evidence from Luehrsen’s cellular telephone shows that the testimony quoted above was false. Photographs on the cell phone establish that he was, in fact, in Buffalo on July 11, 2014. In addition, telephone records and financial records established that Luehrsen was in Buffalo on that date. At the time of this testimony, Luehrsen was being tried for, among other crimes, conspiring to commit health care fraud. It was a matter material to the trial whether or not Luehrsen was in Buffalo when an altered compound prescription form was faxed from his father’s home located in the Western District of New York.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
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Former USPS employees plead guilty to stealing mail and committing PPP loan fraudRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Former mail recovery clerk Daniqua Clark has pleaded guilty to stealing cash, gift cards, and other items from the mail while working at the Atlanta Mail Recovery Center and fraudulently obtaining two pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and former mail recovery clerk Deneeka Ferguson has pleaded guilty to participating in the mail theft scheme.
“Clark abused the public’s trust by stealing thousands of dollars of items from the mail and obtaining two fraudulent PPP loans for a non-existent business while serving as a federal employee,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out and hold accountable government employees who compromise their integrity and violate the public’s trust for their own personal gain.”
“This guilty plea sends a strong message to any U.S. Postal Service employee who decides to violate the public’s trust in this manner," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). “As proven in this case, our criminal investigators and the legal teams at the U.S. Attorney’s Office will diligently pursue anyone who steals U.S. Mail and attempts to commit COVID-19 fraud and exploit programs created to help legitimate people and businesses affected by the global pandemic.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2023 and 2024, Daniqua Clark and Deneeka Ferguson worked as mail recovery clerks at the Mail Recovery Center in Atlanta, Georgia, the official “lost and found” department for undeliverable and non-returnable mail for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Between May 2023 and February 2024, Clark worked with Ferguson to steal items from the mail at the Mail Recovery Center. Clark and Ferguson exchanged text messages identifying specific items from the mail to steal and discussing how to steal and conceal the theft of those items, including U.S. currency.
During an interview with law enforcement agents on November 19, 2024, Clark admitted to stealing items from the mail both on her own and with Ferguson. Searches of Clark’s U.S. Postal Service locker and personal car led to the recovery of various stolen items, including gift cards, fragrances, and a pill container in the name of an unknown individual. In an interview with law enforcement agents on February 18, 2025, Ferguson admitted to helping Clark steal mail and receiving stolen mail from Clark in exchange for her help.
The investigation further revealed that Clark fraudulently obtained two PPP loans, totaling $36,402, for a non-existent business. To support her application for the loans, Clark submitted a fake income tax document. The funds from the loans were deposited in the same Atlanta-based bank account into which Clark received her salary from the USPS. Clark used those funds for personal expenses, not payroll expenses as required for PPP loans.
Daniqua Clark, 35, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit mail theft, one count of mail theft, and two counts of wire fraud. Deneeka Ferguson, 41, of Atlanta, Georgia pleaded guilty to five counts of obstruction of mail. Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for June 11, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Robinson Jr. is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Department of Justice established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the Department’s resources in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence Analyst Charged with Willful Transmission of National Defense InformationRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Texas County, Mo., man has been indicted with two counts of willful transmission of national defense information. The indictment was returned by a Springfield grand jury under seal and was made public today after the arrest and initial appearance of the defendant.
Seth Chambers, 35, a former United States Marine Corps. Intelligence Analyst, was employed as a civilian contractor and stationed in Iraq during the time frame alleged in the indictment. The indictment goes on state that, as part of his duties, he held a security clearance that authorized him to view classified material up to a TOP SECRET level and therefore had access to national defense and classified information.
According to court documents, on two separate occasions, the defendant willfully transmitted SECRET level documents to two separate individuals who were not entitled or authorized to receive it. The first transmission occurred on Dec. 10, 2022, when the defendant transmitted a white paper containing verbatim and near verbatim excerpts from classified U.S. government documents and was sent to an individual in Maryland. The second transmission of a document containing verbatim and near verbatim excerpts from classified U.S. government documents occurred on April 20, 2023, and was sent to an individual believed to be in the People’s Republic of China.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
If convicted, under federal statutes, Chambers is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole on each count. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Kelleher and Trial Attorneys Nicolas Hunter and Sean O’Dowd of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. It was investigated by FBI Kansas City Field Office.
Former Navy servicemember sentenced to two years in prison for defrauding a pandemic relief programRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A former Navy service member and Navy reservist was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison and $128,844 in restitution for wire fraud relating to a fraudulent loan received through a pandemic-era relief program.
According to court documents, on June 26, 2020, Tiara Jenee Bryant, then known as Tiara Washington, 36, incorporated the company Jovialistic-Spaces, LLC. On June 29, 2020, Bryant opened a business checking account in the name of the company, listing herself as the member and manager. On July 6, 2020, Bryant applied to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a loan under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, intended to enable small businesses to meet financial obligations and operating expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bryant fraudulently stated on the application that the alleged maid and cleaning service consisted of 11 employees and had gross revenues in 2019 of $250,000. There was no record of her alleged business prior to June of 2020.
On July 23, 2020, the SBA funded Bryant’s EIDL application for $115,000 and transferred the funds, minus a filing fee, to the Jovialistic-Spaces business checking account. On Aug. 28, 2020, Bryant wrote a check from the Jovialistic-Spaces business checking account for $119,395.03, made out to “cash,” and on Aug. 31, 2020, transferred the remaining money in the account to her credit union checking account, leaving a zero balance.
On Feb. 17, 2022, Bryant applied to the SBA for loan modification requesting the principal amount of the loan to be increased to $428,600. This application was declined by the SBA and flagged for suspected EIDL fraud. After being denied the loan modification, Bryant requested relief due to “financial hardship”, which was also subsequently denied.
As of Mar. 5, 2026, the total amount owed, including principal and accrued interest, was $128,844.56.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-119.
Former Boston Teacher Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former science teacher at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for coercing and enticing at least one underage female to engage in sexual conversations online and requesting that she produce and send child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of herself. Defendant, who also previously worked at the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School in Hyde Park and the Brookline Public Schools, possessed CSAM depicting rape of both female and male minors, ranging in age from approximately five to 17 years old.
John Magee Gavin, 35, of Brookline, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In December 2025, Gavin pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor; one count of receipt of child pornography; and one count of possession of child pornography. Gavin was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025, and remains in federal custody.
According to court filings, Gavin is a former teacher at the Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston. Prior to that, he was a 6th grade teacher at the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School in Hyde Park and was a paraprofessional with the Brookline Public Schools.
In January 2025, Gavin was identified as the owner of a Discord account who messaged at least 20 underage females between the ages of 12 and 17 years old located throughout the country, including Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, as well as the United Kingdom and Canada. In these chats, Gavin disclosed that he was a teacher, engaged in sexual conversations and often asked the minors to send him pictures of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct – knowing that the children were underaged. He was arrested by local authorities in February 2025 and charged in Brookline District Court with enticing a child under 16, possession of child pornography and other offenses.
A forensic review of evidence seized from Gavin’s Brookline residence revealed approximately 147 files (94 images and 53 videos) on his iPhone depicting CSAM. The CSAM depicted rape of both female and male minors, ranging in age from approximately five to 17 years old.
Further analysis of Gavin’s Discord account identified numerous chats with underage females in which he engaged in online masturbation sessions with the minors; solicitated images from and exchanged images with the minors; and engaged in sexualized conversations with the minors while he was at school.
The chats also included conversations in which Gavin expressed his sexual interest in certain students at Josiah Quincy. In one conversation, Gavin discussed his sexual interest in a freshman student at the school where he was employed as a teacher and fantasied about having sex with her.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Brookline Police Department; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations; and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, 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 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.Fitchburg Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Kavant Smith, 25, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 2 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Smith pleaded guilty to this charge on December 15, 2025. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
On January 27, 2025, Smith was the sole occupant and driver of a vehicle stopped by Fitchburg police. Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield 9mm handgun with a partially obliterated serial number under the passenger seat. While Smith denied knowing anything about the gun, a later DNA analysis concluded that Smith’s DNA was on swabs taken from the trigger, handle, and slide of the handgun. Smith is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson remarked that Smith’s criminal history was an aggravating factor as he had two other gun related offenses. Smith was on state probation for a felon in possession conviction at the time of the federal offense. Smith also has a prior felony conviction that involved him committing a robbery with another suspect who was armed.
The charge against Smith was the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF as well as state and local agents throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department 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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession Used in Marshall County Workplace ShootingRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, MS – Keena Boyce, 44, of Holly Springs was sentenced to 15 years, 3 years of supervised released today by United States District Court Chief Judge Debra M. Brown. The defendant had previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, Boyce was in an argument with a coworker when he shot them multiple times at their workplace, Pallet Source Inc., in Marshall County. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department quickly responded to the scene and captured Boyce in possession of a handgun. Boyce had previously been convicted of a violent offense in Mississippi state courts and was prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.
U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary of the Northern District of Mississippi explained, “This case is an example of local and federal law enforcement working together to protect the people of this great State. The Marshall County Sheriff’s office responded quickly and decisively to this shooting. Thereafter, ATF brought federal assets furthering the prosecution of this criminal for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Career offenders commit the majority of crimes, and if they can be taken off the streets our communities will be much safer.”
“In our effort to disrupt violent gun crime in our community, ATF will continue to focus efforts on prohibited individuals who unlawfully possess firearms, especially in the commission of shooting of a co-worker,” said ATF SAC Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message to convicted felons who are prohibited from possessing firearms that we will continue to work to keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
In addition to ATF, this case was also investigated by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Herzog Jr. prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhood brings 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 of Justice 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.
Federal Jury Convicts Three Women for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Related to Rocky Hill PharmacyRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On March 13, 2026, following a 15-day trial, a jury convicted Tiffany Haney, 43, Anne Warren, 45, and Tina Roper, 40, all of Knoxville, of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. The jury also convicted Haney and Warren of committing specific acts of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, submitting false statements relating to health care matters in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1035, and aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A. The defendants remain on pre-trial release until sentencing, which will be scheduled at a later date in front of the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.
At trial, six healthcare providers testified that alterations made to their prescriptions were not authorized. Three other healthcare providers testified that prescriptions that were submitted by the pharmacy using their names were unauthorized. Witnesses also testified that Medicare, TennCare, and other health benefit payors would not have paid for the fabricated and altered prescriptions if they had been aware that the prescriptions were not authorized. The evidence presented at trial established that the defendants conspired to defraud various health benefit programs, including Medicare and TennCare, by altering healthcare provider prescriptions without authorization and then submitting claims for payment for the added medications. The evidence also established that defendants Haney and Warren submitted false statements and used the identity of a healthcare provider without authorization.
United States Attorney Francis M. (Trey) Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Nashville Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon, of Health and Human Services OIG (HHS-OIG), made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy S. Dykes and Brian P. Samuelson prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the FBI, HHS-OIG, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
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Federal Jury Convicts Denham Springs Man of Assaulting a Postal EmployeeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall announced the conviction of Cody Gaspard, age 27, of Denham Springs, Louisiana. After a three-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge Brian A. Jackson, the jury unanimously convicted Gaspard of assaulting a postal employee.
As the evidence at trial demonstrated, Gaspard approached a United States Postal Service worker who was delivering mail at an apartment complex in Livingston Parish and began using aggressive and racially charged language. Gaspard’s conduct interfered with the postal worker’s duties and quickly rose to intimidation, assault, and a physical confrontation, which caused bodily injury to the postal worker.
As a result of his conviction, Gaspard now faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 and supervised release.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jamie L. Flowers, Jr. and Ellison C. Travis.
Federal Felon Pleads Guilty to Gun Charges Related to Shootout at Carter-Howell-Strong ParkRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Joseph C. Williams, 63, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “When President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to marshal the full resources of the Department of Justice toward protecting our communities from violent criminals, this defendant was precisely the type of serial, violent felon they had in mind. My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting these cases until our communities are safe from thugs like this.”
Court documents reflect that on November 19, 2024, the defendant was stopped for traffic violations while riding an electric bicycle on the roadway. During the traffic stop, the police officer observed a firearm barrel sticking out of the defendant’s shorts. The officer handcuffed the defendant and then removed the firearm.
The defendant subsequently bonded out of jail and, on April 11, 2025, the defendant was involved in a gunfight in broad daylight at Carter-Howell-Strong Park in Tallahassee. During the shootout, the defendant was shot in the foot and sought medical attention at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Law enforcement found blood and a firearm in the backseat of the defendant’s girlfriend’s car. The firearm ballistics matched shell casings recovered from the park shooting.
The defendant was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple felony convictions, including four state convictions for armed robbery and federal convictions for Armed Bank Robbery and Using and Carrying a Firearm during and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
The defendant faces at least 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, at sentencing.
The case involved an investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2026, at 9:00 at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
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.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
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.
Eleven Indian Nationals Charged with Visa Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Eleven Indian nationals have been charged in connection with a conspiracy to carry out staged armed robberies of convenience stores for the purpose of allowing store clerks to falsely claim they were crime victims on immigration applications.
The following defendants have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud:
1. Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, unlawfully residing in Marshfield, Mass.;
2. Maheshkumar Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.;
3. Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, unlawfully residing in Quincy, Mass.;
4. Dipikaben Patel, 40, deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Mass.;
5. Rameshbhai Patel, 52, unlawfully residing in Eubank, Ky.;
6. Amitabahen Patel, 43, unlawfully residing in Plainville, Mass.;
7. Ronakkumar Patel, 28, unlawfully residing in Maryland Heights, Miss.;
8. Sangitaben Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.;
9. Minkesh Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio;
10. Sonal Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio; and
11. Mitul Patel, 40, unlawfully residing in Worcester, Mass.Jitendrakumar Patel, Maheshkumar Patel, Sanjaykumar Patel, Amitabahen Patel, Sangitaben Patel and Mitul Patel were arrested in Massachusetts and released following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston earlier today. Rameshbhai Patel, Ronakkumar Patel, Sonal Patel and Minkesh Patel were arrested and made their initial appearances in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio. They will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, in March 2023, Rambhai Patel and his co-conspirators set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least six convenience/liquor stores and fast food restaurants in Massachusetts and more elsewhere. It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to claim falsely that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigration status (U Visa). A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
In the course of the alleged staged robberies, the “robber” would threaten store clerks and/or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video. The clerks and/or owners would then wait five or more minutes until the “robber” had escaped before calling police to report the “crime.” The “victims” are alleged to have each paid Patel to participate in the scheme. In turn, Patel allegedly paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery.
Patel, the “robber,” and the getaway driver were previously charged and convicted. The 11 defendants charged today are alleged to have either arranged with the organizer to set up each robbery, or paid for themselves or a family member to participate as a “victim.”
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York, the Western District of Washington, the Northern District of Ohio, the Eastern District of Missouri, and the Eastern District of Kentucky; FBI’s New York, Seattle, Louisville, Cleveland and St. Louis Field Offices; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; Massachusetts State Police; Worcester County District Attorney’s Office; and the Boston, Dedham, Hingham, Malden, Marshfield, Randolph, Somerville, Weymouth, Worcester, Upper Darby, (Pa.), West Pittston (Pa.), Louisville, (Ky.) and Bean Station (Tenn.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Jessica L. Soto of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dulce Man Convicted of Aggravated Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – After a three-day trial, a federal jury convicted Herbert Ben, Jr. of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse.
At trial, the United States presented witness testimony showing that Ben, Jr., 57, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, molested two young girls, both under 12, between 2016 and 2022. The United States also presented testimony that Ben, Jr. molested another high-school-age female in approximately 2019 as she babysat Ben, Jr.’s stepdaughters. Finally, the United States presented evidence that from roughly 2010 to 2012, Ben, Jr. molested another young female relative while she was in elementary and middle school.
For these actions, jurors found Ben, Jr. guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse, a crime that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years of imprisonment. In addition to this prison sentence, Ben, Jr. will be subject to mandatory victim restitution for the full amount of a victim’s losses, which include medical services relating to physical, psychiatric, or psychological care. After serving his prison sentence, Ben, Jr. will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a term of supervised release of between five years and life.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary C. Jones and Amy Mondragon are prosecuting these cases.
Drug trafficking leader to serve 25 years for multi-state fentanyl and methamphetamine operationRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 43-year-old Conroe man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in operating a fentanyl-laced pill distribution network, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Johnny Quoc Tran pleaded guilty Oct. 19, 2023.
Senior U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Tran to serve 300 months in federal prison, to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing Tran’s leadership role in a drug trafficking organization responsible for manufacturing and distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine-laced pills. Tran distributed the narcotics through members of the organization, including Devon Williams who acted as a courier.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Lake determined Tran led a large, well-organized drug trafficking organization and was involved at every level of the operation. The court also noted Tran distributed thousands of fentanyl pills and emphasized fentanyl is a deadly poison.
The investigation began in March 2019 when authorities identified a Houston-based drug trafficking organization with additional operations in Dallas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Authorities determined Tran led the organization and operated a pill press laboratory out of an auto repair shop.
His wife, Amber Logston, assisted him by maintaining drug ledgers and concealing drug trafficking proceeds through financial transactions.
On Nov. 21, 2019, authorities executed a search warrant at Tran’s residence and auto shop. They seized approximately 180 kilograms of fentanyl-laced pills and fentanyl powder, more than 90 kilograms of methamphetamine laced pills, four pill press machines and other equipment used to manufacture and distribute narcotics.
Williams, 46, Houston, and Logston, 44, Conroe, also pleaded guilty for their roles in the case and have now been sentenced to federal prison.
Tran has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Houston Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation and Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 4 conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Leo prosecuted the case.
This investigation and prosecution is now part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes these organizations commit, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Houston comprises agents and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security investigations; DEA; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation/IRS; Interpol/Department of State and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.
Dominican National Previously Convicted of Drug Trafficking Offense Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that YUNIOR BENAVIDES, 49, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in 2009, Benavides and others were charged with federal offenses related to their participation in a Hartford area narcotics distribution conspiracy. He pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment and, in November 2013, was deported to the Dominican Republic. Benavides subsequently illegally reentered the U.S. On March 6, 2026, HSI agents stopped a car in West Hartford in connection to a drug trafficking investigation. Benavides, the driver of the car, was identified as being unlawfully present in the U.S. and was taken into custody.
Benavides appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Benavides faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
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.
Dominican Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Dominican Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Methamphetamine
CONCORD – A Dominican man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to drug offenses, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Ariel Castillo-Solano a/k/a Jose Antonio Santiago, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, specifically methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Samantha Elliot scheduled Castillo-Solano’s sentencing for June 18, 2026.
According to the court documents and statements made in court, beginning in early 2024, the DEA began an investigation into an unknown individual who was selling multiple-ounce quantities of methamphetamine in the Rochester, New Hampshire area. During the investigation, a DEA cooperating source (or “CS”) communicated with the defendant, Ariel Castillo-Solano. At the time, Castillo-Solano, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was using the identity of Jose Antonio Santiago, an American citizen from Puerto Rico. Between October 21, 2024 and January 10, 2025, the DEA, using a CS and a DEA undercover Task Force Officer, negotiated several sales totaling more than five pounds of methamphetamine from Castillo-Solano. Between January 10, 2025 and January 23, 2025, Castillo-Solano arranged to sell the undercover officer an additional 15 pounds of methamphetamine, about 21 ounces cocaine, and 40 grams of fentanyl. They agreed to a purchase price of $69,000. On January 24, 2025, Castillo-Solano met the undercover officer in a parking lot in Seabrook, where Castillo-Solano stated that his “brother,” later identified as Joel Castillo-Soto, would be arriving in an Uber to deliver the product. Thereafter, Castillo-Soto arrived and delivered the methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl to the undercover officer, at which point the DEA arrested both Castillo-Solano and Castillo-Soto.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance carry a sentence of up to 20 years’ incarceration, not less than 3 years of supervised release, and a fine up to $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
District of Arizona Charges 197 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Mar. 7 through Mar. 13, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 197 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 132 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 59 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 6 cases against individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Marcos Antonio Arguelles-Miranda. On Mar. 6, 2026, Marcos Antonio Arguelles Miranda was charged by criminal complaint with Bringing in Illegal Aliens. According to the complaint, Horse Patrol Unit (HPU) agents were called that day to assist Field Training Units in tracking three sets of footprints near Gila Bend, Arizona. HPU agents ultimately located three individuals, including Arguelles-Miranda, under a tree. The two other individuals in the group identified Arguelles-Miranda as their foot guide and stated that Arguelles-Miranda had abandoned another illegal alien traveling with them because he could no longer walk. Immigration checks confirmed that all three subjects are citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-3083]
United States v. Saul Rodriguez-Vazquez. Saul Rodriguez-Vazquez was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person. On Mar. 10, 2026, Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) attempted to stop a driver suspected of alien smuggling. The driver, Rodriguez-Vazquez, failed to yield to BPAs and a pursuit ensued. At one point, someone opened the passenger side door and a female subject jumped from the moving vehicle. Several BPAs disengaged from the vehicle pursuit to apprehend her while other BPAs continued to pursue the vehicle. Agents finally arrested Rodriguez-Vazquez after a vehicle immobilization device was deployed as he drove through an immigration checkpoint. In an interview with the female subject who had jumped from Rodriguez-Vazquez’s vehicle, she admitted to being a citizen of Guatemala, illegally present in the United States. She stated that when BPAs started chasing Rodriguez-Vazquez, he told her to jump out. She refused because the vehicle was still moving, but he argued with her and became aggressive. Rodriguez-Vazquez told her, "salta a la verga," so when the vehicle slowed down, she jumped out even though it was still moving. [Case Number: 26-MJ-5900]
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-048_March 13, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Department of Justice to Return $470,735 to Victims of Cryptocurrency Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine announced today that the Department of Justice will return about $470,735 to two Maine victims of a cryptocurrency investment scheme.
According to court records, more than $800,000 belonging to the victims was transferred to cryptocurrency wallets controlled by criminal actors in 2022. The FBI seized 470,773 USDT (Tether)—a form of cryptocurrency equivalent in value to the dollar—traced to the victims’ payments. The U.S. Attorney’s Office subsequently filed a civil forfeiture complaint alleging these proceeds were traceable to wire fraud and were involved in money laundering offenses. The U.S. District Court ordered the proceeds to be forfeited to the United States, which is now providing the funds to the two victims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office warns that cryptocurrency investment schemes are all too common.
In many cryptocurrency investment schemes, scammers engage in social engineering to steal a victim’s funds. Scammers often use a fake identity and cold-contact a victim through messaging apps, social media, dating apps, or other platforms. Scammers may pretend to have contacted the wrong number but then continue communicating with the victim. The scammers establish a relationship and build trust with the victim by continuing to message over days, weeks, or months. Frequently, the scammers then make up a fake investment opportunity or an emergency to induce the victim to send payments in cryptocurrency. Scammers may convince the victim to use fake websites or apps to “invest” in cryptocurrency, and will often coach the victim through the “investment” process and show the victim fake returns on their “investment.” Rather than investing money on a legitimate platform, the victim is tricked into sending cryptocurrency to wallets controlled by the scammers. If the victim tries to withdraw money from the fake site or app, the victim is often told to pay additional fees or taxes—but the scammers do not return the victim’s funds after the fake fees or taxes are paid.
For more information about cryptocurrency investment schemes, please visit https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2023/PSA230824.
If you believe you or someone you know may be a victim of a cryptocurrency scam, in addition to reporting to your local police department, you should immediately submit a report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or contact your local FBI Field Office.
The FBI handled this case. The Department of Justice would like to acknowledge Tether for its assistance in effectuating the transfer of these assets.
Davenport Man Sentenced to 90 Months in Federal Prison for Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced March 12, 2026, to 90 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents, Cedrick Dequn Willingham, 39, fled from officers in Bettendorf, after they attempted to stop his vehicle. During an August 2024 search of Willingham’s residence, officers located a firearm, a drum magazine, and many rounds of ammunition. Willingham is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of his felony convictions, including a 2025 conviction in the Iowa District Court for Scott County for possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Willingham will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Scott County Sherriff’s Office investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.