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Tuesday 3 March 2026
Former Passaic County Correctional Officer Sentenced to 17 Months in Prison for Civil Rights Violation and Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice in Connection with Assault of Pretrial DetaineeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former Passaic County Correctional Officer was sentenced yesterday for his role in assaulting a pretrial detainee and conspiring to obstruct justice, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Jose Gonzalez, 47, previously pled guilty on May 28, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court to a two-count indictment charging him with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Judge Farbiarz imposed the sentence yesterday in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On January 22, 2021, a pretrial detainee at the Passaic County Jail (PCJ) squirted a mixture containing urine onto a correctional officer. The following day, on January 23, 2021, Gonzalez admitted that he, along with former Sergeant Donald Vinales, and former Correctional Officer Lorenzo Bowden, who were also charged in this case, transported the detainee through an area of the PCJ that does not have a video surveillance camera, which Correctional Officers and inmates at the PCJ have referred to as a “blind spot.” While in that “blind spot,” Gonzalez admitted that he and Vinales assaulted the detainee, while he was handcuffed, when they knocked him to the ground and struck him multiple times. One day after the assault, the detainee was taken to a local hospital, which documented injuries from the assault.
The defendants were required to submit documentation regarding their use of force. None of them submitted any such reports.
In March 2022, Gonzalez admitted that he made false statements to federal law enforcement officers during an interview in connection with this investigation. Additionally, in April 2022, after receiving federal grand jury subpoenas in connection with this investigation, Gonzalez, Vinales, Bowden, among others, met to discuss the federal investigation. During that meeting, the group agreed not to cooperate with the federal investigation and also agreed to say that nothing had happened to the detainee, referring to the assault. Thereafter, during an interview with federal investigators in October 2022, Bowden falsely stated that the detainee had not been assaulted and that there had not been any meeting or communication among those who participated in or witnessed the assault.
Bowden pled guilty on April 18, 2024 before Judge Farbiarz to an information charging him with conspiracy to obstruct justice and is awaiting sentencing.
Vinales pled guilty on May 21, 2025 before Judge Farbiarz to a two-count indictment charging him with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. He is also awaiting sentencing.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Farbiarz sentenced Gonzalez to two years of supervised release.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office Division of Internal Affairs, under the direction of Sheriff Thomas Adamo.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Deputy Chief of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark, and R. Joseph Gribko, Senior Trial Counsel in Trenton.
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Defense Counsel: Valerie Palma DeLuisi, Esq., Clifton, New Jersey
Former Office Manager Sentenced for Embezzling More Than $1.7 Million from Ocean City Home BuilderRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A former office manager learned her fate in federal court in connection with an embezzlement scheme.
U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Tammy Barcus, 57, of Berlin, Maryland, to 48 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered her to pay $1,793,688.87 of restitution to a victim home builder, and $562,883 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and tax evasion. Additionally, the court imposed a forfeiture money judgment of $1,793,688.87.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington D.C. Field Office.
According to court documents, from 2016 through 2024, Barcus, a former office manager and bookkeeper for an Ocean City-based home builder, embezzled approximately $1.79 million from her former employer. Barcus used her position of trust to embezzle funds from her employer by issuing more than 500 fraudulently authorized checks from the home builder’s business bank account. She forged the signature of one of the owners on the face of the business checks and deposited them into bank accounts she controlled. Barcus then used the money for vehicle payments, boat payments, mortgage payments, and her personal enrichment.
Ownership granted Barcus, who worked with a high degree of independence, substantial control over business records and financial accounts. As part of her daily job duties, Barcus had access to payment systems and accounting records that belonged to the home builder. Barcus concealed the embezzlement from her employer and the IRS by making false entries into the business’ books and records.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended IRS-CI for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Murphy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry Gruber, who prosecuted the federal case, and recognized Paralegal Specialists Joanna B.N. Huber and Shelbe Mascaro, for their valuable assistance.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Former Navy Petty Officer Sentenced to over 8 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Violent Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Rumaldo Valdez, 22, a former Navy Petty Officer Third Class stationed on Oahu, was sentenced yesterday to 97 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. He also must register as a sex offender.
In his plea agreement, Valdez admitted to possessing child pornography on a United States military base. In May 2024, FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents searched Valdez’s residence at the Naval Computer and Telecom Area Master Station Pacific in Wahiawa, Hawaii. Agents found hard drives containing child pornography and child-abuse materials. Some of these materials depicted infant rape, torture of a toddler, and a “fan sign” image in which a nude boy is holding a sign that reads, “Duck#8030.” Valdez used the “Duck#8030” username while previously participating in “Greggy’s Cult,” an online group that produced and distributed child sex abuse material and extorted children into carving “fan signs” bearing the extortionists’ online usernames into their skin. Members of “Greggy’s Cult,” including Valdez, are pending charges in the Eastern District of New York for operating a child exploitation enterprise, among other crimes.
The FBI’s search and arrest of Valdez stemmed from its investigation into “Greggy’s Cult” as part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown has resulted in hundreds of child victims being located and the arrests of hundreds of child sexual abuse offenders.
“Let Valdez’s sentence serve as a warning to any other depraved and sadistic individuals who seek to harm and exploit children – there is nowhere for you to hide, no corner of the internet you will not be found, and no stone we will leave unturned to bring you to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “The protection of our children is one of our highest priorities, and in concert with our law enforcement partners, we will bring the full weight of the Department of Justice to bear on child predators.”
“Yesterday’s sentencing sends a clear and uncompromising message that those who hide behind screens to exploit and terrorize our children will be brought to justice,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “No matter how organized or clandestine these groups think they are, they cannot outrun the consequences of their actions. The FBI remains relentless in our mission to protect the children in our communities, and we will aggressively pursue those who commit these horrific crimes and bring justice to their doorstep.”
“Those who prey on and exploit innocent children violate the most fundamental laws of human society and must be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Anna Ryan of the NCIS Hawaii Field Office. “NCIS and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our commitment to rooting out and thoroughly investigating child predators.”
FBI and NCIS investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne A. Myers and Jonathan D. Slack prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Former Harford County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sentenced to 36 Years for Sexually Exploiting Two ChildrenRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A former Harford County Sheriff’s Office detective learned his fate in federal court today, in connection with child sex exploitation crimes.
U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Ryan Christopher Hall, 51, of Woodstock, Maryland, to 36 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for the sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual abuse material. Hall, who pled guilty to these charges in December 2025, must also register as a sex offender for life.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Christopher R. Heck, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Carroll County State’s Attorney Haven N. Shoemaker, Jr.; Sheriff James T. DeWees, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office; and Sheriff Jeff Gahler, Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
According to court documents, before May 2017, Hall, who served as a detective for almost 30 years, sexually abused two minor children for at least three years. By May 2017, and through October 2024, Hall sexually exploited the two minor children by capturing explicit images and videos of them by using a surreptitious camera that he installed. Hall is facing related charges for child sexual abuse in the Carroll County Circuit Court.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Learn more about Internet safety education by clicking on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
Know2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse; explain how to report online enticement and victimization; and offer resources for victims and survivors and their supporters. Learn more about Know2Protect at www.dhs.gov/know2protect.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Unit for their combined effort and work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Former Assistant Superintendent and Former IT Director of Patterson Joint Unified School District Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Approximately $1.5 Million in Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
Jeffrey Menge, 45, of Copperopolis, and Eric Drabert, 46, of Modesto, were sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to 30 months and 18 months in prison, respectively for theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“These defendants were entrusted with safeguarding resources meant to educate and support children; instead, they stole $1.5 million for their own benefit,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Today’s sentencing affirms that when those in positions of authority abuse the public trust, they will be held accountable. Our office remains committed to protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring that funds intended for our schools serve the students and communities they were meant to support.”
“Jeffrey Menge and Eric Drabert betrayed the students, families, and taxpayers of Patterson by exploiting their positions of trust to steal from a school district. Rather than investing those funds in the children they were hired to serve, they lined their pockets with the money they stole,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “We are grateful to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their partnership in bringing Menge and Drabert to justice.”
According to court documents, from 2018 to 2022, Menge served as the Assistant Superintendent and Chief Business Officer of the Patterson Joint Unified School District. In approximately 2020, Menge hired Drabert to serve as IT Director for the school district. Menge and Drabert conducted schemes to embezzle money from the school district. Among other things, they used CenCal Tech LLC, a Nevada company that Menge controlled, to carry out the scheme. Menge used the company to get around the school’s conflicts for being an interested party transacting with the school district. To conceal his ownership of the company, he created a fictitious person, “Frank Barnes,” to serve as an executive for CenCal Tech. Menge and Drabert used CenCal Tech to steal approximately $1.5 million in fraudulent transactions with the school district. The transactions involved double billing, over billing, and billing for items not delivered by CenCal Tech to the school district.
According to court documents, Menge and Drabert stole in additional ways as well. For example, they purchased high-end graphics cards and used those cards, together with other school district property and electricity, to operate a cryptocurrency “mining” farm at the school district without its permission. They then transferred the mined cryptocurrency to wallets under their own personal control. Menge also misused vehicles owned by the school district, including buying a Chevy truck at below-market value and selling it for a profit, and using a Ford Transit van as his own personal vehicle.
In total, Menge embezzled approximately $1.5 million and Drabert stole approximately $276,000 from the school district. Menge used stolen funds to remodel his home, to purchase luxury cars, including a Ferrari 458 sportscar, Audi R8, and a Chevrolet Corvette z06, and for other personal uses. Drabert used stolen funds to remodel his vacation cabin, among other uses. The defendants pleaded guilty on Feb. 21, 2024.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph D. Barton and Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.
Foreign National Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Nuclear Materials, Narcotics, and FirearmsRead the Press Release
Today, Takeshi Ebisawa, a Japanese national, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to traffic nuclear materials, including uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, from Burma to other countries, as well as his participation in international narcotics trafficking, weapons, and money laundering crimes. Ebisawa previously pleaded guilty to six counts for those offenses before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon for the Southern District of New York.
“National security and public safety are the very tenets of DEA’s mission, and this case demonstrates our ability to dismantle the world’s most dangerous criminal networks,” said Administrator Terrance Cole of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. “Today’s sentence should send a clear message: threatening the United States by trafficking nuclear materials, narcotics, and military-grade weapons will trigger an uncompromising response. DEA will hold conspirators accountable—no matter the distance, no matter their allegiance.”
“Thanks to the exceptional work of the DEA and our DOJ prosecutors, Takeshi Ebisawa has been held accountable for his crimes, including an attempt to sell weapons-grade plutonium to Iran and to flood New York with deadly narcotics,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle criminal networks that seek to profit from the illicit trade in deadly weapons and substances.”
“The illicit trafficking of nuclear materials is an existential threat to every New Yorker and every American,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “Takeshi Ebisawa tried to sell uranium, thorium, and plutonium to fuel a purported nuclear weapons program, along with deadly drugs destined for U.S. streets. In exchange, Ebisawa hoped to procure battlefield weapons for insurgent groups and profit for himself. This case is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of our law enforcement partners, who worked across three continents to stop Ebisawa and bring him to justice in the United States.”
As reflected in the Complaint, the Superseding Indictment, and other filings and information in the public record:
From in or about 2019 until Ebisawa's arrest on or about April 4, 2022, the DEA investigated Ebisawa in connection with the large-scale trafficking of narcotics, weapons, and nuclear materials. During the investigation, Ebisawa unwittingly introduced an undercover DEA agent (“UC-1”), posing as a narcotics and weapons trafficker, to Ebisawa's international network of criminal associates, which spanned Japan, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, and the United States, among other places, for the purpose of arranging criminal transactions. Over the course of three years, Ebisawa and his associates negotiated four sets of transactions with UC-1.
First, Ebisawa attempted to broker the sale of nuclear materials in exchange for military-grade weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, for an ethnic insurgent group in Burma. Ebisawa intended to sell this nuclear material to UC-1’s associate, who was posing as an Iranian general in charge of Iran’s nuclear weapons program (the “General”). After initially offering uranium, Ebisawa proposed to supply the General with “plutonium” that would be even “better” and more “powerful” than uranium for Iran’s use. In or about February 2022, Ebisawa and two co-conspirators met with UC-1 in Thailand, where one of the co-conspirators showed UC-1 samples of the nuclear materials (the “Nuclear Samples”). With the assistance of Thai authorities, the Nuclear Samples were seized and subsequently transferred to the custody of U.S. law enforcement. A U.S. nuclear forensic laboratory examined the Nuclear Samples and determined they contained detectable quantities of uranium, thorium, and weapons-grade plutonium.
Second, Ebisawa attempted to broker the sale of methamphetamine and heroin to UC-1 in exchange for heavy weapons for another ethnic insurgent group in Burma. Ebisawa planned for the heroin and methamphetamine to be distributed in the New York market, and he understood the weapons to have been manufactured in the United States and taken from U.S. military bases in Afghanistan. In or about February 2021, Ebisawa traveled to Denmark to inspect some of the purported weapons, including anti-tank rocket weapons, machine guns, and automatic rifles.
Third, Ebisawa conspired to sell, in a separate transaction, approximately 500 kilograms of methamphetamine and 500 kilograms of heroin to UC-1 for distribution in New York. In furtherance of that transaction, in or about June 2021 and September 2021, one of Ebisawa's co-conspirators provided samples in Thailand of approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine and approximately 1.4 kilograms of heroin. The methamphetamine had a purity of approximately 98%, and the heroin had a purity of approximately 86% to 87%.
Finally, Ebisawa laundered $100,000, which UC-1 described to Ebisawa as narcotics proceeds, from the United States to Japan, in exchange for a 15% commission. In or about November 2021, the DEA transferred $100,000 to U.S. bank accounts controlled by one of Ebisawa's co-conspirators, and Ebisawa then delivered the Yen equivalent of approximately $85,000 in cash in Tokyo.
In addition to the prison term, Ebisawa, 61, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
The investigation was led by the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit and the IRS Criminal Investigation. The DEA Tokyo Country Office, DEA Bangkok Country Office, DEA Chiang Mai Resident Office, DEA Jakarta Country Office, DEA Copenhagen Country Office, DEA New York Field Office, DEA New Delhi Country Office, the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, and law enforcement partners in Denmark, Indonesia, Japan, and the Kingdom of Thailand provided assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaylan E. Lasky, Alexander Li, and Kevin T. Sullivan for the Southern District of New York's National Security and International Narcotics Unit are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section.
Felon Sentenced to 21 Months for Illegal Possession of a Firearm While on Supervised ProbationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Terrance Kelly, 37, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court for illegally carrying a firearm while on supervised probation, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Kelly pleaded guilty on Dec. 4, 2025, to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the prison term, Judge Dabney L. Friedrich ordered Kelly to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Special Police Officers (SPOs) detained Kelly on Aug. 28, 2025, for threatening one of the officers. During the encounter, Kelly voluntarily handed a small satchel he had been carrying to one of the SPOs. The satchel contained a loaded Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol with a 22-cartridge magazine.
Kelly has been convicted eight times for prior offenses between 2006 and 2025, including three convictions for driving under the influence, two convictions for assault, two convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm and convictions for both resisting a public officer and assault of a police officer. He was on supervised probation for a felony when he was arrested with the pistol in his satchel.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Naseef.
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Federal Jury Finds Former San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy Guilty in Fatal Shooting of Unarmed Fleeing ArresteeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – A federal jury today convicted former San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Richard Russell in the fatal shooting of a 36-year-old unarmed man who was shot four times from behind while running away from authorities.
Following a two-week trial and less than seven hours of deliberation, the jury found that Russell violated the civil rights of the victim in taking his life by shooting him in the back as he ran away. He was convicted on both counts filed against him - Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law and Use and Discharge of a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence.
Russell is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson. He was allowed to remain free on bond. Russell faces a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence and up to life in prison.
“This is an important verdict because it demonstrates our commitment to impartially and unceasingly seeking justice,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.
“Civil rights have long been a priority for the FBI,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge TJ Holland of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “In conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI will vigorously investigate any potential violations.”
According to evidence presented at trial, on May 1, 2020, Russell – who at the time was a deputy with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department – fired five shots at the victim, N.B. – who was unarmed – as he attempted to flee from custody while California State Parks Police officers were transporting him to the San Diego Central Jail in downtown San Diego. The victim was struck multiple times, including once squarely in the back. That shot punctured his lung and struck his heart, and N.B. died as a result of the multiple gunshots.
The initial encounter with the victim began on the afternoon of May 1, 2020, when a California State Parks officer approached N.B. in the Old Town State Historic Park because she saw him hitting golf balls to his dog while the park was closed by COVID-19 regulations. N.B. ran from the officer, who chased him on foot.
A short time later, N.B. was taken into custody. He was searched and handcuffed before being placed into the back of a law enforcement vehicle for transport to the San Diego Central Jail, located at Front and B Streets in downtown San Diego. Due to COVID-19 protocols in place at the time, the officers traveled in separate vehicles.
The transport was uneventful until they arrived at the intersection in front of the jail. As they pulled through the intersection and up to the jail’s sallyport, N.B. slipped one hand free from his handcuffs, managed to get his arm through the partially lowered rear passenger window – which had been lowered pursuant to a COVID-19 protocol to allow for ventilation – and was able to open the rear passenger door from the outside.
N.B. opened the rear door, exited the sedan, and briefly attempted to prevent the California State Parks officer in the other vehicle from exiting his truck before turning and running northbound on Front Street. That officer was only momentarily delayed and chased N.B., only a few feet behind.
At the same time, the defendant and another deputy were standing at the intersection of Front and B Streets. The defendant immediately stepped into the street, drew his firearm, and fired five shots in rapid succession at close range. No other officer even pulled their firearm, and at trial, multiple officers testified that it was apparent that N.B. was not a threat to anyone, that they never for a moment considered shooting N.B., and that it “wasn’t even a close call.” Other eyewitnesses, including a nurse and a firefighter, testified that they were “shocked” that the defendant shot N.B. in the back.
Four of the rounds fired by the defendant struck N.B., including one that entered his back and fatally pierced his heart and lung. N.B. staggered to the northwest corner of Front and B Streets, where he collapsed, his body falling half on the sidewalk and half in a planter next to a tree. Other officers and paramedics tried to save his life, but he was pronounced dead shortly after being transported to the hospital.
The shooting was captured on multiple surveillance cameras along Front Street, as well as on body-worn camera footage from officers who responded to the scene shortly afterward. The fifth round fired by the defendant struck the driver’s side fog lamp of a civilian’s vehicle that was traveling southbound on Front Street.
The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 16, 2024. Russell’s first trial on the charged offenses in May 2025 ended when the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Askins and Michael Songer and Department of Justice Civil Rights Trial Attorney Lia Wright Tesconi.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24-cr-1015-TWR
Aaron Richard Russell Age: 29
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law Using a Dangerous Weapon and Resulting in Death – 18 U.S.C. § 242
Maximum penalty: Life in prison and $500,000 fine
Use and Discharge of a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence – 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)
Maximum penalty: Mandatory Minimum 10 years in prison and $500,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Farmington Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Farmington, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal laws regarding the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Nathan Fike, 41, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on or about October 4, 2023, Fike distributed videos of minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct to an undercover agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Further, on or about February 9, 2024, federal agents executing a search warrant at Fike’s residence found the defendant in possession of videos and still images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom were prepubescent and under 12 years of age.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for June 24, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Fike.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Federal Charges Filed for Criminal Threats Against the PresidentRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Markus E. Hamlett, 46, has been indicted in federal court on one count of threat upon the President of the United States. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge.
Hamlett appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for April 6, 2026, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
If convicted, Hamlett faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Española man sentenced for 2023 beating and strangulation of his dating partnerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Española man was sentenced to 46 months in prison for attacking and severely beating his dating partner in 2023, causing serious bodily injuries over her entire body.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, in the early morning hours of September 21, 2023, Isiah Gutierrez-Arquero, 30, an enrolled member of the Santa Clara Pueblo, punched and kicked Jane Doe, threw her against a wall (causing a hole in the wall), sat on her chest, and strangled her with both hands during a beating that lasted several hours. As a result of the assault, Jane Doe sustained serious bodily injuries to her head, torso, and extremities.
Gutierrez-Arquero pleaded guilty to assault by strangulation and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The Court recommended Defendant complete the Residential Drug Abuse Program, the Bureau of Prisons’ most intensive treatment program. Upon his release from prison, Gutierrez-Arquero will be subject to three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
Dover Man Sentenced to Federal Prison after Defrauding Bank out of More Than $800,000Read the Press Release
Ordered to Pay $874,893.39 in restitution
OKLAHOMA CITY – TIMOTHY ABERCROMBIE, 43, of Dover, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison for committing bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, from May 2019 through February 2024, Abercrombie was employed as a vice president and loan officer at InterBank in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. During that time, Abercrombie used customers’ personal identifying information to prepare fraudulent loan applications. After the loans were approved, he deposited the proceeds into checking accounts that he controlled which were opened in the customers’ names, all without their knowledge or consent. As a result of the scheme, InterBank suffered a loss of more than $800,000.
On April 1, 2025, Abercrombie was charged by Information with bank fraud. Abercrombie pleaded guilty to the Information on May 15, 2025, and admitted he executed a scheme to defraud InterBank.
At the sentencing hearing on March 2, 2026, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones, II, sentenced Abercrombie to serve 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered Abercrombie to pay $874,893.39 in restitution. In announcing his sentence, Judge Jones noted the seriousness of the offense, the need to provide just punishment, and the importance of deterring others.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle London prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Deltona Man Convicted of Coercing and Enticing Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found James Bernard Grover (Deltona, 63) guilty of coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. Grover faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 28, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Grover was the founder and executive director of the Special Needs Advocacy Program, or “SNAP,” a nonprofit organization based in Sanford, Florida. Through SNAP, Grover met an autistic minor and coerced and enticed the minor victim to engage in sexual activity.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sanford Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Diane S. Hu and Robert D. Sowell.
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.
D.C. Man Previously Convicted Under Youth Rehabilitation Act Gets 17 Years in Prison for Killing Man on South Capitol StreetRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Roy Jordan, 23, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on Friday for the shooting death of Gary Love III on November 20, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Jordan entered a guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter while armed before Superior Court Associate Judge Rainey Brandt on December 12, 2025.
On February 27, 2026, Judge Brandt sentenced Jordan to 17 years of incarceration, the maximum recommended sentence under the D.C. Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines, to be followed by five years of supervised release. At the time of the offense, Jordan was on probation in Maryland for a July 2021 carjacking. He had also been previously sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act in Washington D.C. in a gun possession case.
According to the government’s evidence, on November 20, 2023, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Jordan walked into a store in the 4600 block of South Capitol Street, SW, to purchase some items. A few minutes later, Jordan ran out of the store and pointed a firearm at Mr. Love who was standing outside. A gunfight then ensued between the two men. Mr. Love was shot in the head and after all life-saving measures, he succumbed to his injuries the next morning. Jordan confirmed that, when he shot the victim, he was acting voluntarily and that he was not acting in self-defense.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorney Miles Janssen who prosecuted the case.
2023 CF1 008881
D.C. Man Gets More Than 14 Years in Prison for Killing Man Following a Fight Between Two High School GirlsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – David Pena, 49, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on February 27, 2026, for the shooting death of Maurice Robinson on June 12, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
On November 25, 2025, a D.C. Superior Court jury convicted Pena on one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and related firearm offenses. Superior Court Associate Judge Danya Dayson sentenced Pena on Friday to 14 ½ years in prison. Pena had two prior gun convictions and faced a maximum sentence of 60 years. The government requested a 25-year prison sentence.
According to the government’s evidence, on June 12, 2023, Pena’s daughter and her best friend agreed to fight each other to settle an argument they were having. Robinson was part of a larger group that had arrived to watch the fight. As the girls were fighting, Pena became angry and pulled a gun, shooting Robinson in the back four times as he was running away, killing him. A second victim was nearby but was not struck by the gunfire. Although Pena claimed he was acting in self-defense, no weapons were recovered from any of the victims.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Miles Janssen and Zach Horton, who prosecuted the case.
2023 CF2 003881
Convicted Rapist Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification ActRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act by failing to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, Russell Lee Stanley, 46, was convicted of Forcible Sexual Intercourse – Rape on October 3, 2011, in Harrison County, Mississippi. He was sentenced to 25 years’ incarceration, with 12 years to serve day-for-day, and the remaining 13 years suspended for five years of post-release supervision. As a result, Stanley was required to register as a sex offender in any county where he resides or works.
Upon release in 2022, Stanley registered in Mississippi. In July 2023, the sex offender coordinator in Mississippi reported Stanley had failed to re-register as required. Warrants were issued for his arrest. The United States Marshals Service was alerted that Stanley may be located in Mobile, Alabama, and that he failed to register as required with the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office or Mobile Police Department. An investigation revealed that Stanley had been residing and working in Mobile since May 2023 without complying with SORNA requirements. Stanley was arrested on June 20, 2025.
A five-year term of supervised release will follow the term of imprisonment, during which Stanley will be required to participate in drug, alcohol, mental health and sex offender treatment.
U.S. Attorney Sean Costello of the Southern District of Alabama and made the announcement.
The United States Marshals Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice H. Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison on Ammunition, Methamphetamine Trafficking, and Multiple Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Deanthony Moton, 26, of Nashville, was sentenced yesterday to ten years in federal prison on charges of possession of ammunition by a felon, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon, announced United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Braden H. Boucek. Moton previously pled guilty to the charges.
“Violent offenses deserve swift and serious punishment,” said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek. “This Office will continue to prioritize the public safety by prosecuting those who combine drugs and guns and flee at a high speed.”
On August 29, 2021, at 1:40 a.m., the House of Legends Club on Jefferson Street in Nashville was full of patrons, many of whom had come outside to the parking lot in front of the club. A club security guard saw someone firing shots in the direction of the club, hitting five people, then fleeing in a blue sedan. The security guard returned fire. None of the victims knew who shot them or saw the shooter. Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (“MNPD”) officers arrived on the scene with members of their Crime Scene Unit which recovered 25 9mm shell casings, eight .40 caliber shell casings, and three projectiles.
The shooting was captured on security cameras in the area, and detectives were ultimately able to identify the defendant as the person who shot into the crowd based on still photos from the video footage of the shooting, video which depicted the defendant’s attire in the club prior to the shooting, his nickname, videos from his YouTube channel, and his criminal history records.
On September 24, 2021, a Mount Juliet Police Department (“MJPD”) officer stopped a car on I-40 after determining it was going 99 miles per hour in a 70-miles per hour speed zone. The defendant was the front seat passenger in the car. When the officer approached the car and asked the driver for the car’s registration, the driver opened the glove box. In plain view in the glove box was a black Glock Model 22 .40 caliber pistol. The officer immediately asked if there were any other firearms in the car besides the one on the glovebox. For officer safety, the officer told the driver and the defendant that he would temporarily remove the firearm during the traffic stop. They agreed, and the officer removed the firearm from the glove box to keep it away from them. Other MJPD officers arrived and, as they spoke with the driver and defendant, the defendant appeared nervous, was moving around excessively, and digging around under his seat. Officers repeatedly told the defendant not to reach around. The defendant failed to heed their instructions, and officers removed him from the car out of fear that there may be additional firearms in the car.
When the defendant was removed from the car, he began to walk past officers, which they perceived as an attempt to flee. He wore very baggy pants which fell down as he walked away from officers. One officer observed a plastic bag containing white material fall from the defendant’s boxers into one of his pant legs. The baggie contained 146.11 grams of methamphetamine, according to a subsequent Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (“TBI”) Crime Lab analysis. The defendant also had $4,833 in two separate bundles of different denominations of cash at the time.
As the defendant was being detained, an officer asked him, “Whose gun is that?” and he responded, “That’s my gun.” Direct comparison by the TBI confirmed that the firearm located in the glove box fired the .40 caliber shell casings from the House of Legends shooting.
Before these events, on May 20, 2016, the defendant was convicted in the State of Michigan of Fleeing and Eluding a Police Officer, Receiving Stolen Property, and Lying to Police. He received sentences of 1-5 years on the first two offenses and 1-2 years on the last offense.
After his term of incarceration, the defendant will serve a term of four years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and Mount Juliet Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Stephens prosecuted the case.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition in the Deschutes National ForestRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Bend, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition after officers responded to gunfire in the Deschutes National Forest.
Cody Joe Hunt, 38, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Feb. 13, 2025, U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers responded to gunfire in the Deschutes National Forest near China Hat Road. Officers arrived to find Hunt fleeing into the woods, leaving behind an assault rifle and shell casings. They tracked him through the snow and discovered ammunition in his pockets matching the assault rifle. He was arrested on separate charges. A search warrant for Hunt’s devices revealed additional evidence that he had possessed the rifle found in the woods in the preceding weeks after participating in its purchase at a local firearm dealer. Hunt is a convicted felon and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
On Sept. 18, 2025, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count superseding indictment charging Hunt with felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
On Nov. 18, 2025, Hunt pleaded guilty to counts one and two.
The U.S. Forest Service investigated the case with support from the Deschutes County Digital Forensics Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren prosecuted the case.
Columbia Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Hate CrimeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, of Columbia, has agreed to plead guilty to violating the housing rights of his black neighbor, J.M. A federal grand jury returned an indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in December 2025.
According to court documents, on July 17, 2025, Felkel was driving into the gated community where both he and J.M. lived when he saw J.M. standing at the gate of the community. Felkel fired a gun and shouted, “You better keep running, boy!” at J.M.
Felkel has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge which criminalizes the use of force or threatened force to injure, intimidate, or interfere with someone’s housing rights based on race. Felkel faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release to follow any term of imprisonment. Felkel will enter his change of plea in federal court before United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis on a future date.
The FBI Columbia Field Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall of the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.###
Columbia Felon Pleads Guilty to Gun Charge Amidst Girlfriend’s Murder InvestigationRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Anthony Demetrius Reese, 55, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Aug. 31, 2025, Columbia Police Department officers were investigating the suspicious disappearance of Columbia woman Angela Fuller. Fuller, Reese’s girlfriend, had been reported missing by a relative and was last seen with Reese.
Columbia Police officers spotted Reese’s vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but he instead fled and eventually crashed in Lexington. A loaded firearm was recovered from Reese’s vehicle. Reese has prior felony convictions for domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, shoplifting 3rd offense or above, burglary 2nd degree, and assault and battery 2nd degree. He is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Law enforcement later recovered Fuller’s body after an extensive search. Testing confirmed that the firearm recovered from Reese’s vehicle matched the murder weapon.
Reese faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Reese after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Reese has pleaded not guilty to state charges of murder, unauthorized removal of a dead body, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a stolen pistol. He remains innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt on those charges.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Major is prosecuting the case.
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Canadian national charged with assaulting detention center officerRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 26-year-old woman has been arrested for forcibly assaulting a federal officer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Grace Kirkness has now made her initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena H. Palermo.
According to the criminal complaint filed March 2, Kirkness was being held at the Houston Contract Detention Facility in Houston pending her removal to Canada.
On Jan. 21, Kirkness allegedly refused to follow orders from contract detention officers at the facility. When authorities attempted to place her in handcuffs, she allegedly punched, kicked, and bit an officer, according to the charges.
If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ganz 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.
California Woman Sentenced to Nearly 3 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Riverside, California, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on February 9, 2026.
Destiny Canty, 46, was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Canty was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in May 2024. She pleaded guilty on November 10, 2025.
Canty received payments from co-conspirators in South Dakota and elsewhere, utilizing various electronic means including CashApp, electronic deposits, and Western Union, and was aware that the funds were generated from the illegal sale of narcotics. She then provided the funds to the leader of the drug trafficking organization. The payments were made in this manner to hide the narcotic-related source and true owner of the funds. In total, Canty was found to have laundered approximately $80,000. The total amount of money laundered by the organization that Canty was associated with was over $700,000.
“Our law enforcement partners are using every available tool to dismantle drug trafficking organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “That includes following the money and prosecuting those who try to launder it for these criminal groups. For this defendant, and many more to come, the money trail ends in a federal prison cell.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to working alongside other law enforcement agencies to dismantle drug trafficking organizations,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “We use our financial expertise to track down members of these organizations to shut down their funding sources and bring them to justice. Each one who goes to prison is a victory for our communities.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Canty was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Minneapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, USMS, USPIS, SD DCI, SFPD, MCSO, and SDHP with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.
Byrd Gang Leader Sentenced to 360 Months for Rico Conspiracy, Heroin, Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy, and Firearms Possession ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – TIM JACKSON, a/k/a T-Maf,” “Maf,” 37 years old and of New Orleans, was sentenced on February 25, 2026, by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo for a RICO conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, and firearms conspiracy. As part of a plea agreement, JACKSON was sentenced to 360 months imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a $300.00 mandatory special assessment fee, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
After four days of a trial against him, JACKSON pled guilty to a 30-year sentence to avoid a possible life sentence if convicted. JACKSON’s co-defendants, Terran Williams, Tyrone Bovia and Javonta Doleman, went to trial in the Spring of 2025, and all three were found guilty of various charges, including two counts of Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering (Murder), for which each faces a mandatory life sentence.
JACKSON was a leader of the Byrd Gang, also known as M3RE, MagFischer, 315 and Piff Gang, which operated primarily out of the former Magnolia Housing Development, but also had ties to the Westbank. Daily, its members distributed drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine and marijuana, and always possessed a multitude of firearms. JACKSON participated in numerous drug trafficking activities and violent crimes for the Byrd Gang.
Members of the enterprise, including JACKSON, participated in acts of violence, to include, but not limited to the July 18, 2016, murder of Kent Franklin; the September 3, 2016, murder of Javon Johnigan; the October 29, 2016, shooting of rival M.A.; the November 25, 2016, shooting of Ghost Gang member, D.A.; the December 20, 2016, shooting of rival M.A.; the December 30, 2016, shooting of Ghost Gang member, D.A.; the January 31, 2017, double murder of Ghost Gang member, Wynston Jackson, and Lawrence Williams, IV; the May 3, 2017, shooting at M.I.; and the August 25, 2017, shooting of Ghost Gang member T.H., that happened in a busy shopping corridor of Magazine Street.
In both trials, the government’s evidence regarding the existence and nature of the enterprise came from the testimony of witnesses and cooperating informants, cooperating defendants, police searches and seizures, Title III wiretaps, historical arrests of members of the enterprise, including of JACKSON, among other sources. JACKSON, led the Byrd Gang and was the principal supplier of controlled substances for the enterprise, specifically heroin, while also acting as a gunman for the enterprise. JACKSON unlawfully and knowingly conspired with Byrd Gang members to conduct and participate, in the operation of the enterprise through committing racketeering activities including murders, in violation of Title 14, Louisiana Revised Statutes Sections 24 (Principals), 26 (Criminal Conspiracy), 27 (Attempt) and 30.1 (Second Degree Murder); as well as heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and marijuana trafficking, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846.
As part of the conspiracy, JACKSON, and each co-defendant, agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering for the benefit of the Byrd Gang. JACKSON himself participated in numerous such racketeering acts. Specifically, between 2014 and January 2017, when JACKSON was arrested on federal charges, for which he is still serving a sentence, JACKSON regularly purchased large quantities of heroin from R.L. During this period, JACKSON was the leader of the Byrd Gang and its most prolific drug dealer. JACKSON provided several drug stash houses from which Byrd Gang members would distribute drugs.
During the trial, Evidence presented at trial showed numerous back-and-forth retaliatory shootings between the Byrd Gang and the Ghost Gang, some of which killed innocent bystanders, fueled largely by social media posts, rap music, and videos.
During the investigation, dozens of firearms, most with large-capacity magazines, as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition, were recovered from Byrd Gang members, including from JACKSON.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera and Sarah Dawkins are in charge of 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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British Man Sentenced to 140 Months in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography and Traveling with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual ConductRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A British citizen was sentenced to 140 months’ imprisonment for possessing multiple images of child sexual abuse and traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Stephen Hudson, 54, of Ealing, England, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court on February 10, 2026, to an information charging him with possession of child pornography and travelling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From April 14, 2022 to May 6, 2022, Hudson communicated with undercover agents using an encrypted email account, in an attempt to make arrangements to sexually abuse two minor female children. Hudson agreed to travel from Massachusetts to New Jersey and pay approximately $1,200 in cash in exchange for, among other things: engaging in sexual acts with minor girls; illicit drugs that he planned to administer with alcohol to the minor girls. On May 6, 2022, Hudson traveled to an agreed-upon location in New Jersey to have sex with the two minors and provided approximately $1,200 in cash to the undercover law enforcement agents as previously agreed. After providing the cash to law enforcement, Hudson was arrested.
A search of Hudson’s laptop revealed 1,751 images of child sexual abuse, including material portraying prepubescent minors and the sexual abuse and exploitation of infants and toddlers.
In addition to a prison term, Judge Farbiarz sentenced Hudson to 5 years of supervised release.
Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, with the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Nadel of the Narcotics/International Trafficking Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Rahul Sharma Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark
Brazilian National Living in Yarmouth Sentenced for Selling Firearms without a LicenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully living in Yarmouth was sentenced today for conspiracy and engaging in the business of to sell firearms without a license.
Lucas Nascimento-Silva, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley to time served (17.5 months in prison) to be followed by two years of supervised release. The defendant is now subject to deportation. In July 2025, Nascimento-Silva pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
Between August 2024 and September 2024, Nascimento-Silva sold 12 firearms to a cooperating witness without the required license in exchange for cash. Nascimento-Silva also conspired with others to obtain the firearms in South Carolina and sell them in Massachusetts. In addition to firearms, Nascimento-Silva also sold ammunition and magazines, some of which were large capacity magazines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Barnstable Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Crowley and John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Boone County Man Sentenced to Prison for Violating the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification ActRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Richard Dale Turner, 44, of Julian, was sentenced on Monday, March 2, 2026, to two years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for failure to update his registration to report a change in employment and interstate travel, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to court documents and statements made in court, Turner is required to register as a sex offender as a result of his conviction for third-degree sexual assault in Mason County Circuit Court on March 8, 2016. Turner failed to report a change in his employment status as required when he left a job with a trucking firm on January 3, 2025. An arrest warrant was issued for Turner when he failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance on June 23, 2025. On August 15, 2025, law enforcement officers captured Turner in Santa Rosa County, Florida. Turner failed to register as a sex offender in Florida or report his interstate travel in West Virginia.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case.
SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-168.
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Alleged Boss of Violent Sinaloa Cartel Indicted on Drug, Firearm and Material Support of Terrorism ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted an alleged boss of the violent Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico on drug, firearm, and material support of terrorism charges.
JESUS OMAR IBARRA FELIX led an armed security group known as the Las Fuerzas Especiales de Chuta (FECH), which engaged in armed conflict on behalf of the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization previously headed by Joaquin Guzman Loera, also known as “El Chapo,” according to an indictment returned Thursday in the Northern District of Illinois. Ibarra Felix’s group allegedly provided armed security in support of Guzman Loera’s four sons, collectively known as “the Chapitos,” who took over leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel after Guzman Loera’s arrest in 2016. Guzman Loera was later convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn, N.Y., and sentenced to life in prison.
The indictment alleges that from 2016 to 2026, Ibarra Felix supplied machineguns to the Chapitos and conspired with them and others to import methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States from Mexico. One of the alleged co-conspirators—Fausto Isidro Meza Flores—worked with Ibarra Flores to deploy the armed guards, the indictment states. Meza Flores was indicted in 2019 in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and is currently on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
In addition to leading the FECH, the indictment accuses Ibarra Felix of serving as a “plaza boss,” overseeing drug trafficking operations in his assigned region near Ahome, Mexico, from 2016 to 2025.
The indictment charges Ibarra Felix, also known as “El Chuta,” 49, of Los Mochis, Mexico, with terrorism, drug, and firearm charges. The charges are punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Ibarra Felix is not in custody, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The indictment is the result of a collaboration between prosecutors in the Northern District of Illinois and Southern District of California, as well as law enforcement partners from the FBI’s Washington, D.C. and San Diego Field Offices, and Homeland Security Investigations’ San Diego and Arizona offices.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Adam Gordon, United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, Darren Cox, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington, D.C. Field Office, TJ Holland, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office, Kevin Murphy, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of HSI San Diego, and Matthew Murphy, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of HSI Arizona. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Maione, Michelle Parthum, and Hanna Helwig of the Northern District of Illinois and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Mellor and Matthew Sutton of the Southern District of California.
The indictment was announced as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve various law enforcement goals, including the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect American communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
“The indictment of El Chuta should leave no doubt that this Administration is going to aggressively pursue transnational criminal organizations and hold their highest-ranking members accountable for poisoning the American public with illegal and harmful drugs and for the violence they perpetrate in the process,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of violent drug cartels, several of which, including the Sinaloa Cartel, have very deservedly been designated as foreign terrorist organizations. Working closely with other prosecutors and law enforcement partners across the United States, our goal is crystal clear: to disrupt and dismantle the cartels’ drug empire and bring its leaders to justice.”
“The indictment of El Chuta reinforces a simple message to him and other Sinaloa Cartel leaders: Foreign terrorist organizations may operate across borders–but justice doesn’t stop at them,” said U.S. Attorney Gordon.
“Ibarra Felix allegedly led an armed security group that committed heinous acts of violence in defense of the Sinaloa Cartel and its illicit drug trafficking monopoly,” said FBI Washington Assistant Director in Charge Cox. “His indictment is the first step toward bringing him to justice for facilitating the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the U.S. and the terrorization of communities in Ahome.”
“This indictment makes clear that Jesus Omar Ibarra Felix would do whatever it took to reap the spoils of his alleged illicit cartel activities,” said FBI San Diego Acting SAC Holland. “It is the FBI’s priority to dismantle and eliminate these designated foreign terrorist organizations, so they can no longer threaten our communities with guns and drugs and violence. The FBI will remain relentless until we achieve this mission.”
“The indictment of Ibarra Felix underscores HSI’s dedication to disrupting transnational criminal organizations operating in the United States and abroad,” said HSI San Diego Acting SAC Murphy. “This major impact to Sinaloa cartel leadership is the result of persistent investigative efforts by HSI and our partner agencies to bring criminals to justice, protect our communities, and safeguard our nation.”
“This indictment underscores the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Investigations to disrupt and dismantle violent transnational criminal organizations that threaten the safety of our communities,” said HSI Arizona Acting SAC Murphy. “HSI will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure those responsible for trafficking dangerous drugs and perpetrating violence are brought to justice.”
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Alleged Boss of Violent Sinaloa Cartel Indicted in Chicago on Drug, Firearm, and Material Support of Terrorism ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted an alleged boss of the violent Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico on drug, firearm, and material support of terrorism charges.
JESUS OMAR IBARRA FELIX led an armed security group known as the Las Fuerzas Especiales de Chuta (FECH), which engaged in armed conflict on behalf of the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization previously headed by Joaquin Guzman Loera, also known as “El Chapo,” according to an indictment returned Thursday in the Northern District of Illinois. Ibarra Felix’s group allegedly provided armed security in support of Guzman Loera’s four sons, collectively known as “the Chapitos,” who took over leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel after Guzman Loera’s arrest in 2016. Guzman Loera was later convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn, N.Y., and sentenced to life in prison.
The indictment alleges that from 2016 to 2026, Ibarra Felix supplied machineguns to the Chapitos and conspired with them and others to import methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States from Mexico. One of the alleged co-conspirators—Fausto Isidro Meza Flores—worked with Ibarra Flores to deploy the armed guards, the indictment states. Meza Flores was indicted in 2019 in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and is currently on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
In addition to leading the FECH, the indictment accuses Ibarra Felix of serving as a “plaza boss,” overseeing drug trafficking operations in his assigned region near Ahome, Mexico, from 2016 to 2025.
The indictment charges Ibarra Felix, also known as “El Chuta,” 49, of Los Mochis, Mexico, with terrorism, drug, and firearm charges. The charges are punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Ibarra Felix is not in custody, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The indictment is the result of a collaboration between prosecutors in the Northern District of Illinois and Southern District of California, as well as law enforcement partners from the FBI’s Washington, D.C. and San Diego Field Offices, and Homeland Security Investigations’ San Diego and Arizona offices.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Adam Gordon, United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, Darren Cox, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington, D.C. Field Office, TJ Holland, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office, Kevin Murphy, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of HSI San Diego, and Matthew Murphy, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of HSI Arizona. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Maione, Michelle Parthum, and Hanna Helwig of the Northern District of Illinois and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Mellor and Matthew Sutton of the Southern District of California.
The indictment was announced as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve various law enforcement goals, including the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect American communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
“The indictment of El Chuta should leave no doubt that this Administration is going to aggressively pursue transnational criminal organizations and hold their highest-ranking members accountable for poisoning the American public with illegal and harmful drugs and for the violence they perpetrate in the process,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of violent drug cartels, several of which, including the Sinaloa Cartel, have very deservedly been designated as foreign terrorist organizations. Working closely with other prosecutors and law enforcement partners across the United States, our goal is crystal clear: to disrupt and dismantle the cartels’ drug empire and bring its leaders to justice.”
“The indictment of El Chuta reinforces a simple message to him and other Sinaloa Cartel leaders: Foreign terrorist organizations may operate across borders–but justice doesn’t stop at them,” said U.S. Attorney Gordon.
“Ibarra Felix allegedly led an armed security group that committed heinous acts of violence in defense of the Sinaloa Cartel and its illicit drug trafficking monopoly,” said FBI Washington Assistant Director in Charge Cox. “His indictment is the first step toward bringing him to justice for facilitating the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the U.S. and the terrorization of communities in Ahome.”
“This indictment makes clear that Jesus Omar Ibarra Felix would do whatever it took to reap the spoils of his alleged illicit cartel activities,” said FBI San Diego Acting SAC Holland. “It is the FBI’s priority to dismantle and eliminate these designated foreign terrorist organizations, so they can no longer threaten our communities with guns and drugs and violence. The FBI will remain relentless until we achieve this mission.”
“The indictment of Ibarra Felix underscores HSI’s dedication to disrupting transnational criminal organizations operating in the United States and abroad,” said HSI San Diego Acting SAC Murphy. “This major impact to Sinaloa cartel leadership is the result of persistent investigative efforts by HSI and our partner agencies to bring criminals to justice, protect our communities, and safeguard our nation.”
“This indictment underscores the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Investigations to disrupt and dismantle violent transnational criminal organizations that threaten the safety of our communities,” said HSI Arizona Acting SAC Murphy. “HSI will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure those responsible for trafficking dangerous drugs and perpetrating violence are brought to justice.”
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
ibarra_felix_indictment.pdf2 Cincinnati men involved in mass shooting now face federal chargesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Two Cincinnati men previously arrested on local charges related to a shooting on March 1 at Riverfront Live now face federal charges.
Franeek Cobb, 24, and Derrick Long, 29, are each charged federally with illegally possessing a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon.
“Gun violence in Cincinnati must end,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Our top priority is protecting our communities and holding accountable those who threaten them. If you pull a trigger in an illegal act of violence or otherwise illegally possess a firearm or ammunition, rest assured we will do everything we can to send you to federal prison.”
“I am pleased with the aggressive and expeditious manner in which this offense was investigated. The full force of law enforcement — including the Cincinnati Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, prosecutors, and the United States Attorney’s Office — worked in close partnership to bring these alleged violent criminals to justice,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jorge Rosendo. “This level of coordination and commitment is exactly what makes our communities safer for everyone.”
According to charging documents, on March 1, Cincinnati police officers responded to Riverfront Live on Kellogg Avenue for a report of a shooting inside the night club and event venue. Nine individuals were wounded in the incident.
Long and Cobb were identified as the two alleged shooters based on a review of surveillance footage from Riverfront Live.
An affidavit details that Cobb observed Long in his immediate vicinity, pulled out a firearm and began firing shots towards Long, causing patrons to seek cover. Long fell to the ground, then allegedly brandished a firearm and began firing multiple gunshots in the direction of Cobb.
Law enforcement seized a handgun that Cobb allegedly dropped at the bar while fleeing the scene. The ATF determined casings recovered from the area where Long was shooting were all fired from the same .45 caliber gun. National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) examination showed that only two firearms were discharged during the shooting.
As previously convicted felons, Cobb and Long are prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Cobb has a 2022 felony conviction of having weapons while under disability. Long has several prior felony convictions, including two separate cases involving trafficking in heroin, trafficking in fentanyl, failure to comply, carrying concealed weapons, arson and receiving stolen property.
Each defendant faces up to 15 years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Henni; and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the charges. Members of the ATF & Cincinnati Police Department Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) participated in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Brucato is representing the United States in this case.
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.
A complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Monday 2 March 2026
Wichita business owner indicted for trafficking marijuana from his storesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas businessman made his initial appearance after a federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging him with trafficking marijuana from his commercial properties and charging him with illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.
According to court documents, Justin Lane, 36, of Maize was indicted on the following charges:
• One count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance,
• Six counts of using or maintaining drug premises,
• Two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime,
• Six counts of distribution of marijuana,
• One count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and
• Eight counts of possession of an unregistered firearm.Lane is owner of High Hopes ICT, a business with multiple locations in the Wichita area. Starting on a date unknown and continuing through November 2025, Lane allegedly distributed marijuana from his stores on North Mead Street, West 13th Street North, West Street, West Douglas Avenue, North Maize Road, and South Greenwich Road. Lane is also accused of having firearms and silencers that he is not allowed by law to possess.
Another defendant in this case, Sauntsye D. Love, 40, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###United States Attorney’s Office Files Civil Forfeiture Action to Recover Cryptocurrency Involved in Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover 327,829.720952 USDT (Tether), a form of cryptocurrency, alleged to be involved in a money laundering scheme to conceal funds that originated from an online romance fraud scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident. The cryptocurrency currently has an estimated value of approximately $327,829.
In Fall 2024, an investigation began into an online romance fraud scheme. According to court documents, in November 2024, a Massachusetts resident was approached on an online dating application. After communicating for several weeks, an individual going by the name “Linda Brown” explained she had a cryptocurrency investment opportunity. Under the guise of legitimately investing the victim’s money, Brown instead tricked the victim into sending funds to wallets controlled by Brown and/or their co-conspirators. The victim found out that the investment was a scam when they unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw their money.
The complaint alleges that victim funds were transferred through multiple intermediary wallets and the cryptocurrency was converted from one type of cryptocurrency to USDT, tactics typically used by money launderers to conceal the true origin of victim funds and ill-gotten gains.
Some of the victim’s funds were traced to multiple unhosted cryptocurrency wallets, which were seized in August 2025. The complaint alleges that all cryptocurrency associated with those wallets was property involved in money laundering.
It is a violation of federal law to conduct a financial transaction knowing that the transaction is designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of criminal proceeds. A civil forfeiture action allows third parties to assert claims to property, which must be resolved before the property can be forfeited to the United States and returned to victims.
This is one of several civil forfeiture actions the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to fraud schemes targeting Massachusetts victims.
Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams and business email compromise fraud scams – should contact [email protected].
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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annapurna Balakrishna of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the case.
The accusations in the complaint, and the description of the complaint, constitute allegations that certain property is subject to forfeiture. The United States must prove, by a standard of preponderance of the evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture.
United States Attorney Erin Creegan Announces Her Senior Leadership TeamRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erin Creegan Announces Her Senior Leadership Team
CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan has announced appointment and onboarding of her leadership team for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
USAO - NH Leadership Team: Ryan Martin; Raphael Katz; Erin Creegan; Jennifer Cole Davis; Kiersten Korczynski; John Kennedy
Kiersten Korczynski – First Assistant United States Attorney. U.S. Attorney Creegan has appointed Kiersten Korczynski to serve as the First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire. Ms. Korczynski formerly served as a Trial Attorney in the Department of Justice National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section where she managed high-profile international terrorism prosecutions, coordinated the investigative efforts of federal and state law enforcement agents, and developed strategies to protect classified information at trial. Before the Department of Justice, Ms. Korczynski served ten years in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps as a defense counsel representing servicemembers in military courts-martial and as a prosecutor in the Guantanamo Bay trial of the five al-Qaeda members accused of orchestrating the September 11, 2001 attacks. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. Korczynski worked as in-house counsel for Exxon Mobil Corporation, recently serving as General Counsel for its Indonesian operations. She is a graduate of the Catholic University Columbus School of Law.
Jennifer Cole Davis – Chief of the Criminal Division. U.S. Attorney Creegan has asked Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Davis to continue her service as Criminal Division Chief for the District of New Hampshire after her initial appointment in February of 2024. A 32-year veteran of the office, Ms. Davis has conducted numerous complex long-term narcotics investigations as the District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator and National Opioid Coordinator. She has also served as Criminal Division Deputy Chief and a mentor to her colleagues as Senior Litigation Counsel. Ms. Davis has prosecuted a broad range of federal offenses, including firearms violations, drug trafficking crimes, immigration offenses, and complex white-collar matters. Earlier in her career, Ms. Davis was detailed as an Assistant Director for Criminal Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Education, where she oversaw the implementation of criminal trainings for the country’s federal prosecutors. She is a graduate of the Marquette University Law School.
John Kennedy – Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division. U.S. Attorney Creegan has asked AUSA John Kennedy to continue his service as Criminal Division Deputy Chief for the District of New Hampshire after his initial appointment in December of 2024. Mr. Kennedy has more than a decade of experience as a prosecutor in New Hampshire, serving as both an Assistant United States Attorney and an Assistant Attorney General. In these roles, Mr. Kennedy has led investigations into a variety of federal and state crimes, including homicide, voter fraud, drug and firearm offenses, and complex financial fraud. He is a graduate of Notre Dame Law School.
Raphael Katz – Chief of the Civil Division. U.S. Attorney Creegan appointed AUSA Katz to serve as Civil Division Chief for the District of New Hampshire in December of 2025 following his initial appointment as Acting Chief in May of 2025. Mr. Katz also serves as the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Coordinator. He has successfully resolved healthcare fraud, customs fraud, and financial fraud cases, as well as drug diversion and civil rights enforcement matters, recovering millions of dollars on behalf of the United States. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2019, Mr. Katz worked in private practice for more than thirteen years handling False Claims Act cases and other complex litigation. He is an Honors graduate of Emory University School of Law.
Ryan Martin – Administrative Officer. U.S. Attorney Creegan appointed Ryan Martin as the Administrative Officer for the District of New Hampshire in January of 2026. He is responsible for supervising the budget, facilities, procurement, human resources, IT, and records management resources for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Since joining the U.S. Department of Justice in 2022, Mr. Martin has served as the Administrative Services Specialist, Contracting Officer, and District Office Security Manager. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Martin had a 23-year law enforcement career, where he earned the rank of Captain in the Tilton Police Department.
“I am so pleased to be working with such a talented and dedicated group of public servants,” said U.S Attorney Creegan. “Since 1789, when President George Washington appointed the first U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, this office has served the people of this state. Every person in the U.S. Attorney’s Office works tirelessly to uphold the rule of law and keep New Hampshire safe, free, and prosperous. These leaders have accepted the responsibility of serving both their colleagues as well as their fellow Granite Staters. They represent our fulfillment of a 237-year old promise. New Hampshire is fortunate to have their leadership, and I am grateful for their service.”
United States Attorney David C. Waterman Highlights National Leadership and Key Achievements at the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers SeminarRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – On February 27, 2026, United States Attorney David C. Waterman presented at the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers’ 63rd Annual Seminar. His presentation outlined the mission, priorities, and recent accomplishments of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
During the presentation, U.S. Attorney Waterman highlighted the office’s national leadership in several enforcement areas, including ranking second in the nation in overdose-related drug-trafficking prosecutions and among the top five districts nationwide in human-trafficking enforcement. He also discussed recent successes in complex litigation, including major RICO prosecutions involving the Fifth Street and OMB gangs, and significant white-collar cases focused on protecting vulnerable victims.
“Our office is committed to protecting the public through strong enforcement and close partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Waterman. “These recent results reflect the dedication, professionalism, and excellence of our federal prosecutors and law enforcement partners.”
U.S. Attorney David C. Waterman for the Southern District of Iowa presents at the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers on February 27, 2026.
U.S. Department of Justice Announces Distribution of over $15.5 Million to Compensate Victims of Massive Global Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that the Roger Knox Remission Fund has begun distributing more than $12.4 million in funds forfeited to the United States from Roger Knox and his co-conspirators to over 8,000 victims. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also distributed an additional $3.1 million related to the securities fraud scheme to these victims.
Knox, with others, operated the Swiss-based asset management firm Silverton, which was later renamed Wintercap. Through the business, Knox facilitated pump-and-dump schemes by selling massive quantities of microcap securities on behalf of undisclosed control groups who secretly owned the stock through nominee entities formally owned by third parties. The shares were generally held by the nominees in blocks of less than 5% of the issuer’s total outstanding shares in order to evade the disclosure obligations and sale limitations in the federal securities laws. To generate investor demand for the shares, the undisclosed control groups simultaneously orchestrated promotional campaigns to artificially inflate the price and trading volume of the shares. Knox then funneled the proceeds of the pump-and-dump schemes — totaling over $137 million between 2016 and 2018—to co-conspirators in the United States and around the world through a complex money transfer system that disguised the source and nature of the funds.
In January 2020, Knox pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to charges that he engaged with others in a massive global securities fraud scheme. In October 2023, Knox was sentenced to 36 months in prison, and in January 2024, he was ordered to pay over $58 million in restitution to more than 8,000 victims.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head for the District of Massachusetts prosecuted the case.
The Department of Justice, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to compensate victims of crime. Since 2000, the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF), which oversees the Asset Forfeiture Program’s victim compensation program, has successfully used its specialized expertise to return more than $12 billion in forfeited assets to victims of crime. MNF Attorney Advisor Brittany R. Van Camp with the section’s Program Management and Training Unit is leading the compensation process.
U.S. Department of Justice Announces Distribution of over $15 Million for Victims of Global Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that the Roger Knox Remission Fund distributed more than $12.4 million in funds forfeited to the United States from Roger Knox and his co-conspirators to over 8,000 victims. An additional $3.1 million turned over to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to the securities fraud scheme was also distributed to the victims.
Knox, with others, operated a Swiss-based asset management firm called Silverton, and later renamed Wintercap. Through this business, Knox helped facilitate pump-and-dump schemes by selling massive quantities of microcap securities on behalf of undisclosed control groups who secretly owned the stock through nominee entities formally owned by third parties. The shares were generally held by the nominees in blocks of less than 5% of the issuer’s total outstanding shares in order to evade the disclosure obligations and sale limitations in the federal securities laws. To generate investor demand for the shares, the undisclosed control groups simultaneously orchestrated promotional campaigns to artificially inflate the price and trading volume of the shares. Knox then funneled the proceeds of the pump-and-dumps – totaling over $137 million between just 2016 and 2018 – to co-conspirators in the United States and around the world through a complex money transfer system that disguised the source and nature of the funds. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has pursued assets domestically, as well as in the United Kingdom, Malta, Mauritius, United Arab Emirates, Canada, and Switzerland.
In January 2020, Knox pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston. In October 2023, Knox was sentenced to three years in prison and, in January 2024, was ordered to pay over $58 million in restitution to more than 8,000 victims.
“Illegal pump-and-dump schemes cause financial hardship on countless innocent investors and erode the integrity of our capital markets. Not only is my office is committed to identifying fraudsters like Mr. Knox and holding them accountable,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We are fully committed to recovering funds to compensate victims of crime and ensuring that crime does not pay.”
“As Roger Knox whittled away his time behind bars for his role in a staggering global securities fraud scheme that defrauded thousands of victims out of tens of millions of dollars, the FBI’s been hard at work ensuring those victims are compensated for the significant financial and emotional harm they suffered,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “The distribution of $15 million is an important first step in making these unwitting investors whole and putting market manipulators on notice that they too will pay a hefty price for their criminal conduct.”
In addition to forfeited funds recovered from Knox, and funds recovered by the SEC, forfeited funds recovered from other related defendants Eric Landis, Richard Targett-Adams and Morrie Tobin were applied to the Knox Victim Remission Fund.
Previously, in 2022, $1.9 million in forfeited funds were applied to satisfy restitution ordered for over 1,000 victims in a related microchip stock fraud scheme.
The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work diligently to recover additional assets for these victims.
U.S. Attorney Foley; A. Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division; and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service’s Complex Asset Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit, handled forfeiture and restitution in the case.
The Department of Justice, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to compensate victims of crime. Since 2000, the Criminal Division’s MNF, which oversees the Asset Forfeiture Program’s victim compensation program, has successfully used its specialized expertise to return more than $12 billion in forfeited assets to victims of crime. MNF Attorney Advisor Brittany R. Van Camp with the section’s Program Management and Training Unit is leading the remission process.
Two Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Fentanyl Related DeathsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Thomas Galiano III, 26, of Colorado Springs, and Hailee Anne Helton, 26, of Colorado Springs were separately sentenced after each pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with an intent to distribute a substance containing fentanyl. Galiano III was sentenced to 144 months. Helton was sentenced to 168 months.
According to the plea agreements, in August 2022, the Colorado Springs Police Department responded to a call to a unit at the Mountain View Apartment Homes on West Meadow Drive. Inside the unit, police found a 31-year-old man who was deceased. Evidence gathered at the scene included one blue tablet bearing an M-30 imprint, which later tested positive for fentanyl. Evidence collected at the scene, and electronic data, including CashApp payments and social media communications, demonstrated that Helton and Galiano sold the deceased man the drugs.
In October 2022, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence on Park Road in Rye, Colorado, after a call about an unresponsive 18-year-old woman. At that scene, investigators found a small black bag with three blue tablets bearing an M-30 imprint, which later tested positive for fentanyl. Evidence, including electronic data from social media, connected the pills to Helton and Galiano.
In a third incident, also in October 2022, an undercover officer in Colorado Springs engaged Helton and Galliano in a drug deal in which the undercover officer purchased 16 fentanyl pills for $150 from Helton and Galiano.
“Fentanyl is a scourge on our society, and it has claimed the lives of two more young people in our community,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “These cases should serve as a warning to other fentanyl dealers that selling even just a handful of pills can put you in federal prison for a very long time.”
“Fentanyl continues to take lives within our community, and two lives are lost due to the careless actions of these drug dealers,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski. “Working jointly with the Colorado Springs Police Department, FBI Denver was able to bring a measure of justice to their families and accountability to those responsible. We will not stop and will continue to target drug traffickers who bring violence and misery to our community.”
“While no sentence can bring the victims in this case back, we hope this outcome provides a measure of justice and comfort to their families and loved ones,” said Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez. “We remain unwavering in our commitment to aggressively pursuing those who profit from poisoning our community.”
“The loss of a life to fentanyl is devastating, and we take every overdose death seriously. Our crime scene and narcotics detectives’ exceptional work in this case ensured that those who supplied the drugs were brought to justice,” said Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero, “This outcome reflects our commitment to treating these cases with the seriousness they deserve.”
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencings.
The FBI Colorado Springs Resident Agency, the Colorado Springs Police Department, and the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation.
The Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section handled the prosecution.
Case Numbers: 23-cr-00371-CNS
Two Men Indicted for Targeting Senior Citizens Across Four States in Money Laundering and Gold Bars SchemeRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – Two men have been charged for their involvement in a scheme to deceive senior citizens into giving them cash and gold bars amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment Feb. 19 charging Tejas Bhupendrabhai Patel, 31, a resident of Toledo, and Navya Umeshkumar Bhatt, 22, a citizen of India registered to study at the University of Toledo on an F1 visa, with the following:
- Money Laundering Conspiracy,
- Concealment Money Laundering, and
- Promotion Money Laundering.
Over the course of an ongoing wire fraud and money laundering investigation, federal agents discovered a scheme in which victims were falsely made to believe that they were communicating with their bank or federal agents from the FBI, Social Security Administration, and Federal Trade Commission. The victims were manipulated through fear tactics – including in some cases threats that they faced criminal charges. Once misled, victims were directed to withdraw funds from their savings and retirement accounts, convert it to cash and/or gold bars, and provide it to scheme participants posing as bank employees or federal agents. The defendants and their co-conspirators physically traveled hundreds of miles to the victims’ locations to pick up the cash and the gold.
U.S. v. Patel et al., case# 3:26cr84 U.S. v. Patel et al., case# 3:26cr84According to the criminal complaint and underlying affidavit, the defendants and/or their co-conspirators drove from Toledo to victims residing in Toledo, Hudson, Sylvania, and Columbus, Ohio; Oscoda and Ann Arbor, Michigan; West Newton, Pennsylvania; and South Bend, Indiana.
The investigation in this case is being conducted by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency.
The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Melching for the Northern District of Ohio.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two Individuals Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted two individuals on child-exploitation charges, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
The following defendants were indicted:
- A two-count indictment charges Steven Roshee Powell, also known as “Champ G,” 35, of Birmingham, Alabama, with sex trafficking of children and attempted sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. The incidents occurred between October 2, 2025, and October 29, 2025, in Jefferson County, Alabama.
- A two-count indictment charges Adam Joseph Hegler, 46, of Hueytown, Alabama, with distribution and possession of child pornography. The incidents occurred between November 2024 and April 2025 in Jefferson County, Alabama.
If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. Reports can be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 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 and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the cases along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer is prosecuting the cases.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Tampa Auto Dealer Sentenced to 54 Months’ Imprisonment for Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Exporting Stolen VehicleRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Mohamad Jihad Fakih (Tampa, 27) has been sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to four and a half years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and attempting to export a stolen motor vehicle. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $378,886.96, the proceeds of the conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Fakih was found guilty on August 21, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Fakih conspired with others to commit wire fraud by obtaining fraudulent loans from automotive financing companies. Because of Fakih’s role as a car dealer and wholesaler, he had access to a dealership website through which automobile financing applications could be submitted. To facilitate the scheme, Fakih and his coconspirator would identify straw purchasers and submit falsified loan applications to the victim companies on their behalf, misrepresenting that a vehicle was being purchased by the straw purchaser. In reality, there was no vehicle for sale.
After the financing loans were approved, the loan amounts would be disbursed to Fakih as the seller of the vehicle, and his coconspirator and straw purchasers would receive a cut from the proceeds. It was also part of Fakih’s scheme to file false insurance claims for the vehicles, reporting them as stolen. In other instances, Fakih attempted to export vehicles for which he had fraudulently obtained financing and for which the financing company held a lien. In total, Fakih repeated this scheme for at least six vehicles in the amount of at least $372,000.
Additionally, Fakih engaged in more straightforward theft, attempting to export stolen cars overseas. Fakih, using one of the straw purchasers, procured a stolen Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. He arranged for the Cullinan to be shipped in a container out of the Port of Savannah, the manifest for which had been falsified so as not to alert law enforcement as to its true contents. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized the container and assessed that the stolen Cullinan’s MSRP was approximately $460,000.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan.
St. Clair County Man Sentenced to More than 13 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
ANNISTON, Ala. – A St. Clair County man has been sentenced on charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, announced Acting United States Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
United States District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Tyler Robert Curtis, 34, of Pell City, Alabama, to 162 months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release. Curtis was also ordered to pay a $3,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Act. In September 2025, Curtis pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, on September 4, 2024, the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Kik, a social media provider, reported to NCMEC that Curtis had uploaded images of child pornography to his account. During the investigation, the SBI determined that the IP address used to access the account originated from a residence in Pell City, Alabama. On September 11, 2024, SBI executed a state search warrant on the residence. The agents searched Curtis’s bedroom and seized his cell phone. A forensic examination of the device revealed images of child pornography. Curtis also searched for and downloaded child pornography on the cell phone.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
If you suspect or become aware of the possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018 (AVAA) created new penalties and made several changes to existing child pornography laws. In the passage of this legislation, Congress intended for victims of child pornography to be compensated for the harms resulting from every perpetrator who contributes to their anguish. The amounts received as AVAA special assessments are deposited in the Child Pornography Victims Reserve to pay defined monetary assistance to victims.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation and the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Software Distributor Sentenced to 22 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Traffic in Illicit Microsoft Certificates of AuthenticityRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Heidi Richards (52, Brandon) has been sentenced to 22 months in federal prison after a jury found her guilty of conspiring to traffic in illicit Microsoft certificate of authenticity (COA) labels. The Court also ordered Richards to pay a $50,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Richards, doing business as Trinity Software Distribution, paid co-conspirators millions of dollars for thousands of genuine, standalone Microsoft COA labels at prices significantly lower than the retail price of the associated software. Richards and her employees harvested product key codes from the labels, then sold them in bulk to her customers. Federal law prohibits the trafficking of standalone COA labels separate from the software programs they were intended to accompany.
COA labels authenticate Microsoft software, assist customers in identifying genuine software, and bear security features intended to dissuade counterfeit duplication. There is an illicit, secondary market for COA labels because they bear product key codes used to activate Microsoft software. COA labels are not to be sold separately from the license and hardware that they are intended to accompany, and they hold no independent commercial value.
Homeland Security Investigations (Kansas City Field Office) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Risha Asokan of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Jared Hosid of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) prosecuted the case.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
Seven Defendants Sentenced for Trafficking Thousands of Fentanyl Pills into MinnesotaRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Seven defendants have been sentenced in United States District Court for drug-trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
According to court documents, Latre Lamont Anderson (28), Khianna Rose Clark-Strong (23), Jacquez O’Neal Fondern (22), Rozell Antonio Grainger (27), Issac Oneal Maiden (32), Olivia Mae Erin Martineau-Johns (21), and Jeremy James Nelson-Caban, Jr. (22) were members of a drug-trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills throughout Minnesota, including the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation.
Between approximately the summer of 2022 and the summer of 2023, Anderson, Grainger, and Maiden frequently traveled from Minneapolis to Phoenix, Arizona, where they would obtain multi-pound quantities of fentanyl, which they would then mail to various addresses in the Twin Cities area, often concealing thousands of fentanyl pills in toys or household items. They would travel back to Minneapolis, and then distribute the fentanyl through various drug-traffickers, including Martineau-Johns. Martineau-Johns also obtained fentanyl for distribution from Nelson-Caban and Fondern, and Clark-Strong assisted Martineau-Johns with distributing the fentanyl. The investigation resulted in the seizures of approximately 200,000 fentanyl pills (over 14 kilograms of fentanyl), four firearms (some with high-capacity magazines and/or switches), and thousands of dollars of cash.
“As a direct result of this investigation, DEA and our law enforcement partners across the region prevented thousands of deadly doses of fentanyl from hitting the streets,” Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said. “If these deadly counterfeit pills had spread into our Minnesota communities, lives would have been lost and families broken. Our agency remains committed to disrupting the fentanyl supply chain and our enforcement efforts will not let up until the entire global distribution network has been dismantled and brought to justice.”
“This [drug-trafficking] organization pumped significant quantities of dangerous narcotics into Minnesota communities and fueled violence in the process,” said Joseph Persails, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “ATF special agents and our task force officers, working alongside federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, committed months of work to dismantling this network and stopping the damage it was causing. These sentences hold the defendants accountable and send a clear message that those who profit from addiction and violence will face consequences.”
“Cases like these run deep into our neighborhoods and affect all those who live, visit and work in Saint Paul. We’re now able to hold these people accountable for their actions, thanks to the joint effort with our long-standing partnerships with the ATF, DEA, USPIS, and local law enforcement agencies. We’re proud of this investigation and of all those involved in this case,” said Saint Paul Police Chief Axel Henry.
The following sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis over the prior several weeks:
- Latre Lamont Anderson, of Minneapolis, was sentence to 156 months followed by 5 years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.
- Issac Oneal Maiden, of Saint Paul, was sentence to 156 months followed by 3 years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
- Rozell Antonio Grainger, of St. Paul, was sentence to 120 months followed by 5 years of supervised release.
- Jeremy James Nelson-Caban, Jr., of Duluth, was sentenced to 36 months followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
- Olivia Mae Erin Martineau-Johns, of Cloquet, was sentenced to 9 months followed by 2 years of supervised release for violating her condition(s) of supervised release.
- Jacquez O’Neal Fondern, of Duluth, was sentence to time served followed by 3 years of supervised release for distribution of fentanyl.
- Khianna Rose Clark-Strong, of Duluth, was sentenced to time served followed by supervised release until October 23, 2027, for violating her condition(s) of supervised release.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspector’s Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Saint Paul Police Department, and other state and local law enforcement counterparts in northern Minnesota.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst prosecuted the case.
Rockford Man Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for possessing child pornography.
A jury last year convicted STEPHEN CANFIELD, 54, of two counts of possession of child pornography. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Canfield to six years and three months in federal prison.
According to evidence presented at trial, Canfield knowingly possessed images of child pornography on his cell phone and in a Dropbox account. The investigation began when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security received a cyber tip that the Dropbox account contained suspected child pornography.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ladd and Andrew M. Rosati.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, while also providing critical services to victims.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Rochester man going to prison for selling fentanyl that led to a deathRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Herschel Dawson, 35, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of distribution of fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 156 months in prison by U.S. Chief District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew McGrath, who handled the case, stated that in April 2022, members of the Brockport Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a fatal fentanyl overdose at a Gordon Street residence. After a thorough investigation by local law enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, into the circumstances of the overdose, Dawson was identified as the drug dealer responsible for distributing the fatal dose of fentanyl. The investigation, which included an undercover purchase, also determined that Dawson was engaged in drug dealing for several years prior to the overdose incident.
The sentence is the result of an investigation by the Brockport Police Department, under the direction of Chief Paul Wheat, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
Riverside and Colorado Women Found Guilty of Stalking ICE Officer Home from Work and Livestreaming the Pursuit on Social MediaRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two women – one from the Inland Empire and the other from Colorado – have been found guilty by a jury of a felony stalking charge for following a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer home and livestreaming their pursuit on social media, the Justice Department announced today.
Cynthia Raygoza, 38, of Riverside, and Ashleigh Brown, 38, of Aurora, Colorado, were found guilty late Friday of one count of stalking.
“Justice has been served against two agitators who stalked a federal employee, livestreamed it on social media, and traumatized both the victim and his family,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Our Constitution protects peaceful protest – not political violence and unlawful intimidation.”
According to evidence presented at a four-day trial, on August 28, 2025, the defendants – while dressed in black and concealing their faces with black masks – followed the victim from a federal building in downtown Los Angeles to his personal residence. The victim was heading home to his family for an outing that included a surprise for his sons, ages three and seven.
The defendants livestreamed on their Instagram accounts their pursuit of the victim and provided directions as they followed the victim home, encouraging their viewers to share the livestream. The Instagram accounts they used to livestream the event were “ice_out_of_la,” “defendmesoamericanculture,” and “corn_maiden_design.”
Upon arriving at the victim’s neighborhood, the defendants shouted to bystanders while livestreaming on Instagram that their “neighbor is ICE,” “la migra lives here,” and “ICE lives on your street and you should know.” Raygoza also threatened to “pop” the victim. Both the victim’s wife and a concerned neighbor called 911 in response to the defendants’ actions.
Brown then publicly disclosed on Instagram an address approximately 100 feet from the victim’s home and told viewers, “Come on down.” In response, several individuals – also wearing masks – appeared outside the victim’s home.
The victim’s wife – whom the defendants targeted with racial slurs – and children witnessed the incident and suffered emotional distress. The increased traffic from onlookers in the ensuing weeks caused the victim and his family to relocate to a different county. The forced move significantly disrupted the education of the victim’s children. The victim’s 3-year-old son, who has a disability, lost several social and health care benefits that were tied to his former county.
United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson scheduled a June 8 sentencing hearing, at which time Raygoza and Brown will face up to five years in federal prison.
The jury found Raygoza and Brown not guilty of one count of conspiracy to publicly disclose the personal information of a federal agent. The jury also acquitted Samane Sandra Carmona, 25, of Panorama City, of both charges she faced: conspiracy and stalking.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren E. Border of the General Crimes Section and Clifford D. Mpare of the Major Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Repeat Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, a recidivist sex offender pled guilty in federal court to more child sex abuse crimes.
Patrick Daniel McKernan, 45, of Pasadena, Maryland, is charged with the sexual exploitation of a child as he persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police (AACOPD).
According to the guilty plea, McKernan exploited the minor child for the purpose of producing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. In November 2023, McKernan produced sexually explicit images of the minor and distributed them on the internet. The images were found on the dark web, operated by the Tor Network, in a group messaging app related to child sexual abuse material. In 2016, McKernan was convicted of possession of child sexual abuse material in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
McKernan faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years and a maximum sentence of 50 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox scheduled sentencing for Friday, May 22, at 3 p.m.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and AACOPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Parkersburg Man Admits to Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wood County, West Virginia man has admitted to possessing methamphetamine in Ohio County, WV with the intent to distribute the drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Jarrett Aaron Moran, 31, pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, Moran was traveling from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to deliver drugs to someone in West Virginia. The vehicle Moran was riding in was stopped by law enforcement, and officers seized 26 grams of methamphetamine, along with a small amount of cocaine and fentanyl.
Moran faces up to 20 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 Clayton Reid is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
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.
Pensacola Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Narcotics and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Timothy Lamar McGee, 43, of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol, and marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This successful prosecution and substantial prison sentence is yet another win under Operation Take Back America, which was launched by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing the peddlers of deadly drugs and violence from our communities. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve safe, drug-free streets, and my office remains committed to delivering on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions like this one.”
According to court records, in July, August, and September of 2024, the defendant sold crack cocaine during a law enforcement undercover operation. On September 25, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence on North 6th Avenue in Pensacola, Florida. During a search of the residence and the defendant’s vehicles, investigators located over 500 grams of cocaine, over 350 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol, over 1,000 grams of marijuana, four firearms, over $32,000 in United States currency, and other drug distribution related items.
“This drug trafficker poisoned Florida Panhandle communities for some time,” said DEA Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “I am proud of how our agents and local police officers worked together to bring this criminal to justice.”
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Pensacola Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Etherton.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
New Britain Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Cocaine Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUIS TORRES ORTIZ, 25, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force identified Joseph Giovanni Soto as the leader of a cocaine trafficking operation that involved the shipment of parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine from U.S. Post Offices in Puerto Rico to various “drop addresses” in New Britain and Meriden, Connecticut, as well as addresses in Holyoke and West Springfield, Massachusetts. The organization used “runners” to pick up the parcels from the drop addresses and deliver them to Soto’s residence in Bloomfield and the residence of Soto’s uncle, Ramon Soto, in New Britain. Typically, Ramon Soto, at Joseph Soto’s direction, then delivered the cocaine to individuals in the Bronx, New York, and elsewhere, in return for payment.
During the investigation, task force members intercepted and seized 10 suspicious parcels, each of which contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine, and identified approximately 280 suspicious parcels likely containing kilogram quantities of cocaine that had been delivered to the various drop addresses.
Joseph Giovanni Soto was arrested on May 1, 2023. In August 2023, investigators saw a reemergence of suspicious parcels coming from Puerto Rico to the New Britain and Meriden areas, and then to a Waterbury address where Jatniel Morales Gonzalez was living. Investigators determined that Morales Gonzalez and Soto had worked together prior to Soto’s arrest, and that Morales Gonzalez had assumed control of the Connecticut side of the cocaine trafficking network after Soto’s arrest. Investigators identified several new drop addresses for suspicious parcels and observed Morales Gonzalez, Torres Ortiz, and others retrieving the parcels and bringing them to Morales Gonzalez’s residence before they were ultimately delivered to the Bronx. During this part of the investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service identified more than 90 additional suspicious parcels, 24 of which had been shipped to Torres Ortiz’s residence in New Britain. Court-authorized searches of four seized parcels found that they each contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine.
Torres Ortiz was arrested on December 19, 2024. On September 19, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Torres Ortiz, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on April 21.
Joseph Giovanni Soto, Ramon Soto, and Morales Gonzales pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison terms of 14 years, 10 years, and 10 years, respectively.
This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, which includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut State Police, the Hartford Police Department, and the Plainville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Levick and Konstantin Lantsman.
Mother and Son Plead Guilty to $5 Million Tax ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas woman and her son pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns with the IRS and diverting portions of the resulting tax refunds to themselves.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Iris Hondermann owned and operated a tax preparation business in Las Vegas. Her son Ivan Odiaga, also of Las Vegas, worked for the business. From approximately 2017 through 2021, Hondermann and Odiaga prepared tax returns for clients that included one or more false items, including business profits and losses, COVID-19 sick and family leave credits, and residential energy credits.
Between 2017 and 2021, Hondermann and Odiaga prepared false tax returns with the IRS seeking a total of more than $5 million in refunds that their clients were not entitled to receive. At times, Hondermann and Odiaga also diverted portions of client tax refunds without their clients’ knowledge or consent. From 2017 through 2021, they diverted more than $1.1 million in false tax refunds to bank accounts one or both of them controlled.
Finally, Odiaga filed approximately 279 tax returns using the unique identifier of another tax preparer without permission, even though the IRS had issued multiple letters warning him against such misuse.
Hondermann and Odiaga are scheduled to be sentenced on June 8, 2026. Both face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States. They also face periods of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory for the IRS Criminal Investigation's Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Thomas W. Flynn and Stuart A. Wexler of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.
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