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Monday 10 August 2026
Rayne Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE – On July 20, 2026, United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced Wayne Christopher Kelley, 43, of Rayne, to 60 months in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. He will serve four years of supervised release after his sentence is served. Kelley previously pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents, investigators with the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO) began investigating Kelley in early 2025 for suspected crack cocaine trafficking in and around Rayne, Louisiana. On June 26, 2025, detectives obtained search warrants for two residences associated with Kelley. On July 1, 2025, investigators recovered one kilogram of cocaine at the first residence. At the second, detectives found a book sack containing measuring cups, spoons, whisks, a calibrated scale with white residue, a razor blade, approximately 3.21 grams of cocaine, and a vacuum-sealed bag containing approximately 159 grams of cocaine.
Kelley admitted that the narcotics belonged to him. The total amount of cocaine attributable to Kelley exceeded 500 grams and was consistent with distribution quantities.
DEA DEAU.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
APSO, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte Murphy with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s agencies, and coordinates efforts with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more about PSN at https://www.justice.gov/psn
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 6:25-CR-00325.
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Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
[email protected]
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLARayne Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Interstate Threats Targeting Mother of Minor He Previously ExploitedRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE – On August 6, 2026, United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr., sentenced Raylin Richard, 46, of Rayne, to 46 months in federal prison for Interstate Communication with Threat to Injure, to run consecutive to a 17-year sentence he is currently serving.
“Today’s age of social media, text messaging, and other forms of instant communication present a danger in the form of predators like this defendant using those means to terrorize and re-traumatize their victims, and this Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting that conduct alongside our federal and state law enforcement partners,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this defendant’s conduct—a convicted sex offender terrorizing his former victims—and the fact that our community simply will not tolerate it.”
According to court documents, Richard is currently serving a 17-year sentence for a prior child‑exploitation offense that involved secretly filming a 12-year-old girl, the daughter of his former romantic partner. After that conviction, the former partner secured a lifetime protective order against Richard and moved with her family to another state.
While housed at Oakdale Federal Correctional Institution in Louisiana, Richard used a contraband cellphone to send threatening social‑media messages to the woman, which included threatening statements and photos of her new residence. A forensic review of the seized cellphone confirmed Richard’s access to the accounts used to send the threats. Investigators also found messages between Richard and a former cellmate which proved Richard’s anger toward the victim, and which corroborated his involvement in the hostile communications. In the messages, Richard threatened bodily harm to the woman if she ever reported him to the police again.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, personnel at Oakdale Federal Correctional Institution, and law enforcement officials in the state where the victim moved. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott Cade Cassidy and Myers P. Namie, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 2:25-cr-00318.
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Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
[email protected]
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Queens Accountant Indicted for Multiple Real Estate Investment Fraud Schemes and Federal Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, an indictment was unsealed charging Alberto Gomez, an accountant with a practice in Elmhurst, New York, with wire fraud and bankruptcy fraud in connection with multiple real estate investment fraud schemes. Those schemes included soliciting and obtaining investments for the purchase of property he purported to own but did not, and for investments of more than 100% ownership interest in properties across Long Island, resulting in losses to over a dozen victims in excess of $3 million. Gomez then fraudulently filed for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York in an attempt to discharge his debts. Gomez was arrested this morning in Boca Raton, Florida, and will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the arrest and charges.
“As alleged in the indictment, Gomez brazenly stole millions of dollars from over a dozen investors, some of whom staked their life’s savings on his lies, and then he shamelessly declared bankruptcy, doubling down by lying to the court as well,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will vigorously prosecute serial fraudsters like Gomez.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the FBI Miami Office/West Palm Beach Resident Agency for their assistance with today’s arrest.
“Alberto Gomez allegedly orchestrated multiple real estate investment fraud schemes by misrepresenting property ownership, soliciting investments for properties he did not control, and collecting funds exceeding the value of real-estate on Long Island. These schemes caused more than $3 million in losses to over a dozen victims. The FBI will continue working alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office to pursue those who defraud investors and abuse the integrity of our financial systems,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
As set forth in the indictment, from approximately April 2021 through November 2024, Gomez, who operated an accounting practice in Elmhurst, solicited real estate investors to purchase, in whole or in part, various properties in New York. Gomez promised exclusive ownership or partnership in these properties, or sought funding for renovations and capital improvements necessary to flip the properties for profit. One such property was located in Mount Vernon, and was the sole asset of a domestic limited liability company for which Gomez had filed Articles of Organization, but in which he himself had no ownership or managerial interest. Nevertheless, Gomez negotiated and executed ownership, purchase and partnership agreements with multiple investors, resulting in the effective sale of 266% of the ownership interest in that property. Approximately one year later, Gomez filed for bankruptcy in an attempt to discharge the debts he owed to these investors. In that filing, he falsely concealed his largest creditor and led the bankruptcy Trustee to believe that he owned the domestic limited liability company and its property.
Gomez similarly solicited investors, many of whom were elderly, in properties across Long Island. After executing multiple fraudulent joint venture or partnership agreements, Gomez sold 125% ownership interest in a property located in Mill Neck, and 130% ownership interest in a property located in East Hampton. Gomez also solicited investments in properties located in Glen Cove, Elmont and Bayville with promises to rehabilitate the properties and thereby garner higher resale value. No renovations or improvements were done to these properties; rather, Gomez used the investors’ funds to pay personal expenses and to pay back other investors.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Gomez faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each of the four wire fraud counts, and up to five years’ imprisonment on the bankruptcy fraud count.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. In June 2019, the Attorney General announced the establishment of the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force. The Eastern District of New York was one of six U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to be selected to be a part of this joint law enforcement effort that brings together the resources and expertise of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other organizations. If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, please call the Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 (833–372–8311).
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Charles P. Kelly is in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder and Victim Witness Specialist Stephanie Marroquin.
The Defendant:
ALBERTO GOMEZ (also known as “Alberto L. Gomez”)
Age: 48
Boca Raton, FloridaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-227 (JMA)
Prichard Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms as a Convicted Felon and Assaulting Homeland Security Task Force OfficersRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Prichard man was sentenced to 46 months in prison for illegally possessing multiple firearms as a convicted felon and assaulting law enforcement officers and members of the Homeland Security Task Force.
According to court documents, Delando Travon Perkins, 25, was arrested by members of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) at a residence on Cheha Drive in Prichard on February 13, 2026. Agents were attempting to take Perkins into custody on an outstanding arrest warrant for narcotics offenses. The agents were wearing vests and uniforms that clearly identified them as law enforcement.
As agents approached the residence, they saw Perkins standing on a four-wheeler parked in the street on Cheha Drive. Perkins was wearing an “ESPN” chain, which is frequently worn by members of a Prichard-based street gang. Agents observed Perkins walking back and forth between the residence and the four-wheeler.
When agents approached Perkins to arrest him, he attempted to flee on foot. Agents pursued Perkins and apprehended him just north of Cheha Drive after he attempted to discard the “ESPN” chain and his cell phone. Agents secured Perkins in a police vehicle and began searching the residence and surrounding area.
On the four-wheeler where Perkins had been standing, agents found a loaded .38-caliber revolver and a loaded 9mm pistol. On the front porch of the residence, agents found two additional loaded 9mm pistols. Inside the residence, agents found a .223-caliber rifle that had been modified to fire .50 BEO-caliber ammunition, small amounts of cocaine and marijuana, precursors used to manufacture crack cocaine, multiple pistol and rifle magazines, 79 rounds of ammunition in various calibers, and items bearing Perkins’s name.
While Perkins was detained in a patrol vehicle, he attempted to kick out the vehicle’s window partition and slipped his handcuffs from behind his back to the front of his body, creating a safety concern. Agents opened the rear door of the vehicle, and a Mobile County Sheriff’s Office deputy grabbed Perkins’s handcuffs. Perkins immediately lunged toward the deputy and bit him on his left hand, drawing blood and causing a painful injury. Perkins continued kicking at agents and bit a
second deputy on the right hand. Agents re-secured Perkins’s handcuffs and placed him back in the vehicle, where he continued challenging agents to “fight” him.An FBI DNA analyst compared a buccal swab taken from Perkins with swabs taken from each of the five firearms seized by agents. The analyst found very strong support for including Perkins as a contributor to the DNA profiles obtained from the firearms.
Perkins had previously been convicted of a felony drug offense in 2022, rendering his possession of firearms illegal under federal law.
In addition to the 46-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Kristi K. DuBose ordered Perkins to serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison. During supervised release, Perkins will be subject to drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine but ordered Perkins to pay $200 in special assessments. Perkins’s firearms and ammunition were administratively forfeited to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and George May prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement 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 Mobile comprises agents and officers from, among others, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.
Previously convicted felon pleads guilty to illegally possessing firearm shown in social media postsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A repeat offender pleaded guilty in federal court here today to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Terrill Hill, 21, of Cincinnati, was previously convicted of a local firearms felony in 2025 and sentenced to 24 months of community control. He was charged federally in February 2026.
According to his plea documents, in November and December 2025, photos on Instagram showed Hill possessing a unique firearm. The firearm was a Glock with an extended magazine, a switch on the back, and a flashlight/laser pointer under the barrel. A switch is a metal device that effectively converts semi-automatic firearms into machineguns.
Agents executed a search warrant at a residence used by Hill and recovered the same firearm Hill had been seen holding in social media posts.
Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) announced the guilty plea entered today before Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney Frederic C. Shadley is representing the United States in this case.
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Pittsburgh Woman Sentenced for Theft of Supplemental Security Income FundsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $18,467 on her convictions for Supplemental Security Income fraud and theft of government property, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Dana Nicole Johnson, 56, of the Eastmont neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
According to information presented to the Court, Johnson applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits through the Social Security Administration. Because SSI is a monthly, needs-based benefit afforded to people with disabilities and the elderly who have little or no income, applicants for the program are required to report their wages, assets, and living arrangements for consideration by the Social Security Administration in determining eligibility for SSI. Investigators determined that Johnson, while receiving SSI, worked for both a home healthcare business and as a federal employee at a Veterans Affairs medical center and that Johnson concealed her wages from the Social Security Administration, resulting in the theft of over $18,000. This was the second time Johnson concealed income while obtaining SSI.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Johnson.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.
Pair Accused of Shooting at St. Louis Police, ATFRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Two men have been accused of shooting at St. Louis Metropolitan police officers and ATF agents last month.
Justin R. Price, 19, and Alexavier Bishop, 19, both of Florissant, were charged by complaint in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Thursday with aiding and abetting the assault of federal agents and aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Price appeared in court Friday. Bishop is in custody.
The officers and agents were conducting a traffic stop at Oriole and Thekla Avenues in St. Louis on July 28 when just after 9 p.m. a Ford Fusion stopped about one block away and someone fired 12 shots with an automatic weapon. Police pursued the Fusion, which was abandoned in the 1500 block of Sells Avenue. An affidavit filed in support of the complaint says that Bishop, Price and one other person were in the Fusion but escaped, the affidavit says.
About 90 minutes before the shooting, Price and Bishop were spotted pulling on the door handles of parked vehicles in the 1700 block of McLaran Avenue, about one mile away, and appeared to be armed, the affidavit says.
“It is a miracle that the police officers, ATF agents and bystanders were not wounded in this incident,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus. “You can be assured that we are treating this assault with the utmost seriousness. We are grateful for the hard work of investigators and the assistance of the public, and we hope that the public will continue to help us in this ongoing investigation.”
“The fact that no one was struck by the 12 rounds fired at St. Louis police officers and ATF agents that night was extraordinarily fortunate, but it does not diminish the seriousness of this alleged attack,” said ATF Kansas City Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen. “This case reflects the determined work of state, local and federal partners, along with community members who came forward to help. We are especially grateful for SLMPD’s investigative work and for the diligence of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in reviewing the evidence and securing these charges as the investigation continues.”
“An attack on law enforcement is an attack on the people working every day to keep our neighborhoods safe. These arrests demonstrate what is possible when local, state and federal law enforcement work together, supported by a community willing to come forward and help, with a shared commitment to accountability,” said St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert J. Tracy. “I am grateful to the many law enforcement partners involved in this investigation, along with our nationally recognized SLMPD Crime Laboratory, for working relentlessly to identify those allegedly responsible and move this case forward.”
Charges set forth in a criminal complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the St. Louis County Police Department, the Alton Police Department and the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office were involved in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D’Agrosa is prosecuting the case.
One Year After Federal Law Enforcement Surge, D.C. Is Safer as Crime Declines SharplyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro marked the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s Federal Law Enforcement Surge in the District of Columbia. The surge implemented a significant increase in federal law enforcement resources, bolstering our teams with additional agents, advanced tools, and a no‑nonsense mandate that renewed the focus on cracking down on violent offenders, dismantling criminal networks, and restoring safety to District neighborhoods.
“We’ve seen firsthand how sustained, coordinated law enforcement efforts can make an impact and the impact is real when cases are prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Our prosecution efforts are up 67 percent since I became U.S. Attorney. Over the past year, we have worked relentlessly to reduce violence, hold offenders accountable, and restore a sense of safety in neighborhoods across the District. Nearly 2,000 illegal firearms were taken off the streets, and arrests included murderers, sex offenders, drug traffickers, and other violent criminals. These results reflect the dedication of every agency involved and our shared commitment to protecting the people of Washington, D.C.”
Over the past year, President Trump’s Federal Law Enforcement Surge has resulted in sharp declines in violent crime and property crime across Washington, D.C., based on year‑over‑year comparisons. Homicides have dropped by 45 percent, carjackings by 64 percent, and robberies by 33 percent. The District has also seen a 53 percent reduction in motor vehicle thefts.
Since August 11, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged 16,724 cases in D.C. Superior Court, a 67 percent increase from the previous year. During that same period, the U.S. Attorney’s no paper rate is approximately 5 percent—representing a 76 percent decrease from the 5,250 arrests no‑papered the prior year. By comparison, the U.S. Attorney under the previous administration recorded a no‑paper rate of 67 percent, underscoring the magnitude of the Office’s current charging improvements. Today, there are approximately 24,000 criminal cases pending in D.C. Superior Court.
Case resolutions have also strengthened. In the past 12 months, prosecutors secured 5,767 guilty pleas, 213 guilty verdicts at trial, and successfully resolved an additional 969 cases through diversion.
These gains were driven by close coordination among federal agencies, local law enforcement, and the Metropolitan Police Department. Under the Executive Order, the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force was created to tackle priority public safety challenges, including violent crime, carjackings, property offenses, and vandalism. The initiative supports President Trump’s directive to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, impose tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms offenders.
As part of these efforts, law enforcement agencies have seized nearly 2,000 illegal firearms from the streets of Washington, D.C., reflecting the impact of sustained, coordinated policing across jurisdictions.
Together, these measures underscore a year of focused work to support safety, strengthen neighborhoods, and improve the quality of life throughout the District.
Oklahoma Man Sentenced for Threatening to Shoot, Kill, Gun Down Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – While death threats against federal agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continue to rise, a Skiatook man was sentenced today after a federal jury found him guilty of posting on X threatening to shoot, kill, and gun down agents.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Logan Christopher Murfin, 26, to 21 months imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release.
In April 2026, Murfin was found guilty on ten counts. Five of the counts were for Threatening to Assault and Murder Federal Law Enforcement Officers with Intent to Impede, Intimidate, Interfere, and Retaliate; and five counts of Interstate Communication with a Threat to Injure.
According to evidence presented at trial, agents with Homeland Security Investigations received an intelligence report in October 2025 flagging threatening posts made on the social media account X, about “gunning down” and shooting ICE agents. The threats were posted under the username “Azulenq.” Agents obtained search warrants to identify the user making these public online posts. The data collected from the search warrants was presented to the jury, which identified the X account user Azulenq as Murfin. The investigation showed that Murfin was posting threatening messages from his home in Skiatook.
Murfin was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2025. After being arrested and mirandized, Murfin spoke with agents and stated he was angry and “pissed off” at ICE agents and admitted to making the posts on the X account. The jury heard a recording of the interview at trial.
When two agents from Homeland Security testified, they explained to the jury how serious the agency is taking the threats due to threats to agents increasing more than 1,000%. Some of the threatening posts were made on the official U.S. Homeland Security account on X, which has more than three million followers. When Murfin was making posts in September, an agent explained to the jury that a sniper opened fire on an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas. Exhibits presented to the jury showed that Murfin's posts were in response to other users' posts about ICE agents' activities in the community, including arrests and enforcement of federal law.
Public posts made by Murfin:
October 18, 2025: Need too start shooting these “just following orders” pigs. Ice agents are reenacting ww2 nazi germany and its not acceptable. Only good ice terrorist is buried 6 feet under.
October 17, 2025: Every ICE agent needs shot between the eyes “just following orders” isn’t acceptable and they already exposed they are human garbage.
October 17, 2025: Every ice gestapo needs too be shot. 2nd amendment right too carry everyone should stay armed and when these terrorists come by just kill them. They don’t deserve too live after “just following orders” we aren’t reliving ww2 germany. They don’t want due process so show em
September 28, 2025: Nah but we as US citizens should be gunning down these domestic terrorists. All ice gestapo can not use the “just following orders” excuse. If you’re complicit in this act you’ve gotta be executed for this act.
September 28, 2025: ice gestapo agents need to either be executed publicy. “just following orders” is not a valid excuse in modern daysCourt documents show that death threats to federal agents as of January 2026 have increased 8,000%, and assault threats have increased by 1,300%. Murfin will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Kelly, Stephen Scaife, and Christopher J. Nassar prosecuted the case.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Delaquan Antonio Myers, also known as “Chase,” 37, of Dayton, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 7, 2022, Myers agreed to deliver approximately 400 grams of fentanyl to an individual in the Beaver area of Raleigh County, West Virginia. Rather than deliver the fentanyl himself, Myers asked the buyer to send someone to meet him in Dayton, Ohio. Two undercover law enforcement officers obtained the fentanyl from Myers.
Myers is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell have prosecuted the case.
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. 5:23-cr-29.
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New Orleans Man Indicted for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On August 7, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against DEXTER MONTGOMERY (“MONTGOMERY”), age 51, a resident of New Orleans, charging him with violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, MONTGOMERY was indicted on two counts of distribution of fifty (50) grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A) and one count of distribution of fifty (50) or more grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B).
If convicted of the distribution of methamphetamine counts, MONTGOMERY faces a minimum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, at least five (5) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. For the distribution of a mixture of methamphetamine count, MONTGOMERY faces a minimum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a maximum term of imprisonment of forty (40) years, at least four (4) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
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Multiple Men Charged in Connection with Cross-Country Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Three men are facing a superseding indictment in connection with a drug conspiracy that spanned from California to Maryland.
Samir Footman, 38, of Halethorpe, Maryland; Kenny Guyton, 44, of Glen Burnie, Maryland; and Marcus McDaniel, 45, of Stockton, California, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Footman is also charged with firearm trafficking and felon in possession of a firearm. The co-conspirators possessed with the intent to distribute nearly six kilograms of pure crystal methamphetamine and approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine pills. Additionally, Footman sold a firearm as part of his role in the conspiracy.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; and Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP).
According to public filings, in September 2025, ATF agents began investigating Footman, a suspected narcotics dealer in the Annapolis area. Throughout the investigation, the ATF used confidential informants (CIs) and undercover agents (UCs) to conduct multiple controlled narcotics purchases from Footman. Investigators later identified Guyton as Footman’s narcotics supplier.
During the undercover operation, UCs purchased quantities of cocaine and fentanyl, along with more than 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine pills and approximately 450 grams of crystal methamphetamine from Footman and Guyton. Footman also sold a Glock 19X 9mm pistol to a recipient knowing or having reason to believe that the possession of the firearm by the recipient would constitute a felony.
On April 24, 2026, investigators executed search and arrest warrants at residences associated with Footman and Guyton. Investigators seized a firearm, ammunition, pill press, and approximately 2.7 kilograms of additional methamphetamine pills. Law enforcement also recovered Guyton’s cell phone.
In Guyton’s cell phone, investigators located a message exchange between Guyton and a contact saved as “Blindman.” Guyton sent this individual a Maryland address, to which the individual wrote, “Money order or cashier’s check.” Investigators also located a United States Postal Service (USPS) tracking number connected to a package in the phone. Inside the package, law enforcement uncovered approximately 5.3 kilograms of pure methamphetamine. Since law enforcement recognized the company brand of the shipping materials, investigators obtained transaction information from the California-based location of the company. Additionally, investigators obtained footage of the transaction depicting McDaniel buying the shipping materials.
Upon further review of Guyton’s cell phone revealed a second USPS tracking number that Guyton sent to “Blindman.” Investigators located the second parcel which contained a cashier’s check in the amount of $6,700 payable from Guyton to McDaniel. The payment was in exchange for the crystal methamphetamine shipment.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, Footman, Guyton, and McDaniel, each face a minimum of 10 years and maximum of life in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, DEA, USPIS, and MSP for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. O’Donohue III 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.
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Agency Quotes
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland
“Law enforcement collaboration is a powerful tool that we leverage to keep Marylanders safe. This indictment showcases our commitment to teaming with our partners to relentlessly pursue justice against individuals who fuel criminal activity in our communities,” Hayes said. “No matter where you are, if you’re involved in trafficking drugs and/or firearms in Maryland, we will find and prosecute you.”
Charles Doerrer, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Baltimore
“This investigation shows how hard ATF agents, with our federal partners, work to purse justice,” Doerrer said. “Mr. Footman and his associates flooded our streets with dangerous drugs and firearms, and ATF will work tirelessly to hold him accountable.”
Christopher C. Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Washington Division
“Our foremost priority is to eradicate violent crime and protect American lives in the communities we serve. DEA Washington Division wants to ensure our communities are safe for all citizens to flourish and feel secure in their everyday activities,” Goumenis said. “This indictment underscores our dedication to rigorous law enforcement efforts and working closely with local and federal agencies to dismantle the criminal networks that jeopardize public safety.”
Damon E. Wood, Postal Inspector in Charge,
U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division“On the 251st anniversary of the US Postal Inspection Service, the success of this investigation reaffirms our commitment along with our law enforcement partners, to ensure the sanctity of the US Mail and rid our communities of poisonous substances and illegal firearms,” Wood said.
Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Superintendent, Maryland State Police
“Our continued partnership between local, state, and federal law-enforcement agencies is critical to disrupting illegal gun and drug trafficking operations,” Jackson said. “We are committed to combining our resources, sharing intelligence, and holding others accountable to keep Marylanders safe.”
Middle District of Florida Agencies Receive $3.5 Million to Improve SafetyRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL ―The Bureau of Justice Assistance, a component under the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, awarded almost $290 million to support state, local, and tribal governments in criminal justice activities to keep American communities safe. More than $3.5 million of this amount has been awarded to law enforcement agencies throughout the Middle District of Florida.
The awards, provided through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, represent the nation’s leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories. For more than 20 years, the JAG program has provided critical funding to support law enforcement’s ability to protect the communities they serve, supporting critical needs such as personnel, equipment and supplies, technology, training, information systems for criminal justice or civil proceedings, and other operational priorities. JAG funding also supports a wide range of programs that strengthen crime prevention efforts and enhance the effectiveness of prosecutors, courts, corrections agencies, and services for crime victims and witnesses.
“Our local, state, and tribal law enforcement partners stand on the front lines every day to combat crime and keep our citizens safe,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “These awards will assist them as they carry out their mission to improve public safety throughout our district.”
In addition to foundational uses of JAG funds, specific areas of emphasis were included to the JAG funding opportunities highlighting and encouraging state and local jurisdictions to join federal law enforcement in addressing the most pressing public safety challenges. For Fiscal Year 2025, these areas of emphasis included combatting violent crime, immigration enforcement, safe communities, and safe houses of worship.
BJA awarded more than $199 million in state JAG funding across 56 awards and more than $90 million in local JAG funding across 895 awards.
Examples of initiatives supported by these grants include:
- Providing specialized training to strengthen the prevention, detection, and response to human trafficking and to enhance proactive crime‑reduction efforts through improved officer readiness and increased patrol capacity.
- Enhancing local crime‑fighting efforts by integrating innovative technology, training, and equipment, and using comprehensive crime‑data analysis to guide decision‑making, measure performance, and strengthen strategies addressing violent crime and other public safety issues.
- Strengthening enforcement efforts by supporting investigations related to gang activity and narcotics through targeted operations carried out by specialized units.
- Improving officer safety and readiness by replacing outdated ballistic helmets with modern protective equipment used during high‑risk incidents, tactical operations, active threat responses, warrant service, civil disturbances, and other dangerous calls for service.
All recipients for both state and local JAG awards can be found here.
About the Office of Justice Programs
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation's capacity to prevent and reduce crime; promote fair and impartial administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices – the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking or SMART Office – can be found at ojp.gov.
Methamphetamine Seized During Bawcomville Traffic Stop Leads to 24-Year Federal Sentence for Repeat OffenderRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT – On August 4, 2026, United States Chief District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Bob Gilbert, Jr., 44, of Columbia, Louisiana, to 288 months in federal prison after his guilty plea for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, followed by eight years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on May 31, 2024, deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office (OPSO) conducted a lawful traffic stop of a Nissan Maxima on Sandal Street in Bawcomville. Gilbert was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. During the stop, deputies searched the car and located approximately 46 grams of pure methamphetamine in the driver's side door panel. Deputies also found a digital scale and approximately $3,200 in cash inside the vehicle, along with approximately $1,171 on Gilbert's person. Gilbert admitted he possessed the methamphetamine and that he had previously been convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and sentenced to seven years.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and OPSO. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Farshian and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Cassidy, with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s agencies, and coordinates efforts with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more about PSN at https://www.justice.gov/psn
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 3:25-cr-00026-01.
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Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
[email protected]
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Masked Gunman who Robbed Leon County Z Mart Pleads Guilty to Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Laquinton Harris, 36, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to Hobbs Act Robbery, Brandishing a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case exemplifies the outstanding investigative work performed by our state and federal law enforcement partners, who swiftly identified and caught this defendant despite his efforts to conceal his identity during his violent crime. This successful prosecution delivers a clear message: the safety of our community is not negotiable, and my office will aggressively prosecute these cases to keep violent offenders, like this defendant, off our streets and behind bars where they belong.”
Court records showed a masked gunman robbed the Z Mart convenience store at 4015 Fred George Road on January 30, 2026, during which the gunman discharged his firearm into the floor:
During the investigation of the armed robbery, Leon County Sheriff’s Office deputies found an apparent bullet strike on the wooden flooring and a spent .22 caliber shell casing. On April 2, 2026, ATF executed a federal search warrant at the defendant’s residence and found a .22 caliber rifle, which ballistic testing showed matched the shell casing found in the Z Mart. They also found distinctive clothing that matched clothing worn by the robber.
Distinctive ripped pants worn by the robber, found in the defendant’s home
Gloves worn by the robber, found in the defendant’s home
The defendant’s DNA was found on both the pants and gloves recovered during the search warrant.
The defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison, which must be consecutive to his sentence for the robbery, and a maximum of up to life imprisonment, up to 5 years of supervised release, and up to a $750,000 fine.
The case involved an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 19, 2026, at 2:00 pm, in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
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.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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.
Man Admits Setting Fires at St. Louis County HotelRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A Florissant man on Monday admitted setting fires in a hotel near Ferguson, Missouri in 2025.
Brandon Dallas Smith, 40, admitted purchasing a cup of gasoline from a convenience store at 2:26 a.m. on March 26, 2025, and then using that gas to ignite several fires at the hotel. Two of the fires were ignited outside of hotel room doors. Hotel guests put out the fires before the fire department arrived, but the hotel was damaged.
Smith pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of use of a facility of interstate commerce with intent to commit a crime of violence in furtherance of arson.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Louis County Police Department and the St. Louis County Bomb and Arson Squad investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen is prosecuting the case.
MS-13 Gang member pleads guilty to illegal reentry after federal racketeering convictionRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Yelso Ollyder Castro-Licona, 38, a citizen and native of Honduras, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to reentry of a removed alien subsequent to an aggravated felony conviction, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Castro-Licona is an alien without any legal status in the United States. In July 2004, he was found to be illegally present in the United States and was physically removed in January 2008. In November 2008, Castro-Licona was once again found to be illegally present in the United States, and the prior order of removal was reinstated. In May 2010, Castro-Licona, a member of the MS-13 gang, was convicted on a federal racketeering conspiracy charge. According to the prior case, the racketeering activity included murder, robbery, extortion, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, drug trafficking, and federal firearms violations. He was sentenced to serve 75 months in prison and was released from custody in May 2014. In July 2014, Castro-Licona was physically removed once again from the United States. In February 2026, he was found in Erie County, NY, in the Western District of New York. He did not possess any legal documents allowing him to be present in the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan W. Fitzgerald. The plea is the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato, the Department of Homeland Security Enforcement and Removal Operations, under the direction of Acting Field Operations Director Phillip Rhoney, and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Christopher Bourke.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
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Lancaster County Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Massive Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Daryl F. Heller, 56, of Lititz, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Catherine Henry to securities fraud.
The defendant was charged by indictment in August of last year, arising from a fraudulent investment scheme that resulted in investor losses of approximately $402 million in unpaid principal.
As detailed in court filings, Heller controlled and was the majority owner of several companies based in Lancaster, Pa., including Paramount Management Group, LLC (“Paramount”), which purchased, installed, operated, maintained, and processed transactions for automatic teller machines (“ATMs”) and cryptocurrency teller machines (“BTMs”) in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and throughout the country.
Heller also controlled and was the majority owner of Heller Capital Group LLC (“HCG”) and Prestige Investment Group, LLC (“Prestige”). Further, Prestige was the majority owner of four companies, collectively, the “Prestige Management Companies.” The Prestige Management Companies, in turn, managed the operations of more than two dozen companies, collectively, the “Prestige and WF Velocity ATM Funds.”
As further detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, from about January 2017 to December 2024, Heller solicited, and caused others to solicit, approximately $770 million from investors in the Prestige and WF Velocity ATM Funds, based on materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, including that the money they invested would be used by Paramount to purchase and operate ATMs and BTMs on behalf of the investors, and that investors would receive monthly payments for a period of approximately six to seven years, and those monthly payments made to investors would be funded through the operation of the ATMs and BTMs that the investors purportedly purchased from Paramount.
A substantial amount of the funds obtained from the Prestige and WF Velocity ATM Fund investors was not used by Paramount to purchase ATMs and BTMs as promised, but used instead to pay the monthly payments owed to earlier investors in the Prestige and WF Velocity ATM Funds, other ATM and BTM investors, Heller’s personal expenses, and business debts incurred by Paramount and other companies that the defendant owned and controlled. In addition, thousands of the ATMs and BTMs that were purportedly purchased by Paramount on behalf of the Prestige and WF Velocity ATM Fund investors either did not exist or were not in operation and, thus, were not capable of generating any revenues.
To carry out and conceal the scheme, Heller created false and fraudulent records, which grossly misrepresented the number of ATMs and BTMs in Paramount’s network and grossly overstated the revenues being generated by those ATMs and BTMs. Those documents were used to satisfy existing investors, solicit new investors, and deceive others by falsely representing that investor money was being used to purchase ATMs and BTMs and that the kiosks were generating sufficient revenues to make investor payments.
In or about April 2024, Heller caused Paramount to stop making monthly payments to investors after the Prestige and WF Velocity ATM Funds stopped providing substantial amounts of new investor money to Paramount. Investors have not received any payments since April 2024, despite Heller’s promises from April 2024 to December 2024 to make payments to and buy out the investors.
Paramount went out of business in or about December 2024, and investors in the Prestige and WF Velocity ATM Funds have unpaid principal amounts totaling approximately $402 million.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1 and faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine. Restitution in an amount to be determined by the Court also shall be ordered. Forfeiture of all proceeds from the offense, in an amount to be determined by the Court, also may be ordered.
This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Francis A. Weber and J. Andrew Jenemann. The Lancaster County Police Department, Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office, East Hempfield Township Police Department, and Pequea Township Police Department provided investigative assistance.
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed parallel charges against Heller last September, which are pending.
Justice Department Secures $150,000 Settlement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Kentucky LandlordRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Danny Bell, the owner and manager of residential rental properties in Somerset, Kentucky, agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that he sexually harassed female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
“Tenants should not be forced to choose between safety and keeping a roof over their heads,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This case involved a landlord’s sexual harassment of female tenants, including threats to evict tenants who refused his advances. The Justice Department will continue to hold landlords accountable for using their power to violate the rights of vulnerable women.”
“Housing should never be used as a tool to exploit vulnerable people in our community,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This settlement sends a clear message that our office will not tolerate sexual harassment in housing and will vigorously protect the rights of tenants to feel safe in their homes.”
The Justice Department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in April 2023, alleges that Bell sexually harassed female tenants for over a decade, including in their homes. The suit alleges that Bell offered to forgive rent in exchange for sexual contact, subjected tenants to unwelcome sexual touching, made unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances, let himself into female tenants’ homes without notice or permission, and threatened to evict tenants who refused his demands.
Pursuant to the proposed consent order, which still must be entered by the court, the defendant must pay $140,000 to tenants who were harmed by his harassment and a $10,000 civil penalty to the United States. The consent order governs the sale of Bell’s current residential rental properties, and bars Bell from managing any future residential rental properties and from contacting tenants harmed by his harassment. It also mandates training and the adoption of policies and procedures to prevent future discrimination in his rental properties.
If you are a victim of sexual harassment by another landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative, which the department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 53 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $19 million for victims of such harassment.
Justice Department Awards Nearly $290 Million to Improve SafetyRead the Press Release
The Bureau of Justice Assistance, a component under the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, awarded almost $290 million to support state, local, and tribal governments in criminal justice activities to keep American communities safe.
The awards, provided through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, represent the nation’s leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories. For more than 20 years, the JAG program has provided critical funding to support law enforcement’s ability to protect the communities they serve, supporting critical needs such as personnel, equipment and supplies, technology, training, information systems for criminal justice or civil proceedings, and other operational priorities. JAG funding also supports a wide range of programs that strengthen crime prevention efforts and enhance the effectiveness of prosecutors, courts, corrections agencies, and services for crime victims and witnesses.
“This funding strengthens our state, local, and tribal partners’ ability to address violent crime, support officers on the front lines, and keep our Nation’s communities safe,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “The JAG Program continues to provide essential resources that help jurisdictions meet today’s public safety threats and uphold the rule of law.”
In addition to foundational uses of JAG funds, specific areas of emphasis were included to the JAG funding opportunities highlighting and encouraging state and local jurisdictions to join federal law enforcement in addressing the most pressing public safety challenges. For Fiscal Year 2025, these areas of emphasis included combatting violent crime, immigration enforcement, safe communities, and safe houses of worship.
BJA awarded more than $199 million in state JAG funding across 56 awards and more than $90 million in local JAG funding across 895 awards.
Examples of initiatives supported by these grants include:
- Providing specialized training to strengthen the prevention, detection, and response to human trafficking and to enhance proactive crime‑reduction efforts through improved officer readiness and increased patrol capacity.
- Enhancing local crime‑fighting efforts by integrating innovative technology, training, and equipment, and using comprehensive crime‑data analysis to guide decision‑making, measure performance, and strengthen strategies addressing violent crime and other public safety issues.
- Strengthening enforcement efforts by supporting investigations related to gang activity and narcotics through targeted operations carried out by specialized units.
- Improving officer safety and readiness by replacing outdated ballistic helmets with modern protective equipment used during high‑risk incidents, tactical operations, active threat responses, warrant service, civil disturbances, and other dangerous calls for service.
All recipients for both state and local JAG awards can be found here.
About the Office of Justice Programs
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation's capacity to prevent and reduce crime; promote fair and impartial administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices – the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking or SMART Office – can be found at ojp.gov.
Jury convicts Army veteran of embellishing health issues to defraud the VARead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN.– A federal jury convicted a U.S. Army veteran of defrauding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of over $170,000 in caregiver benefit payments that he was not entitled to receive.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
According to court documents, James Bradford, 49, of Junction City was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud the government and one count of theft of public money, property, or records.
The VA operates the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). PCAFC provides monthly payments to individuals, typically family members, who care for qualified veterans and service members. The program is intended to compensate caregivers who spend substantial amounts of time providing care since that can limit their ability to work.
Between August 2014 and July 2023, Bradford and his caregiver knowingly provided false and fraudulent statements concerning the level of care Mr. Bradford required from his caregiver. Bradford and his caregiver reported he was unable to provide himself basic care such as medication management, organizing financial affairs, and transportation which required his caregiver to do on his behalf.
However, from May 2016 until approximately 2025, Bradford worked for the federal government. He was employed by U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) as a project manager in Topeka. His work duties included overseeing multi-million-dollar contracts between GSA and vendors.
“Safeguarding benefits for veterans is a priority, and our investigators work diligently to ensure that VA’s programs are not exploited for financial gain by fraudulent actors,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners who remain committed to hold accountable those who would defraud VA’s programs and services.”
“Fraud against a program designed to provide essential care to veterans is unacceptable,” said Special Agent in Charge Jorge Richardson of the U.S. General Services Administration Office of Inspector General Midwest Investigations Division. “We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to stop fraud and ensure federal programs operate with integrity.”
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) and U.S. General Services Administration – Office of Inspector General (GSA-OIG) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Walton and Lindsey Debenham are prosecuting the case.
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Judd Wire Inc. Agrees to Pay $1.014 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations for Failing to Test Wire and Cable Used by the United StatesRead the Press Release
Judd Wire Inc., of Turners Falls, Massachusetts, has agreed to pay $1,014,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to perform tests required by specifications for certain wire and cable products used by the U.S. Navy. In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that Judd Wire took significant steps entitling it to credit for cooperating with the government.
“It is essential to the safety and operational capabilities of the military that suppliers comply with applicable product specifications,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department's Civil Division. “When suppliers fail to comply with required specifications, they can mitigate the consequences by making timely self-disclosures, cooperating with investigations, and taking prompt remedial measures.”
“The performance of safety tests of military equipment is a critically important part of taking care of our Sailors and Marines and the gear their lives and missions depend on,” said General Counsel of the Department of the Navy David W. Denton Jr. “When contractors fail to do so they need to be held accountable. The Navy Acquisition Integrity Office will continue to expand our partnership with the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud on procurement fraud matters and take administrative action when appropriate.”
The settlement resolves allegations that from September 2011 to August 2021, Judd Wire produced wire and cable products that were used by the United States, but failed to perform all tests required by each of the 29 wire and cable specifications covered by the settlement. Judd Wire voluntarily disclosed the testing lapses to the United States, cooperated with the U.S. investigation, and implemented remedial measures.
This year, the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combating such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Navy’s Office of General Counsel, Acquisition Integrity Office. The matter was handled by Trial Attorney Greg Pearson of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Jordanian National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a Short-Barreled RifleRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Yahya Yaghmour, 43, a Jordanian national who holds dual U.S. citizenship and resides in Fresno, pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a short-barreled rifle, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court records, in August 2025, the FBI arrested Yaghmour in connection with a fraud investigation. After Yaghmour’s arrest, he was heard on a recorded jail call instructing his wife to dispose of something that was in a safe in their house. The FBI then searched the house and found an AR-style rifle with a barrel length of 11 inches hidden in a safe in the master bedroom behind several other firearms. Importantly, because the rifle has a barrel length of less than 16 inches and can therefore be more easily concealed, it is considered a short-barreled rifle under the law and must be registered in the federal National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Yaghmour did not register the rifle as required.
Yaghmour has significant experience with firearms and had previously tried to obtain work as gun salesman or gunsmith. He also admitted to authorities that he had built the AR-style rifle they found and that he knew it had a barrel length of less than 16 inches.
This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.
Yaghmour is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on October 26, 2026. Yaghmour faces maximum statutory penalties of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Jackson County Men Plead Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Adolph Sutton, Jr., 65, of Malone, Florida, and Michael Peak, 56, of Bascom, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of distributing 50 grams or more methamphetamine. The pleas were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Operation Take Back America continues to deliver on the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that the Department of Justice will devote its full might toward eradicating the scourge of drug trafficking and violent crime from our streets. My office remains committed to keeping drug-peddling criminals, like these defendants, off our streets and behind federal bars to ensure the citizens of the Northern District of Florida can live in the safe, drug-free communities they deserve.”
Court documents reflect that on two occasions, Sutton and Peak sold methamphetamine to law enforcement as part of an undercover operation. On May 6, 2025, the defendants sold 223 grams of methamphetamine to law enforcement. On May 29, 2025, an additional 438 grams of methamphetamine were sold to law enforcement.
Both defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the three counts.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Eric Welch are prosecuting the case.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark Walker.
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 available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Illinois Man Accused of Sex Trafficking of Woman Who Later Fatally OverdosedRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Sparta, Illinois has been accused of promoting and facilitating the prostitution of a woman found dead of an overdose in 2025.
Jared Anders, 30, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on July 22 on three felonies: sex trafficking, use of interstate commerce with intent to distribute prostitution and use of interstate facilities to promote prostitution. He appeared in court Friday and pleaded not guilty.
The indictment alleges that Anders benefited financially from the prostitution of the victim between Feb. 1, 2025, and May 22, 2025.
A motion seeking to have Anders held in jail until trial says that the investigation began on May 22, 2025, when the victim was found dead of an overdose in a hotel in Edmundson, Missouri, near St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The victim’s picture had been posted on multiple online prostitution sites, the motion says, and she and Anders had been communicating about her prostitution activities and the drugs that she said she needed to keep working as a prostitute.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Edmundson Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. For more information, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Illegal Alien from Mexico Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United States and Possessing Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Mexican citizen, living illegally in Danville, Virginia, pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States after a prior removal and unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon and alien illegally in the United States.
Fernando Bahena Ruiz, 28, was charged based on an incident that occurred March 25, 2026.
According to court records, several people called 911 on March 25, 2026 to report gunfire in a Danville neighborhood. One person saw muzzle flashes coming from Bahena Ruiz’s backyard. Officers arrived and saw Bahena Ruiz carrying a gun before he went back inside his house.
Officers ultimately took Bahena Ruiz into custody, then executed a search warrant on his house, where they found a handgun, magazines, ammunition, and fraudulent immigration documents, including a green card and Social Security Card bearing false names.
Officers also found at least 71 spent shell casings on Bahena Ruiz’s back porch and peyote plants containing mescaline, both Schedule I controlled substances, in Bahena Ruiz’s basement.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Danville Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that OSNI AYALA AVELAR, a/k/a Hosni Hernandez, a/k/a Hosni Ayala Avelar, a/k/a Hosni Aldair Hernandez-Avelar, a/k/a Hosni A. Ayala, a/k/a Osni Aldair Ayala-Avelar, a/k/a Osni Ayala, a/k/a Hosni Hernandez-Avelor, a/k/a Hosni Hernandez-Avelar, age 35, a Salvadoran national unlawfully present in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division.
The Indictment alleged that on June 12, 2026, Avelar, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on July 26, 2017, January 28, 2011, and May 26, 2009.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Avelar will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Knutson represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Convicted in Homeland Security Task Force Case Involving Deadly Alien Smuggling OperationRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – Furthering the achievements of the Homeland Security Task Force, a federal jury in El Paso convicted an illegal alien from Mexico of five counts for his role in a deadly conspiracy to smuggle and harbor illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Juan Carlos Lara-Quezada aka Ironman, was a leader of an alien smuggling organization operating in the Western District of Texas and District of New Mexico. The organization is responsible for smuggling hundreds of illegal aliens into the U.S. via the desert in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. After successfully entering the U.S., the aliens were picked up and then driven to a stash house in El Paso where they would remain until they were transported further into the United States.
In 2024, the organization smuggled a woman and her son-in-law into the U.S., using a foot guide to lead them on an eight-hour journey through the desert. On the journey, the woman fell ill. The smugglers were directed to drop her off at an El Paso hospital instead of the stash house. En route to the hospital, the foot guide and driver instead abandoned the woman and her son-in-law on the sidewalk of a residential neighborhood. A passing motorist noticed the two abandoned aliens and called emergency services. The woman was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced dead due to environmental heat exposure.
An investigation led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations resulted in Lara-Quezada’s arrest on Dec. 20, 2024. He was charged in a second superseding indictment on April 2, 2025, with conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death, conspiracy to harbor aliens, transporting aliens resulting in death, conspiracy to bring in aliens, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Now convicted om all five charges, Lara-Quezada is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 2.
Three co-defendants were sentenced earlier this year. Juan David Vaquera-Guerrero aka Cone aka Sonic was sentenced to 46 months in prison on April 2. Carlos Omar Lara-Muniz aka Goofy was sentenced to 57 months in prison on April 16. On April 21, Ruben Esquivel-Gomez aka Guero was sentenced to 72 months in prison. All defendants in the case are illegal aliens from Mexico and were charged with the death of the smuggled alien.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone presides over the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mathew Engelbaum and Michael Williams are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; ICE HSI; DEA; ATF; U.S. Border Patrol; USMS; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Texas Department of Public Safety; as well as local police departments and sheriff’s offices, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
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Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Joe Sidney Cross, 44, of Huntington, was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl. Cross admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed fentanyl, cocaine base, and methamphetamine in the Huntington area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 13, 2025, Cross sold approximately 3.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant for $220 in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Cross admitted that he arranged the transaction beforehand and conducted the drug deal in the confidential informant’s vehicle.
Cross also admitted to conspiring with another individual to conduct additional transactions on March 20 and March 24, 2025. During each transaction, Cross sold a firearm and co-conspirator Erin Leigh Keeney sold approximately 1 gram of carfentanil to a confidential informant. Cross further admitted to selling 8.45 grams of fentanyl on May 22, 2025, and approximately 11.44 grams of fentanyl on June 12, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington.
On September 11, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington residence while Cross was present and seized approximately 12.35 grams of suspected cocaine base, also known as “crack.” Cross admitted that he intended to sell the seized crack.
Cross and Keeney are among seven individuals indicted following a federal investigation of drug trafficking in the Huntington area. All seven defendants pleaded guilty. Keeney, 42, of Huntington, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 28, 2026, after pleading guilty to distribution of carfentanil.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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. 3:25-cr-161.
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Hardin County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Multiple Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Christopher Peyton Stricklin, 20, of Savannah, Tennessee, was sentenced to 300 months’ imprisonment for committing three sexual exploitation offenses against minors in August 2025. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
The investigation in this case revealed that Stricklin used a cell phone to videotape himself sexually molesting a minor female, and he then sent the video to another minor using the same cell phone. Stricklin was charged in a three-count indictment with production and distribution of child pornography, and with transferring obscene material to a person under age 16. Following a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen, Stricklin was convicted of all three counts.
On August 6, 2026, Judge Breen sentenced Stricklin to 300 months’ imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release. Stricklin was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,000 to the victim of his production offense, and a $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 (JVTA).
Following his release from prison, Stricklin will have to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration & Notification Act (SORNA).
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “With the proliferation of cell phones and social media, predators are increasingly committing disturbing crimes against vulnerable victims, including child sexual abuse. As offenders keep committing these heinous crimes against children, our office will keep convicting and severely punishing them.”
“This sentence is a reminder of the FBI’s never-ending pursuit of criminals who exploit our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The community is safer with Stricklin behind bars. Removing those who prey on others – especially children – helps protect the public and reinforces the commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to protecting children from these insidious crimes.”
“This case highlights the power of the strong collaboration and the unwavering commitment shown by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation along with our local, state, and federal partners in pursuing those who exploit innocent children,” said TBI Director David Rausch. “We hope this sentence sends a clear message to others: we will continue to devote every necessary resource to identifying and apprehending individuals who prey on our most vulnerable citizens across Tennessee.”
This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the Savannah Police Department, the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office for the 24th Judicial District in Tennessee.
Assistant United States Attorneys Josh Morrow and Caroline Parish prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Griffin Grifter Sentenced to Federal Prison for DogfightingRead the Press Release
NEWNAN, Ga. - Norman Dixson, a convicted drug dealer who fraudulently obtained federal pandemic relief money to fund his lifestyle, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for promoting dogfighting.
“Dixson exploited federal relief programs while breeding, training, and abusing dogs in horrific conditions for his barbaric entertainment and monetary gain,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Dogfighting has no place in civilized society. Depraved individuals who abuse animals for profit should take notice: we will aggressively prosecute these offenses and ensure the perpetrators are sent to prison.”
“Norman Dixson was sentenced to federal prison for his vile acts of animal cruelty, the killing of animals, and his involvement in brutal dog-fighting operations. Dixson also defrauded the Indiana Department of Workforce Development by fraudulently filing for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits he knew he was not entitled to receive, stealing taxpayer-funded relief intended for people in genuine need,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “We will continue to work relentlessly with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the unemployment insurance system and aggressively pursue those who seek to exploit, loot, and abuse these critical public benefit programs.”
“Dogfighting is grossly inhuman and it is against the law,” said USDA Inspector General John Walk. “USDA OIG remains resolute to bring those who commit this gruesome crime to justice. Let this prison sentence be a warning that violations of animal welfare laws will not be tolerated. It is unconscionable that this criminal supported himself by fraudulently exploiting a public relief program. I commend acting Special Agent in Charge Nathan Unger for his investigative work.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Dogfighting is an extreme form of animal cruelty. Dogs forced into dogfighting are often kept on short, heavy chains in squalid conditions. Dog fights often last hours, with dogs suffering puncture wounds, lacerations, blood loss, and broken bones. Injured dogs do not receive professional medical care because the injuries would quickly expose dogfighting rings. Instead, the dogs must suffer through bootleg “treatment” from criminals. Losing dogs and those that refuse to fight are often brutally executed.
Videos and photographs obtained from Dixson’s Facebook and iCloud accounts showed that, since at least 2018, Dixson bred dogs for the purpose of dogfighting. He used treadmills and other devices to condition them to fight from birth, and he marketed puppies on Facebook for dogfighting. Dixson’s dogs spent much of their lives on heavy chains and in makeshift pens or overcrowded crates, surrounded by waste. Dixson recorded numerous dog fights in which his dogs were seriously injured, and he captured video of dead and dying dogs, some hanging by their necks from leashes, suggesting that they had been strangled to death.
While promoting dogfighting ventures, Dixson relied on fraudulently obtained taxpayer money to support his lifestyle. He exploited relief programs designed to help struggling citizens and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic to receive more than $170,000 in Paycheck Protection Program and Unemployment Insurance funds, lying to state and federal government agencies in the process.
On August 7, 2026, Norman Dixson, 35, of Griffin, Georgia, was sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, he was ordered to pay restitution of $171,069. As part of his sentence, Dixson was barred from possessing dogs for the entire term of supervised release. Dixson was convicted of one count of sponsoring and exhibiting a dog in an animal fighting venture after pleading guilty on April 30, 2026.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General and U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General.
Assistant United States Attorney Samir Kaushal and former Assistant United States Attorney Alex R. Sistla prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Georgia Man Charged with Threatening to Kill Husband of Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi GabbardRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Nolan Ezra Goldklang, 23, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, was charged by criminal complaint on August 5, 2026, with sending an interstate communication containing a threat to kill the husband of Tulsi Gabbard, the former Director of National Intelligence. Goldklang was arrested on August 7, 2026 on Oahu, and had his initial appearance on August 10, 2026, in the District of Hawaii.
According to court records, on or about July 21, 2026, using a computer in or near Kapolei, Hawaii, Goldklang posted threatening statements directed at Ms. Gabbard’s husband on the social media platform “X.” Goldklang posted that he was “going to murder” Ms. Gabbard’s husband when he returned to Oahu and was going to “slam his bloody face on the pavement until his skull cracks.” Goldklang’s family reported the post to law enforcement and informed investigators that Goldklang was obsessed and infatuated with Gabbard. His family also reported that Goldklang had experienced mental health issues and had previously escaped from a mental institution where he had been involuntarily committed. His family believed Goldklang may have traveled from the mainland to Hawaii to meet with Gabbard.
If convicted, Goldklang faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, plus a term of supervised release.
The charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph J. St. Clair is prosecuting the case.
Fresno County Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Causing Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Austin Lloyd Kerns, 54, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 12 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, the investigation began following a fatal fentanyl overdose of a 24-year-old Fresno man. The victim died after using counterfeit oxycodone M30 tablets containing fentanyl that he obtained directly from Mr. Kerns after being referred by a co-conspirator. Kerns sold the victim 16 pills in three separate deals over two days, with one of these pills ultimately taking the victim’s life. Kerns pleaded guilty to conspiring with his codefendant, Lakota Tehya Wakley, 22, of Clovis, to sell fentanyl to users like the victim referred by Wakley. Kerns would in turn sell the buyers fentanyl pills and send Wakley a cut of the profits earned from the sales. During this distribution conspiracy, Kerns was out on bail in a pending criminal case before the Fresno County Superior Court on charges of distributing methamphetamine.
Kerns pleaded guilty on May 18, 2026.
This case was the product of an investigation by Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team, a multi-agency team composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Calvin Lee prosecuted the case.
Former Washoe County Employee Indicted for Embezzling Federal Grant FundingRead the Press Release
RENO – The former Chief of the Washoe County Department of Alternative Sentencing is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court today for allegedly embezzling over $55,000 in federal grant award funds.
"Public service is a public trust, and violating that trust for personal enrichment degrades the integrity of our civic institutions,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “The Department of Justice, alongside our federal and local law enforcement partners, remains deeply committed to rooting out public corruption through our Public Corruption Strike Force and ensuring that federal tax dollars are used for their intended public benefit, not to line the pockets of government officials."
“The U.S. Secret Service was founded to protect our nation’s financial system, and we’re dedicated to continuing that honorable, important work as part of our agency’s dual mission,” said Special Agent in Charge Karon Ransom for the United States Secret Service Las Vegas Field Office. “The theft of federal funds will not be tolerated and we’re proud of the work done by our special agents to investigate this serious crime. We’re grateful to our partner agencies that worked tirelessly with us on this case so that justice can be served and a critical message can be sent: if you steal from the federal government, you will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to allegations contained in the indictment, the Department of Alternative Sentencing received approximately $1.3 million in grant funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a component of the Justice Department. As alleged, from November 2024 to December 2024, Justin Roper embezzled $55,593.52 of federal grant funds.
Roper is charged with one count of federal program theft. If convicted at trial, Roper faces the maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The United States Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Skyler Pearson is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the District of Nevada’s Public Corruption Strike Force. The Strike Force is within the Office’s Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys with extensive public corruption experience handle cases of allegations of criminal misconduct. This specialized unit will focus on the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes affecting government integrity, including bribery of public officials at all levels of government, election crimes, and other related offenses. This endeavor is a collaborative effort with federal, state, and local agencies across the Silver State.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former Rock Hill Teacher Indicted for Possession and Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a five-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Douglas Melvin MacAlpine, 38, of York, for possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
The indictment alleges that Douglas MacAlpine used the Kik social media application at least four times to distribute files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to other Kik users in the fall of 2024. Subsequent state and federal search warrants revealed MacAlpine’s cell phone and Kik accounts contained hundreds of CSAM files. The indictment further alleges that MacAlpine possessed CSAM material in March 2025.
MacAlpine faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, special assessments of up to $40,000, and lifetime supervision. He also faces sex offender registry requirements, if convicted. MacAlpine is currently detained pending trial.
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 case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the York County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.###
* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.
Former Missouri Police Officer Admits Sexually Abusing 18 DetaineesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former North County Police Cooperative officer on Monday admitted sexually assaulting 18 men after detaining or arresting them.
Marcellis Blackwell, 36, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to 18 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to bodily integrity. All of the counts involved abusive sexual contact and fifteen involved the kidnapping of the victims.
As part of his plea agreement, Blackwell admitted that between Nov. 8, 2022, and June 5, 2023, while working as an officer with the North County Police Cooperative, Blackwell sexually assaulted 18 men. The assaults typically followed traffic stops or arrests. In one case, Blackwell detained two men after a traffic accident, groping one in the back seat of his police vehicle before taking his other victim to a remote location. Sixteen of his victims were handcuffed at the time. Fifteen were taken to a remote location, including a high school and the back parking lot of Blackwell’s department, after he deactivated his body-worn camera. On 13 occasions Blackwell falsified reports by claiming that his body-worn camera had been active during his entire interaction with the arrestees.
The investigation began on June 4, 2023, when one of Blackwell’s victims from the previous day contacted the North County Police Cooperative. As more victims came forward, the FBI took over the investigation.
Blackwell is scheduled to be sentenced on November 24. The U.S. Attorney’s office will request a sentence of 30 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Krug and Jennifer Szczucinski are prosecuting the case.
Former Magoffin County High School Teacher Sentenced for Online Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – A Salyersville, Ky man and former Magoffin County High School teacher, Jason Back, 44, was sentenced on Monday to 17 years in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for online enticement.
According to his plea agreement, on March 6, 2023, through March 9, 2023, Back enticed a minor to engage in sexual activity. Specifically, during that time period, Back, a high school teacher, engaged in a text message conversation with a minor and sent a series of sexually explicit messages, including a series of messages that included plans to engage in sexual intercourse. Through the messages sent by Back, in his position as teacher, a position of authority or trust, Back enticed the minor to engage in sexual intercourse.
“Teachers are entrusted with the safety and well-being of their students, and that trust must never be exploited. When an adult in a position of authority uses that trust to target or entice a child for sexual purposes, the consequences are serious,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “We will continue to hold accountable those who prey upon children and abuse positions of trust.”
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Former Fresno Arts Council Manager Sentenced to 33 Months in Federal Prison for Embezzling over $1.8 Million in Public FundsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Suliana Caldwell, 46, of Fresno, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for stealing more than $1.8 million in public funds from the Fresno Arts Council (FAC), U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court records, Caldwell was the FAC’s operations manager from 2021 to February 2026. In this position, she managed the FAC’s bank accounts, payroll, grants, donations, and general finances. Her duties also included providing periodic financial updates and reports to the executive director, board members, and the City and County of Fresno.
“This defendant abused her position, betrayed the public’s trust, and siphoned away over $1.8 million intended to support parks, trails, and the arts in Fresno,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “She lied and falsified financial reports in order to use taxpayer dollars to fund casino trips, vacations, and personal indulgences. Her actions undermined a community that believed in her. Today’s sentence reflects our commitment to protecting public funds and holding accountable anyone who exploits her position for personal gain.”
"Suliana Caldwell betrayed the public’s trust when she embezzled over $1.8 million from the Fresno Arts Council for personal use,” said FBI Sacramento Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Tosh. “Today’s sentencing underscores our commitment to investigating public corruption at every level. We encourage anyone with information on corruption to report it to the FBI so we can continue holding bad actors accountable and protecting community resources."
“While it is disappointing that the community’s trust was violated by the theft Caldwell committed, we are grateful that the Fresno Police Department’s partnership with FBI investigators helped the U.S. Attorney’s Office to swiftly bring justice for the taxpayers in the City of Fresno,” said Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto.
Beginning in 2022, Caldwell embezzled funds by making unauthorized withdrawals of money from the FAC’s bank accounts. In 2023, after the Fresno City Council designated the FAC to administer its Measure P grant money, Caldwell significantly increased the amount of money she stole from the FAC’s accounts and ultimately took more than $80,000 per month on average. Measure P is a tax initiative approved by Fresno voters in 2018 to provide funding for parks, trails, and the arts, among other things.
Caldwell concealed her theft by using her position of trust as the operations manager to falsify financial reports, which omitted her theft and represented that there were significantly higher balances in the FAC’s bank accounts than was true. She then presented the false reports to the FAC’s executive director, board members, and others to trick them into believing everything was okay. Caldwell received an enhancement to her sentence because of this abuse of trust.
In total, Caldwell stole over $1.8 million from the FAC. She then used the money to gamble at local casinos where she enjoyed various VIP statuses, pay for vacations, and for other improper personal expenses.
The FAC detected Caldwell’s theft in February 2026 when one of its checks bounced. Caldwell was subsequently fired and charged in this case. She pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026.
This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody Chapple and Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.
Former Employee of Maryland State Contractor Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Benefits Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A former Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL) insider pled guilty in federal court to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges.
Katrina McCant, 41, of Baltimore, pled guilty to charges in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance (UI) claim benefits during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, (DOL-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office.
According to her guilty plea, beginning in January 2021, and continuing until December 2021, McCant used her position as a contractor for Company #1 to advance the scheme. Company #1 provided support services to MD-DOL. While working for the MD-DOL, McCant enriched herself by fraudulently obtaining UI benefits.
McCant used her insider access to MD-DOL data and databases to upload and approve documents submitted in support of UI claims. Some of the claims she initiated herself while others she took over by changing the claimant’s email address and name to her own.
In furthering the scheme, she removed holds on UI claims, certified weeks, and engaged in other actions to facilitate fraudulent UI benefit payments. As part of the scheme, McCant changed the names of the claimants to facilitate the direct deposit of funds into her financial accounts. She also used the personal identifiable information (PII) of multiple real people, who were aggravated identity theft victims, to make changes to UI claims in the MD-DOL system.
Additionally, McCant used her insider access to MD-DOL data and databases to upload and approve certain documents submitted in support of UI claims. McCant also used her access to remove fraud holds on UI claims, certify weeks, and engage in other actions to facilitate the payment of fraudulent UI benefits for other individuals. These individuals paid McCant a one-time fee, often through PayPal, to fraudulently approve or facilitate fraudulent claims. McCant’s fee varied depending on the size of the claim, as she received amounts that ranged from approximately $500 to $8,000 per claim.
As part of the plea, McCant agreed to pay restitution to the Maryland Department of Labor of at least $550,000. McCant also agreed to a forfeiture of at least $550,000.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOL-OIG and FBI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared W. Murphy and Harry Gruber who are prosecuting this federal case.
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 D.C. High School Teacher Pleads Guilty to Coercing and Enticing a MinorRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – John Aaron Gass, 35, of Hyattsville, Maryland, a former high school history teacher, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor victim, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Gass pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Judge Sooknanan scheduled sentencing for Dec. 11, 2026.
According to court papers, Gass worked as a history teacher at the District of Columbia International School, a charter school in Northwest, until November 2025.
Gass exchanged sexually explicit images with the minor victim, court papers state.
Gass was arrested at his home in Maryland in December 2025.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Rachel Bohlen.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Firearms Trafficker Who Traded Stolen Guns for Drugs and Cash Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Harrison County, West Virginia man was sentenced today for selling controlled substances and for his role in a firearms trafficking scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Paul Oliver Dennison, 45, of Lumberport, West Virginia, was sentenced to 121 months in prison for firearms and drug violations. Beginning in spring 2024, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and Bridgeport Police Department received more than 20 reports of firearms and valuables stolen from unlocked vehicles. Investigators identified two suspects and learned the stolen firearms were being traded to Dennison for narcotics or cash. A search warrant executed at his residence, outbuildings, and vehicles resulted in the recovery of a stolen pistol, a suitcase containing multiple firearms, ammunition, and a suspected homemade silencer, as well as user quantities of marijuana, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs. In a separate case, Dennison was selling fentanyl and methamphetamine from his home. On several occasions, Dennison sold between 40 to160 grams of fentanyl and nearly 14 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office; and the Bridgeport Police Department investigated.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Felon Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Massive Collection of Child Sexual Abuse Material Distributed over Peer-to-Peer NetworkRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A convicted felon was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 84 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release for making available for download a large collection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on a peer-to-peer network. The government recommended 102 months’ imprisonment.
"Today’s sentence delivers a clear and unequivocal message: those who exploit, trade, and profit from the abuse of children will be held fully accountable under the law,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “The digital exploitation of children is not a victimless crime. Every single file represents a real child who suffered unimaginable trauma, and every view perpetuates that harm. Our office, alongside our dedicated partners in law enforcement, remains unwavering in our commitment to tracking down online predators, rescuing victims, and removing these horrific materials from our communities. We want to thank the investigators and analysts whose tireless digital forensics work made this prosecution possible. We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to protect the most vulnerable among us."
“Child exploitation is a heinous crime that we investigate with unwavering resolve, as every video and image perpetuates the suffering of innocent children, and we will not stand for the exploitation of our youth,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The FBI, alongside our law enforcement partners, remain fiercely committed to combating child sexual exploitation and safeguarding vulnerable children from further harm.”
According to court documents, on March 25, 2023, Nicholas Fabio made available for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network, more than 700 files of child sexual abuse material and distributed over 50 of those CSAM files. Additionally, he possessed over 600 images of CSAM depicting sadistic or masochistic depictions of violence of children, as young as infants.
Furthermore, Fabio admitted that he possessed a semi-automatic Glock 19 and approximately 494 9mm Luger cartridges after having previously been convicted of a felony, including possession with intent to distribute cocaine in Clark County, Nevada.
Fabio pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to imprisonment, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Fabio will be required to register as a sex offender and keep the registration current.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
To report an online child sexual exploitation offense, call 911 or go NCMEC’s CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org.
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Ecuadoran National Charged with Offenses Related to Theft of U.S. Treasury FundsRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, and Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), today announced that EDISON JOVANNY DUTA PINDO, 43, a citizen of Ecuador unlawfully residing in the United States, has been charged in a seven-count indictment with offenses related to the theft of U.S. Treasury funds.
The indictment alleges that Pindo, who resided in Danbury, maintained accounts at Newtown Savings Bank in his name and in the name of Home Services Pro LLC, a business that was registered with the State of Connecticut. On April 23, 2024, Pindo deposited a fraudulent U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $53,780.49, made payable to Home Services Pro LLC and Edison Jovanny Duta, into the Home Services Pro LLC account. The following day he made two withdrawals, each in the amount of $15,000, from Newtown Savings Bank branches in Brookfield and Bethel.
The indictment further alleges that, on May 14, 2024, Pindo deposited a fraudulent U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $150,597.28, made payable to Home Services Pro LLC and Edison Jovanny Duta, into the Home Services Pro LLC account. That same day, he transferred $50,000 from the business account to his personal account.
On December 3, 2025, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Pindo with two counts of bank fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years on each count, three counts of making illegal monetary transactions, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count, and two counts of passing counterfeit obligations, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.
Pindo has been detained since he was located and arrested in Danbury on July 16, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, with the assistance of the Danbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Cherry.
Drug trafficker from Phoenix sentenced to 150 months in prisonRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 42-year-old Phoenix man with prior convictions for drug trafficking was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 150 months (12.5 years) in prison for acting as a broker for huge amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl headed to western Washington, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Ryan Matthew Gennette was a long-time resident of Auburn, Washington, before relocating to Phoenix. Gennette was tied to large shipments of methamphetamine and fentanyl tainted M30 pills. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle said that Genette was “willing to engage in the large-scale distribution of dangerous substances for money.”
“Not only did Mr. Gennette traffick huge amounts of dangerous drugs by mail and by courier, he was also involved in sending firearms to cartel connected drug sources in Mexico,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “This sentence takes a repeat offender out of the drug business for a significant period.”
According to records filed in the case, Gennette was already on law enforcement radar in June 2024 when he shipped two large boxes containing seven kilograms of fentanyl pills, almost two kilograms of fentanyl powder, and over ten kilograms of actual methamphetamine
to an address on Whidbey Island. Law enforcement seized and replaced the drugs with sham materials so that they could gather information on Gennette’s drug network.
Next Gennette sent nine kilograms of methamphetamine via courier – it too was seized by law enforcement.
Over time, law enforcement worked with confidential informants to place orders for large amounts of drugs from Gennette. This led to Gennette reaching out to an alleged contact in Mexico, Donald Budge. Budge is also charged in this case and is detained pending trial scheduled for December 15, 2026. Budge is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Gennette sent shipments of highly pure methamphetamine on two occasions in October 2024 – those shipments came into law enforcement custody. A shipment of 13 kilos of methamphetamine was tested as being 100 percent pure. A final shipment of over 64 kilograms of
actual methamphetamine, plus 6.5 kilograms of counterfeit “M30” pills manufactured to look like prescription oxycodone, was seized from a courier in a traffic stop.
Both men were arrested in November 2024 – Gennette in Phoenix and Budge in Tijuana, Mexico.
Gennette pleaded guilty in May 2026.
This investigation 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 Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
This investigation was led by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). There is significant assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement Team (Auburn Police Department, Bonney Lake Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Puyallup Police Department, Tacoma Police Department, Washington State Department of Corrections) the Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit (which includes the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, Mt. Vernon Police Department, Burlington Police Department, Anacortes Police Department and the Oak Harbor Police Department) as well as the Island County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vincent T. Lombardi and Crystal C Correa.
District Man Charged with Sexually Abusing Multiple Minors and Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
indictment_as_to_antonio_simpson_1_count_s_1_6_7_8.pdfWASHINGTON – Today an indictment was returned charging Antonio Simpson, 31, a District of Columbia resident, with twelve counts including production of child pornography and first-degree child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
According to court documents, beginning in April 2025, Simpson sexually abused two minor children who were eight and nine years old at the time. The abuse continued for more than a year. Simpson also video recorded multiple acts of sexual abuse with his victims, including placing his penis in their mouths and touching their genitals. Simpson was arrested in this matter on July 21, 2026, and remains detained.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Bohlen.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Charges in an indictment are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Democratic Republic of Congo Man Indicted for Wire Fraud and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced that Nicolas Mondani Oleko, age 32, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, appeared in federal court today in the District of North Dakota for an arraignment on an Indictment returned by a grand jury. The Indictment charges one count of Wire Fraud and one count of Bank Fraud and alleges that, while residing in the District of North Dakota, Oleko participated in, and aided and abetted, a business email compromise scheme that defrauded an auction business of $113,050.
The charges and allegations contained in the charging documents are merely accusations. The Indictment in this case is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The United States Attorney’s Office urges all public and private entities to exercise vigilance to prevent business email compromise fraud. Entities are encouraged to establish strict payment protocols for large transactions and verify changes to vendor bank and routing information with trusted sources outside the chain of email communication.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Greenley.
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DOJ provides crime-fighting grants to state, cities, and counties in Western WashingtonRead the Press Release
Seattle – The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs has awarded more than $8 million to Washington State, its cities and counties for law enforcement equipment, training and personnel, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. The federal Byrne grants (named for a young police officer killed in the line of duty) were awarded last month to the state and ten different cities and counties. The two largest grants, nearly $6.5 million total, went to the Washington State Department of Commerce to be parceled out to cities, counties and non-profit organizations for programs that focus on community safety.
“It can be highly competitive to get these federal funds, and I congratulate the cities and counties that developed proposals that were chosen for Byrne grants,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “We know that a strong partnership with state and local law enforcement is crucial to federal efforts to protect our community. I am pleased to be able to announce this DOJ support for state and local law enforcement.”
Additional grants include:
Seattle Police and surrounding jurisdictions: $842,356 for programs and equipment identified by each jurisdiction – includes overtime and improved technology systems.
Tacoma and Pierce County: $395,052 for Tacoma’s Building Resilience Against Youth Violence and Exploitation (BRAVE) program to reduce young adult violence and for Pierce County Sheriff’s Office investments in safety equipment and training.
Longview and Cowlitz County: $10,793 to support the Longview School Resource Officer Program.
Bremerton: $16,612 to maintain and develop crime prevention activities and initiatives.
Kitsap County: $46,956 to purchase equipment for digital evidence extraction and secure storage, and for purchase of high sensitivity camera for use in identifying skin bruising and other forensic material.
Everett: $38,199 for technology upgrades for investigations and for establishing a North Precinct Drone for the First Responder Operations Center to expand emergency response capacity.
Snohomish County: $84,296 for implementing the Grappler Police Bumper pursuit immobilization system on patrol vehicles, and the training for using the system to bring fleeing vehicles to a safe stop.
Vancouver and Clark County: $139,355 The two entities will evenly split the federal dollars and use the funds for technology, equipment and supplies that enhance community safety.
Marysville: $14,226 for the purchase of tactical emergency medical equipment. The first aid kits will enhance officer safety and provide immediate lifesaving care to community members.
Bellingham: $44,163 to bring back the motorcycle traffic unit which was closed due to COVID. The federal funds will pay for equipment and technological upgrades such as radios, printers, scanners, and other communication devices.
D.C. Man Indicted on 30 Counts in Domestic Violence CaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tavante Robinson, 26, of Washington, D.C., was arraigned today by a D.C. Superior Court judge on a thirty-count indictment, for charges related to the kidnapping and assault of the mother of his children and other violent acts committed against her friend and other family members, between March 2025 and July 2026. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Tavante Robinson allegedly punched his own 4-year-old child, resulting in a black eye. He later kidnapped the child’s mother and their children and set her friend’s apartment door on fire,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Even with a protective order issued against him, the violence continued. This behavior has no place in our community, and my office will continue to prosecute anyone who does harm and instills fear in our community.”
Robinson was indicted for first-degree cruelty to children, kidnapping, robbery, arson, stalking, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, possession and use of a Molotov cocktail, obstructing justice, and various additional counts related to threats, assaultive conduct, and contempt of court orders.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt set a hearing for September 8, 2026. The Court determined that the defendant should be held pending trial.
According to court documents, on March 14, 2025, the victim returned to her residence and observed that her 4-year-old son had a black eye. A witness reported that while the mother was out of the home, the defendant became upset with the 4-year-old and punched him in the face. In the months following, the victim received a Civil Protection Order against the defendant from a D.C. Superior Court judge, which the defendant repeatedly violated. On April 16, 2026, the victim reported that the defendant kidnapped her and her children from her friend’s apartment complex and held them captive for multiple hours. The victim and her children ultimately became free of the defendant when he fled the area once police arrived. Just a few days later, on April 20, 2026, the D.C. Fire Department was dispatched to that same apartment complex where the victim and her children were taken from by the defendant. The D.C. Fire Investigation Unit located a fire at the door of the apartment belonging to the victim’s friend and observed further damage to the apartment’s exterior window as well as burned patches beneath that window.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the D.C. Fire Investigation Unit. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Hinerfeld.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Trying to Obtain U.S. Military EquipmentRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Dingwei Chen, a 29-year-old citizen of the People’s Republic of China, pleaded guilty in federal court in Salt Lake City to violating the Arms Export Control Act. U.S. District Judge David Sam accepted Chen’s guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for Oct 19. Chen faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Chen attempted to purchase military-grade satellite modems and radios manufactured for the U.S. military by American companies. The specific communications hardware Chen attempted to buy may not be legally exported from the United States without a license from the Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, which generally does not issue licenses to export military goods and services to China.
“Chen tried to divert sensitive U.S. military technologies to the People’s Republic of China, technologies the PRC could have used against us in the future,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “These advanced technologies are a product of United States ingenuity and investment, and the National Security Division will act together with our partners across the government to enforce our laws to protect the military advantage bestowed by such technologies.”
“Today’s guilty plea underscores the serious consequences for those who attempt to illegally procure, export, or transfer sensitive U.S.-origin military equipment or technology in violation of our nation’s export control laws,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Jersey. “Protecting American innovation and preventing critical technologies from reaching foreign adversaries, terrorist organizations, and transnational criminal organizations is a core national security mission. This investigation reflects the exceptional collaboration between HSI offices across the United States and its territories and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service to disrupt an illicit procurement network and hold accountable those who threaten the security of the United States.”
“Advanced communication systems – such as those increasingly sought after by adversaries for their sophisticated capabilities – are essential to protecting our warfighters and ensuring they can operate safely and decisively across modern battlespaces,” said Director James R. Ives of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). “Safeguarding this technology is critical to the men and women who rely on these systems when protecting our nation. As the criminal investigative arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, DCIS will aggressively pursue those who attempt to obtain and illegally export sensitive technology that could pose future risks to our troops and ensure they face justice.”
According to court records, Chen worked with others in China to try and acquire these sensitive communications systems from foreign arms dealers on the black market. They discussed various methods to export them to China. Initially, Chen and his co-conspirators sought to transship the goods through Switzerland; then they spoke about picking them up in Saipan; finally, they decided to smuggle through Mexico.
After making an initial down payment of over $40,000 U.S. dollars, Chen and his co-conspirators switched to cryptocurrency, noting that “cold wallets are essentially anonymous bank accounts. Each transaction processed through them is private and untraceable.” They went on to pay roughly $30,000 worth of USDT, which is a type of cryptocurrency. These down payments related to the purchase of 10 modems.
To avoid detection, Chen and his co-conspirators communicated using an encrypted app. Using the encrypted app, Chen claimed this was merely an initial deal, and he had funding to buy tens of millions of dollars’ worth of additional military equipment.
Assistant Attorney General Eisenberg thanked the hardworking HSI and DCIS agents who investigated this case.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Christopher Magnani of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Chester County Woman Who Served as Money Mule for Foreign Scammers Pleads Guilty to 13 Counts of FraudRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Emily Zawacki, 65, of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro to nine counts of wire fraud and four counts of mail fraud, arising from her role as a money mule who helped foreign scammers launder nearly $2 million in proceeds from romance scams and business email compromise schemes.
The defendant was charged by indictment in January.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, for years, Zawacki received money from people and businesses, none of whom she knew, via wire transfer into her bank accounts, or receipt of checks, cashiers’ checks, or cash that was mailed or shipped to her home.
The defendant received the funds at the direction of a man known to her as “David Thomas,” whom she had never met, and was told ahead of time by him when she could expect funds to be wire transferred or mailed to her. Zawacki checked her balance to determine that the wire transfers had occurred, or deposited the checks or cash into her bank account. She then sent the funds to whatever account “David Thomas” directed, by whatever method he directed. She normally converted the funds to cryptocurrency, at his direction.
To assist the schemers by receiving victim funds and transferring them, during the indictment period, the defendant used at least 20 accounts at 14 financial institutions, in her own name and in the name of her shell company, “DEmilyEnterprises.”
Banks repeatedly closed Zawacki’s accounts due to suspected fraud, and some of the banks told her why they were closing her accounts. Even after being warned twice by federal agents — in October 2022 and March 2023 — that she was helping scammers to defraud other people and could be prosecuted if she continued her money mule activities, the defendant nevertheless continued in that role.
Zawacki’s knowing participation from October 2022 until July 2025, the period charged in the indictment, caused individual victims and business victims a loss totaling approximately $1,916,461.29.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1 and faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 for each of the 13 charges on which she was convicted.
This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Newtown Square Resident Agency, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mary E. Crawley and S. Chandler Harris.