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27 March 2026
Sioux City Man with History of Violence Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm Discovered During Domestic Abuse InvestigationRead the Press Release
Issac Rayford, age 32, from Sioux City, was sentenced March 26, 2026, to 4 years in federal prison after an October 21, 2025, guilty plea to Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Drug User, and Domestic Abuse Misdemeanant.
Evidence in the case revealed that on November 2, 2024, Rayford’s girlfriend found his loaded firearm sitting on the toilet bowl as he showered. Scared of what he might do with the gun, she hid the weapon. Rayford discovered it was gone and violently attacked his girlfriend. He threw her to the ground, put his whole-body weight on her face, picked her up and threw her on the floor, put his hands around her neck, and broke her clavicle. When he began searching for the gun elsewhere, she escaped the apartment, and a neighbor called police. Rayford fled the scene on foot prior to officers’ arrival. On November 4, 2024, the girlfriend called law enforcement and reported that she had seen Rayford on her security camera entering her home. Officers arrived and Rayford was taken into custody without further incident.
Rayford’s criminal history includes convictions for two serious assaults, domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury, disorderly conduct where actually “he grabbed and choked” a female, disorderly conduct where he actually jeopardized a baby and threatened others, interfering with official acts by running from police to avoid arrest, driving while barred or suspended, and failing to appear for court.
Rayford was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 48 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Rayford is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-4017.
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Sharon Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Three Decades in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on his conviction of distributing fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and death, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Reggie B. Walton (United States District Court for the District of Columbia) imposed the sentence on Laven Davis, 33. Judge Walton also ordered Davis to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
Davis was convicted by a federal jury in October 2025 of distributing fentanyl on or about November 28, 2022, resulting in the serious bodily injury and death of a 43-year-old Hermitage woman. According to information presented to the Court, Davis distributed the fentanyl to the woman despite a request to him earlier that day in which she stated “don’t ever give me any more drugs I’m done with everything.” The woman died early the next morning in her family’s home. Davis was on state parole at the time he distributed the drugs, following his release only months before from a state prison sentence for aggravated assault.
Assistant United States Attorneys Craig W. Haller and V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Mercer County District Attorney’s Office, Mercer County Coroner’s Office, Hermitage Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Davis.
Producer of Child Sex Abuse Material Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Levelland, Texas man who produced child sexual abuse material was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Camilo Reyes Castillo, 47, pled guilty in October 2025 to seven counts of production of child pornography. He was sentenced on March 26, 2026, to 720 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix.According to court documents, in early 2025, agents with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) learned that Castillo was likely producing and trading child sexual abuse material online. DPS investigated Castillo and his online presence and confirmed that he was involved in producing and sharing sexually explicit material involving young boys. In June 2025, DPS executed a search warrant at Castillo’s residence in Levelland. Court documents reflect that Castillo agreed to speak with agents. Castillo claimed he “groped” the two male children over their clothes and recorded one of the children in the shower. Agents searched the contents of Castillo’s cell phone and located approximately 170 photos and videos of child pornography in the deleted folder. Amongst the files were seven videos of child pornography Castillo produced of the two male children he claimed he groped. Date and timestamps from the videos revealed they were produced on March 11, 2025. The videos depicted Castillo sexually abusing two male children, ages 9 and 12. The children were identified and interviewed and described Castillo sexually abusing them.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Dallas Field Office (Lubbock Resident Agency) and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, which was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Prior felon going to prison on new child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Oscar F. Hernandez III, 24, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor following a prior conviction under New York law relating to possession of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison and 10 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A.C. Penrose, who handled the case, stated that in December 2022, Hernandez was convicted of Attempted Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child in New York State Court and sentenced to serve six years of probation. On June 18, 2024, Hernandez used Instagram to share two child pornography videos with another Instagram user, who he believed to be a minor. Hernandez used a cellular telephone to upload the videos to Instagram and share them with the other user. On May 14, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Hernandez’s residence, during which law enforcement seized a number of electronic devices, including a cellular telephone, which contained 15 images of child pornography.
The sentencing of the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
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Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Multiple Robberies Targeting Armored TrucksRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Mujahid Davis, 24, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer on two counts of Hobbs Act robbery (Counts One and Five), attempted Hobbs Act robbery (Counts Three and Seven), and one count of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence (Count Six).
The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in January, along with Dante Shackleford, 26, also of Philadelphia.
As detailed in case filings and admitted to by the defendant, Davis, with others, participated in the following crimes:
- the July 2, 2025, robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia
- the July 15, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia
- the August 12, 2025, robbery of a Brinks truck in Elkins Park, Pa.
- the October 3, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on August 4 and faces a maximum possible term of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum of seven years’ imprisonment, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $1,500,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Eckert and Kwambina Coker.
PhD student arrested, charged with multiple child pornography charges and enticement of a minorRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Tristan Bass-Krueger, 32, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production, distribution and possession of child pornography and enticement of a minor. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on February 12, 2026, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a mother that her 14-year-old child (minor Victim 1), had sent and received sexual images to and from an adult male, and may have been having a sexual relationship with the adult male. The mother turned minor Victim 1’s cell phone over to investigators. An initial search of the cell phone revealed a Tinder Account created by minor Victim 1 and a Tinder profile user identifying as “Tristan,” who was messaging with minor Victim 1. The bio of “Tristan’s” account stated: “PhD at UR, love art and literature, good food, travelling and gathering new experiences.” Investigators also discovered conversations between minor Victim 1 and “Tristan” that were sexual in nature. The two then began to message off the Tinder application and through WhatsApp. Subsequent investigation determined that “Tristan” was Bass-Krueger.
The complaint further states that late on the night of February 4, 2026, Bass-Krueger is suspected of picking up minor Victim 1 at home with the two spending approximately five hours together before minor Victim 1 returned home. On February 8, 2026, Bass-Krueger sent minor Victim 1 a message stating: “I really like you an am looking forward to hanging out tomorrow, but tbh I see this relationship ending in heartbreak for you, the age gap just too big to work out long term and I’m risking serious jail time that’ll start to weigh on me more and m.” On February 9, 2026, Bass-Krueger and minor Victim 1 exchanged messages, discussing the fact that someone may have found out about their sexual relations. Bass-Krueger sent a message stating: “If you suspect anything delete all our communication and vids.” Investigators also discovered messages that minor Victim 1 exchanged with a friend, during which minor Victim 1 stated: “I had sex with him . . .” Minor Victim 1 also stated that Bass-Krueger took videos of their encounter. Investigators located the video on minor Victim 1’s phone.
Bass-Krueger was arrested in Atlanta, GA, on March 25, 2026, and made an initial appearance in the Northern District of Georgia. He is being detained and will be returned to the Western District of New York at a later date.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Paroled Murderer Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Being a Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Marvin Mutch, 69, of Vallejo, pleaded guilty today to one count of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in May 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Mutch’s residence. Inside his residential office, officers seized various electronic devices containing tens of thousands of depictions of the sexual exploitation of children. Some of these images included depictions of the sexual abuse of children as young as 3 or 4 years old. Officers also seized a privately manufactured “ghost gun” containing eight rounds of ammunition from the center console of Mutch’s vehicle parked in the garage.
Mutch is prohibited from possessing ammunition because he is a felon who was convicted in 1975 of murdering a 13-year-old girl. Press reports issued shortly after Riley’s murder indicated that her killer beat her and then drowned her in Alameda Creek in Union City, California. Mutch served approximately 40 years in the California state penal system for this crime before being paroled in 2016.
The Solano County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the investigation with assistance from the FBI Violent Crime Task Force and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adrian T. Kinsella and Sam Stefanki are prosecuting the case.
Mutch is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins on Aug. 28, 2026. Mutch faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on his CSAM conviction and a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on his felon in possession of ammunition conviction. The actual 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.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Norfolk man convicted on federal drug trafficking and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Norfolk man today on charges of maintaining a drug-involved premises to distribute cocaine fentanyl, marijuana, and suboxone; possessing a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Dec. 18, 2025, law enforcement conducting a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation searched the residence of Jamar Edward Gay, 36, in Norfolk. During the search, investigators located a container with crack cocaine, powder cocaine, fentanyl, and suboxone strips in the kitchen. Inside the bedroom, investigators found a handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD), rendering the firearm capable of automatic fire. Investigators also recovered two other MCDs, marijuana, and Gay’s driver’s license, debit card, and United States Marine Corp identification. Investigators found another firearm in the living room.
Gay has previous convictions for, among other crimes, unlawful wounding in March 2018 and malicious wounding in August 2022. As a previously convicted felon, Gay cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Gay faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years and up to life in prison when sentenced on Aug. 2. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
On March 18, a federal jury convicted James Edward Sweat on charges of using a drug involved premises, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Sweat faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison when sentenced on July 14.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph E. DePadilla and Luke Bresnahan are prosecuting the case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division; and the Homeland Security Investigations Norfolk office investigated this case with assistance from the Chesapeake Police Department and the Norfolk Police Department. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. The HSTF is a United States government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, transnational gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) worldwide. This initiative identifies TCOs engaged in a wide range of criminal schemes that violate federal law, while dismantling cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks that fuel violence and instability that threatens the safety and security of the United States and its global partners. It also places a particular emphasis on criminal offenses involving children and ensures the use of all available law enforcement tools to prosecute offenders and/or facilitate the removal of criminal aliens from the United States.
This case is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-5.
Newport Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Threatening to “Shoot up” and “Skin” Black PreschoolersRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Zachary Charles Newell, 26, to two years in federal prison for communicating online threats. Newell threatened to “shoot up” a preschool and murder “black babies” on YouTube. He pleaded guilty to the charges.
“Inmate Newell threatened to become the next school shooter—at a preschool no less. Targeting babies for murder—simply because of the color of their skin—is disgusting and unacceptable in civilized society. The FBI quickly responded, preventing a shooting and brought a dangerous man to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Inmate Newell became obsessed with extremist content on the internet. He posted scores of threatening comments on YouTube directed at racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.
On August 27, he wrote, “I’m gonna shoot up a black preschool. 20 black babies will be shot and then skinned.”
Immediately upon learning of the threat, the FBI identified and arrested Inmate Newell on a federal criminal complaint ensuring he was detained and removed from the ability to carry out his threats. Inmate Newell admitted to posting the threat and ultimately pleaded guilty.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The FBI and the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Erin C. Blondel prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-95-D-BM.
New Orleans Men Indicted for Fentanyl, Heroin Distribution Conspiracy and Drug Trafficking Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On March 19, 2026, YANCY MATIRNE (“MATIRNE”) and ERROL POINTS (“POINTS”), both from New Orleans, were charged on Marchs 19, 2026 in a three-count indictment by a federal grand jury, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the indictment, MATIRNE and POINTS conspired and possessed with the intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and marijuana in New Orleans in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
MATIRNE was charged in Count 1 with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), (b)(1)(C) (b)(1)(D) and 846. In Count 2 MATIRNE was charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), (b)(1)(C), (b)(1)(D) and 846. Lastly, in Count 3 MATIRNE was charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). MATIRNE faces a mandatory minimum sentence for each of the violations in Counts 1, 2, and 3. The sentences imposed in Counts 1 and 2 may be run concurrently but must run consecutively to the §924(c) violation.
POINTS was charged in Count 1 with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), (b)(1)(C) (b)(1)(D) and 846. In Count 2 POINTS was charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), (b)(1)(C), (b)(1)(D) and 846. Based on a prior conviction, POINTS is subject to a sentencing enhancement. POINTS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life as it relates to Counts 1and 2.
U. S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case is a part of the NOLA Safe initiative and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime Unit.
Operation NOLA Safe is a comprehensive, multi-pronged, and data driven law enforcement initiative designed to reduce violent crime in the Greater New Orleans area. This initiative brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to strategically align efforts and deploy targeted enforcement resources where they are most needed and effective.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Arson ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RICKY WILSON (“WILSON”), age 31, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on March 19, 2026 by United States District Judge Brandon S. Long, for his role in a Conspiracy to Commit Arson, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. to five years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, payment of full victim restitution, and payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Court documents revealed that WILSON purchased a vehicle from a dealership, but later placed three live Molotov cocktails next to vehicles on the dealership’s lot, damaging them. He also fired several shots into other vehicles, as well as the dealership’s offices. No one was injured during the course of these criminal acts.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller handled the prosecution.
Monmouth County Man Convicted of Defrauding Social Security AdministrationRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Monmouth County man was convicted of defrauding the Social Security Administration following a four-day trial, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Steven D. Stankovits, 57, of Matawan, New Jersey, was convicted by a federal jury on March 5, 2026, of four counts of wire fraud and one count of false statements to the Social Security Administration, all related to his receipt of Disability Insurance Benefits, following a trial before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In May 2010, Stankovits was found eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits, and received benefits retroactive to 2007. This finding of eligibility was based on lies to the Social Security Administration, including that Stankovits was unable to work, could not comfortably sit for more than 15 minutes, could not bend down to put on his clothes, struggled to lift a carton of milk, and had been forced to give up skiing. Stankovits failed to correct and reiterated these lies through statements and written submissions to the Social Security Administration over the next ten years. As a result, the Social Security Administration paid more than $585,000 in disability benefits.
In fact, Stankovits was a licensed funeral director working at two different funeral homes. Stankovits’s work included gardening, shoveling snow, carrying 160-pound caskets down a flight of stairs, and climbing a ladder onto the roof to install a sign. In addition, Stankovits took long flights to go skiing in Cortina, Italy, Lake Tahoe, and Park City, Utah, and purchased a skiing season pass in Killington, Vermont. All of this conduct was incompatible with Stankovits’s repeated lies to the Social Security Administration for nearly 15 years.
“For nearly 15 years, Steven Stankovits exploited the Social Security Administration’s disability insurance program,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer. “By repeatedly lying about his work and physical disability, Stankovits collected more than half a million dollars in fraudulent benefits. This conviction sends a clear message: those who lie to obtain government benefits will be identified, prosecuted, and brought to justice.”
“Today’s guilty verdict holds Steven Stankovits accountable for a nearly 15-year scheme that exploited Social Security’s disability insurance program for personal gain. By committing wire fraud and making false statements to the Social Security Administration, he stole funds intended for individuals who truly depend on these benefits,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Assistant Inspector General for Audit as First Assistant. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and pursue those who attempt to defraud Social Security programs and ensure they are brought to justice.”
The wire fraud charges carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. The false statements charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment. Both charges carry a maximum potential fine equal to the greatest of $250,000, twice the gain to the defendant, or twice the loss to the Social Security Administration.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited agents of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Conor Washington, and the Social Security Administration’s New Jersey-based Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge, Gilberto Camilo.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli Jacobs and Alison Thompson of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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Defense counsel: Charles Alvarez, Esq.
stankovits.indictment.pdfMilford Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Enticing Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSHUA BAILEY, 46, of Milford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 144 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 12, 2024, Elizabeth Jordan, after sustained pressure from Bailey, engaged in sexual activity with a minor and livestreamed the activity to Bailey using Facebook messenger. A subsequent search of Bailey’s phone revealed a series of screenshots of Jordan and the minor engaged in sexual activity.
Bailey and Jordan have been detained since August 2024 when they were arrested for related state offenses. On November 3, 2025, they each pleaded guilty in federal court to enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Judge Nagala ordered Bailey to pay $5,000 pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, and $10,000 pursuant to Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
Jordan, 43, of West Haven, is awaiting sentencing.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Miami-Area Tax Return Preparers Preliminarily Enjoined from Preparing Returns for OthersRead the Press Release
Yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued a preliminary injunction against Miami-area tax return preparer Christopher Brown and Brown’s tax return preparation business Superior Taxes LLC (Defendants).
The court issued the injunction over the defendants’ opposition to the government’s motion, which presented evidence that showed the defendants engaged in a pattern and practice of preparing and filing false returns that understated their customers’ federal income tax liabilities and claimed inflated tax refunds by: (1) claiming incorrect filing statutes, such as “head of household”; (2) fabricating or inflating business losses on Form 1040 Schedule C; (3) falsifying residential energy credits; and (4) fabricating or inflating education credits. Defendants used these schemes to reduce taxable income so that customers could claim the earned income tax credit despite knowing the customers weren’t eligible to claim these deductions and credits.
In addition to finding strong proof that the defendants fabricated deductions and losses, the court determined that the government would face irreparable harm absent a preliminary injunction. The court found Brown’s explanation that he had made a “concerted effort to take more precautions when preparing tax returns” this current tax season was “unavailing” considering the number of “inaccurate returns prepared over several years.”
The injunction bars Brown and Superior Taxes from preparing and filing tax returns for others, working for or having an ownership stake in any tax return preparation business, and advising anyone about the preparation of a tax return and requires Brown and Superior Taxes to post a copy of the preliminary injunction order at every location that they are currently operating for the current tax season.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Wu of the Civil Division’s Tax Litigation Branch made the announcement.
Attorneys Rachel Iacangelo and Elizabeth Duncan of the Tax Litigation Branch handled this matter.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information.
In the past decade, the Department of Justice has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Civil Division, Tax Litigation Branch with details.
Maryland Man Sentenced for Possessing Stolen Firearm and MarijuanaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Ashaad Anthony Turner, 24, a previously convicted felon, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court to 30 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a stolen, loaded firearm while intending to distribute marijuana in Northwest Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Turner pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2025, before Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan to two counts: unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and unlawful possession with intent to distribute marijuana. In addition to the 30-month prison term, Judge Sooknanan ordered Turner to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Aug. 25, 2024, Metropolitan Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop of a BMW at a gas station in the 900 block of Florida Avenue NW. Turner, who was driving, provided officers with a false name. As he stepped out of the car, he dropped 30 blue round pills that weighed 4.85 grams and contained a detectable amount of heroin. A search of the vehicle and Turner's co-defendant revealed a stolen Sig Sauer P365 9mm pistol, loaded with one round in the chamber and 12 rounds in the magazine. Police also recovered additional quantities of cocaine base and marijuana and packaging materials consistent with drug distribution.
The Sig Sauer pistol had been reported stolen from Saint Mary's County, Maryland.
Turner previously had been convicted in D.C. Superior Court of assault with a dangerous weapon after he chased a man and fired at him, and in Prince George's County Circuit Court of illegal possession of a firearm, making this case his third conviction involving a firearm in the past five years. At the time of his August 2024 arrest, Turner was on probation following the Maryland firearm conviction.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English and former AUSAs Megan McFadden and John Parron.
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Maryland Man Arrested for Facilitating Multimillion-Dollar International Romance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A Maryland man was arrested on March 25, 2026, after a federal grand jury indicted him on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a multimillion-dollar romance fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Kwame Boahene, 63, and his co-conspirators orchestrated an international romance fraud scheme that defrauded victims across the country, including elderly victims and a victim in Delaware. The cybercriminals created fictitious online personas to develop romantic relationships with the victims. Once trust was established, the scammers convinced the victims to send money for fabricated reasons, such as helping to secure an inheritance or paying for medical expenses.
To advance the fraud, Boahene used bank accounts opened under the names of limited liability companies to receive several million dollars in fraudulent proceeds from the victims. He then transferred the illicit funds through various domestic and international bank accounts to conceal the money’s fraudulent origins.
Boahene is charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. If convicted, Boahene faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each charge. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency is investigating the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-128.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
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Maryland Convicted Felon Sentenced for Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A St. Mary’s County, Maryland, man is headed to federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Jerod Adam Taylor, 40, of Lexington Park, Maryland, to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, today, in connection with the charge.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Sheriff Steven A. Hall, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office.
According to court documents, on November 7, 2024, officers responded to a reported incident at Taylor’s Lexington Park residence. Upon arrival, an owner of the residence let law enforcement into the house and informed them that Taylor lived in the basement.
Taylor later confirmed to law enforcement that he lived in the basement of the residence for slightly more than three years. When officers searched the area of the basement where Taylor lived, they uncovered at least 10 firearms that he knowingly possessed. Taylor is a convicted felon, so he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Law enforcement also found 69 privately made firearms, more than 1,000 rounds of various caliber ammunition, dozens of machinegun conversion devices, two 3D printers, body armor, and various gun-manufacturing tools.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Sarma and Caroline A. Schechinger who prosecuted this 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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Lycoming County Man Indicted on Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert E. Confer, Jr., age 37, of Lycoming County, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment charges Confer with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine on October 11, 2025. Confer is also charged with possession of firearms by a prohibited person and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The FBI, Bellefonte Police Department, Lock Haven City Police Department, and the Centre County Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the most significant offense is life imprisonment and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Los Angeles Man Sentenced to over 4 Years in Prison for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tracy Arnett, 40, of Los Angeles, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to four years and three months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, from May 2023 through March 2024, Arnett, Daniel Hooker, and two additional co-conspirators conducted more than 20 financial transactions that they believed involved laundering the proceeds of cocaine trafficking. Their belief as to the nature of the funds was based on representations of an individual working at the direction of law enforcement. On one occasion in October 2023, Arnett met the individual in a hotel parking lot in Rancho Cordova to obtain $100,000 in cash to launder. In total, Arnett and his co-conspirators received approximately $940,000 in purported drug trafficking proceeds. Of that amount, the conspirators laundered approximately $811,000.
Hooker, 37, of Studio City, California, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced on April 18, 2025, to 27 months in prison. Arnett pleaded guilty on Dec. 13, 2024.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen prosecuted the case.
Local Physician Sentenced to 1 Year Imprisonment, a $60,000 fine, and Restitution of $349,272.79 for Adulterating and Misbranding Medical Devices with the Intent to DefraudRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington — On March 25, United States District Court Judge Rebecca L. Pennell sentenced Dr. Eric Edward Haeger, age 57, of Brewster, Washington, to one year and a day in federal prison followed by a one-year term of supervised release after Haeger pleaded guilty to adulterating and misbranding medical devices with the intent to defraud or mislead. Judge Pennell also sentenced Haeger to pay a $60,000 fine and $349,272.79 in restitution. The Plea Agreement can be found here.
In June 2021, Philips Respironics initiated a recall for certain CPAP and BiPAP devices due to potential health risks associated with the foam used in the devices for sound abatement. The recall was classified as a Class I recall because there was a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, the devices would cause serious adverse health consequences or death. The potential health risks identified at the time included inflammatory response, asthma, nausea or vomiting, and toxic or cancer-causing effects.
Based on court documents, between July 2021 and July 2023, Haeger purchased over 500 used and recalled CPAP and BiPAP devices through online resellers, which were shipped to the Eastern District of Washington. Haeger, and others at his direction, including his own children, would then open the devices, attempt to remove the foam using screw drivers, hooks, and other tools, and then put the devices back together. This conduct occurred in locations that were not designed or operated as clean rooms for the purpose of manufacturing medical devices.
Haeger and staff at his sleep clinic, Central Washington Medical Associates, under his control and supervision would then provide the used, recalled, and adulterated devices to Washington State Medicaid patients. Staff at the sleep clinic under Haeger’s direction and control would then bill the used, recalled devices to Medicaid with the false and fraudulent representation that they were new devices that were in good working order.
At sentencing, the Court concluded that Defendant had adulterated and provided to patients 440 devices that were then billed to Medicaid for over $600,000, of which $439,272.79 was paid to Defendant. The United States contended that the number of devices and loss was even more extensive. The United States argued that each of these devices presented potential harm to the patients in the way they were adulterated, both because the adulteration exasperated the risk of inhaling harmful particulates and because the devices were altered from the carefully engineered and FDA approved design, which could cause additional problems with the devices such as overheating.In sentencing Haeger to just over 12 months imprisonment, Judge Pennell acknowledged Haeger’s conduct was ongoing and extensive and that he continued to blame others for his own decisions. Judge Pennell recognized Haeger’s conduct created potential harm for his patients by creating a significant concern of contamination. Judge Pennell also stressed how Haeger’s conduct served to undermine confidence in medical professionals and medical institutions, which can cause further anxiety and stress for those seeking medical treatment when they are not sure they can trust their own doctors.
“Dr. Haeger violated the trust of his patients who were misled into believing Dr. Haeger was providing them with safe and reliable medical equipment,” stated First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano. “Instead, Dr. Haeger devised an extensive scheme to defraud his patients and Medicaid, prioritizing profit over patient health and safety. Conduct that puts profits over patients is egregious, and my office will continue to prosecute such cases.”
“The FDA is committed to protecting patients from adulterated and misbranded medical devices that may compromise health and safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Iwanicki, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Los Angeles Field Office. “This case demonstrates the serious consequences of altering recalled medical devices and misrepresenting them to patients and healthcare programs.”
“Putting recalled and unsafe medical devices into the hands of vulnerable patients is an egregious violation of the trust our healthcare system relies on,” said Robb Breeden, Special Agent in Charge of the Pacific Area Regional Office for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Patients deserve to know that the equipment they depend on is safe and effective—not secretly refurbished, adulterated, or contaminated. Our investigation underscores a simple truth: when providers put profits ahead of patient safety, we will hold them accountable.”
“The adulterations by Dr Haeger show a dangerous disregard for the safety of his patients,” Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said. “This is a win for patient safety, for protecting public dollars from fraud, and for ensuring citizens of Washington get necessary healthcare. This case exemplifies the great work our team is doing in collaboration with our federal partners to fight fraud and protect Washingtonians.”
“As a physician, Dr. Haeger knew he had a responsibility to act in the best interest of patients who trusted him with their health,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Instead, he risked the safety of hundreds of Medicaid patients by issuing them recalled medical devices he had tampered with, then fraudulently billing Medicaid representing the machines as new. Even worse, these Medicaid patients had limited treatment options, and he took advantage of their vulnerability for his own gain. Together with our state and federal partners, the FBI will hold accountable fraudsters who choose greed over their patients’ health.”
The case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the Washington State Medicaid Fraud Control Division, the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy J. Kelley.
Las Cruces Man Charged with Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man is facing federal charges after allegedly selling cocaine and a machinegun conversion device to undercover agents.
According to court documents, on August 19, 2025, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of a machinegun conversion device from Victor Andrew Pardo Jr., 26, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, for $300. The device was later analyzed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and determined to meet the legal definition of a machinegun. A records check confirmed that Pardo did not have any firearms registered to him under the National Firearms Act.
On January 27, 2026, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 249.6 grams of cocaine from Pardo in El Paso, Texas. Surveillance agents observed Pardo travel from his residence in Las Cruces to the meeting location, where he sold the cocaine to an undercover agent in exchange for $5,000. Laboratory testing later confirmed the substance was cocaine.
On February 19, 2026, investigators conducted a second controlled purchase of approximately 251.6 grams of cocaine from Pardo at his residence in Las Cruces. During the transaction, Pardo weighed the substance in front of the informant before exchanging it for $5,000. Laboratory analysis again confirmed the substance was cocaine.
Pardo is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Pardo faces up to 20 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Sarah Mauricio, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement today.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Department of Army’s Criminal Investigations Division, the New Mexico State Police, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Aragon Martinez is prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Pardo).pdfA criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Jamestown man going to prison on meth chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Aaron Miller, 32, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that Miller bought and sold methamphetamine and cocaine for profit and for his own use. He received large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from co-defendant Jun Martinez, a Jamestown drug dealer, and from others. Miller then distributed the drugs to other individuals in the Jamestown area, for profit.
Co-defendants Jun Martinez, La Huynh, and Antasia Babcock were previously convicted and are awaiting sentencing.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Scott Forster.
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Individual Arrested for Child Exploitation and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On March 25, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Rafael Ángel Méndez-Nieves, a 51-year-old man from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, for child exploitation and weapons charges, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. On March 26, 2026, Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested Méndez-Nieves.
According to court documents, from on or around May 2025 to on or around March 2026, Rafael Ángel Méndez-Nieves knowingly received and distributed child exploitation material using his cellular phone. Méndez-Nieves was in possession of and transported child images of child exploitation material, including child exploitation material depicting a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age, using his cellular device. In addition to the child exploitation charges, the defendant was charged with illegally possessing a Taurus Caliber .380 Model PT738 firearm, and 13 rounds of ammunition, after he had been convicted of a crime punishable for a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to continuing our joint efforts with our state, local and federal partners to identify these offenders and ensure that they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “I thank the dedicated HSI agents and prosecutors who investigated and charged this case for their tireless efforts to protect the most vulnerable in our community.”
“This arrest demonstrates the dedication and expertise of HSI agents and forensic analysts, whose meticulous investigative work was vital in identifying and gathering crucial evidence. Their advanced skills in digital forensics enabled us to uncover and document nearly 2,000 files of child sexual abuse material, including disturbing images and videos of minors, some as young as infants. The gravity of this case highlights the significance of our mission and our unwavering commitment to securing the evidence necessary to bring offenders to justice. We remain steadfast in our efforts to protect children and ensure those responsible are held fully accountable,” said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emelina Agrait Barreto of the Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting the case. The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force led by HSI is in charge of the investigation.If convicted for the charges the defendant faces the following penalties: (1) distribution/receipt of child exploitation material - a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; (2) transportation of child exploitation material - a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; (3) possession of child exploitation material - a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and (4) possession of a firearm by a prohibited person – a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. All charges of conviction for the child exploitation offenses are to be followed by a term of supervised release after imprisonment of no less than 5 years up to life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Know2Protect.gov. To report suspicious activities, call 787-729-6969.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Indictment Returned Against D.C. Man Who Assaulted Police OfficersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ian Zephyrin, 46, of Washington, D.C., was indicted this week on charges related to an attack on multiple Metropolitan Police Officers which occurred on June 24, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Zephyrin was indicted on nine counts, including one count assault with intent to kill while armed, one count of aggravated assault while armed, and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. A felony status conference is set for May 13, 2026.
“Law enforcement officers put themselves on the line every day to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We stand firmly behind the blue and will not hesitate to act when those sworn to protect our communities are targeted.”
According to the government’s evidence, on June 24, 2025, Zephyrin entered a CVS store located at 2009 8th Street NW and began to fill a reusable bag with merchandise. Zephyrin took the bag, walked past all points of sale with the unpaid merchandise and left the store heading towards V Street NW. Before leaving, the defendant attempted to take the CVS manager’s cellphone from her hand. When the defendant left, the CVS manager contacted the Metropolitan Police Department to report the theft of the merchandise.
After leaving the CVS, the defendant headed to the 600 block of Florida Avenue NW, when an MPD officers spotted the defendant and attempted to make contact with him. However, the defendant fled from officers, leading them on a brief foot chase. As officers attempted to detain the defendant, Zephyrin he pulled out a knife from his person and stabbed at one of the officers, striking him in the elbow and the forehead. The Officer suffered a large laceration to his forehead, requiring over 50 stitches. The defendant then brandished the knife at another officer who arrived later on scene before throwing the knife at a third officer. The defendant remains in custody pending trial.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Scholz.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
2025 CF1 007135
Indiana Man Charged for Coercing Minor to Engage in Self-Harm and Possession of Images of Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Indiana man was charged with stalking a minor child in the District of New Jersey over the internet and enticing her to harm herself, and possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Billy Joe Holman, a/k/a “William Holman,” 26, of West Lebanon, Indiana, was charged in a two-count complaint with cyber stalking and possession of child pornography. He had an initial appearance yesterday, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott J. Frankel in federal court in the Northern District of Indiana and was ordered detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Holman met the minor female victim (“Victim 1”) in or around October 2025 on a social media platform. Holman systematically targeted Victim 1—whom he knew to be 12 years old—by grooming, coercing, and otherwise compelling her to carry out his orders. Holman used coercive control, a pattern of behavior used to dominate another person through manipulation, including the weaponization of affection followed by verbal abuse or threats, to direct Victim 1’s actions. Over the course of approximately a month, Holman coerced Victim 1 to harm herself by, among other things, carving Holman’s initials into her skin and punching herself in the stomach on video and sending that video to Holman. Holman also demanded Victim 1 to take photographs of herself that constituted images of child sexual abuse materials and sending them to Holman.
The charge of stalking carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and possession of child pornography carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Holman is also facing a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited the Newark and Indianapolis Joint Terrorism Task Forces of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, New Jersey, and Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James M. Gannon, and the Dover Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jonathan Delaney, with the investigation leading to the charge. He also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana, under the direction of United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek of the National Security Unit in Newark, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Indian National Guilty of Transportation and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On March 18, 2026, ASHISH KAPOOR, a/k/a “Romy Kapoor,” (“KAPOOR”) age 28, a national of India, pled guilty on March 18, 2026 to Transportation of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(1), (a)(4)(B), (b)(1), and (b)(2), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the factual basis, KAPOOR traveled from Bombay, India to New Orleans, Louisiana on or about February 21, 2024, with a cellular phone containing digital videos and computer images containing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, on April 11, 2024, KAPOOR downloaded a video depicting the sexual abuse of a child from an Internet Protocol address at his residence in New Orleans. On December 20, 2024, Special Agents with the United States Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and officers with the New Orleans Police Department arrested KAPOOR. In a recorded statement, KAPOOR confessed that he had seen and received child pornography using WhatsApp on his cellular phone.
In his factual basis, KAPOOR admitted that he possessed more than 600 images depicting the sexual abuse of minors and further admitted that these items contained sadistic or masochistic conduct and sexual abuse infants and toddlers.
As to Count One, KAPOOR faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, and as to Count Two, KAPOOR faces a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years. As to each count, KAPOOR also faces a fine of up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release for up to life, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. KAPOOR will also be required to register pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry presided over and set KAPOOR’s sentencing for June 17, 2026.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Customs and Border Protection, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Public Integrity Unit.
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Illegal Alien Federally Charged with Identity Theft, Voter Fraud, and Passport Fraud After Allegedly Using American Citizen's Identity to VoteRead the Press Release
An illegal alien from Mexico was federally charged with identity theft, voter fraud, and passport fraud for allegedly assuming the identity of an American citizen, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Eliseo Morales-Tapia, 58, a citizen of Mexico residing illegally in the United States, was charged by federal complaint on March 20, 2026. According to the complaint, Morales-Tapia obtained a Texas driver’s license, a Texas identification card, a social security card, and a United States passport, using the identity of another individual who resides in Chicago, Illinois. Morales-Tapia is alleged to have presented the victim’s birth certificate, social security number, and other documents to obtain these identification documents. Most recently, according to the complaint, in October 2025, Morales-Tapia checked “yes” to questions asking if he was a U.S. citizen and if he wanted to vote when he updated his address for the Texas driver’s license that he had obtained years earlier in the victim’s name. As the complaint alleges, in 2025, Morales-Tapia also renewed the passport he had obtained in the victim’s name in 2015. Additionally, according to the complaint, Morales-Tapia voted in an election in Tarrant County on November 5, 2024, utilizing the victim’s identity.Morales-Tapia appeared before a United States Magistrate Judge on March 25, 2026, for an initial appearance on the charges. He remains in federal custody pending further court proceedings. If convicted, Morales-Tapia faces a maximum sentence of twenty years’ imprisonment, with up to five years’ imprisonment on each of the identity theft and voter fraud counts and up to ten years’ imprisonment on the passport fraud count.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Dallas Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Diplomatic Security Service, the IRS, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Frisco Police Department, and the Richardson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Capoccia is handling the prosecution.
A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illegal Alien Admits Possessing Firearms, CocaineRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – An illegal immigrant from Honduras on Friday admitted being caught with guns and cocaine after nearly hitting a family in a crosswalk in St. Ann, Missouri.
Esmin Guzman-Euceda, 21, of Woodson Terrace, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possessing a firearm as an illegal alien. He admitted that on July 7, 2024, St. Ann Police officers spotted him speeding and driving through a pedestrian crossing zone, nearly striking a family pushing a stroller with an infant inside. After officers stopped Guzman-Euceda, they discovered that he did not have a valid drivers license and arrested him. They found $1,208 on Guzman-Euceda and two baggies of cocaine, a rifle and a pistol in the vehicle. The guns had been reported stolen, but Guzman-Euceda told officers that he did not know they were stolen when he bought them. He also admitted that he knew he could not lawfully possess firearms due to his immigration status.
The charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. Guzman-Euceda is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2.
The St. Ann Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Voss is prosecuting the case.
Honduran National Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OSCAR FRANCISCO AVILA-NORALES (“AVILA-NORALES”), age 47, was sentenced on March 24, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry of a Removed Alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326 (a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the charging document, AVILA-NORALES was found in Texas in 2012, having reentered the United States, without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on October 3, 2012.
United States District Judge Susie Morgan sentenced AVILA-NORALES to time served, one (1) year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. AVILA-NORALES was also ordered removed back to Honduras.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Frederick W. Veters Jr., of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
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Hoboken, New Jersey Man Charged with Possession and Making of Molotov CocktailsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Hoboken, New Jersey man was charged with unlawful possession and making of destructive devices, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Alexander Heifler, 26, was charged by a two-count complaint with one count of unlawful possession of destructive devices and one count of making destructive devices. Heifler’s initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Stacey D. Adams is scheduled in Newark federal court at 2:00 pm.
As alleged in a criminal complaint, a Hudson County man has been charged in connection with a plot to construct and use improvised incendiary devices targeting another individual’s residence. This is an ongoing investigation. There is no current threat to the community. We thank our law enforcement partners for their work in identifying and removing this potential threat to the citizens of New Jersey.
The charges of unlawful possession of destructive devices and making of destructive devices each carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited the New York and Newark Field Offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle in New York, New York and Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, New Jersey, the New York Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and the Hoboken Police Department, under the direction of Chief Steven Aguiar with the investigation leading to the charge. He also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, under the direction of United States Attorney Jay Clayton.
The government is represented by Timothy M. Lanni, Acting Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, with assistance from the Office’s National Security Unit.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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heifler.complaint.pdfGainesville Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Homemade SilencerRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Dean Allen Harper, 55, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of an unmarked and unregistered silencer, which qualifies as a firearm under federal law. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I deeply appreciate the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners to remove dangerous, armed criminals from our streets. My office will continue to back up their hard work on the front lines with aggressive prosecutions under the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America initiative to keep our communities safe from violent criminals.”
Court documents reflect that on November 21, 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Harper was driving. The vehicle that contained numerous firearms, ammunition, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. In total, Harper was in possession of two rifles, two pistols, multiple magazines, and numerous rounds of ammunition, including armor-piercing ammunition. One of the pistols also had an automotive oil filter converted into a homemade suppressor/silencer attached to its barrel:
The threaded barrel had an aftermarket attachment which allowed the oil filter to be attached. The homemade silencer did not have a serial number and was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
At sentencing, the defendant faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
The case involved an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Four Illegal Aliens Face Federal Charges After Drug BustsRead the Press Release
Atlanta – Pablo Soria-Porras, Sergio Solano-Sanchez, Eduardo Benitez-Jacinto, and Jesus Diaz Iniguez, who are all illegal aliens from Mexico, face federal charges after law enforcement seized approximately 44 pounds of methamphetamine and two firearms in drug trafficking operations in and around Douglasville and South Fayetteville, Georgia this week.
“The swift prosecutions of these illegal aliens send the strong message that we will work together with law enforcement partners to take deadly drugs off the street and prosecute drug traffickers who are illegally present in our country to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg.
“These arrests are the result of coordinated and collaborative law enforcement efforts aimed at disrupting the flow of methamphetamine and illegal firearms,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “We remain committed to protecting our communities and ensuring those responsible are held accountable.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On February 25, 2026, Porras and Jacinto allegedly sold over two pounds of methamphetamine to an undercover DEA agent in a Lithia Springs, Georgia parking lot. Agents then identified a residence in Douglasville, Georgia where Porras, Jacinto, and Sanchez allegedly received methamphetamine from Mexico and processed the narcotics for distribution in the Atlanta area. During a search of the residence on March 24, 2026, agents arrested Jacinto and Sanchez and seized approximately 33 pounds of methamphetamine and a large sum of U.S. currency.
One day before the seizure in Douglasville, agents observed Iniguez drive off after allegedly attempting to conduct a suspected drug transaction with an individual in South Fayetteville, Georgia. Shortly thereafter, a Georgia State Patrol trooper stopped Iniguez’s vehicle and found approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine inside. After taking Iniguez into custody, DEA agents searched a residence in McDonough, Georgia and seized two firearms that Iniguez allegedly possessed there.
Sergio Solano-Sanchez, 26, of Mexico, and Eduardo Benitez-Jacinto, 25, of Mexico, appeared in federal court on March 25, 2026, on a criminal complaint charging them with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jesus Diaz Iniguez, 29, of Mexico, appeared in federal court yesterday on a criminal complaint charging him with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The three men remain in federal custody pending further proceedings. Pablo Soria-Porras, 23, of Mexico, is currently a fugitive. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Porras, please contact your local law enforcement agency.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaints only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia State Patrol.
Assistant United States Attorneys Johnny Baer and Daniel Grill are prosecuting the cases.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
These prosecutions are also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Fort Worth Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
A Fort Worth man who produced sexually explicit videos of two children was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison yesterday, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Keith Plaskonos, 68, pled guilty on December 10, 2025, to an indictment charging him with two counts of using a child for the purpose of creating sexually explicit images. According to court documents, in November 2023, DPS officers were dispatched to the Dallas Fort Worth Airport regarding a report that an adult male was looking at animated child sex abuse material on his cell phone. The male was identified as Plaskonos. After agents seized his cell phone and completed a forensic extraction of the contents, they found that Plaskonos used cellular phones in 2021 and 2022 to create sexually explicit videos of a female child approximately one years old and a second female child who was approximately four years old. On March 26, 2026, United States District Judge Mark T. Pittman sentenced Plaskonos to 360 months per count to run consecutively, for a total of 720 months.The Federal Bureau of Investigation Dallas Field Office (Fort Worth Resident Agency) and the DFW Airport Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, which was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Former Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority Executive Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Fraud, Conflict of Interest, False Statements, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI –United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that former Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (“VIHFA”) Chief Operating Officer Darin Richardson was sentenced today to 36 months of imprisonment by United States District Judge Mark A. Kearney following his convictions for criminal conflict of interest, bank fraud, making false statements to a federal agent, making false statements on a loan and credit application, and money laundering.
According to evidence presented at trial, Richardson used his position as a senior executive at VIHFA to engage in a series of fraudulent and self-dealing transactions for his personal financial gain. While serving as Chief Operating Officer, Richardson participated in the award of a multi-million-dollar contract to a company whose owner later provided him with $107,000 under the guise of a business investment. Richardson failed to disclose this financial relationship in a timely or truthful manner and continued to take official actions affecting that company, including approving payments under the contract.
The evidence further established that Richardson used those funds—along with additional money obtained through a fraudulently secured construction loan—to purchase a property in the Fortuna area of St. Thomas through a United States Marshals Service auction. Rather than using the funds for their stated purpose, Richardson diverted the money to finance his personal real estate venture.
The evidence also showed that Richardson made materially false statements to federal investigators in order to conceal the true nature of his financial dealings. In addition, he defrauded a financial institution by submitting fraudulent documents in support of a construction loan application, including an estimate that he falsely represented as having been prepared by a licensed contractor. After obtaining the loan, Richardson further misrepresented how the funds would be used.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cherrisse R. Amaro and former Assistant United States Attorney Dan Huston.
Former Utah School Bus Driver Admits to Setting a School Bus on FireRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A former Utah school bus driver admitted to setting a bus on fire with a cigarette lighter while driving it. The bus was owned by a local school district receiving federal funds.
Michael Austin Ford, 60, of West Valley City, was indicted on February 21, 2024.
According to court documents and admissions made at Ford’s change of plea hearing, he intentionally set a Granite School District school bus on fire with a cigarette lighter on April 7, 2023. Ford was captured on video igniting the bus and continued to drive the bus with smoke billowing past his face. In other court documents, prosecutors described evidence of Ford as having attempted to tamper with the bus’s video surveillance system in the days preceding the April 2023 arson.
On a separate occasion in February 2022, Ford was also accused of setting a Granite School District school bus on fire that had 42 children inside and did so while driving in traffic. See prior press release: Former School Bus Driver Accused of Igniting a Bus Full of Children is Indicted and Detained.
“It is our hope Ford is sentenced to the term of imprisonment that will protect our community from his careless disregard for safety and the law,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah.
“Children are among our most vulnerable population. When someone intentionally threatens their safety through violent crimes involving fire, it is especially disturbing and such cases will always remain a top priority for our agency,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Chris Ashbridge. “Our agents worked tirelessly on this investigation, utilizing all available resources to ensure those who commit such callous acts are held fully accountable and our community is protected from further violence.”
Ford is scheduled to be sentenced June 1, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 8.3 before a U.S. District Court Judge at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.
Assistant United States Michael J. Thorpe of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
Former State Senator Convicted of Scheming to Obtain Public Election FundsRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal jury in New Haven has found former Connecticut State Senator DENNIS A. BRADLEY, JR., 43, of Bridgeport, guilty of defrauding Connecticut’s program for publicly funding political campaigns during his 2018 run for State Senate.
According to the evidence presented during the trial, in his 2018 campaign for State Senate representing the 23rd District, Bradley and others conspired to defraud the Connecticut State Election Enforcement Commission (“SEEC”), the Citizens’ Election Fund, and the State of Connecticut by making material misrepresentations concerning Bradley’s compliance with state election law and the requirements and restrictions of the Citizens’ Election Program (“CEP”), a voluntary public election-financing program under which candidates can apply to SEEC for grants to fund their primary and general election campaigns. Bradley and his co-conspirators violated CEP rules, then engaged in a scheme to trick SEEC into awarding his campaign undeserved CEP grants by making misrepresentations and omissions to disguise the nature of a March 15, 2018, campaign launch event at Dolphin’s Cove restaurant in Bridgeport.
Although CEP rules imposed a $2,000 limit on Bradley’s expenditure of personal funds, Bradley used more than $7,000 in personal funds to pay for the Dolphin’s Cove campaign event, including an open bar, food, printed invitations, a band, a DJ, and a videographer. In an attempt to hide the Dolphin’s Cove campaign event from SEEC, Bradley and his co-conspirators claimed it was a “Thank You Party” for Bradley’s law firm. At least eight donors gave to Bradley’s campaign at the Dolphin’s Cove event, but Bradley and his co-conspirators altered and falsified the contribution cards so that none were dated March 15, 2018.
CEP rules required complete and truthful disclosures of Bradley’s campaign contributions and expenditures. In April, May, and June 2018, Bradley’s campaign filed disclosure statements with SEEC that fraudulently omitted that Bradley had held the Dolphin’s Cove campaign event, omitted that Bradley had incurred or paid more than $7,000 in expenses for that event, omitted that Bradley’s campaign had accepted contributions at the event, and misrepresented the dates of those contributions.
On May 24, 2018, Bradley applied for a CEP grant to fund his Democratic primary campaign. On July 10, 2018, relying on the false and misleading information contained in Bradley’s filings, SEEC issued the campaign $84,140 in public funds. On August 14, 2018, Bradley won the Democratic primary with approximately 55 percent of the vote.
After issuing a CEP primary grant to Bradley, SEEC began investigating a citizen complaint regarding Bradley’s campaign, including the Dolphin’s Cove campaign event. On August 21, 2018, Bradley emailed a letter to SEEC in which he denied all the allegations in the citizen complaint as “frivolous and manipulative” and falsely stated, “This was in no shape or form a political event. … In fact, we did not collect any donations at this event and have no donations dated 03/15/2018.”
On October 12, 2018, after Bradley attempted to obtain an additional $95,710 CEP grant to fund his general election campaign, his campaign treasurer, Jessica Martinez, repeated similar false statements under oath to SEEC. Bradley then once again repeated those lies at a SEEC meeting considering whether to award his campaign the general election grant. SEEC eventually denied Bradley that grant. On November 6, 2018, Bradley won the general election.
The jury found Bradley guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. Each offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Bradley is released on a $300,000 bond pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.
Martinez pleaded guilty to a related charge and has been sentenced. A cooperating campaign volunteer also pleaded guilty to a charge stemming from her role in the offense and awaits sentencing.
This case has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan N. Francis and David E. Novick.
Former Rosemead Resident Who Fled U.S. on Eve of Methamphetamine Trafficking Trial Extradited from SingaporeRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former San Gabriel Valley resident who fled the United States on the eve of her May 2022 methamphetamine trafficking trial has been extradited from Singapore, the Justice Department announced today.
Demi Pham, 44, a.k.a. “Diem Thi Ly,” a dual U.S.-Vietnamese citizen formerly of Rosemead, arrived Thursday evening at Los Angeles International Airport on a flight from Singapore.
She is expected to make her initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana.
Pham is charged with one count of conspiracy to export controlled substances, two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of attempted exportation of methamphetamine. She pleaded not guilty to these charges in October 2021.
According to a four-count indictment, from November 2018 to May 2019, Pham and a co-conspirator enlisted couriers to transport methamphetamine and cocaine in luggage from the United States to Australia, concealing the drugs inside candles and toy boxes. In total, law enforcement seized more than 20 kilograms (44.1 pounds) of methamphetamine from couriers and found more than 10 kilograms (22.1 pounds) of methamphetamine at Pham’s then-residence in Rosemead.
In May 2022, Pham failed to appear for a hearing the day before her trial was to begin, and United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson issued a bench warrant for her arrest. Pham was arrested in Singapore in November 2025 at the request of the United States. Singaporean authorities transferred her to the custody of the United States Marshals Service, who escorted her to the United States today.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, Pham would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating this matter. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks U.S. law enforcement partners at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore, including the HSI Attaché Office and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service for their assistance in this matter. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, working with the Singapore Police Force and Attorney-General’s Chambers, provided critical assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Pham to the United States.
Assistant United States Attorneys David Y. Pi of the Major Frauds Section and David C. Lachman of the National Security Division are prosecuting this case.
- Former Riverside School Paraeducator Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Multiple Minor Victims
Federal Law Enforcement Seizes Eleven Firearms, Ammunition, and Twenty Machine Gun Conversion Devices from Chicago Residence; Two Suspected Gang Members ArrestedRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Federal law enforcement this week arrested two suspected gang members and seized eleven firearms, ammunition, and twenty machine gun conversion devices from their Chicago residence.
Criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago charge JULIAN TORRES, 19, and BRANDON OSORIO, 29, with possession of a machine gun. Torres and Osorio were arrested on Monday. Today, U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez granted the government’s motion for both defendants to remain detained pending trial.
Law enforcement on Monday of this week conducted a court-authorized search of Torres’s and Osorio’s residence in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood on Chicago’s Southwest Side. During the search, agents discovered a short-barrel rifle and ten handguns, one of which was equipped with an extended magazine, the charge alleges. Agents also discovered 20 machine gun conversion devices, which when affixed to a firearm allow it to operate like a machine gun, meaning the gun would be able to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger. The search also turned up assorted ammunition and firearm accessories, the complaints state.
During the detention hearing in federal court today, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirsten Moran advised the Court that Torres and Osorio are members of the 31st and Morgan Satan’s Disciples, a Chicago street gang that allegedly engages in illegal firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, and other criminal offenses. The Court was also advised that the gang used Torres’s and Osorio’s residence as a hub for its illegal activities.
The complaints and arrests were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Illinois Secretary of State Police and the Illinois Army National Guard Counterdrug Program. The officials noted that the investigation remains ongoing.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
osorio_complaint.pdf torres_complaint.pdfFederal Jury Convicts Illegal Alien for Multiple Counts of Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A federal jury in Del Rio convicted a Mexican national on four counts of trafficking cocaine into the U.S. from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on March 16, 2025, Eli Alejandro Hernandez Ledezma, 25, of Piedras Negras, was referred to secondary inspection at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered approximately eight kgs of cocaine in an aftermarket compartment in Ledezma's vehicle. Testimony during the trial revealed Ledezma was in contact with an unindicted coconspirator who offered him “fast money” if he had a valid visa. Additionally, testimony and evidence in the trial noted Ledezma shared his GPS location with an unindicted coconspirator before he approached the Eagle Pass POE.
In a trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Ernest Gonzalez, a federal jury found Hernandez Ledezma guilty of one count of conspiracy to posses with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of conspiracy to import cocaine, and one count of importation of cocaine. Each count carries a penalty of 10 years to life in federal prison and up to a $10 million fine. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations and CBP investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Warsame Galaydh, Nallely Duarte and William Golden are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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FCI Allenwood Inmate Indicted for Possessing Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Josue Franco, age 30, an inmate at FCI Allenwood, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 26, 2026, on a charge of possessing contraband in prison.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on September 10, 2025, Franco possessed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense is 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Extradited Kenyan National Sentenced for Role in Business Email Compromise SchemeRead the Press Release
JOHN MURIUKU WAMUIGAH, 36, a citizen of Kenya, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to approximately 23 months of imprisonment, time already served, for his participation in a business email compromise scheme that operated out of multiple countries, including the United States.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Wamuigah participated in a business email compromise scheme masterminded by his co-conspirator, Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, a Nigerian national. Osuji and his co-conspirators targeted specific individuals and businesses by masquerading as trustworthy entities in electronic communications to obtain money. They used unwitting and witting “money mules,” including victims of romance scams, to receive fraud proceeds in their bank accounts and then either transferred those funds from the money mule accounts to accounts under the co-conspirators’ control or converted the stolen proceeds to cash for further transfer. Over the years-long operation of the scheme, numerous victims were tricked into transferring funds into bank accounts the victims believed were under the control of legitimate recipients as part of normal business operations. In reality, the bank accounts were controlled by Osuji and his co-conspirators. The victims included a Connecticut-based financial company, a Colorado-based lending company, an Alaska-based nonprofit performing arts organization, a New York-based food and beverage company, and many others.
As a result of the scheme, losses and intended losses totaled more than $12 million.
Wamuigah’s role in the scheme involved his altering or forging invoices, contracts, and wire transfer instructions at Osuji’s direction. Osuji used the forged documents to trick victims into sending money to bank accounts he and others controlled.
Wamuigah was arrested in Malaysia in 2022 at the request of the United States and extradited to the United States in 2025. On October 17, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Wamuigah will be transferred to ICE custody and removed to Kenya.
On May 1, 2024, a jury in New Haven found Osuji guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. On December 4, 2024, he was sentenced to 96 months of imprisonment. On October 15, 2024, co-conspirator Tolulope Bodunde, a citizen of Nigeria was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment.
This matter was investigated by the FBI New Haven Field Office and the Stamford Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Royal Malaysia Police, and Malaysian Attorney General’s Chambers provided valuable assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Wamuigah from Malaysia.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel and the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.
Eau Claire Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Leo Lacey, 48, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced last week by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 64 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Lacey pleaded guilty to this charge on January 5, 2026. The prison term will be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release.
Lacey is prohibited from legally possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions. On May 21, 2025, Lacey arranged for codefendant Garrett Waldinger to illegally straw purchase a Taurus 9mm handgun for Lacey. The next day, an individual reported that Lacey had threatened him with a handgun.
Based on the reported gun offense, on May 23, 2025, an Eau Claire police officer attempted a traffic stop on Lacey. Lacey initially pulled over but then fled. Lacey led police on a high-speed chase before ultimately crashing into another vehicle and fleeing from the vehicle on foot. Officers eventually located Haney and recovered the handgun Waldinger had purchased for him.
At the sentencing, Judge Peterson said that Lacey is dangerous, and that the primary goal of the sentence in this case was to protect the public.
Codefendant Garrett Waldinger pleaded guilty to straw purchasing the firearm and is scheduled for sentencing on April 1, 2026.
The charges against Lacey and Waldinger were the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Dominican National Charged in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Extradited to U.S.Read the Press Release
ANGEL DELAROSA, 40, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, has been extradited to the United States to face narcotics and firearms trafficking charges.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the FBI and the Homeland Security Task Force New Haven (HSTF New Haven) have been investigating a narcotics and firearms trafficking organization led by Delarosa while he resided in the Dominican Republic. Delarosa, a former resident of Waterbury, coordinated the distribution of narcotics and firearms in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey through multiple redistributors in those locations. During the investigation, investigators made more than 30 controlled purchases from redistributors totaling more than one kilogram of fentanyl, more than 200 grams of methamphetamine, and 17 firearms. Laboratory analysis of the purchased fentanyl revealed that some of it was mixed with bromazolam, which is a relatively new synthetic benzodiazepine that was unscheduled at the time it was sold, and which is increasingly found as a component in mixtures of drugs resulting in overdoses.
It is alleged that the Delarosa made statements to sources suggesting that he had the ability to direct violence against individuals in the U.S.
On July 8, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment under seal charging Delarosa with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of methamphetamine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and one count of engaging in a firearms trafficking conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
On December 9, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a 15-count indictment charging six of Delarosa’s alleged co-conspirators with related offenses.
On January 30, 2026, Delarosa was arrested in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States. He appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment, and was ordered detained pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward 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 New Haven comprises agents and officers from the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor, and Connecticut State Police, with prosecutions led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.
This investigation was assisted by FBI New York, FBI Newark, FBI Tampa, FBI Orlando Resident Agency, FBI Legal Attaché (LEGAT) Office in Santo Domingo, and the New Haven, East Haven, North Haven, Milford, and Waterbury Police Departments.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Dominican authorities provided significant assistance in securing Delarosa’s arrest and extradition.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont.
District of Arizona Charges 256 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from March 21 through March 27, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 256 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 155 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 86 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 12 cases against 15 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Pedro Martinez-Ruiz. Pedro Martinez-Ruiz was charged by criminal complaint on March 23, 2026, with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit. On March 21, 2026, a Border Patrol camera operator observed a group of subjects walking north in the Santa Cruz River area, east of Nogales, Arizona. Camera operators then watched as a Chevrolet Silverado pulled into the same area and the subjects got into the truck. Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) nearby initiated a traffic stop to conduct an immigration inspection. In the truck, BPAs found 16 subjects wearing camouflage clothing who were sweating and breathing heavily. The subjects were determined to be citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. The driver, the only individual not wearing camouflage clothing, was identified as Pedro Martinez-Ruiz, a Mexican citizen who was also in the United States illegally. [Case Number: 26-MJ-00171]
United States v. Thompson, et al. Tyler Daniels Thompson and Yasmine Desire Marie Matthews were charged by criminal complaint on March 27, 2026, with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person. On March 25, 2026, National Park Service (NPS) law enforcement officers requested a Border Patrol canine handler for a vehicle sniff at the campground road inside Organ Pipe National Monument. When BPAs arrived, NPS officers notified them that they had seen fresh footprints coming from the mountain pass and going directly to a black Volkswagen Jetta nearby. The temperature outside was approximately 100 degrees. The Jetta was occupied by Tyler Daniels Thompson, the driver, and Yasmine Desire Marie Matthews, the front seat passenger. After the BPA canine alerted to the vehicle, BPAs opened the trunk and discovered two people hiding inside, drenched in sweat. BPAs pulled out one subject who was passing out, carried him to a shaded area, and cut off his clothes to begin cooling him. BPA EMTs then arrived and administered aid. Initially the EMTs reported that the man was unconscious and they could not detect a pulse, but they were eventually able to cool him off. The subject regained a pulse and was transported to a hospital for further care. The other subject in the trunk required water to revive him. Both subjects were determined to be citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-00354]
United States v. Kristie Elizabeth Pablo. On March 23, 2026, Kristie Elizabeth Pablo was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On March 22, 2026, a deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office observed Pablo driving a black Chevrolet Tahoe below the speed limit on I-10 Westbound in Eloy, Arizona. The deputy matched speed with the Tahoe, observed the vehicle’s tires cross into his lane, and initiated a traffic stop. The deputy learned that Pablo was engaged in human smuggling, and called BPAs to the scene. Immigration checks confirmed that one of the passengers in Pablo’s car was a citizen of Mexico and another passenger was a citizen of Guatemala, both unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-9091]
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-052_March 27, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.District Man Pleads Guilty to Strangling His Romantic PartnerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ramon Leonard, 28, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to strangling his former romantic partner in April 2025 and October 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Leonard was previously convicted of strangling the victim in October 2024. Leonard pleaded guilty to two counts of strangulation in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2026, before the Honorable Judge Robert Salerno.
“This guilty plea reflects our office’s staunch commitment to holding repeat offenders accountable and protecting victims of domestic violence,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This defendant had already been convicted of strangling the victim once before, and yet he chose to commit this heinous act not once, but twice more. That pattern of predatory behavior will not be tolerated in this community. We will continue to pursue justice on behalf of every victim with the full force of this office.”
According to the government’s evidence, on April 8, 2025, Leonard got into a verbal altercation that turned physical with the victim at her residence. During the altercation, Leonard choked the victim by putting both of his hands around her neck. She felt like she couldn’t breathe and was going to lose consciousness. The victim was able to flee to her leasing manager’s office and called 911.
On October 31, 2025, the defendant strangled the victim in front of his residence after trick-or-treating with their children. During the assault, he choked her by placing both of his hands around the front of her neck. The victim felt like she was fighting for air and could not breathe. This assault was captured on surveillance footage.
Leonard was arrested on November 11, 2025, and has remained in custody since.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Marshal Robert Anthony Dixon.
The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and Special Agent Greg Nagurka of the USAO-DC Criminal Investigations Unit. U.S. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance in executing the arrest warrant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia Hinerfeld is prosecuting the case.
Cleveland Man Indicted After Federal Drug BustRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 57-year-old man has been charged with committing several violations of drug trafficking laws after a nearly year-long federal investigation.
A grand jury returned an indictment charging Marcus Hopper, of Cleveland, with Possession with the Intent to Distribute cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), and cocaine base (crack).
According to court documents, federal agents executed search warrants in February 2026 at two residences after an intensive, multi-state investigation that was conducted over several months. Locations on Edgehill Road in Cleveland Heights, and Penrose Avenue in East Cleveland, were identified and suspected of being used to facilitate large-scale drug trafficking operations throughout Greater Cleveland.
Among the items that federal agents seized were:
- More than 15 pounds of MDMA (ecstasy)
- Nearly 12 pounds of cocaine
- 21 grams of cocaine base (crack)
- 10 grams of fentanyl
- Bulk amounts of marijuana
- More than $211,000 in cash
- 1 cocaine brick press and several smaller presses
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including his prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Clearfield County Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Westover, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
James Gill, 40, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines to Count One of the Superseding Indictment on March 26, 2026.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, in and around February 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Gill distributed fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and death.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for July 23, 2026. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Gill.
Camden Woman Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing MethRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Angela Peterson Black, 53, of Camden, has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Black distributed methamphetamine to undercover law enforcement officers in November 2022 with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On two occasions, she sold almost 200 grams of “ice” to officers. In June 2023, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department located additional narcotics in her vehicle during a traffic stop and in her home during a search warrant at her residence. Black was arrested on these charges in December 2023 and was granted a bond. While on bond, Black attempted to use a fraudulent urine sample by concealing a bottle containing a yellow substance on her person. Her bond was revoked.
Black has prior convictions for pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, first degree criminal domestic violence, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Black to 160 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein prosecuted the case.###
Burlington, Vermont Man Sentenced to 15 Years of Imprisonment for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on March 27, 2026, Brendan Sullivan, 29, of Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a 15- year term of imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, and ordered to pay $20,000 of restitution to victims of his offenses. Sullivan previously pleaded guilty to using a facility of interstate commerce to attempt to entice a child and possession of child sexual abuse materials.
According to court records, Sullivan was previously convicted in federal court for possession of child sexual abuse materials, and received a time served sentence in 2020. Sullivan had numerous violations of his post-release supervision, ultimately leading to a revocation of his supervised release and an additional 9 months of imprisonment. Sullivan was released from the Bureau of Prisons on December 3, 2024. On December 12, 2024, Sullivan uploaded child sexual abuse materials to a website, in hopes of finding and viewing similar materials. This upload triggered a CyberTip, which was routed to the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, who began an investigation. On June 24, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Sullivan’s residence, and investigators seized Sullivan’s laptop. A forensic review of the laptop revealed over 2,600 unique images and 131 unique videos of child sexual abuse. The examination also revealed a messaging thread between Sullivan and a person who claimed to be a 13-year-old child. During the messaging, Sullivan proposed meeting up with the boy, offered the boy marijuana, provided detailed descriptions of sexual fantasies to the boy, provided the boy images of Sullivan’s genitalia, and attempted to arrange an in-person meeting. Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations attempted to locate the 13-year-old boy, and discovered that the messaging was instead sent by a 17-year-old minor in California, who was mimicking “catch a predator” social media posts.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. “State and local law enforcement are crucial partners in our efforts to protect children. I am extremely grateful for their assistance in this case.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne M. Smith and First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. Sullivan was represented by Brooks McArthur, Esq.
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.