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24 March 2026
H Block Gang Member Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the violent Boston-based gang, H-Block, was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for drug conspiracy charges.
Eric Celestino, 31, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In December 2025, Celestino pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Celestino is one of 10 H-Block gang members and associates charged in August 2024 following a multi-year investigation in response to an uptick in gang-related drug trafficking, shootings and violence. According to court documents, over 500 grams of cocaine, cocaine base (crack cocaine) and fentanyl, as well as over 20,000 doses of drug-laced paper were seized during the investigation.
Since the investigation began in 2021, law enforcement attributed 12 incidents of gunfire involving H Block gang associates. Six H Block members and associates were arrested and charged with drug dealing in Boston and surrounding communities. Four additional H Block members and associates were already in state custody at the time of the arrests. Additional drugs and four firearms were seized during the subsequent arrests.
From 2022 through 2023, Celestino, a long-time H Block gang member, participated in a conspiracy to distribute various controlled substances, in particular, powdered cocaine and cocaine base (crack). According to court filings, Celestino was a supplier of cocaine to his co-conspirators, who engaged in various drug deals with an undercover officer.
According to the charging documents, the H Block Street Gang is one of the most feared and influential city-wide gangs in Boston. Originally formed in the 1980s as the Humboldt Raiders in the Roxbury section of Boston, the gang re-emerged in the 2000s as H Block. Current members of H Block have a history of violent confrontation with law enforcement, including an incident in 2015 when a member shot a Boston Police officer at point blank range without warning or provocation.
Celestino is the 6th defendant to be sentenced in the case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Randy Maloney of the U.S. Secret Service Boston Field Office; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Anthony D’Esposito, Inspector General of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. The investigation was supported by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; and the Braintree, Quincy, Randolph and Watertown Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Jeremy Franker of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section are prosecuting the cases.This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Guatemalan Man Guilty of Illegal Reentry and Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Sergio Niz-Mendez, age 27, from Guatemala, pled guilty to illegal reentry and failure to register as a sex offender on March 23, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.
At the plea hearing, Niz-Mendez admitted he was a citizen of Guatemala, that he had previously been removed from the United States in 2018, and that he had not sought permission to legally be in the United States. He further admitted that due to a 2016 rape of a child with force conviction in Massachusetts, he was required to register as a sex offender which he failed to do. Niz-Mendez was found in O’Brien County, Iowa, after he was arrested for operating while intoxicated and eluding.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is complete. He remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. For the illegal reentry conviction, he faces a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release. For the failure to register conviction, he faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five years to life of supervise release.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-4065. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska-March 2026Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 14 unsealed Indictments charging 16 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Charlie Red, age 57, of Hialeah, Florida, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about November 18, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 10 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Jeffrey T. Ehlers, age 66, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Ehlers with receipt of child pornography following a prior conviction beginning at least on or about September 1, 2025, until on or about December 16, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Ehlers with possession of child pornography following a prior conviction on or about December 16, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Giovany Alberto Gomez Aguilar, age 45, of Colleyville, Texas, is charged with aiding and abetting the sale or receipt of stolen vehicles between on or about February 1, 2026, and February 13, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Pedro Jose Serpa, age 54, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about January 2, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 25 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 10 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Teon Wayne Patterson, age 42, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about December 28, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Victor Henderson a/k/a “Whodi”, a/k/a “Wop”, a/k/a “Don”, age 26, Cedric Glover a/k/a “Ced”, age 29, and Christopher Grutel a/k/a “22”, a/k/a “Twenty Two”, a/k/a “Creep”, a/k/a “Gunner”, age 25, all of Omaha, Nebraska, have been charged in an three-count indictment. Count I charges Henderson, Glover, and Grutel with conspiracy to knowingly possess firearm in furtherance of crimes of violence between on or about January 1, 2023, and on or about October 31, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and $100 special assessment. Count II charges Henderson, Glover, and Grutel with conspiracy to traffic in firearms between on or about July 29, 2023, and on or about July 30, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and $100 special assessment. Count III charges Henderson, Glover, and Grutel with use, carry, and discharge of a firearm, during in relation to a crime of violence on or about July 30, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and $100 special assessment.
Juan Us-Ralios, age 41, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Us-Ralios with false representation of a social security number on or about December 3, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Us-Ralios with false claim to U.S. Citizenship on or about December 3, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Us-Ralios with illegal reentry of a removed alien on or about March 4, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Alberto Avitia-Esparza, age 54, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a four-count Indictment. Count I charges Avitia-Esparza with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about March 17, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Avitia-Esparza with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about April 9, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Avitia-Esparza with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about July 28, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges Avitia-Esparza with reentry of a removed alien after having been convicted of a felony on or about July 29, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Nathanial Condon, age 40, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about November 21, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Deron Lewis-Payne, age 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Lewis-Payne with bank robbery on or about February 10, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Lewis-Payne with use, carry and brandish a firearm during a crime of violence on or about February 10, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 7 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The following individual was charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or her designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States:
Juan Rivera-Flores, age unknown
The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or her designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States:
Martin Trujillo-Munoz, age unknown
Mateo Abarca-Uriostegui, age 52
The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The following individual was charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following an aggravated felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or her designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States:
Cresencio Lorenzo-Garcia, age 50
The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Four defendants sentenced to prison on federal firearms chargesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: Four defendants have been sentenced to federal prison on separate charges involving illegal firearms possession.
The sentencings before U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:
- Devin Jenkins, 26, of Savannah, sentenced to 103 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Jenkins was charged in March 2025 after a domestic disturbance at a Savannah apartment complex when he fired multiple shots into his girlfriend’s unoccupied, parked vehicle.
- Anthony Rasheen Greene, 34, of Savannah, sentenced to 60 months in prison, fined $1,200, and ordered to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term after pleading guilty to Carrying a Firearm During, or In Relation To, a Drug Trafficking Crime. Savannah police officers found a pistol in Greene’s possession during a May 2024 traffic stop.
- Terrance Delan Parker, 26, of Ludowici, Georgia, was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Liberty County sheriff’s deputies found two pistols in Parker’s vehicle during a May 2025 traffic stop.
- Ronmel Eduardo Garcia-Correa, 33, a citizen of Honduras illegally present in the United States, was sentenced to 11 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien. Police in Garden City found a pistol in Garcia-Correa’s possession in June 2025. Garcia-Correa will be released into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement immediately upon completion of his prison sentence and processed for removal from the United States.
“Removing guns from the hands of criminals is a vital part of protecting our community from violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “With our law enforcement partners, we will relentlessly pursue and prosecute individuals whose criminal histories or immigration status makes it clear that they are prohibited from possessing firearms.”
Agencies investigating the cases include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Savannah Police Department, the Garden City Police Department, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. The cases were prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese, Timothy P. Dean, and Kelsey L. Scanlon.
Four Sentenced for Drug Trafficking in the Northern PanhandleRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Four Wheeling, West Virginia residents were sentenced today for selling fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced.
Tyshaun Johnson, 30, was sentenced to 115 months. Johnson sold fentanyl near Jensen Playground in Wheeling. Investigators also determined Johnson was selling cocaine base in the area. Johnson has prior convictions for fraud, assault, domestic battery, malicious assault, and theft.
Harold Wayne Nice, 42, was sentenced to 60 months today. Nice was responsible for selling more than 30 grams of methamphetamine, along with nearly 2 grams of fentanyl, and one gram of cocaine base. Nice has previously been convicted for domestic battery, destruction of property, assault, breaking and entering, and drug crimes.
Cephus Andrews, 33, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiring with others to sell fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in Ohio County. Andrews, one of nine defendants in a drug conspiracy, allowed his residence to serve as a stash house for the drugs. Investigators seized 7.5 grams of a fentanyl/heroin mixture and 3.35 grams of cocaine, along with drug paraphernalia and $1,095. The other eight defendants are awaiting trial currently scheduled to occur in April 2026.
Alyssa Marie Abrigg, 34, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Abrigg sold nearly a gram of fentanyl and half a gram of methamphetamine in the Warwood section of Wheeling. She has prior drug convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
Investigative agencies include the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Wheeling Police Department.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Fort Myers Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing, Accessing, and Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Images and VideosRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – John James Adducci (41, Fort Myers) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell to 12 years in federal prison for possessing, accessing with intent to view, and receiving images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Adducci pleaded guilty on December 1, 2025. Adducci was also sentenced to a life term of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, between February 2023 and June 2025, Adducci possessed and accessed with intent to view child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that he had searched for and downloaded from the internet. Adducci also accessed and searched the dark web for sites offering CSAM. On December 13, 2023, Adducci knowingly received CSAM from a website he had accessed on the dark web.
In June 2025, during the execution of a search warrant at Adducci’s residence, FBI agents seized Adducci’s cellphones, laptops, USB drives, and numerous external hard drives. Adducci admitted to agents that he resided alone, no one else had access to his electronic devices, and that he had accessed the dark web. FBI conducted a forensic analysis on the seized electronic devices, which revealed thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Fort Dodge Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm pled guilty March 24, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.
Miguel Lopez, 31, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
At the plea hearing, Lopez admitted to possessing a 9mm pistol on August 7, 2025, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Law enforcement located the firearm after they observed Lopez dumping it outside his car window during a traffic stop. Lopez has four prior drug-related felony convictions. As a felon, Lopez is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Lopez remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Lopez faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-3045. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Former wrestling coach indicted for child pornography productionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with creating child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). The former high school wrestling coach was initially charged through complaint on three criminal counts then prosecutors pursued an additional count at indictment after the discovery of a fourth alleged victim.
According to court documents, Ryan Brungardt, 37, of Salina is charged with three counts of production of child pornography and one count of attempted production of child pornography.
Brungardt is a former wrestling coach for Salina Central High School in Salina. Brungardt is accused of clandestinely using a cellphone to record minors while they showered in a locker room during the Tournament of Champions, a wrestling tournament which was held at Newton High School in Newton, Kansas, in January 2024.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Salina Police Department, and Newton Police Department are investigating the case.
Investigators are reviewing additional seized cellphone videos suspected to have been recorded at wrestling meets and tournaments in Newton, Hays, Garden City, and Salina, Kansas during the 2023-2024 wrestling season. Anyone who believes they witnessed crimes or suspicious activity at these events is asked to contact the KBI at (785) 600-8790 or report at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.Project Safe Childhood
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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former St. Louis Area Pediatrician Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Exchanging Prescriptions for Sex ActsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Tuersday sentenced a former St. Louis County, Missouri pediatrician to 20 years in prison for prescribing pain pills and other controlled substances in exchange for sex acts, nude photos or cash.
From at least 2014 through May of 2023, Craig A. Spiegel, now 70, exploited his position to obtain cash, sexual acts or sexual photographs from at least 19 patients, many of whom he began treating as children. Spiegel illegally distributed an “astronomical amount of drugs,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Sestric said in court. Rather than referring patients with a substance use disorder to treatment, Spiegel exploited their disease for his own gratification and prescribed dangerous combinations of addictive drugs to those vulnerable victims. Spiegel pressured and harassed reluctant patients via text messages and became sexually violent with at least one victim, Sestric said. Spiegel met one of his victims when she was only about seven or eight years old and initiated sexual contact years later by preying on her vulnerability when she was going through a divorce, a sentencing memo filed by Sestric said.
Spiegel admitted prescribing controlled substances to his co-defendant, April Bingham, in exchange for sexual favors. He knew that she was selling some of the drugs, and that she was addicted. He prescribed drugs to Bingham using the names of friends and relatives in part to take advantage of their insurance benefits. Bingham then introduced Spiegel to others who paid him or performed sex acts in exchange for controlled substances.
Spiegel’s crimes were only thwarted by an investigation that began with the Bridgeton Police Department. After his indictment, Spiegel lied in an April 2025 hearing in U.S. District Court in St. Louis while accusing police officers of illegally searching his cellular phone. Spiegel falsely claimed, in court and under oath, that he had not signed a consent form authorizing the search of his cellular phone until after the cellular phone data had been extracted by investigators.
The Bridgeton Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the FBI, and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Sestric and Jonathan Clow prosecuted the case.
“Dr. Craig Spiegel is no better than a street-level drug dealer. He knowingly exploited individuals struggling with addiction, not to treat them, but to keep them dependent,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “For years, he fueled that addiction to ensure a steady stream of victims for his own sexual gratification. Spiegel didn’t just violate his oath as a physician, he preyed on vulnerable women and put their lives at serious risk of overdose.”
“Today’s sentencing marks an important step toward justice for the individuals harmed by Craig Spiegel’s criminal conduct,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “This doctor – a pediatrician – deliberately and callously abused his medical position to abuse and exploit his vulnerable patients and manipulate federal health care programs. The outcome in this case underscores HHS-OIG’s strong, longstanding commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to hold such fraudsters responsible for their crimes.”
“Acts such as those performed by this individual cannot and will not be tolerated,” DEA St. Louis Field Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “This man took advantage of his position and in the process, harmed countless individuals who filled prescriptions that he wrote, for a medical condition they didn’t have. Spiegel not only hurt those who trusted him, he destroyed his reputation and because of his actions now faces a significant time in federal prison.”
Spiegel pleaded guilty in December to one count each of illegal distribution of controlled substances, making false statements related to health care matters and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The Medicare, Missouri Medicaid and Illinois Medicaid programs suffered losses totaling $114,480 because of Spiegel’s illegal prescription practices and Judge Ross ordered Spiegel to repay that amount.
Bingham, 48, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and was sentenced in 2024 to 21 months in prison.
Individuals with concerns about Dr. Spiegel should call the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) at 800-447-8477.
Former Escrow Officer Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Cameron, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to bank fraud.
Tracy L. Kellerstrass, 51, former escrow officer for Cameron Title Company, waived her right to grand jury indictment and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to an information charging her with one count of bank fraud.
According to court documents, Kellerstrass was employed by Cameron Title Company from 2018 to February 2024. In her capacity as an escrow officer, Kellerstrass had access to Cameron Title’s bank accounts and ledgers and was only authorized to use the accounts for business purposes. However, as part of a scheme and artifice to defraud, Kellerstrass forged the signature of another employee on company checks and presented them for payment.
By pleading guilty today Kellerstrass admitted that she presented forged checks drawn on Cameron Title’s bank account and deposited them into her personal account.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Kellerstrass will be subject to a forfeiture money judgment and restitution in the amount of $460,415.84.
Under federal statutes, Kellerstrass is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole on the bank fraud charge to which she has pleaded guilty. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. The sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 22, 2026.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Brown and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Former Army Civilian Employee from Merced Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing ChildrenRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Thelmo Meneses Santos, Jr., 60, of Merced, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to 15 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release for sexually abusing two minors while he was employed by the Armed Forces outside of the United States. On Sept. 23, 2025, Santos pleaded guilty.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California; and Special Agent in Charge Michael DeFamio of the Army CID Far East Field Office made the announcement.
According to court documents, Santos sexually abused two minor children multiple times between 2015 and 2023. Santos began sexually abusing both of the minor victims when they were 11 years old. Santos sexually abused the two minors in Japan, where he was employed by the U.S. Army as a civilian employee. During the investigation, Santos gave an interview to law enforcement officers where he admitted to engaging in sexual acts with both minor children. Santos was later arrested in Hawaii by Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) agents. After his arrest, Santos attempted to unlawfully influence one of his victims to falsely recant her report of sexual abuse.
In addition to his sentence of imprisonment, Santos will be required to pay restitution to his victims and to register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The Army’s Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and Trial Attorney Eduardo A. Palomo of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute 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.
Former Army Civilian Employee Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing ChildrenRead the Press Release
A California man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for sexually abusing two minors while he was employed by the Armed Forces outside of the United States. According to court documents, Thelmo Meneses Santos, Jr., 60, of Merced, sexually abused two minor children multiple times between 2015 and 2023. Santos began sexually abusing both of the minor victims when they were 11 years old. Santos sexually abused the two minors in Japan, where he was employed by the U.S. Army as a civilian employee. During the investigation, Santos gave an interview to law enforcement officers where he admitted to engaging in sexual acts with both minor children. Santos was later arrested in Hawaii by Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) agents. After his arrest, Santos attempted to unlawfully influence one of his victims to falsely recant her report of sexual abuse.
In addition to his sentence of imprisonment, Santos will be required to pay restitution to his victims and to register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California; and Special Agent in Charge Michael DeFamio of the Army CID Far East Field Office made the announcement.
The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI investigated this case.
Trial Attorney Eduardo A. Palomo of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa for the Eastern District of California prosecuted the case.
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.
Five Repeat Felons Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession as Part of Operation Take Back AmericaRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced that five previously convicted felons were sentenced to prison today for illegal possession of firearms. The cases are part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office ongoing efforts under Operation Take Back America to identify and prosecute repeat offenders that violate federal firearms laws.
“Those who continually engage in crime using firearms are going to find themselves in the federal system,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “It is illegal for felons to possess a firearm, and my office uses that statute to remove repeat offenders from the streets and reduce violence in our community.”
“ATF collaborates with our law enforcement partners to identify those that blatantly ignore our laws and threaten our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “We are proud to be part of a focused effort on stopping gun violence and removing these dangerous individuals from our streets.”
“Addressing violent crime requires every partner at the table, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is committed to working side‑by‑side with our federal counterparts to keep our communities safe,” said Chief of Police Estella D. Patterson. “When repeat offenders continue to carry guns and endanger the public, we will act decisively. These cases show what strong collaboration can accomplish, identifying the drivers of violence, removing illegal firearms from our streets and holding those who break the law fully accountable.”
The five defendants previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and today were sentenced as follows:
Timothy Demetrius Williams, 35, of Mooresville, N.C., was sentenced to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On August 15, 2024, officers with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) observed Williams in possession of a firearm. The officers found a Glock, Model 43X, 9mm semi-automatic pistol in Williams’ jacket pocket, loaded with 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition and a round in the chamber. During the investigation, it was determined that the firearm had been reported stolen. Williams, who has a prior felony conviction in Florida, also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm.
Luther Joseph Weathers, 28, was ordered to serve 57 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. On June 12, 2024, CMPD officers were dispatched to a residence after reports of an individual in a parked vehicle in the driveway. Upon arrival, the officers observed Weathers seated in the front passenger seat, asleep in the vehicle. The officers opened the door of the vehicle and placed Weathers under arrest. During the arrest, Weathers told the officers he had a firearm in his front right jacket pocket. Officers removed a loaded Taurus Magnum .357, firearm and ammunition. Weathers has multiple prior convictions including robbery with a dangerous weapon. During the investigation, it was determined that the firearm had been reported stolen.
Damiyus Diamonte Fowler, 28, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 52 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. On February 9, 2025, CMPD officers found a Glock with an extended magazine holding up to 30 rounds during a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Fowler was a passenger. Fowler tried to run after the officers located the firearm in a backpack. The officers caught up with Fowler, and he was taken into custody. At the time, Fowler was on supervised release for a prior federal conviction for illegal possession of a firearm, and the judge sentenced him to an additional 12 months in prison.
Jamil Omire Ali, 32, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 45 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. On February 22, 2025, CMPD officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in Charlotte. Ali was seated in the passenger seat. Upon exiting the vehicle, officers observed that Ali was carrying a firearm in his waistband. The officers attempted to place Ali under arrest, but Ali resisted. He was ultimately detained. Ali had several outstanding arrest warrants for assault and weapons-related charges at the time of his arrest. The firearm Ali possessed was a Smith & Wesson, M&P Shield, .40 caliber, pistol, loaded with a live round in the chamber and four additional rounds in the magazine. Ali has prior felony drug and firearm convictions.
Dwayne Furlow Chaney, 40, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. On January 31, 2025, CMPD officers responded to the Transit Center in Charlotte in reference to an individual observed selling narcotics. The responding officers searched Chaney and found several grams of narcotics on his person, as well as a Smith & Wesson MP40 .40 caliber pistol containing six rounds of ammunition. Chaney was taken into custody. During the investigation, it was determined that the firearm was stolen. Chaney has a prior conviction for felony possession of a firearm and other offenses.
In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation of these cases. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte handled the prosecutions.
These sentencings 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).
Felon Gun Store Employee Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearm After Warning Targets of Investigation: “ATF is watching u.”Read the Press Release
Felon Gun Store Employee Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearm After Warning Targets of Investigation: “ATF is watching u.”
CONCORD – Massachusetts man Doug Mulligan, 80, pleaded guilty today in federal court to the possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante scheduled sentencing for July 7, 2026.
“Despite knowing that he was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms, the defendant chose to disregard federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “Even more troubling, he used his position at a licensed firearms business to tip off individuals about federal law enforcement activity, undermining an active investigation into transnational, illicit firearms trafficking. Our office will continue to prosecute those whose actions enable criminals’ access to guns, and those who seek to interfere with law enforcement efforts to protect public safety.”
“Doug Mulligan repeatedly disregarded warnings he was prohibited from possessing a firearm and therefore could not work in a gun store. Mulligan used his association with a federal firearm licensee to not only evade restrictions on his own possession of firearms, but to obstruct a federal investigation into other guns being trafficked to prohibited persons. This conduct undermines both public safety and the diligent, responsible work of countless law-abiding firearm licensees across the country who endeavor to play by the rules and keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Greco.
According to the court documents and statements made in court, a federal investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in coordination with Canadian law enforcement partners Sûreté du Québec, Ontario Provincial Police, and other U.S. law enforcement agencies, uncovered a transnational firearms trafficking operation responsible for smuggling dozens of weapons from New Hampshire into Canada.
As part of the investigation, Doug Mulligan, an employee of American Trikes & Motorsports, admitted that he warned suspected traffickers of federal law enforcement activity by leaving a note on their car stating “ATF is watching u.” A subsequent federal search warrant and review of surveillance footage revealed that Mulligan also unlawfully possessed a firearm when he handled and purchased a firearm from a customer on behalf of American Trikes & Motorsports despite having a prior felony conviction.
The charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person provides a maximum prison term of 15 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and not more than 3 years of supervised release. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. The Keene Police Department and other law enforcement agencies provided valuable assistance. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Marin and Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasir Sadat prosecuted the case.
Federal Whistleblower Program to Hold Corporations Accountable for Fraud, Material Support of Cartels, and Criminal AliensRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – U.S. Attorney W. Ellis Boyle announced the launch of a modified Eastern District of North Carolina U.S. Attorney’s Office Whistleblower Program to force accountability for corporations that engage in: fraud upon federal government programs, crimes involving criminal aliens, and supporting cartels.
“Our office focuses on companies, not just individuals, that steal taxpayer dollars from government programs, help cartels, and aid criminal aliens. Too often, companies that receive government funds are the principal actors of criminal conduct. This EDNC Whistleblower Program makes it easier for insiders, or anyone else who have knowledge of corporate crime, to come forward with that information before it is too late. Folks can win-win by stopping fraud and avoiding prison.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
The EDNC posted the changes to the EDNC’s Whistleblower Program to the district’s website. While the EDNC already had a program that made it possible for whistleblowers to come forward, that program did not provide leniency for individuals with inside knowledge of corporate crimes involving:
Fraud upon federal government programs (including those administered by states)
International cartels or Transnational Criminal Organizations;
Money laundering;
Violations of federal immigration law;
Violations involving material support of terrorism (including support for cartels)
Corporate sanctions
Trade, Tarriff, and customs violations; and
Procurement Fraud
U.S. Attorney Boyle stated, “With these changes, we clearly proclaim that the President’s priorities are our priorities. If you have knowledge of crimes by a company, come forward, give us the information, and earn leniency. Please don’t make us catch you before you come clean, because then we will fully prosecute you to the maximum extent allowed by law.”
The EDNC Whistleblower Program provides just one way individuals with knowledge of criminal conduct can help the US Attorney’s Office hold corporate criminals accountable. This program compliments - and does not replace - the ability of an individual to file a private Qui Tam lawsuit on behalf of the United States, against a company that engages in a fraud against the government.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Federal Investigation Leads to Prison Time for Illegal Alien Who Sold FentanylRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Mexican national illegally present in the United States was sentenced to prison today for trafficking kilogram quantities of fentanyl and heroin, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of HSI in North Carolina and South Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
Luis Fernando Huerta Ayon, 27, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release. Ayon will also be removed from the United States after he completes his prison sentence.
“Eliminating fentanyl is a top priority of my office,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “Fentanyl is a poison that has taken too many lives, and we are working hard to put a stop to it.”
According to filed documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, in early December 2024, law enforcement began an investigation into Huerta for suspected fentanyl trafficking. Investigators conducted at least two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Huerta, tracked his vehicle, and surveilled the defendant. After building their investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Huerta’s residence in Charlotte.
Investigators’ extensive efforts led to the seizure of over a kilogram of fentanyl, over a hundred grams of deadly fentanyl analogue, and nearly a kilogram of heroin. Additionally, inside Huerta’s residence, agents found a drug ledger, a digital scale, bulk cash, a vacuum sealing machine, and multiple cellular phones. Some of the fentanyl recovered was already packaged for street-level sales.
On November 20, 2025, Huerta pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending placement at a federal facility by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked HSI for their investigation of the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for EscapeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Escape from Custody. The sentencing took place on March 23, 2026.
Lawrence Oakie, 44, was sentenced to one year in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Oakie was indicted for Escape from Custody by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on December 1, 2025.
In May 2025, Oakie left the Community Alternatives of the Black Hills, where he was finishing the remainder of his federal prison sentence, without permission and did not return. Oakie was arrested after law enforcement located him at an apartment complex in Rapid City after responding to a call for service related.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Oakie was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
De Smet Man and Woman Each Sentenced to Terms in Federal Prison and Home Confinement for Willful Failure to Collect or Pay over $600,000 in Employment TaxRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a De Smet, South Dakota, man and woman convicted of Willful Failure to Collect or Pay Over Employment Tax and Aiding and Abetting. The sentencing took place on March 18, 2026.
Michael Wiese, 66, was sentenced to three months in federal prison, followed by three months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Audrey Saylor, 65, was sentenced to three months in federal prison, followed by three months on home confinement, and three years of supervised release. She was further ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Wiese and Saylor were also ordered to jointly pay over $610,000 in restitution.
Wiese and Saylor were indicted for multiple counts of Willful Failure to Collect or Pay Over Employment Tax and Aiding and Abetting and Filing False Tax Return and Aiding and Abetting by a federal grand jury in June 2024. Wiese and Saylor pleaded guilty on December 1, 2025.
Wiese and Saylor were co-owners and operators of American Engineered Products, LLC (“AEP”), which is based in De Smet, South Dakota. AEP is in the business of designing and manufacturing items such as bases for casino slot machines and cash kiosks. They exercised control over every aspect of AEP’s business affairs, including preparing AEP’s month-end report, providing information to AEP’s corporate tax return preparer to file AEP’s corporate federal income tax returns, managing AEP’s day-to-day bookkeeping, issuing paychecks to AEP’s employees, and providing the year-end Forms W-2 to AEP’s employees.
Throughout calendar years 2017 through 2020, Wiese and Saylor, on behalf of AEP, withheld taxes from its employees’ paychecks, including federal income taxes, Medicare, and Social Security taxes (collectively referred to as “payroll taxes”), knowing that they had the responsibility to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over AEP’s payroll taxes. Beginning in January 2017, Wiese and Saylor made no payments of the payroll taxes to the IRS by the required due dates. Beginning in 2017, AEP also failed to file required forms with the IRS. In sum, Wiese and Saylor willfully failed to truthfully account for and pay over to the IRS all of the payroll taxes withheld and due and owing to the United States on behalf of AEP and its employees. Their conduct continued until about January 2021, adversely impacting AEP’s employees’ accrual of future federal benefits.
“This is a form of theft from the government,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Our Financial Litigation Unit will do its best to recover these stolen funds on behalf of the American taxpayer.”
“Failure to collect and pay over employment taxes is a serious criminal offense,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “It harms the future Social Security and Medicare benefits of the employees. Business owners have a responsibility to withhold the taxes from their employees’ pay and remit them to the IRS.”
This case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Saylor will report to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service in late March 2026 to begin serving her sentence, while Wiese will report in early July 2026.
Cuba man pleads guilty to operating a marijuana grow operationRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Daniel S. Ackerman, 59, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession with intent to distribute 50 or more marijuana plants, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna M. Duncan, who is handling the case, stated that Ackerman operated and maintained a marijuana grow and distribution center on Farnsworth Road in Cuba. On October 10, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant, seizing 475 growing marijuana plants, 124 dried marijuana plants, approximately 2,097 grams of processed marijuana, 10 glass jars containing liquid concentrated cannabis, three tubes of concentrated cannabis, psilocybin mushrooms, scales, and multiple cell phones. In addition, investigators seized a 9mm pistol and ammunition.
The plea 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, the Cuba Police Department, under the direction of Chief Dustin Burch, the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Scott Cicirello, the Olean Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ron Richardson, and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Butler.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Sinatra.
Convicted Drug Dealer Indicted on New Drug Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Henry A. Glenn, 47, of DeFuniak Springs, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine over 500 grams of mixture, three counts of distribution of methamphetamine over 50 grams of mixture, and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Glenn appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for May 4, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
If convicted as charged, Glenn faces up to life imprisonment.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
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.
Chinese National Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Possessing More Than 5,400 Sexual Abuse Images of ChildrenRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 59-year-old Chinese national has been sentenced to federal prison for possession and distribution of child pornography.
Tong Chen, residing in Hudson, was sentenced to 160 months (13 years and three months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A Boyko, after pleading guilty in December 2025 to Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and Possession of Child Pornography or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $67,500 in restitution. Chen also faces deportation from the United States upon completion of his sentence.
According to court documents, in May 2024, federal agents began an investigation after the Circleville Police Department identified suspected CSAM linked to the defendant’s Summit County residence. In July 2024, agents executed a federal search warrant at Chen’s residence and seized a desktop computer and external hard drives. During forensic analysis of these items, agents located more than 5,400 CSAM images and videos, as well as a software program capable of downloading and sharing the sexually explicit content with others. The recovered images were sadistic and masochistic in nature and included bondage, bestiality, and infants and toddlers being assaulted. Investigators determined that Chen had been viewing CSAM for approximately 12 years.
The FBI Cleveland Division led this investigation with assistance from the Circleville Police Department and Hudson Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Margaret Kane for the Northern District of Ohio was responsible for prosecuting this matter.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and 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, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Danxiu Wang, a Chinese national residing in California, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting she participated in an international fraud and money laundering scheme that tricked more than 40 elderly victims out of more than $1.2 million.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this case arises from an investigation into a call center scam that targeted elderly individuals in California and elsewhere in the United States in May 2025. According to charging documents, Wang and others used the following methods to defraud the victims:
- Technical support scam: Scammers pose as legitimate tech support representatives, claiming a victim’s computer or account has been compromised and tricking them into paying for unnecessary or fake repairs.
- Refund scam: Fraudsters contact victims with claims they are owed a refund, then manipulate them into providing banking information or transferring money under the guise of correcting a supposed overpayment.
- Bank impersonation scam: Criminals impersonate banks or financial institutions through calls, texts, or emails, creating a false sense of urgency to pressure victims into revealing sensitive information or moving funds to fraudulent accounts.
Wang admitted in her plea agreement that she met victims in-person to collect the funds. She kept a percentage of the fraud proceeds before passing the remainder on to other members of the conspiracy.
Wang is scheduled to be sentenced June 15, 2026, at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Linda Lopez.
If you or someone you know is 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
The FBI requests that victims report:
- The name of the person or company that contacted you.
- Methods of communication used, including websites, emails, and telephone numbers.
- Any bank account number(s) to which you wired funds and the recipient’s name(s).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Brooks.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25cr4149-LL-1
Danxiu Wang Age: 30 San Gabriel, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Wire Fraud Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison and $1 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Castle Rock Woman Sentenced for Defrauding Victims in Romance ScamsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Lori Ann Kimball, 52, Castle Rock, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison and ordered to pay $3,112,990.13 in restitution after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to the plea agreement, from January 2023 through at least February 2025, Kimball conspired with a person to move proceeds of mail and wire fraud to Nigeria. Conspirators other than Kimball engaged in what’s known as a ‘pig butchering scheme,’ in which individuals use a fictitious identity to cold contact a victim, typically via a social media or dating application, where they build trust and then induce the victim to send money in the form of wire transfers, checks, or virtual currency. Kimball was initially a victim of the pig butchering scheme before she began laundering money received from other victims. After being warned by local law enforcement about the nature of her conduct, Kimball continued to carry out illegal financial transactions, including transferring over $3.4 million she received from victims to cryptocurrency accounts in her own name before eventually transferring those holdings to digital wallets being held by individuals primarily in Nigeria. Kimball also provided false information to banks and cryptocurrency exchanges to conceal and disguise her activity. During her involvement in this conspiracy, Kimball utilized at least 20 bank accounts and at least seven cryptocurrency accounts.
“Sadly, Ms. Kimball was herself a victim of this malicious scheme, but she then joined those who targeted her to help steal millions of dollars from others. She continued even after local law enforcement warned to stop her criminal behavior,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “I urge all Coloradans to use caution when placing their trust in people they meet online, especially when those people ask for money.”
“Romance scams leave deep emotional and financial scars, and the bad actors like Kimball, who help launder the proceeds of these scams, cause significant harm to victims and enable criminal networks,” said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Denver Field Office. “IRS-CI will continue to follow the money to expose and disrupt these schemes and hold the network of criminals involved accountable.”
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Craig Fansler.
Case Number: 1:25-cr-00054-CNS
Carroll Iowa Man to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Paul Diamond Sanchez, 52, from Carroll, Iowa, was sentenced on March 23, 2026, to 78 months’ imprisonment. Sanchez pled guilty on November 20, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in federal court in Sioux City.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from July 2024 through May 2025 Sanchez and others distributed at least 35 grams of pure methamphetamine in the Carroll, Iowa area. On two occasions in the summer of 2024, Sanchez distributed a total of over 25 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. During a traffic stop in October 2024, Sanchez had over 9 grams of pure methamphetamine in his pants pocket which he admitted he obtained to sell to another person or persons.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Sanchez to 78 months’ imprisonment, and a term of four years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Sanchez remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Manning Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-3022. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Canadian National Sentenced to over 17 Years for Attempted Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Distributing, Transporting, and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – James Hjelmeland (30, Canada) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, distributing, transporting, and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Hjelmeland pleaded guilty on November 25, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on December 29, 2024, an undercover detective with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office posed as the guardian of a fictional 12-year-old child. Hjelmeland engaged in sexually explicit conversation with the undercover detective and made plans to travel from Canada to Orlando to have sex with the child. During the conversation, Hjelmeland distributed CSAM to the undercover detective. When Hjelmeland was arrested in Orlando, he possessed CSAM material on his cellphone that he had transported to the United States involving children under the age of 12.
“The cooperation demonstrated by local, federal, and international agencies in this case affirms a commitment by our law enforcement partners to protect children from exploitation and harm,” stated U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “Because of their diligence and shared expertise, another child predator has been brought to justice.”
“Protecting our children is a fundamental responsibility of law enforcement. By taking these sexual predators off the streets, we are safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Homeland Security investigations Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “HSI is fully committed to working with our law enforcement partners to seek out those who would exploit children, bring them to justice, and ensure the continued safety of our children.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, be United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Team. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
California man pleads guilty to role in narcotics conspiracy involving 300 pounds of methamphetamineRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Los Angeles man admitted in federal court here today that he took part in a narcotics conspiracy involving more than 300 pounds of methamphetamine shipped to the greater Cincinnati area in 10 pallets of paver stones.
Jontah Jackson, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, in January 2025, DEA agents in Cincinnati received intelligence regarding a potential shipment of methamphetamine awaiting delivery in West Chester.
Law enforcement conducted surveillance of the shipment and observed Jackson parked in the vicinity and observing the delivery as others loaded up the pallets onto a box truck and a flatbed trailer.
When all the vehicles began to depart the delivery area, law enforcement converged on the vehicles. Jackson fled from the police, collided with a law enforcement vehicle, crashed into a tree line and fled on foot before being apprehended on a nearby highway.
Law enforcement discovered fake paver stones of methamphetamine interspersed among real paver stones.
Jackson and co-defendant Ramiro Mendoza, 30, of Santa Maria, California, were indicted by a grand jury in April 2025.
Jackson faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit; Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Middletown Police Chief Earl Nelson announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe is representing the United States in this case.
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California Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Jamal Tatum, 45, of Glendale, California, was sentenced on March 18, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for production of child pornography. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Tatum to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Tatum’s release from prison, he will begin a seven-year term of supervised release.
On June 26, 2024, the FBI National Threat Operations Center received an online tip regarding a user of the Kik platform soliciting sexually explicit videos from a minor (Minor Victim 1). The tip advised the user was 44 years old and resided in Topanga Canyon, California. Minor Victim 1, who resided in Scribner, Nebraska, indicated she began communicating with “Jamal Mutat” in a Kik chatroom and eventually the two communicated via direct messaging on Kik. Between June 25 and June 28, 2024, Minor Victim 1 and “Jamal Mutat” exchanged 404 messages, which included pictures and videos. “Jamal Mutat” sent Minor Victim 1 pictures of his penis and asked Minor Victim 1 to send pictures of herself. “Jamal Mutat” told Minor Victim 1 he wanted to meet her and have sex with her. Using Kik’s recording option on her cell phone, Minor Victim 1 made two videos showing her vagina and sent both videos to “Jamal Mutat.” Minor Victim 1’s Kik profile indicated she was 16 years old. Based on Minor Victim’s descriptions of pictures and videos sent in the Kik conversation, FBI special agents were able to identify Kik user “Jamal Mutat” as Jamal Tatum of Topanga Canyon, California.
On August 1, 2024, FBI agents obtained a search warrant for Minor Victim 1’s Kik account. In those records, agents located the messages exchanged between Minor Victim 1 and Tatum. In one message, Minor Victim 1 tells Tatum she lives in the Midwest, is 16, and provides her date of birth. Tatum describes what he would like Minor Victim 1 to do, and after this message, Minor Victim 1 sends the two videos to Tatum.
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 Attorney’s 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.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Boston Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A self-admitted member of the Bailey Street gang in Boston pleaded guilty today to illegal possession of five firearms and ammunition.
Kenneth Bigby-Williams, 29, of Hyde Park, pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for June 16, 2026. Bigby-Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025.
On Aug. 7, 2025, a series of search warrants were executed on Bigby-Williams and his residence. As a result of those search warrants, five firearms, approximately 73 rounds of various caliber ammunition, along with numerous high-capacity magazines and other firearms accessories were seized. Due to a prior conviction in 2019 for possession of a firearm without a permit in Suffolk Superior Court, Bigby-Williams is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The charging statute for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Blue Springs Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN– A Blue Springs, Mississippi man was sentenced today to ten years in prison and ten years of supervised release for distributing child sexual abuse materials over an Internet application.
According to court documents, Kristopher Brandon Holcomb, 44, was uploading child pornography on a popular mobile application from July 2024 to May 2025. Holcomb was communicating with others he believed to be minors on the application and sending them child sexual abuse material. The investigation revealed over 60 videos and 192 images on his electronic devices.
In addition to 120 months in prison, Holcomb was also sentenced to ten years of supervised release and will have to register as a sex offender after release from prison. In addition to the sentencing, Judge Sharion Aycock awarded restitution for the victims identified in the images and videos that requested compensation.
This investigation was started by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force through the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and continued to be investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
“Your government has many priorities, but chief among them is keeping our citizens safe. And the most important aspect of community safety is keeping our children safe,” stated Scott F. Leary, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi. “A society that cannot protect its kids is failing in its most important responsibility. Tragically, we live in a world where child exploitation is prevalent. Please join us in combatting these crimes. When citizens notice something improper concerning children, we urge you to report this to law enforcement. In this case, ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) was notified of suspicious material. Our partners at the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and HSI conducted an investigation and apprehended this criminal. Parker King, the Project Safe Childhood lead prosecutor in our office, successfully prosecuted the case. In this one case children are no longer being victimized. Let’s keep this going.”
“The possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material is a heinous crime that inflicts lasting harm on the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Matthew Reidell, Homeland Security Investigations. “HSI is committed to protecting children and bringing offenders to justice. Today’s sentence reflects our unwavering dedication to safeguarding children from exploitation and ensuring that those who commit these offenses are held accountable.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
23 March 2026
Wheeling Attorney Sentenced for Money Laundering and FraudRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - Wheeling Attorney Paul Harris was sentenced today to 97 months in federal prison for defrauding clients and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
“Citizens should trust lawyers to protect their rights and interests, not to have their money stolen,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Harris broke that trust, and the law, and now he will pay with time in prison.” Further, “this office will leave no stone unturned in pursuing full restitution to make the victims whole,” said Harvey.
A federal jury found Paul J. Harris, 62, of Wheeling, guilty in November 2025 of 29 counts. Harris used client funds for personal expenses, such as the purchase of his home and paying off the loan for his law office, without the clients’ permission. Harris received and moved funds from his client trust account to his law firm operating account, at times using one client’s money to pay funds he had misappropriated from other clients. The total loss for the victims in this case is $701,623.86.
Harris will self-report to prison on May 6, 2026.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Jennifer T. Conklin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government, and the matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey handed down the sentence and ordered the forfeiture of the property of Harris Law Offices in Wheeling, as well as $701,623.86 in restitution to the victims.
Violent International Fugitive Arrested in Lee County, Northern District, MississippiRead the Press Release
OXFORD – United States Attorney Scott F. Leary announced today that an international violent fugitive was arrested in the Northern District of Mississippi on an immigration related charge brought by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
Adrian Walker, 28, a Canadian national, is wanted by the Toronto Police Services on a Canada-wide arrest warrant for first degree murder and attempted murder, following a May 7, 2024 violent shooting in Toronto, Canada. For that offense, he has been named as a “Most Wanted Person” by the Toronto Police Services.
The United States Marshals Service (USMS) and their Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) learned that Walker was using an alias and hiding from Canadian law enforcement in Tupelo, Mississippi. Agents with HSI were able to determine that Walker had illegally entered into the United States without inspection. officials. HSI special agents were able to obtain an arrest warrant for an immigration offense. Monday afternoon, Walker was captured by federal and state law enforcement.
Walker has been charged in the Northern District of Mississippi. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations has placed an immigration detainer on Walker to ensure he is transferred into ICE custody and not released into the community following the conclusion of any charges he faces in the Northern District of Mississippi. At that time, they will be pursuing removal from the United States to Canada to face justice for the murder and shooting offenses for which he has been charged.
USA Leary stated, “This was a serious case. A Canadian national, wanted for murder, entered our country illegally and was living in our midst. He even made a Canadian Most Wanted list. Seeking sanctuary in Mississippi is not a smart move. The U.S. Marshals for the Northern District of Mississippi, together with ATF and HSI, conducted a multi-day operation to safely locate and apprehend this individual. After their great work, he was in U.S. custody. Those that continually criticize law enforcement are not in the arena; our agents and officers are, and the folks in our district can sleep soundly knowing law enforcement officers did their job. Thank you!”
“This investigation is an example of the continued priority of ATF to work with our federal, state, local and international law enforcement partners to support public safety and reduce violent crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson.
“Walker, an international fugitive wanted on murder charges in Canada, believed he could evade capture by hiding in the Northern District of Mississippi,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of HSI, New Orleans. “Thanks to the coordinated efforts of HSI; the U.S. Marshals Service; ATF, and our state and local partners, he was safely apprehended on federal immigration charges and is now one step closer to facing justice in Canada.”
Robert Dickerson, Senior Inspector, United States Marshal Service, stated, “The United States Marshals Service will always seek justice for those involved in violent crimes, no matter if they occur domestically or internationally. If you bring criminal activity into our country, you will be held accountable.”
This case is being prosecuted by Clyde McGee and John Herzog Jr.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney’s Office brings federal firearms charges against 9 additional defendants in Cincinnati as part of federal, state & local violent crime reduction initiativeRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Federal, state and local law enforcement officials announced today nine additional cases involving violations of federal firearms laws. All nine defendants have been arrested on these charges and were indicted by a federal grand jury on March 4.
These nine defendants are in addition to three defendants—Shaquille Ferguson, Franeek Cobb and Derrick Long—who were indicted by a federal grand jury on March 11 for firearms crimes related to public shootings in Cincinnati on Fountain Square in October 2025 and at Riverfront Live on March 1, 2026.
“Shortly after becoming U.S. Attorney, I stood with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in Cincinnati and promised the public that we would aggressively prosecute federal firearms cases and seek harsh penalties for repeat violent offenders caught with guns,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “These nine cases, along with the prosecutions of the individuals allegedly responsible for the shootings on Fountain Square and at Riverfront Live, highlight our continuing determination to make good on that promise.”
The nine additional defendants, all from Cincinnati, are as follows:
Auston Page
Auston Page was arrested as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Initiative involving the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Cincinnati Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive, and other partner agencies.
On Dec. 30, 2025, Page allegedly was a passenger in a vehicle that fled from law enforcement. As Ohio State Highway Patrol aviation followed the vehicle, Page allegedly ran and disposed of one handgun. After a Cincinnati Police officer deployed his taser, Page was taken into custody. A search of Page revealed another firearm. Page has previously been convicted of carrying a concealed weapon and aggravated robbery.
Rodrick Meatchem-White and Adrian Hardy
Eighteen-year-old Rodrick Meatchem-White and 19-year-old Adrian Hardy each allegedly possessed a Glock switch, which converts firearms into an automatic weapon or machinegun.
Polo Alexander
Alexander was previously convicted of robbery with a gun specification and allegedly was found in possession of a firearm in October 2025.
Austin Fowler
Fowler has previous convictions for aggravated robbery, drug possession, drug trafficking, and weapons under disability and allegedly was found with a firearm in November 2025.
Lamont Golightly
Golightly has previous convictions for drug trafficking and receiving stolen property and allegedly was found with a gun on Jan. 14.
Nathaniel Mack
Mack has multiple state convictions for trafficking heroin. He allegedly was found with a loaded, stolen gun in his pants during a traffic stop on Central Parkway in Cincinnati.
Reca Shelton
Shelton has multiple prior convictions for domestic violence and drug trafficking, as well as a conviction for robbery. He allegedly was found with a firearm on Jan. 13.
Naim Warren
Warren has previous convictions for felonious assault and burglary and allegedly was found with a gun in November 2025.
A complete list of the defendants is included below:
NameAgeCity of ResidenceChargePolo Alexander37CincinnatiFelon in possession of firearmAustin Fowler46CincinnatiFelon in possession of firearmLamont Golightly28CincinnatiFelon in possession of firearmAdrian Hardy19CincinnatiIllegal possession of a machinegunNathaniel Mack40CincinnatiFelon in possession of firearmRodrick Meatchem-White18CincinnatiIllegal possession of a machinegunAuston Page31CincinnatiFelon in possession of firearmReca Shelton40CincinnatiFelon in possession of firearmNaim Warren29CincinnatiFelon in possession of firearmIllegally possessing a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Possessing an unregistered firearm or a machinegun carry potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
As part of law enforcement’s targeted efforts to hold accountable perpetrators of gun violence, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has dedicated a state prosecutor to help bring federal cases as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Cincinnati Police Interim Chief Adam Hennie; Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley N. Brucato, Julie D. Garcia, Matthew C. Singer, Ryan A. Keefe and Anthony Springer, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry are representing the United States in this case.
Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation into Suicide Committed While in Police CustodyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against two officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arising out of the death of a 31-year-old Australian national from a suicide that occurred on Oct. 15, 2025.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement and civilian accounts, security camera footage, body-worn camera footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, autopsy and toxicology reports, and reports from the MPD.
According to the evidence, on Oct. 15, 2025, P.M., a 31-year-old national from Australia was arrested on a misdemeanor sexual assault charge. P.M. was brought to the 5th District police station for processing. P.M. was placed in a cell and it was anticipated that he would be presented later in the day to a magistrate judge in Superior Court. P.M. removed his shirt and fashioned it into a noose and hung himself from the cell door. Officers discovering his body attempted to resuscitate him and called for an ambulance. Unfortunately, those efforts were unsuccessful and P.M. was declared dead at the scene.
After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers willfully violated the civilian’s rights.
Investigations generally
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.
Two Members of a Methamphetamine and Cocaine-Trafficking Organization Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Two Mobile men were sentenced 360 months and 72 months in prison for their roles in a drug-trafficking organization that distributed bulk methamphetamine and cocaine.
According to court documents, Larry Jerome Hunter, 43, and Tyrone Dansby, 52, pleaded guilty to taking part in a vast drug-trafficking organization (“DTO”) led by Braxton A. Thomas that distributed bulk methamphetamine and cocaine between October 2021 and May 2024. Federal agents captured both Hunter and Dansby communicating with Thomas and others regarding drug transactions via court-authorized wiretaps of thousands of phone calls, text messages, and WhatsApp communications. On several occasions in 2023 and 2024, agents also seized large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine from the DTO.
For example, in March 2024, agents intercepted numerous calls between Thomas, Dansby, and a drug supplier about coordinating a delivery of bulk cocaine from Houston Texas, to Mobile. On March 10, 2024, agents arrested the supplier at a truck stop in Mobile after locating more than seven pounds of cocaine concealed behind the dash of the supplier’s semitruck. The cocaine had been destined for Thomas to distribute to Dansby and others. Dansby was on federal supervised release at the time he committed his offense.
Days later, on March 15, 2024, agents intercepted calls indicating that Thomas had traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to ferry a bulk load of methamphetamine back to Mobile. That evening, agents arrested Thomas and several coconspirators who were traveling in a convoy of vehicles on Interstate 65 southbound in Baldwin County, Alabama. During that arrest, agents seized more than 26 pounds of 100% pure methamphetamine and a loaded .40 caliber pistol from a vehicle being driven by one of Thomas’s couriers. Thomas admitted to agents that he regularly obtained kilograms of methamphetamine from a source in Atlanta, which Thomas would then bring back to Mobile to sell with the assistance of several mid-level distributors in his DTO, including Hunter. Thomas said he expected to earn $70,000 in profit from the load seized on March 15, 2024.
On March 20, 2024, police officers stopped a vehicle that Hunter was driving in Mobile. During a subsequent search of the car and Hunter’s person, police seized individually packaged baggies of methamphetamine and cocaine, a loaded .40 caliber pistol, and $3,045 in cash. Hunter admitted that he had been trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy pills, and Lortab, and that he kept the pistol on him for protection because he had recently been shot five times. Hunter admitted that he had paid Thomas $3,500 for three pounds of methamphetamine, but the load had been busted days earlier. At the time of his arrest, Hunter had two prior felony convictions for unlawfully distributing controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Hunter to serve 360 months in prison, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release, during which he will be subject to drug testing and treatment. Judge Moorer sentenced Dansby to serve 72 months in prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release, during which he also will be subject to drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered the defendants to pay a total of $300 in special assessments. The court previously sentenced Thomas to life imprisonment, and sentenced other members of Thomas’s DTO to serve decades in prison.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Mobile comprises agents and officers from, among others, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.
Torreon Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Torreon man pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing firearms after reportedly using one of them in a shooting and being involved in a series of shooting incidents on the Navajo Nation between July 2024 and September 2025.
According to court documents, between July 2024 and September 2025, Cisco Whitehorse, 43, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was believed to have possessed and used firearms during a series of four shooting incidents on the Navajo Nation.
In July 2024, Whitehorse fired from or around his vehicle at John Doe 1 after the victim drove past, striking him three times. In August 2024, he was accused of firing from his residence at John Doe 2 as the victim drove by. In August 2025, Whitehorse again opened fire from his residence at a vehicle driven by John Doe 1. In September 2025, he fired multiple rounds from his vehicle near a local government building before fleeing at a high rate of speed.
On October 24, 2025, the FBI executed a search warrant at Whitehorse’s residence and recovered three firearms and ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, Whitehorse was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, and he is now pleading guilty to that offense.
Whitehorse pleaded guilty to being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At sentencing he faces up to 15 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.
Thomaston Resident Pleads Guilty to Border Patrol AssaultRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Thomaston resident pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol agent engaged in his official duties.
According to court records, in August 2025, a United States Border Patrol agent responded to a one-vehicle crash in Washington, Maine. As law enforcement conducted a roadside investigation, Olivia Wilkins, 24, came upon the scene in an automobile and parked close to officers. Wilkins voiced concerns regarding Border Patrol’s presence in the area, but was permitted to move the vehicle further back from the crash to continue observing law enforcement. As the Border Patrol agent took an individual on scene into custody and began moving the individual to a nearby Border Patrol vehicle, Wilkins quickly accelerated toward the agent, who pulled the individual off the roadside away from the oncoming vehicle. Wilkins stopped the vehicle without striking either the agent or the individual in custody before swerving back into the lane of travel and fleeing the scene. Maine State Police troopers were able to arrest Wilkins a short distance away.
Wilkins faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release, and will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
Texas Woman Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Sexually Abuse a Child in MexicoRead the Press Release
A Texas woman was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison and 20 years of supervised release for conspiring with another person to sexually abuse a child outside the United States.
Anika Bywater, 29, formerly of Gonzalez, Texas, pleaded guilty on Dec. 10, 2025, to conspiracy to engage in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. According to court documents and information provided at the sentencing hearing, Bywater was living in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, when she and another person created two separate videos of themselves sexually abusing the victim. Law enforcement officers learned of the conduct when they discovered videos of the abuse circulating on the internet.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes of the District of Maryland; and Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division made the announcement.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s law enforcement attaché office in Mexico City and the Washington Field Office.
Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Reema Sood of the District of Maryland prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Texas Woman Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Sexually Abuse a Child in MexicoRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Texas woman learned her fate in federal court for her role in conspiring with another person to sexually abuse a child outside the United States.
U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Anika Bywater, 29, formerly of Gonzalez, Texas, to 25 years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to engage in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. In December 2025, Bywater pled guilty to these charges.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, Department of Justice Criminal Division, and Assistant Director Heith Janke, FBI – Criminal Division.
According to court documents, and information provided at the sentencing hearing, while living in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, Bywater and another person created two separate videos of themselves sexually abusing a young child. Law enforcement officers learned of the conduct when they discovered videos of the abuse circulating on the internet.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI Child Exploitation Operational Unit for its work in the investigation, and the FBI’s law enforcement attaché office in Mexico City and Washington Field Office for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Reema Sood and Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds, Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Texas Resident Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder of Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Alan Rodriguez Velazquez, a/k/a Alan Rodriguez, age 25, of Lancaster, Texas, entered a guilty plea to one count of Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on July 17, 2025, Rodriguez Velazquez willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with premeditation and malice aforethought, attempted to kill a United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer engaged in the performance of official duties.
The crime occurred in McCurtain County, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Oklahoma State Park Rangers.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Rodriguez Velazquez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Task Force arrests metro Detroit man on sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of children, and child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
DETROIT - A 30-year-old man from metro Detroit was taken into custody last week after a criminal complaint was filed in federal court charging him with sex trafficking of a minor, sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division and Chief Eric Luke, Sumpter Township Police Department.
Charged was Bryce Silas Patterson. Patterson appeared in federal court this afternoon and was ordered detained by a magistrate judge. A preliminary examination was set for April 2.
According to the criminal complaint, agents with the Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes (SEMTEC) Task Force conducted an undercover operation to recover a minor who was believed to be the victim of sex trafficking. Information gathered by the agents revealed that Patterson posted advertisements for commercial sex, which included photos of minor girls, on a commonly used website. In addition to posting the ads, Patterson would arrange for the transportation of the minor on sex dates and collect payments from the minor victims. A search of Patterson’s cellular device revealed images and a video which contained child sexual abusive material, which Patterson had created depicting one of the minor victims he trafficked. SEMTEC Agents were assisted by Sumpter Township Police in arresting him last week.
“These alleged crimes are disgusting. SEMTEC is designed to hunt down sex traffickers who try to sell our children. And we are honored to do this good work with our federal, state, and local partners,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
“The allegations in this case are as disturbing as they are unacceptable. Child exploitation is a predatory crime that targets the most vulnerable in our society, and it will not be tolerated,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Let me be clear: those who exploit children will be found, and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This case reflects the strength of our partnerships—through the SEMTEC Task Force, the Sumpter Township Police Department, and our federal partners—working together to protect victims and hold offenders accountable. The FBI will remain relentless in pursuing these criminals and ensuring survivors have the support they need to rebuild their lives.”
Chief Luke stated, “The Sumpter Township Police Department extends its sincere appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their dedicated efforts and professionalism in successfully identifying and apprehending Patterson, a resident of Sumpter Township, for the alleged crimes stated in the complaint. The commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and pursuing justice has a direct and meaningful impact on the safety and well-being of our residents. We remain steadfast in our shared mission to safeguard our community from those who seek to do harm.”
A criminal complaint is only a charge and contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Sumpter Township Police Department. Anyone with information about this case or who may be a victim is asked to call the FBI at (313) 965-2323.
Tallahassee Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution Conspiracy & Illegal Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Garret Culpepper, 25, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, and unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. The term of imprisonment will be followed by eight years on federal supervised release, and Culpepper was also ordered to forfeit property and U.S. currency connected to the drug trafficking activity. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case is the result of the outstanding investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and our federal law enforcement partners, which dismantled a large-scale drug trafficking scheme by the defendant. My office will continue to deliver successful prosecutions, like this one, to fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi through Operation Take Back America that our communities would be liberated from the scourge of drugs and criminal violence that has plagued our streets for far too long.”
Court documents reflect that beginning in 2023, investigators identified the defendant as a significant distributor of illicit marijuana and THC products, including THC ‘vape’ cartridges. Investigators were able to detail the defendant’s involvement in the manufacture and distribution of thousands of THC cartridges, hundreds of pounds of THC products such as wax, and thousands of pounds of raw marijuana. This investigation ultimately led to the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s Tallahassee residence on March 18, 2025, during which investigators recovered equipment designed to fill THC vape cartridges in bulk, just under 34 pounds of THC products, approximately 15 pounds of raw marijuana, body armor, multiple firearms, including rifles and handguns staged for easy access throughout the residence, and over $80,000 in U.S. currency.
“THC vape devices containing Schedule 1 Controlled Substances are a real concern and DEA is treating them as such,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Tampa Field Division.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
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 http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Stilwell Resident Sentenced for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Bird, a/k/a Robert Hogshooter, age 71, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Stilwell Police Department, and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.
On July 8, 2025, Bird pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on January 21, 2025, while under the influence of alcohol, Bird discharged a firearm, causing the victim to sustain a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Bird will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
South Lake Tahoe Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Fabian Gomez, 37, was sentenced on Monday by Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between August 2020 and May 2022, Gomez and others worked together to sell methamphetamine in and around South Lake Tahoe. Over those two years, Gomez also worked alone to sell both heroin and methamphetamine. While most of Gomez’s distribution happened in and around South Lake Tahoe, the investigation uncovered that some of the drug supply was coming from Sacramento. Gomez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, on Dec. 8, 2025.
Epifanio Ramirez, another defendant charged in this case, was sentenced on Jan. 12, 2026, to 24.5 years in prison for three counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Ramirez pleaded guilty in September 2025.
The charges in this case arose from Operation Bear Trap, which law enforcement agencies began in 2020 to address the growing problem of methamphetamine distribution in South Lake Tahoe. Gomez was charged along with six other defendants in 2022, who were collectively charged with methamphetamine and heroin distribution. Over the course of the operation, law enforcement agencies have interdicted methamphetamine, heroin, and numerous firearms, including “ghost” pistols and assault rifles (firearms manufactured without serial numbers, making them harder for law enforcement to trace).
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on March 16, 2026.
Ashlee Vanarsdale, 39, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Vanarsdale was indicted for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in July 2025. She pleaded guilty on December 17, 2025.
On the afternoon of June 5, 2025, Sioux Falls Police were dispatched to a report of a woman reportedly overdosing on fentanyl. First responders found the victim unconscious and not breathing. They were able to revive her through the administration of Narcan. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where a blood test showed the presence of fentanyl in her system. The subsequent investigation revealed the victim had purchased fentanyl powder from Vanarsdale shortly before the overdose. In an interview with law enforcement, Vanarsdale admitted selling the victim half a gram of fentanyl powder for $150.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Vanarsdale was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota Man Sentenced to Six Months in Federal Prison for Defrauding a Local Credit UnionRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota man convicted of Bank Fraud. The sentencing took place on March 18, 2026.
Brandon Phillips, 32, was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, restitution, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Brandon Phillips was indicted for Bank Fraud by a federal grand jury in June 2025. He pleaded guilty on December 15, 2025.
Phillips was involved in a scheme where he cashed a forged check in the amount of $2,500 at a credit union in Sioux Falls, in order to defraud the credit union out of the funds.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Phillips was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Several Members of a Baldwin County Methamphetamine-Trafficking Organization Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Several Baldwin County defendants were sentenced to prison for participating in a methamphetamine-trafficking organization.
According to court documents, Douglas McArthur Watts, Jr., 40, of Foley, Daryl Wayne Thomas, 46, of Elberta, David Joel Murphy, 52, of Summerdale, Benny Joe Ray, Jr., 48, of Foley, Danielle Lea Morris, 51, of Foley, and Jack Carnell Rowe, 34, of Foley, pleaded guilty to taking part in a massive drug-trafficking organization (“DTO”), led by Watts, that distributed kilograms of bulk methamphetamine. Between June 2022 and July 2024, agents seized large amounts of methamphetamine, firearms, cash, and other drugs from Watts and members of the DTO.
On several occasions in 2023 and 2024, narcotics agents conducted audio and video-recorded controlled purchases of various amounts of methamphetamine from Watts, Thomas, Murphy, Ray, Morris, and Rowe at several locations in Baldwin County. For example, on June 20, 2023, Rowe sold an informant 9.5 grams of methamphetamine in Foley. On July 18, 2023, Watts sold an informant 91.17 grams of methamphetamine in Foley. On September 28, 2023, agents seized 20.14 grams of methamphetamine and other evidence from a trailer belonging to Ray and Morris in Foley. On January 16, 2024, agents seized 96.4 grams of methamphetamine from Thomas during a “buy-bust” in Foley. And on February 14, 2024, Murphy sold an informant 27.3 grams of methamphetamine in Summerdale. These are non-exhaustive examples.
In July 2024, agents executed a search warrant at the apartment of one of Watts’s suppliers in Pensacola, Florida. During that search, agents seized more than three kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 221 grams of fentanyl, several loaded firearms, and $56,949 in bulk cash. Text messages and other data extracted from cell phones seized from the defendants illustrated the extent of their drug-trafficking activities, including tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of drug‑related Cash App payments and discussions of purchases and sales of pounds of methamphetamine.
For their roles in the conspiracy, U.S. District Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced the defendants as follows: Watts will serve 120 months in prison, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release; Thomas will serve 141 months in prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release; Murphy will serve 131 months in prison, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release; and Ray will serve 60 months in prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Morris and Rowe will be sentenced at a later date. During their supervised release terms, each defendant will be subject to drug testing and treatment, and Murphy will receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered the defendants to pay a total of $400 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) and the Florida Highway Patrol substantially assisted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Mobile comprises agents and officers from, among others, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.
Self-proclaimed 'terrorist' sentenced to prison for threatening calls to VA employeesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Hinesville man who threatened to kill employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs has been sentenced to federal prison.
Alexis Beatles, 44, of Hinesville, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for his conviction on two counts of Interstate Communications with Threats to Injure Another, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker also fined Beatles $1,500 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Alexis Beatles directed threats of death and violence to VA employees, U.S. citizens and even the families of police officers,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We commend our law enforcement and investigative partners for making our community safer by holding Beatles accountable.”
As described in court, Beatles called a Department of Veterans Affairs hotline in December 2024 and made demands to the phone operator wherein he threatened to kill federal employees and others. Beatles made numerous threats, including threatening to crash his car into the Savannah VA Clinic, to “destroy” U.S. citizens, to rig his home with explosives to kill any police officers that came to his home, and to kill the children of any officers who attempted to arrest him.
The FBI, with assistance from the Savannah Police Department’s SWAT and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams, arrested Beatles on a criminal complaint in January 2025. He later was formally indicted by a federal grand jury, and in September 2025, a jury convicted Beatles in U.S. District Court after a two-day trial.
Evidence introduced during Beatles’ sentencing included social media posts in which Beatles declared himself to be a terrorist and celebrated other terrorist attacks.
“This sentence demonstrates the VA-OIG’s commitment to protecting veterans, VA employees, and federal property,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the VA Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The VA-OIG thanks the US Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation.”
“Alexis Beatles’ reckless and violent threats against Department of Veterans Affairs employees and law enforcement officers were deeply disturbing and have no place in our society,” said Brad Snider, Senior Supervisory Special Agent of FBI Georgia’s Savannah office. “This conviction sends a clear message that threats of violence, especially those targeting our veterans and first responders, will not be tolerated.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant United States Attorneys L. Alexander Hamner and Darron J. Hubbard.
SDNY Announces Recovery of Hundreds of Millions of Dollars for Victims of Iran-Sponsored TerrorismRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that the United States has entered into a settlement resolving a 17-year forfeiture litigation that will result in the payment of approximately $318 million to hundreds of victims of Iranian state-sponsored terrorism.
In 2008, the United States commenced a forfeiture action that exposed an Iranian government-owned bank’s secret interest in 650 Fifth Avenue, a 36-story commercial and office tower located in the heart of Manhattan. Following the filing of the forfeiture complaint, hundreds of victims of Iranian government-sponsored terrorism filed claims and initiated separate litigation to enforce judgments obtained against the Government of Iran. After more than 17 years of complex litigation, all remaining parties to the related actions have entered into a global settlement that will result in a multi-hundred-million-dollar payment to these long-suffering victims, including victims and family members of the 1984 bombings of U.S. military facilities in Beirut, Lebanon; of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.; and Iranian proxy terrorist organizations’ attacks against civilians, including U.S. citizens, in Israel and elsewhere.
“Iran has sponsored terrorism for decades,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Since the inception of this litigation, the overriding goal of the Department of Justice has been to vindicate the rights of victims of the Government of Iran’s long-standing policy of supporting and promoting terror attacks across the world, including 9/11. This Office’s many years of determined litigation show our unrelenting commitment to victims’ rights, and has led to this significant recovery. For nearly two decades, we pursued hidden Iranian government assets tied to a Manhattan skyscraper to ensure those funds would ultimately compensate victims of Iran-sponsored terrorism rather than terrorists and their enablers.”
According to the Complaint, Amended Complaint, public court filings, and other public litigation records:
The building at 650 Fifth Avenue (the “Building”) was originally constructed by a charitable foundation controlled by the former Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, prior to the Islamic Revolution that led to the installation of the current regime in Iran in 1979. The new regime took over control of the charitable foundation and created a partnership with Bank Melli Iran, an Iranian government-owned bank sanctioned by the U.S. government for its role in financing Iran’s weapons of mass destruction programs. Bank Melli Iran controlled its interest in the Building through front companies known as Assa that were established in the Isle of Man and in New York. The highest levels of the Iranian regime orchestrated this deceptive structure in the 1980s, including the Iranian Central Bank and the offices of the Prime Minister and the President of Iran.
After the imposition of broad sanctions against the Government of Iran by the United States in 1995, the owners of the Building concealed Bank Melli Iran’s ownership interest and facilitated the payment of tens of millions of dollars of income from the Building’s operations to Bank Melli through Assa.
In October 2008, this Office filed a forfeiture complaint against Bank Melli Iran’s interest in the Building. In November 2009, this Office filed an amended forfeiture complaint against the entire Building and other related properties. Following the filing of the complaint and the amended complaint, numerous groups of judgment creditors holding judgments against the Government of Iran for injuries resulting from state-sponsored terrorism filed claims and independent judgment-enforcement actions against Assa, the Building, and the Building’s owner.
In April 2014 and July 2017, the Office entered into settlements with these victims’ groups providing that any recovery the Government obtained through forfeiture would be distributed to the victims. In July 2017 and May 2021, the Office and the victims’ groups all obtained judgments against Assa’s interests in the Building and in related partnership distributions from the Building’s income.
In January 2025, this Office, the victims’ groups, and the Building’s owner entered into a further, final settlement providing for the dismissal of all remaining claims in exchange for a payment of $318 million to the victims’ groups, consisting of an initial payment of $129 million and a deferred payment of $189 million to be paid in three years, plus interest. The initial $129 million payment was completed Friday, March 20, 2026.
In addition to providing for recovery for terrorism victims, in connection with the settlement the partnership that owned the Building and the majority partner are being dissolved and the Building is being transferred to a new successor entity. The transfer of the Building and the transactions to consummate the global settlement agreement received approvals from the Office of the New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
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Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and its New York Field Office Counterintelligence/Cyber Division; the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; and the New York City Police Department. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice National Security Division for their assistance in this case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Lockard is in charge of the civil forfeiture action.
Russian Citizen Sentenced to Prison for Hacking into U.S. Companies and Enabling Major Cybercrime Groups to Extort Tens of Millions of DollarsRead the Press Release
A court in the Southern District of Indiana today sentenced a Russian citizen, Aleksei Volkov, to 81 months in prison for assisting major cybercrime groups, including the Yanluowang ransomware group, in carrying out numerous attacks against U.S. companies and other organizations. Volkov facilitated dozens of ransomware attacks throughout the United States, causing over $9 million in actual losses and over $24 million in intended losses. Volkov was indicted for this activity in both the Southern District of Indiana and Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Police in Rome, Italy, then arrested Volkov, and he was extradited to the United States. He pleaded guilty to charges from both indictments.
According to court documents, Volkov, 26, of St. Petersburg, Russia, was an “initial access broker,” that is, a person who specializes in gaining unauthorized access to computer networks and systems of corporations and organizations and selling that access to other cyber threat actors such as ransomware groups. Volkov found vulnerabilities in computer networks and systems, identified ways to access those networks and systems without authorization, and sold that illicit access to conspirators who were also cybercriminals.
Volkov’s co-conspirators then used the access Volkov provided to infect the affected computer networks and systems with malware. This malware encrypted the victims’ data and prevented the victims from accessing it, damaging their business operations. The conspirators then demanded that the victims pay them a ransom in cryptocurrency — sometimes in the tens of millions of dollars — in exchange for restoring the victims’ access to the data and promising not to publicly disclose the hack or release victims’ stolen data on a “leak” website. In some cases, the victims paid the ransom and in others the conspirators posted the victims’ confidential data on the leak site. If the victims paid the ransom, Volkov received a share of the money.
On Nov. 25, 2025, Volkov pleaded guilty to four counts from the Southern District of Indiana indictment, namely, unlawful transfer of a means of identification, trafficking in access information, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft; as well as two counts from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania indictment, namely, conspiracy to commit computer fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering after the two cases were consolidated in the Southern District of Indiana. As part of his plea, Volkov admitted that he and his co-conspirators hacked into numerous victims’ computer networks, stole their data, deployed ransomware, demanded payment in cryptocurrency to exchange for restoring access to the data, and divided the ransom payments among themselves. In fact, they demanded tens of millions of dollars in ransom and received millions. Volkov agreed to pay full restitution to victims including at least $9,167,198.19 to known victims to compensate them for their actual losses as well as to forfeit equipment he used for his crimes.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Wheeler II for the Southern District of Indiana, U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Edward Chang (on detail to CCIPS), Assistant U.S. Attorneys MaryAnn T. Mindrum and Matthew B. Miller for the Southern District of Indiana, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wolfe for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Italy to secure the arrest and extradition from Italy of Volkov.
Puerto Rico Woman Who Flew to Philadelphia with Nearly 15 Pounds of Cocaine in Checked Bag Sentenced to Almost Three Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Karelys Colon Sevilla, 29, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, was sentenced today to 34 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge for transporting nearly 15 pounds of cocaine to Philadelphia in a checked bag on a commercial flight.
The defendant was charged by indictment in May 2024 with one count of possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and pleaded guilty in October of last year.
As detailed in court filings, on February 13, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) received information that Colon was flying from Puerto Rico, via Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, to the Philadelphia International Airport (“PHL”) and possibly concealing narcotics in her checked luggage.
After HSI confirmed that Colon was indeed a ticketed passenger set to arrive at PHL, investigators sought and received from the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas an anticipatory search warrant for the defendant’s luggage, contingent on an alert from a Police K-9 on the luggage.
Following the arrival of Colon’s plane to PHL, Pennsylvania State Police K-9 Ivan was instructed by his handler to examine every piece of checked luggage from that flight. K-9 Ivan only alerted to the presence of narcotics on one piece of luggage, a blue-gray soft-sided bag bearing a tag with the defendant’s name and flight information.
Pursuant to the search warrant and the K-9’s alert, investigators then opened the bag and recovered approximately 6.8 kilograms of a white substance, which testing later showed was cocaine.
This case was investigated by HSI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, and Pennsylvania State Police and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eileen Castilla Geiger.