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Friday 6 February 2026
Brazilian National Sentenced for Selling Firearms Without a License and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully living in Massachusetts and New Hampshire was sentenced yesterday for dealing firearms without a license.
Riquelme Henrique De Aguiar Ferreira, a/k/a “Koringa,” 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William G. Young to two years in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of the imposed sentence. In September 2025, De Aguiar Ferreira pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
Between May 2023 and August 2023, De Aguiar Ferreira coordinated the sale of two pistols (one with a large capacity magazine) to a cooperating witness without the required license in exchange for cash. The following year, De Aguiar Ferreira also offered the cooperating witness additional firearms for sale, but those transactions never occurred. De Aguiar Ferreira also conspired with others to deal firearms, traveling to South Carolina and connecting supply sources in South Carolina with individuals in Massachusetts. The picture below of the firearms obtained from South Carolina were found on De Aguiar Ferreira’s phone:
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Framingham, Revere and Merrimac (N.H.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Crowley and John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Billings man sentenced to over 3 years in prison for multiple gun chargesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man, who is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms because of his prior commitment to a mental institution, was sentenced today to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for making false statements to obtain firearms and for being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Ryan David Schreder, 45, pleaded guilty in August 2025 to four counts of making a false statement in acquisition of a firearm and one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement began investigating Schreder after repeatedly being told about his escalating behavior. On October 10, 2024, the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office obtained and executed a search warrant for Schreder’s residence. They recovered 23 firearms and 1,176 assorted rounds of ammunition, including large capacity magazines, during the search.
During ATF’s investigation, it was discovered that between February 11, 2022, and June 18, 2024, Schreder purchased firearms on at least 18 occasions from four different licensed firearms dealers in Billings. Each count of conviction for false statement in acquisition of a firearm represented the transactions made at each of the respective firearms dealers.
To obtain the firearms, Schreder knowingly responded untruthfully on ATF Form 4473 (“Firearms Transaction Record”) by answering “no” in response to the question “Have you ever been adjudicated mentally defective OR have you ever been committed to a mental institution.” If a potential buyer answers “yes” in response to this question, a licensed firearms dealer cannot proceed with the sale of a firearm. A licensed firearms dealer has no ability to independently verify the veracity of a response to that question as involuntary commitments are not recorded on criminal history reports in Montana.
At least three firearms Schreder purchased have been recovered by law enforcement during investigations into reports unrelated to him.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Vestal prosecuted the case. The ATF and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Anthon, Iowa, Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Robert J. Fundermann, 50, from Anthon, Iowa, pled guilty February 5, 2026, to one count of distribution of child pornography, in federal court in Sioux City.
At the plea hearing, Fundermann admitted that from about April 2023 through April 2025, he distributed and attempted to distribute visual depictions of child pornography. Evidence further showed that Fundermann was grooming a 17-year-old in order to obtain images and videos of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. A forensic review of Fundermann’s phone showed he possessed 54 images and 98 videos of child pornography, involving material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers. The investigation in the case also revealed that Fundermann was previously investigated for soliciting nude images from a minor in 2019. He successfully completed a deferred judgement in that case to a charge of Disseminating Obscene Material to Minor -1st Offense in 2020.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Fundermann remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Fundermann faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-4039.
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Alleged Shooter of Armored Vehicle Security Guard in Balch Springs Federally ChargedRead the Press Release
A man in Dallas, Texas was federally charged with attempted interference of commerce by robbery after allegedly shooting a security guard who was servicing a bank ATM in Balch Springs, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Laroyce Antoine Lambert was charged by federal complaint with the offense of attempted interference of commerce by robbery on February 5, 2026. According to the complaint, Lambert attempted to rob an armored car while the security guard was servicing a Chase Bank ATM located at 2329 Lake June Road, Balch Springs, Texas.As described in the complaint, during the robbery, Lambert approached the security guard with a firearm and demanded access to the money located at the ATM he was servicing. After the guard informed Lambert that he could not access the money in the ATM, Lambert fired three shots at the guard and fled on foot through a fence. The security guard suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to the hospital. According to the complaint, footage from the security guard’s body worn camera captured Lambert with a firearm in his hand, pointed at the guard:
Court documents reflect that responding agents and officers with the Balch Springs Police Department and Dallas FBI Violent Crime Taskforce were able to obtain footage of Lambert fleeing the scene and entering a Dodge Charger to make his escape. The FBI worked in conjunction with the Fort Worth Police Department and Dallas Police Department to locate the Dodge Charger and tracked Lambert and the vehicle to an apartment in Fort Worth, Texas. Once located, the Fort Worth Police Department arrested Lambert.
“The swift apprehension of this individual is a testament to the tireless work and collaboration of our federal, state, and local partners. The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and our local partners identified the perpetrator within hours of the horrific shooting,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “This should serve as a warning to violent offenders in North Texas: we will find you and swiftly bring you to justice.”
“The FBI Dallas Violent Crimes Task Force worked alongside the Balch Springs Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, Mesquite Police Department and other law enforcement partners to investigate this robbery and brutal attack on an armored vehicle driver. This collaboration among multiple agencies and members of the public resulted in a swift arrest,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We will continue our work to hold this perpetrator accountable and remain committed to protect the residents of North Texas.”
“Our community was shaken by this senseless act of violence. I am relieved that a suspect has been apprehended and there is no ongoing threat to the public,” said Brent Hurley, Chief of the Balch Springs Police Department. “I want to thank our agency partners — including the FBI, Texas Rangers, Mesquite Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Mesquite Fire Department, and our own Balch Springs officers — for their professionalism and swift action that led to this arrest. Our thoughts remain with the victim, their family, and all affected by this incident.”
Lambert is currently in federal custody following an initial appearance on February 6, 2026, before a United States Magistrate Judge. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of twenty years in federal prison.
The Dallas FBI Violent Crime Taskforce, ATF Dallas, Balch Springs Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Mesquite Police Department, and Texas Rangers conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Withers and Jeremy Fugate.
A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, Lambert is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
lambert_-_complaint.pdf
18th Street Gang Associate from El Salvador Sentenced for Dealing FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salvadoran national associated with the transnational criminal organization 18th Street Gang was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for selling 1,000 fentanyl pills in and around the North Shore area of Boston.
Orlando Mancia, a/k/a Intruso, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 21 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In August 2025, Mancia pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl.
On Oct. 15, 2024, in Everett, Mancia sold approximately 500 pressed fentanyl pills to a cooperating witness. Later, on Oct. 23, 2024, Mancia again sold another 500 pressed fentanyl pills along with cocaine to the cooperating witness.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement & Removal Operations; Suffolk County and Middlesex County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Falmouth, Lynn, Medford, Nantucket and Revere Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Moran of the Criminal Division and Fred Wyshak of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF 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.
Thursday 5 February 2026
Yakama Repeat Offender Sentenced to 7 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington –United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Mitchell Jason Ranes aka Cricket, an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, age 45, of Toppenish, Washington, to 7 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. Ranes will also be on federal supervised release for three years after serving his custodial sentence.
According to court records, Ranes pattern of criminal history led to this recent sentence. On September 6, 2000, Ranes was convicted of Drive-By-Shooting and sentenced to 33 months in prison. He was subsequently released, placed on a term of supervised release, violated his term of supervised release and was sent back to prison. On September 17, 2007, Ranes was convicted of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and sentenced to 77 months in prison. He was subsequently released, placed on a term of supervised release, again violated his term of supervised release and was again sent back to prison. On January 23, 2024, the Defendant was convicted of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and sentenced to 15 months imprisonment. Ranes was released from prison and on March 25, 2024, began serving a term of supervised release, and for a third time, violated his terms of supervised release and was sentenced to a time served sentence followed by a term of 34 months of supervised release.
Upon his recent release from prison, Ranes again engaged in dangerous conduct. On January 22, 2025, law enforcement officers were looking for Ranes due to an outstanding arrest warrant. Ranes was observed in a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle fled, attempting to elude pursuing police vehicles. After a lengthy car chase, the suspect car crashed near a residence and Ranes was apprehended. Ranes was later booked into the Yakima County jail. During the booking process, 6 rounds of ammunition was in Ranes’ pocket, a new federal crime.
On April 9, 2025, a federal indictment was filed charging Ranes with being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition and on October 17, 2025, he pled guilty to the Indictment.
On February 3, 2026, Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 84 months to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Judge Dimke based her sentence on Ranes’ lengthy criminal history involving firearms and found significant the multiple opportunities he had on prior
supervision to attain services for substance abuse which he did not take advantage of and instead had a history of absconding and engaging in new criminal conduct.United States Attorney Serrano stated, “I’m grateful to our office for pursuing this case. While some may question why the United States would prosecute the possession of ammunition, there is no need to look beyond Mr. Ranes’ persistent firearms-related criminal history. Yakima is now safer with Mr. Ranes off the streets for the next 7 years.”
Lieutenant Church with the Yakima County Sheriff’s state, “This case is a great example of collaboration with fellow law enforcement and federal partners working to get a dangerous person with a significant criminal history off the streets for a significant amount of time. This type of collaboration is what it takes to truly make an impact on public safety in Yakima County. Thanks again to our law enforcement partners and the US Attorney’s Office.”
“Mr. Ranes has a pattern of criminal history dating back over a quarter century in which he repeatedly violated his supervised release and persisted in possessing firearms despite being prohibited from doing so by federal law,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Together with our partners, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Forces will continue to combat violent crime throughout the state of Washington and nationwide.”
This case was investigated by the Southeast Washington Safe Streets Task Force which consists of agents and task force officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, the Toppenish Police Department, and United Stats Customs and Border Protection. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tom Hanlon.
West Tennessee Woman Convicted of Stolen Valor for Fraudulently Claiming to be a Marine Combat VeteranRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Amanda Kate Walker Bass, 36, of Fayette County, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of fraudulent use of military medals, otherwise known as “Stolen Valor.” U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty plea today.
According to information provided in court, Bass claimed to be a multiple-time deployed U.S. Marine Corps veteran who was the lone survivor of an enemy ambush in Afghanistan in 2010 that left her seriously wounded. She used this fictitious narrative for financial gain by having a GoFundMe page set up for her benefit and sharing the story online and otherwise in order to gain donations, free labor, and other benefits. In July 2021, she induced The Daily Memphian to publish an article about her titled, “Disabled, legally blind veteran now dealer of luxury goods.” Bass never served in the armed forces.
Bass will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris on May 14, 2026, where she faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the wire fraud conviction and up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for the fraudulent use of military medals conviction.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Fraudulently claiming military service or medals for unjust personal enrichment not only victimizes our military heroes, but also preys upon the trust that citizens have in veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is offensive, and it is illegal. We look forward to imposing a real consequence on this faker and thief.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney William C. Bateman III prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Waterloo Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A woman who trafficked methamphetamine in the Waterloo area was sentenced February 4, 2026, to 20 years in federal prison.
Michelle Bruno, age 51, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 7, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that, in May 2024, Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force investigators made a controlled delivery of methamphetamine to Bruno. After the delivery, Bruno was in possession of four pounds of methamphetamine that she received during the controlled delivery and two additional ounces. Bruno had received approximately twelve pounds of methamphetamine over the past several months from her source of supply. She also sent over $25,000 to her source of supply. A few months later, investigators had contact with Bruno again. She admitted to acquiring another kilogram of methamphetamine and that she had paid her source of supply over $5,000 to satisfy her debt.
Bruno was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Bruno was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Bruno is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force, consisting of the
Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-cr-2033-2.
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Waianae Man Charged with Threatening to Kill Federal Officer and His Family During Execution of Warrant for Drugs and GunsRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Nehemiah Kealoha, 40, of Waianae, Oahu, was indicted on January 22, 2026, for threatening to assault and murder a federal law enforcement officer. The indictment was unsealed on January 30.
According to information provided to the Court, Kealoha approached a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Task Force Officer who had assisted in executing a federal search warrant at the Waianae residence of an individual who had been placed under arrest for drug and firearms offenses. As the HSI Task Force Officer was preparing to depart the residence and transport the arrested individual, Kealoha pointed at the officer and stated, “I’m going to kill you! I’m going to find you all and kill you and your family! You f****** haole, I’m going to kill you, remember this face. I’m going to find you and your family and kill you, remember this face, it’s the last face you going to see! You think I’m playing!?”
If convicted, Kealoha faces up to ten years in prison and fine of up to $250,000, plus a term of supervised release.
The charge in the indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Muehleck is prosecuting the case.
Upshur County Man Admits to Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – A Rock Cave, West Virginia man has admitted to selling methamphetamine in Upshur County, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Colton Darrell Lester, 37, pled guilty today to the distribution of more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. During the investigation, agents purchased methamphetamine from Lester on several occasions.
Lester faces at least 5 and up to 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge would determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
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. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
U.S. Attorney Announces Fentanyl Importation and Firearms Charges Against Major Fentanyl Producer for the ChapitosRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Terrance C. Cole, announced the unsealing of an Indictment today charging IVAN VALERIO SAINZ SALAZAR, a/k/a “Mantecas,” with fentanyl importation and related weapons offenses in connection with his participation in a conspiracy to produce fentanyl for the Sinaloa Cartel and import it into the United States. The Mexican government announced the arrest of Sainz Salazar and his associates in Badiraguato, Sinaloa on January 19, 2026.
“As alleged, Sainz Salazar served as a major producer of the Sinaloa Cartel’s fentanyl shipments bound for the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Fentanyl kills, and violent dealers in fentanyl must be taken off our streets. Today’s charges target a major producer behind the Chapitos’ supply chain and underscore the commitment of the women and men of our Office to holding traffickers at all levels of the production and distribution chain accountable.”
“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat this nation has ever confronted, and today’s indictment makes that unmistakably clear,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “The Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, a foreign terrorist organization - ran an enterprise protected by armed sicarios and military-grade weapons, producing millions of counterfeit pills that have killed many people, and leaving devastation in their wake. This is not just alleged drug trafficking. Fentanyl is a weapon used to destroy lives. The DEA is dismantling these networks from the top down, and we will not relent until the laboratories are shut, the traffickers are behind bars, and these cartel organizations are destroyed piece by piece.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment:1
The Sinaloa Cartel (the “Cartel”) is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico and is largely responsible for the manufacturing and importing of fentanyl for distribution in the United States. Fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic opioid that is more than 50 times more potent than heroin. Fentanyl represents the single deadliest drug threat that the United States has ever encountered—it has ruined lives, devastated communities, and killed Americans at an unprecedented rate.
The sons of the Cartel’s notorious former leader, “El Chapo,” who are themselves collectively known as the “Chapitos,” have variously and at times led the most powerful faction of the Cartel. To protect and further their fentanyl trafficking operation, the Chapitos and their confederates have relied on armed enforcers, known as sicarios, who commit acts of violence to protect the Chapitos’ operation and its leaders, territory, labs, trafficking routes, and money, and regularly use military-grade weapons smuggled from the United States, including machine guns, to perpetrate violence, including murder, torture, and kidnapping.
From at least in or about 2022, up to and including in or about 2025, SAINZ SALAZAR served as a key fentanyl producer for the Chapitos. Among other things, SAINZ SALAZAR worked with others to produce millions of fentanyl pills on behalf of the Chapitos, participated in meetings to arrange fentanyl transactions, carried firearms and relied on armed security personnel at those meetings, and reported to high-ranking lieutenants of the Chapitos who themselves relied on sicarios armed with AK-47s and FN Minimis for the protection and promotion of their fentanyl operations. In or about 2023, the Chapitos consolidated fentanyl production at labs operated by SAINZ SALAZAR and his associates and issued orders authorizing only SAINZ SALAZAR and his associates to produce and distribute fentanyl in territories controlled by the Chapitos.
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SAINZ SALAZAR, 40, a Mexican national, is charged with conspiring to import fentanyl into the United States, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl in the United States, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; using, carrying, and possessing machine guns and destructive devices in connection with the fentanyl importation conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and conspiring to use, carry, and possess machine guns and destructive devices in connection with the fentanyl importation conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The mandatory minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit and thanked the DEA San Diego Field Division, the DEA Hermosillo, Mexico Resident Office, and the Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division for their assistance.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jane Y. Chong, Sarah L. Kushner, and David J. Robles are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
1 As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two Men Sentenced to Combined 80 years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking and Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
Two Arlington men were sentenced to a combined 80 years in federal prison for their roles in sex trafficking a juvenile female who had been reported as a runaway and to whom they supplied fentanyl, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Jamal Howard, 52, was sentenced to 600 months on January 30, 2026, for Sex Trafficking Through Force Fraud and Coercion, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Distributing Fentanyl to a Person Under 21, and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments. Renaldo Rojas, 27, was sentenced to 360 months for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Distributing Fentanyl to a person under 21 on January 15, 2026. Both men were indicted in June 2025 and pled guilty to the charges in October 2025.
“Tragically, sex trafficking and drug trafficking are nearly always intertwined, escalating the horrific harm to victims in these cases,” said United States Attorney Ryan Raybould. “I applaud the tremendous work of HSI and Arlington Police Department that led to the victim’s rescue in this case. We embrace the difficult work removing prolific traffickers from our community’s streets and continue to pursue justice to the fullest extent against these types of offenders.”“This intensely gratifying 50-year sentence reflects the seriousness of Howard’s crimes and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to protect our children and our communities,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “The outcome is the result of outstanding teamwork and dedication from our agents, the Arlington Police Department, and our federal partners. Let this sentence serve as a warning: Those who traffic minors and distribute deadly narcotics will be brought to justice and face the full consequences of their actions.”
According to plea documents, in late July 2024, a minor female had been reported as a runaway to the Arlington Police Department. Rojas provided the minor with fentanyl and sent Howard, a known trafficker, photos of the minor, offering to connect Howard with the minor in exchange for fentanyl. After providing bags of fentanyl pills to Rojas, Howard transported the minor victim to his apartment, supplied her with fentanyl, had her photographed, and posted commercial sex advertisements for the victim on a website used for engaging in commercial sex transactions. Court records show that Howard trafficked the victim to several individuals in late July through August 1, 2024. Howard also distributed fentanyl to Rojas during this period. Communications found on Howard’s phone reflect messages with Rojas discussing fentanyl transactions totaling more than 5,000 fentanyl pills.On August 1, 2024, members from the North Texas Trafficking Force, including agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the Arlington Police Department, recovered the minor victim in an apartment in Arlington, Texas, along with evidence of Howard’s large-scale fentanyl distribution to Rojas and others.
Two additional individuals were convicted and sentenced for their roles in Howard’s drug trafficking activity. Elnora Jordan, 63, of Arlington, Texas, pled guilty in October 2025 to conspiring to launder monetary instruments related to proceeds generated from Howard’s fentanyl sales. According to plea documents, Jordan accepted payments from Howard’s fentanyl customers using an app on her phone, transferred the funds to her bank account, and withdrew cash that she gave to Howard. She was sentenced on February 3, 2026, to 21 months in federal prison. Court records further reflect that Yolanda Gonzales, 23, of Hurst, Texas, was sentenced to twelve months in federal prison on January 22, 2026, after pleading guilty in October 2025 for using her cellphone to communicate with Howard about purchasing and distributing fentanyl. United States District Judge Mark T. Pittman sentenced each of the defendants.
Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas and the Arlington Police Department conducted the investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Allyson Monte.
Titus County drug trafficker convicted of supplying deadly fentanyl-laced pillsRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Mount Pleasant man has been found guilty of federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jaquavion Markeith Veasley, 36, was found guilty by a jury of five counts of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily injury. The verdict was reached on February 4, 2026, following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.
According to information presented in court, beginning in 2023, Veasley conspired with others to distribute illegal narcotics that he knew to be laced with fentanyl resulting in the death of at least two individuals.
“The law designates illicit fentanyl as a narcotic, but illicit fentanyl is also a weapon of mass destruction,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “Veasley’s greed turned the fentanyl he sold into a deadly weapon which destroyed two lives and forever altered the lives of the victims’ families. In the Eastern District of Texas, we cherish our duty to defend this great nation and its citizens. Those who spread this poison in our communities should be on notice that we will not stand for it.”
“This conviction underscores that federal drug trafficking is not a victimless crime, it is inherently violent and deadly,” said the Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner of ATF’s Dallas Field Division. “The distribution of fentanyl fuels addiction, drives violent crime, and destroys families and communities. ATF will continue to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to target those who traffic in these lethal substances and hold them fully accountable under federal law.”
“The Mount Pleasant Police Department is committed to actively pursuing those responsible for causing the deaths of others through the distribution of narcotics,” said Chief of Police Mark Buhman. “We are thankful for the support of our fellow partners in law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work in holding Veasley accountable.”
At sentencing, Veasley faces at least 20 years and up to life in federal prison. The statutory sentencing range prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Texas Department of Public Safety; and the Mount Pleasant Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucas Machicek and Emil Mikkelsen.
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Studio City Man Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Federal Prison for Scheme in Which Real Estate and Money Were Stolen via Bogus TrustsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley man was sentenced today to 200 months in federal prison for breaking into an elderly man’s home, later stealing his jewelry and mail, then providing the victim’s personal identifying information (PII) to fellow criminals, who then joined him in looting the victim’s estate via a forged trust and power-of-attorney forms.
Matthew Jason Kroth, 52, a.k.a. “Speedy,” of Studio City was sentenced by United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, who also ordered him to pay $1,947,051 in restitution.
Kroth pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He has been in federal custody since August 2023.
According to his plea agreement and other court documents, Kroth in the summer of 2020 broke into the home of an elderly man, who was living alone in the house at the time. Later, Kroth returned to the victim’s home to steal items, including mail and jewelry. By this time, the victim had died, but his death went unreported to authorities.
Kroth then provided to his co-conspirators the victim’s PII and his mail so they could impersonate the victim and steal his assets, including his home and money in his financial accounts. Kroth’s co-conspirators forged a trust document and power-of-attorney forms so that they could pretend that the now-deceased victim supported the sale of his assets for the benefit of Kroth’s accomplices.
The conspirators then dismembered and disposed of the victim’s body so his death would be hard to discover.
Kroth also received into a joint bank account held with a co-conspirator most of the proceeds of the sale of another victim’s real estate, which Kroth knew was fraudulent and had been carried out with forgeries.
The co-conspirators – Kroth included – used interstate wire transfers to defraud their victims throughout the conspiracy, which lasted from at least 2020 until January 2023.
“[Kroth] admitted that he had been surveilling [the victim’s] home because it looked uncared for, and therefore easy to rob,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “[The victim] was alive and home when [Kroth] first broke into his residence, so [Kroth] used the ruse of performing a ‘welfare check’ to explain his presence in the house. Even though [Kroth] had encountered [the victim] during the first break in, [Kroth] went back months later to try again, by which time [the victim] had died. Rather than notify the authorities of [the victim’s] death, [Kroth] used it as an opportunity to steal not just his belongings as in a regular burglary, but his entire estate, including his home.”
Kroth further admitted in his plea agreement that in January 2023 he knowingly possessed approximately 120 grams of methamphetamine along with cutting agents, a digital scale, ammunition, and baggies. Kroth possessed the methamphetamine intending to dilute it and sell it to other people.
The total loss to the victims attributable to Kroth in the conspiracy is $1,947,051.
Caroline Herrling, 46, of West Hills, who led the conspiracy after Kroth brought into it, is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence after she pleaded guilty in March 2023 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She has been in federal custody since January 2023.
Another co-conspirator, James Rhys Kantor, 46, of Cumming, Georgia and a former resident of West Hollywood, is scheduled to be sentenced on February 19, at which time he will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Kantor pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Los Angeles Police Department, Valley Bureau Homicide investigated this matter. Significant assistance was provided by the Los Angeles Joint Regional Intelligence Center.
Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps.
Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 3 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific Time. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
Spokane Man Sentenced for Repeatedly Distributing Drugs in De Facto Open Air Drug Market in Downtown SpokaneRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant Pete Serrano announced that on January 14, 2026, United States District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice, sentenced Timothy Michael Hanahan, age 38, of Spokane, Washington, to 84 months of prison distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl into the Spokane community. Judge Rice also ordered that, following his sentence, Hanahan will be on 4 years of supervised release.
According to court records, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives was conducting a crime reduction emphasis in the greater Spokane area. Hanahan, a homeless transplant from Texas using the moniker “Big Mike”, was identified as a distributor of methamphetamine and fentanyl. He was known to distribute drugs near the House of Charity in downtown Spokane. Over the course of numerous interactions, Hanahan bragged to undercover law enforcement agents posing as drug customers that he had connections in Idaho and Montana, and that his “connections” were moving large volumes of drugs. Ultimately, Hanahan sold the undercover agents methamphetamine and fentanyl on several occasions and introduced the undercover agents to additional drug sources who also sold drugs to the undercover agents.
Hanahan has notable criminal history dating back almost 2 decades, to include several previous significant sex offenses as well as being an accessory to assault with a deadly weapon in Nevada, forgery and drug offenses in Texas, and most recently an assault in Spokane. Hanahan was transient living in and around the House of Charity at the time of the instant offense.
“This case shows the impact of focused, intelligence-driven enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais of the ATF Seattle Field Division. “Mr. Hanahan repeatedly brought dangerous drugs into the heart of downtown Spokane and actively expanded their distribution. This sentence disrupts a supply chain that was harming this community, and ATF is proud to work alongside our federal and local partners and the U.S. Attorney’s office to target those who seek to profit from addiction and victimization.”
“I applaud our partners at ATF for taking the lead in addressing crime in our community. Their investigation led to the prosecution of several individuals who victimize our community, including Mr. Hanahan who has a significant and concerning criminal history and came to our community to distribute his poison,” stated Mr. Serrano.
“The outcome in this case is a prime example of why the City of Spokane is proud to partner and coordinate with our various law enforcement partners in the fight to remove fentanyl and methamphetamine dealers from our community,” stated City Prosecutor Justin Bingham. “Strong partnerships are key to successfully reducing crime and safeguarding our citizens from the dangerous effects of illicit drugs.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Border Patrol, and the Spokane Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Annika Tangvald.Speed and Crack Dealer, a Convicted Felon, Sentenced to 36 Months for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – John Calvin Harris, 29, a convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 36 months in prison in connection with his illegal possession of a firearm and trafficking amphetamines and crack cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Harris pleaded guilty Sept. 18, 2025, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon and to possession with intent to distribute amphetamine and cocaine base. In addition to the prison term, Chief Judge James E. Boasberg ordered Harris to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on June 30, 2025, Metropolitan Police officers were patrolling the 4000 block of Minnesota Ave, NE, when they spotted Harris in the driver’s seat of a parked Honda. Harris was wanted on an active warrant out of Maryland.
Police initiated an arrest, placed Harris in handcuffs, and recovered a loaded Glock 29 pistol from the front of Harris’ pants. Officers then searched the Honda and found three containers containing more than 45 grams of a hard rock-like substance that tested positive for cocaine. Officers also found a fourth container that held 30.5 grams of a white powder that tested positive for amphetamines.
Harris previously was convicted in 2023 of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone, received a probationary sentence, and therefore was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department with assistance from the ATF. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caelainn Carney.
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South Carolina Man and Coal Mine Owner Sentenced for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Meggett, South Carolina, man, John Quintrell, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier to 48 months in prison for willful failure to pay over more than $22 million in taxes owed to the IRS.
According to his plea agreement, from at least September 2018 through April 2025, Quintrell was the sole owner of Civil LLC, a mining business, located in Harlan County. Civil LLC was required to withhold taxes from its employees’ paychecks, including federal income taxes, as well as Medicare and Social Security taxes (i.e., FICA taxes). For the period of October 1, 2019, through March 31, 2025, Quintrell caused Civil LLC to withhold federal income taxes and FICA taxes from employees' paychecks, as it should have done; however, Quintrell then willfully caused the business to fail to account for, and pay over, to the IRS approximately $22,146,389.56 in federal income taxes, FICA taxes, as well as the employer's share of such payroll taxes.
Quintrell was also ordered to pay $22,146,389.56 in restitution.
Under federal law, Quintrell must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigations, Detroit Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the IRS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Skagit County, Washington, man, who threatened two different congresspeople and their staffs, sentenced to six months in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 67-year-old Skagit County, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to six months in federal prison for making Interstate threats against two different U.S Congressmen and their staffs, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. In March 2025, Bradley Whaley repeatedly called the offices of congresspeople in Washington DC, leaving threats on voicemail as well as directly with staffers. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead said, “Mr. Whaley made multiple threatening calls to offices of two U.S. Representatives… This was part of a dangerous pattern that if left unchecked threatens the democratic process.”
According to records filed in the case in March 2025, Whaley made multiple calls to two different DC offices threatening to kill the congresspeople and their staff. Whaley referenced his second amendment rights and threatened to slit their throats. Whaley left his name and phone number in the voice messages.
Whaley was arrested on March 21, 2025, at the downtown Seattle location where he worked. In the center console of his vehicle was a loaded handgun.
Whaley pleaded guilty on October 31, 2025.
In asking for a one-year sentence, prosecutors noted the incredible increase in threats to members of congress writing, “… over the last several years, there has been an alarming surge in the number of similar threat cases against members of congress, their families, and staff. The number of threat cases increased from 7,501 cases in 2022, to 8,008 cases in 2023, and to 9,747 cases in 2024, according to the United States Capitol Police. In 2025, the number of threat cases investigated by USCPS jumped to about 14,000.”
In his letter to the court, Brad Whaley blamed the threatening phone calls on heavy alcohol abuse. His attorney noted that Whaley has since completed treatment.
Judge Whitehead ordered that he complete three years of supervised release following the prison term.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Yemini.
Sallisaw Resident Pleads Guilty to Attempted Robbery in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Paul Cripps, age 28, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Attempted Robbery in Indian Country, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on October 28, 2025, Cripps attempted to take by force and violence and by intimidation, a thing of value from the person and presence of the victim. The crime occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. 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.
Cripps will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Conway represented the United States.
Repeat sex offender pleads guilty to attempted kidnapping, sexually exploiting minor he met through online gamingRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Texas man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to exploitation crimes related to traveling to Ohio to have sex with a minor he met online playing Call of Duty.
Harrison Michael Barton, 38, of North Detroit, Texas, was arrested in February 2025 at the John Glenn Columbus International Airport while attempting to fly to Florida with the victim. Barton’s plea agreement includes a recommended sentence of 25 to 30 years in prison.
According to court documents, in February 2025, Barton took a Greyhound bus from Texas to Ohio to meet a 15-year-old approximately one month after connecting with the victim on the Call of Duty mobile game.
At the time, Barton was wanted on an outstanding parole warrant out of Texas stemming from a prior conviction for online solicitation of a minor, in which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Barton admitted that, in this instant case, the teenager picked him up in Newcomerstown, Ohio. Prior to arriving at the airport, the defendant admitted to having vaginal and oral sex with the minor and to taking sexually explicit pictures of the victim.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Coshocton County Sheriff Christopher Walters; Newark Police Chief Erik McKee; and John Glenn Columbus International Airport Police Chief Ronald Gray announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Repeat Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 6 YearsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Edward L. Jackson, III, 29, Rothschild, Wisconsin, was sentenced January 8, 2026 by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 6 years in federal prison for possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine intended for distribution, and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Jackson pleaded guilty to these charges on September 29, 2025.
On May 20, 2024, the Wausau Police Department was dispatched to a residence for reports of a domestic incident involving Jackson. A short time later, Jackson’s vehicle was located at a nearby residence. After a K9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in Jackson’s vehicle, his car was searched. During the search, police found a backpack belonging to Jackson containing 105 grams of methamphetamine, 247 pills containing fentanyl, and a loaded firearm.
Jackson is prohibited from legally possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions.
At sentencing, Judge Conley found that a substantial sentence was warranted because Jackson was a danger to the community due to his history of drug dealing and frequent possession of firearms.
The charges against Jackson were the result of an investigation conducted by the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, the Wausau Police Department, the Mountain Bay Metro Police Department, and the FBI’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger prosecuted this case.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to over 33 Years in Federal Prison for Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Beaverton, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for coercion and enticement of a minor after he directed the minor victim to send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Michael Cambalik, 43, was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison and a lifetime term of supervised release. Cambalik will pay restitution to the minor victim.
“Our foremost responsibility is the safety of children. Predators like this one hide in plain sight, including on online gaming platforms,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “We will remain vigilant in holding them accountable and keeping our children safe.”
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message emphasizing the FBI’s unwavering commitment to holding child sex abusers accountable for their actions,” said FBI Portland Acting Special Agent in Charge Mari Panovich. “Our focus while investigating these horrendous crimes is victim-centric and removing violent offenders from our community continues to be a top priority.”
According to court documents, in December 2024, the parent of a then-nine-year-old minor victim contacted their local police department after finding CSAM texted to an unrecognized phone number from the minor victim. Cambalik, a registered sex offender, contacted the minor victim through an online video game, Call of Duty. After posing as a female minor, Cambalik coerced the minor victim into sending him sexually explicit photos and videos.
On May 20, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Cambalik with sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor.
On November 12, 2025, Cambalik pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor.
This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela Paaso.
This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Quad City Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Two Quad Cities men were sentenced on January 27, 2026, to federal prison for firearms and drug crimes.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Jewahn Lequez Walton, 28, and Preston Manning McDowell Jr., 26, each tossed loaded firearms from a vehicle driven by Walton while attempting to elude law enforcement in June 2024.
In July 2024, McDowell possessed another firearm in Davenport. McDowell is prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions, including a 2022 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois.
In May 2025, Walton was arrested and found in possession of a distribution quantity of cocaine and a loaded firearm. Walton is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2018 felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine in the Illinois Circuit Court for Rock Island County.
McDowell was sentenced to a 72-month prison term to run consecutively to his supervised revocation sentence, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Walton was sentenced to a 100-month prison term, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department and the Bettendorf Police Department investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Previously Convicted DC Man Indicted for Assaulting His Former Romantic Partner with a Firearm with Enhancements for Two Prior Convictions for Crimes of ViolenceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A 23-year-old man from Washington, D.C., was indicted by a grand jury on charges stemming from his brandishing a firearm and threatening his ex-girlfriend during an argument in October 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine F. Pirro.
A Superior Court grand jury indicted the man on February 4, 2026, on assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction), possession of a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number, and carrying a pistol without a license.
This case is set for a status hearing on February 6, 2026, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before the Honorable Carmen McLean.
The man has two prior convictions for crimes of violence.
According to the government’s evidence, on October 26, 2025, at approximately 6:20 p.m., the man got into an argument with his child’s mother in an apartment complex on Oak Street NW. At some point during the argument, the man pointed a firearm at the victim while she was holding their two-year-old son. The man threatened the victim, indicating that if she was not holding his son, he would shoot her. The victim was able to call police from a nearby market. The man was arrested on scene, and a firearm was found in the closet of an apartment where the man was seen exiting and entering.
Joining the announcement was Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jasmine Dohemann.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Postal carrier pleads guilty to stealing gift cardsRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Matthew Hurlburt, 25, of Pavilion, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to theft of mail by an officer or employee of the United States Postal Service, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Irvin Jefferson, who is handling the case, stated that Hurlburt was employed by the United States Postal Service as a city carrier assigned to the Perry Post Office, in Perry, NY. In July 2025, an individual mailed a birthday card that included a $100 Visa gift card to Perry, but it never arrived. Subsequent investigation determined that the gift card was utilized multiple times at a gas station and a restaurant by Hurlburt. In August 2025, investigators placed an integrity test envelope containing a $25.00 Visa gift card in Hurlburt’s assigned mail delivery tray. The envelope was labeled with an insufficient/no such number destinating address and should have been returned to the Post Office by Hurlburt at the end of his shift. Hurlburt did not return the envelope, instead he utilized the gift card at two different gas stations.
The plea is the result of an investigation by U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent-in-Charge Northeast Field Office.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 12, 2026, before Judge Vilardo.
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Philadelphia Man Sentenced to over 17 Years in Prison for Committing Two Armed Carjackings Days ApartRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Richard Pridgen, 20, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 214 months’ imprisonment, five years’ supervised release, and $11,709.82 in restitution by United States District Judge Juan R. Sánchez for committing two carjackings in the city just days apart.
The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in August 2024 and pleaded guilty in October of last year to two counts of carjacking and two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
As detailed in court filings and statements, the first carjacking was on July 3, 2023, when Pridgen carjacked a victim, who had been sitting in his parked blue Jeep, at gunpoint. Pridgen had at least one co-conspirator who drove him there in a separate vehicle.
Then, on July 6, 2023, Pridgen and two co-defendants, Raheem Bivens and Raheim Brown, used the first victim’s blue Jeep to carjack a second victim of his white Jeep. Pridgen and Bivens both pointed firearms with extended magazines at the victim, demanding the car and keys. Pridgen and Bivens then fled in the second victim’s white Jeep, with Bivens behind the wheel.
Philadelphia police located both Jeeps quickly and pursued all three men. Bivens crashed the white Jeep into several other cars, and Brown, who was driving the blue Jeep, crashed into another car. All the men ran, but all were apprehended, and police recovered both guns. Pridgen had the second victim’s identification on him when he was apprehended.
Pridgen carried out these carjackings right after his release from juvenile state custody for committing several violent gunpoint commercial robberies in 2021.
Co-defendants Bivens, 22, and Brown, 25, both also of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty in 2024 to one count of carjacking and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. They were each sentenced to 14 years in prison and five years of supervised release, with Bivens also ordered to pay $11,709.82 in restitution.
This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Shulman and Special Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Bowerman.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Ricky Allen Kane, 47, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 5, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Kane to 162 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Kane is released from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
An investigation into the 2022 death of a man from a fentanyl overdose led investigators to a suspected source of supply of fentanyl in the Omaha area. The DEA executed a search warrant on November 14, 2022, on the residence of Michele Waters, Kane’s co-defendant. Both Waters and Kane were present. Law enforcement seized two baggies: one contained 86 grams of actual methamphetamine, and one contained 11 grams of actual methamphetamine. The 86 grams of actual methamphetamine were found between the armrest and seat of the chair in the living room. Numerous items of drug paraphernalia were seized, including scales and baggies.
Michele Waters pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. On October 17, 2024, she was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Justin Antonio Jones, 40, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 29, 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in Mingo County, West Virginia. During the traffic stop, officers heard what they believed was the sound of a slide moving on a semi-automatic firearm coming from the area of another vehicle parked nearby. Officers investigated the sound and encountered Jones standing by the other vehicle. Officers saw Jones place an object beneath the passenger side front tire of that vehicle and recovered a Keltec model PF-9 9mm pistol from that spot.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Jones knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance on October 27, 2008, and on May 22, 2012, both in Mingo County Circuit Court.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Mingo County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-191.
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North Carolina Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C.—Oliver Austin Thomas, III, 50, formerly of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, now residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been sentenced to more than a year in federal prison for failure to file an income tax return and tax evasion.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in 2020 and continuing into 2021 and 2022, Thomas gambled at several casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada, resulting in substantial winnings. Thomas then attempted to evade paying income taxes on his winnings by providing false social security numbers to casinos to hide the gambling income. During the investigation, Thomas denied using another individual’s social security number when interviewed by IRS agents. Thomas failed to file a tax return for tax years 2020, 2021, and 2022, despite having enough income to trigger a filing requirement, resulting in a tax loss of $446,072.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Thomas to a total term of 15 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The court also ordered Thomas to pay $446,072 in restitution.
“By willfully evading tax responsibilities, this defendant isn’t just cheating the government, but he is also shifting the burden of maintaining our nation’s taxpayer funded systems onto the shoulders of honest, hardworking Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Our office remains committed to ensuring that the law applies equally to everyone, and we will continue to prosecute those who attempt to bypass their civic duties for personal gain.”
“It’s important for the American people to know everyone is complying with their tax obligations,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “This sentence is a positive message to honest taxpayers and further exhibits the partnership between IRS-CI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office who are committed to protecting the integrity of the tax system and ensure compliance with their tax obligations.”
This case was investigated by the IRS-CI Charlotte Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel prosecuted the case.
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New York Man Charged in Multi-State Organized Cargo-Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York man has been arrested and charged for allegedly conspiring to infiltrate email accounts of legitimate truck-load carriers, using the hacked accounts to book cargo with shippers and selling the items for illicit profit. The goods allegedly stolen include over 33,000 pounds of frozen snow crab, pallets of blueberries and more than $400,000 of designer cologne.
Romoy Forbes, 31, a Jamaican national living in Deer Park, N.Y., has been charged with interstate transportation of stolen goods, and conspiracy to commit that offense. Forbes was arrested today in Long Island, N.Y. and will make his initial appearance in the Eastern District of New York. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, on July 15, 2025, Forbes allegedly stole 33,750 pounds of frozen snow crabs worth $325,000 from a warehouse that held the goods in Worcester, Mass. Leading up to the theft, a co-conspirator allegedly hacked into the email account of a trucking carrier company (Carrier 1). The co-conspirator, pretending to work for Carrier 1, and using the email account of Carrier 1, allegedly contacted and contracted with Shipper 1, a transportation business, to ship the goods to a customer in Jacksonville, Fla. Forbes then allegedly arrived at the warehouse in Worcester pretending to work for Carrier 1, loaded the seafood into his truck and drove off.
Instead of delivering the seafood to the customer in Florida, Forbes allegedly transported it to the location of a grocery store business in Queens, N.Y., where Forbes took a picture of the pallets of packaged crabs with his cellphone.
Before the alleged seafood heist, Forbes, on June 25, 2025, allegedly stole a shipment of blueberries in Winslow Junction, N.J. A co-conspirator allegedly hacked into the email account of Carrier 2, a trucking carrier company, and, pretending to be Carrier 2, contacted and contracted with Shipper 2, a transportation business, to ship the goods to a customer in Illinois. Forbes then allegedly arrived at the warehouse that was holding the goods, and, pretending to work for Carrier 2, loaded the fruit into his truck and drove away.
Instead of delivering the blueberries to the customer in Illinois, Forbes allegedly arranged to illicitly sell the fruit to his phone contact named, “My customer for everything.”
After the seafood and blueberry thefts, on July 25, 2025, Forbes allegedly conspired to steal approximately $433,830 worth of cologne in Ronkonkama, N.Y. Again, a co-conspirator allegedly hacked into the email account of Carrier 3, a trucking carrier company, and, pretending to be Carrier 3, contracted with Shipper 3, a transportation business, to ship the goods to a customer in Los Angeles, Calif. Forbes then allegedly arrived to the warehouse that was holding the goods, and, pretending to work for Carrier 3, loaded the items into his truck and drove away.
Instead of delivering the fragrances to the customer in California, Forbes allegedly contacted his “customer for everything” offering to sell the cologne and sent the contact a video of the cologne, to which the contact replied, “Ok.”
The charge of interstate transportation of stolen goods provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit that offense carries a sentence of up to five 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office 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.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
New Gloucester Man Pleads Guilty to Presenting Counterfeit Treasury ChecksRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New Gloucester man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to passing counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks and to a wire fraud scheme.
According to court records, Keith Mitchell, 38, deposited eight counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks totaling $40,379 into his bank account in May and June of 2024. The checks contained the serial numbers and amounts of actual U.S. Treasury checks that had been issued to third parties, but were counterfeited to be made payable to Mitchell. In May of 2021, Mitchell also received $20,832 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds based on a false and fraudulent PPP loan application. The application falsely claimed that Mitchell owned a sole proprietorship business that had earned a gross revenue of $100,000 in 2020. Mitchell also submitted a falsified tax return in support of the application.
Mitchell faces a maximum term of imprisonment of up to 20 years and a maximum fine of $250,000. He 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 Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Paycheck Protection Program: The PPP was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the SBA that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP permitted participating third-party lenders to approve and disburse SBA-backed PPP loans to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred by qualifying businesses during, and resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans were fully guaranteed by the SBA.
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NDOK Collects More than $2.5 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson announced that the Northern District of Oklahoma (NDOK) collected $2,586,678.72 in criminal and civil actions in fiscal year 2025. Of this amount, $1,625,271.97 was collected in criminal actions, and $961,406.75 was collected in civil actions.
The NDOK is not only responsible for litigation. The Asset Recovery and Asset Forfeiture teams are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and crime victims. Under federal law, a District Judge may order a defendant to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes. The department’s Crime Victims Fund collects criminal fines and felony assessments. Those funds are distributed to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, a defendant may be ordered to forfeit assets. The funds from assets are deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund. In fiscal year 2025, the NDOK collected $613,330 in asset forfeiture actions. Those funds are used for a variety of law enforcement purposes and to restore funds to crime victims.
Examples of Asset Recovery...
In November 2024, Devin Darel Fletcher was sentenced for embezzling funds from Tulsa Public Schools, and the Court ordered Fletcher to pay $593,492.32 in restitution. The Northern District successfully garnished $111,511.98 from retirement accounts. The U.S. Secret Service seized an additional $45,710.19 that has been paid towards restitution.
In November 2024, Randal Dewayne Davis was sentenced to child pornography offenses and forfeited $25,000 cash in lieu of real property. The Court ordered Davis pay $44,000 in restitution to nine identified victims of child sexual abuse material. The Northern District successfully garnished $30,976.67 from a retirement account, and the remaining $13,198.33 was collected from forfeited funds.
In October 2011, Elizabeth Ann Stanley was sentenced for Misapplication of Financial Institution Funds. The Court ordered her to pay $118,956.87 in restitution to First National Bank and Trust of Miami. Multiple bank accounts were forfeited, and $48,106.38 was paid towards restitution in 2012. Throughout the years, Stanley paid monthly. The remaining $24,489.52 balance was paid in full once the Northern District began withholding portions of her retirement benefits.
Examples of Asset Forfeiture...
In January 2025, William Shane Garrow pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing false tax returns. Garrow was a Senior Vice President of Private Banking and lied to clients and colleagues by stealing more than $4.2 million from at least 16 accounts. The court authorized the seizure of $700,092.65 in currency and two real properties valued at $340,417.
In July 2024, Eduardo Agustin Barrera-Lopez pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with the intent to distribute. Barrera-Lopez admitted to financially benefiting from distributing heroin and other narcotics he brought to Tulsa. The court authorized the seizure of $124,236 in currency.
In December 2024, Kevin Gamboa-Olivas pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy. Gamboa-Olivas admitted to conspiring with others to distribute cocaine in Tulsa. The court authorized the seizure of $86,018 currency and a 2023 GMC Denali valued at $60,725.00, repurposed for law enforcement.
Montgomery Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms and Machinegun ChargesRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On February 4, 2026, Ladarius Lamar Knight, 25, of Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to the unlawful possession of a machinegun, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson.
According to court records, on January 7, 2025, units with the Montgomery Police Department and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) were on Zelda Road in Montgomery when they heard gunshots coming from a nearby gas station. Responding officers observed three individuals fleeing the area.
ALEA troopers pursued one of the suspects into a fast-food restaurant across the street from the gas station. The suspect, later identified as Knight, was found hiding in the restaurant’s back storage area and was taken into custody. Troopers recovered a handgun Knight was attempting to conceal inside a box.
Further examination revealed that the handgun was equipped with a machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “switch.” When installed, such a device enables the firearm to fire continuously with a single pull of the trigger, resulting in an extremely high rate of fire that allows the weapon to discharge an entire magazine in a matter of seconds.
Knight has prior felony convictions and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. At sentencing, Knight faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), including its Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit; and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys John J. Geer, III and Christine Levi are prosecuting the case.
Mississippi Man Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights and Arson Charges for Setting Fire to Mormon ChurchRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Stefan Day Rowold, 37, of Wiggins, Mississippi was sentenced Feb3, 2025 to 360 months in prison for vandalizing and setting fire to a house of worship. A jury in the Southern District of Mississippi found Rowold guilty of six counts of federal arson and civil rights charges after a trial in September 2025.
The evidence presented at trial last year showed that on July 5, 2024, and July 7, 2024, Rowold vandalized and set fire to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Wiggins, Mississippi. Evidence at trial also proved that Rowold targeted the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because of his animosity toward what he believed to be their religious views. Rowold confessed to police that he broke into the building, vandalized the interior walls of the building with hateful messages, and ultimately set a fire in the middle of the church’s multipurpose room. Rowold used the church’s hymnals, paintings, and other religious objects as kindling for his original fire. Rowold also confessed that after he learned that his first fire had failed to burn down the building, he broke into the church again two days later to finish the job, after police had attempted to secure the scene. Rowold then set a second fire against a wall inside the church, trying again to burn the building down.
Due to the damage from the fires, members of the church were unable to hold services in their church building for months. At sentencing, the District Court found that the church suffered $176,564.97 in damages. The Court awarded the church $176,654.97 in restitution.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
U.S. Attorney Kruger said, “This was a deliberate, hate-fueled attack on a place of worship meant to intimidate an entire community. Attacks like this will be met with the full force of federal law. Today’s sentence demonstrates our commitment to protecting the right to worship in safety and without fear.
The FBI Jackson Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi State Fire Marshal, and the Wiggins Police Department.
Massachusetts Company Pleads Guilty to Violating OSHA Rule Leading to Worker's DeathRead the Press Release
BOSTON – John Oliveira & Sons Stamp Concrete, Inc., a corporation doing business in East Freetown, Mass. pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to willfully violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards in a 2023 incident that led to a worker’s death.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul G. Levenson scheduled sentencing for May 4, 2026.
According to court documents, the company utilized a large soil screener for purposes of processing and screening soil and similar substances. The soil screener was approximately 46 feet long and 13 feet high, and weighed approximately 35,880 lbs. The tail conveyor of the soil screener – which weighed approximately 1,500 pounds – could be placed in a vertical closed position or could be opened to an approximate 45° angle. At various occasions in 2022 or 2023, the tail conveyor of the soil screener closed unexpectedly, and the soil screener had suffered a ruptured hydraulic pressure line.
On Sept. 6, 2023, a company employee was working alongside a co-owner on the tail conveyer of the soil screener, which was in the open position. At the time, there was no equipment in place to prevent the tail conveyer from closing. According to the charging documents, as the employee was seeking to remove a bolt, the tail conveyor closed unexpectedly. The employee held onto the upper frame of the soil screener as the tail conveyer closed into the vertical position, crushing the employee’s head. The employee suffered massive head trauma and was pronounced dead soon thereafter.
For willfully violating an OSHA safety standard, John Oliveira & Sons Stamp Concrete, Inc. faces a term of probation of up to five years, a fine of up to $500,000 and restitution payable to the estate of the deceased victim. Sentences are imposed by a federal judge based upon statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Anthony D’Esposito, Inspector General of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Jeff Erskine, Regional Administrator of the Department of Labor OSHA Boston Region; and Maia Fisher, Regional Solicitor for Department of Labor Boston Region made the announcement. Assistance in the investigation was also provided by the OSHA Criminal Investigations Team, Boston Region. Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely, Chief of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A Lexington Park, Maryland, man pled guilty in federal court today, to drug trafficking and weapons crimes.
Dominick Mackall, 37, is charged with possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Sheriff Steven A. Hall, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the guilty plea, on October 26, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mackall’s residence and took him into custody in connection with a five-month narcotics trafficking investigation. During the search, law enforcement discovered multiple loaded firearms, including a ghost gun, and numerous rounds of ammunition in Mackall’s bedroom. Mackall is a convicted felon, so he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Law enforcement also uncovered several controlled substances in different quantities — including 964 fentanyl pills, cocaine, and marijuana — along with approximately $4,000 in cash. Additionally, law enforcement found reloadable government-benefit cards in other people’s names.
Mackall is facing a maximum of 15 years for the firearms charges. He also faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in connection with the drug trafficking crimes. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman set sentencing for Wednesday, May 13, at 10 a.m.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Crespo and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Appleby-Rumon who are prosecuting this federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Long Island Assistant High School Lacrosse Coach Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Joseph Garofalo pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child. At the time of the offense, the defendant was an assistant high school lacrosse coach on Long Island. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury. When sentenced, Garofalo faces a minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea.
“This case is a stark reminder that those entrusted with the care and mentorship of children must be held to the highest standards. Our Office will relentlessly pursue predators like this defendant who victimize the most vulnerable members of our society,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and hold sexual predators accountable.”
“Joseph Garofalo, an assistant high school coach, exploited more than 30 minors by blackmailing them into sending multiple sexually explicit photos and videos through social media threads,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Garofalo, entrusted with the care and development of young teenagers, violated this trust when he victimized these children to fulfill his perverted wants. The FBI will continue to hold accountable those who manipulate their positions of authority to target vulnerable victims.”
As set forth in court filings, while employed as an assistant lacrosse coach at a local Long Island high school, the defendant used social media platforms to engage in sexually explicit conversations with minors. The defendant threatened to share naked photos and videos of the minors unless they sent more naked photos or sent explicit media of their friends, which is colloquially known as “sextortion.” For example, the defendant told one minor to send naked photos of the minor’s friends or the defendant would not delete naked photos that he had of the minor. The defendant also consistently uploaded child sex abuse material (CSAM) files to the internet.
On April 18, 2025, the FBI executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence, at which time the FBI interviewed the defendant, who admitted that he controlled the social media account that solicited CSAM from minors, solicited minors for CSAM, and had CSAM on his electronic devices. During the course of the investigation, the FBI seized electronic devices and recovered electronic evidence from social media platforms that contained evidence regarding approximately 30 minor victims.
This prosecution 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Anyone with information about sexual exploitation by the defendant is asked to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 212-384-1000.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Adam R. Toporovsky is in charge of the prosecution with assistance from paralegal specialist Janelle Robinson.
The Defendant:
JOSEPH GAROFALO
Age: 21
Valley Stream, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-005 (NJC)
Leader of Criminal Tow Truck and Auto Repair Company Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for MurderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that CHRISTIAN LUGO, a/k/a “Coco,” was sentenced today to 19 years in prison for LUGO’s leadership role in a racketeering conspiracy that used fraud and violent intimidation to run a tow truck and auto repair shop known as Certified Auto. On February 7, 2022, LUGO allowed and encouraged a co-conspirator who worked for him at Certified Auto to shoot at members of a rival tow truck company, which resulted in the death of Gloria Ortiz. In August 2025, LUGO pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy and firearms offenses, while admitting to his role in the murder, before U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho, who imposed today’s sentence.
“As Christian Lugo has now admitted, his rivalry with other tow truck companies set in motion a deadly chain of events, which caused a broad daylight shooting, killing Gloria Ortiz,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Lugo used a gun to further his tow truck business, itself part of a criminal enterprise. His actions led to the murder of a woman. He is now where New Yorkers want him—off the streets and in prison.”
According to the indictment, public court filings, and statements made at court proceedings:
LUGO, along with others, corrupted the operations and activities of Certified Auto, which was a company that provided towing and auto repair services to vehicles damaged in car accidents. LUGO and his co-conspirators used Certified Auto to commit wire, mail, and insurance fraud and to assert control over the towing and auto repair industry in their territory in the Bronx, New York, using violence and threats of violence.
LUGO had a rivalry with a nearby tow truck shop owned by Gloria Ortiz. On February 7, 2022, one of Lugo’s tow truck drivers got into a minor car accident while driving one of LUGO’s pickup trucks (illegally used as a tow truck) with a passenger vehicle in Ortiz’s shop’s claimed territory, resulting in a physical dispute with workers for that shop over the right to tow the passenger vehicle. LUGO then contacted another subordinate member of Certified Auto (“CC-1”) to pick up the driver, after which they all met up with LUGO. At that meeting, LUGO allowed and permitted CC-1 to shoot at members of the rival company. Specifically, during that conversation, LUGO told CC-1 “are you going to take care of it or am I?” and CC-1 stated that CC-1 would do so. CC-1 then drove to Certified Auto, where Gloria Ortiz and her workers had gathered. CC-1 opened fire, causing the death of Gloria Ortiz and nonfatal injuries to two other people outside of the Certified Auto shop.
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In addition to the prison term, LUGO, 38, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to six years of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of Special Agents from the FBI New York Safe Streets Task Force and the New York City Police Department. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Herman, Ni Qian, and Andrew Jones are in charge of the prosecution.
Latimer County Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of A MinorRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Morgan Ellis, Jr., age 38, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, punishable by up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that beginning in July 2023, and continuing until June 26, 2024, Ellis knowingly engaged in sex acts and sexual contact with a minor who had attained the age of 12 years but had not attained the age of 16 years, and who was at least four years younger than Ellis.
The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the McAlester Police Department, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. 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.
Ellis will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Wittlinger and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Lame Deer man sentenced to 10 years in prison for assault and gun charges on the Northern Cheyenne Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man who committed an assault with a firearm on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 10 years and 1 day in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Jerray Eugene Rowland, 29, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on July 15, 2023, Rowland and others were driving around and drinking. They stopped at a house to obtain more alcohol. The victim, John Doe, had been drinking at a nearby residence and was walking down the road. Doe encountered Rowland and a female. Rowland and/or the female said Doe was the man who had shot their father. Rowland then said he was “[father’s] oldest boy.” Rowland pulled out a pistol and shot Doe. In 2017, Doe shot Rowland’s father and law enforcement determined the shooting was in self-defense.
Doe told law enforcement Rowland shot him with a 9mm firearm. Officers recovered a 9mm shell casing at the scene and, later, a 9mm bullet from Doe’s hospital room. Doe was shown a photo array of five individuals, including Rowland, and identified Rowland as the man who shot him.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, BIA and Northern Cheyenne Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Lafayette Father and Daughters Sentenced for Yearslong Conspiracy to Defraud Federal Child Nutrition ProgramRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE– On February 3, 2025, Brian Paul Desormeaux, a 64-year-old Lafayette resident, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for his role leading a yearslong conspiracy to defraud a federal nutrition assistance program operated by the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”). His co-conspirator daughters, Amy Desormeaux Hernandez, a 38-year-old Lafayette resident, and Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux, a 35-year-old Lafayette resident, were each sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison after their convictions for wire fraud as well, with Babineaux sentenced in November 2024 and Hernandez sentenced on the same day as her father.
“The Desormeauxs’ shameful scheme stole food out of the mouths of Louisiana’s children to satisfy their own greed, and they’re now heading to federal prison as a result,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Protecting Louisiana’s children from financial and other abuses is one of our Office’s core missions, and this case shows our commitment, alongside our federal and state partners, to investigate and prosecute these crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The Desormeauxs stole half a million dollars of money that was allocated to help hungry children and adults in Louisiana, and we will not tolerate that criminal behavior," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "The FBI is committed to work with our state and federal partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office to root out fraud in Louisiana and make sure those responsible are held to account.”
“The defendants exploited the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program intended to provide nutritious meals to children in need. They fraudulently claimed to administer the assistance at childcare programs and instead used it as a vehicle for personal financial gain. The USDA Office of Inspector General remains committed to protecting the integrity of USDA nutrition programs and safeguarding taxpayer dollars. We appreciate the strong partnership of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in holding those who commit fraud accountable,” said USDA Inspector General John Walk.
According to court documents, Desormeaux was the executive director of Regional Nutrition Assistance, Inc., a non-profit sponsoring organization for the Child and Adult Care Food Program, a federal program operated by the USDA and administered by the Louisiana Department of Education. Over the course of roughly five years, Desormeaux and his daughters, Hernandez and Babineaux, submitted fraudulent claims for reimbursement from the federal government that involved, among other things, creating and submitting false state fire marshal inspection reports, which were required for reimbursement by the program, and submitting claims for alleged providers who they knew were not active and participating in the program. Desormeaux and his two daughters diverted these fraudulently obtained reimbursements for their own personal use and benefit, with the defendants receiving over $500,000.00 in federal funds that they were not entitled to.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana Office of Inspector General, and the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren L. Nickel with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 6:25-cr-00092.
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Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Kansas City, Kansas Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Ks., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a Glock .45 caliber handgun.
Aaron T. Fant, 35, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Brian C. Wimes, to 12 years (144 months) in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On March 20, 2023, Fant attempted to push his way into the apartment of a female acquaintance. As the adult female resisted and tried to close the door, Fant punched the female in the chest to gain entry. The adult female’s 16-year-old son tried to intervene, stepping between his mother and Fant. Fant then produced a black and silver handgun from his waistband and struck the juvenile in the head with the firearm. The adult female was able to push Fant back from the doorway and lock the door. As Fant walked away, he yelled, “If you call the police, I will kill you.” The juvenile was transported to Children’s Mercy Hospital where he received three staples to close the wound.
On March 29, 2023, Fant was arrested following a prolonged standoff with law enforcement at a hotel he was staying at in Kansas City, Mo. During the standoff, Fant made several threatening statements, including “I have a gun,” “I’m armed,” “You’ll have to kill me” and “Come in and get me.” Ultimately law enforcement deployed a gas projectile through the window of the hotel room, and Fant came out of the room without further incident. In Fant’s vehicle at the hotel, officers located a Glock, Model 37 Gen 4, .45 caliber handgun that was loaded.
Fant, who is a convicted felon, had been found guilty of nineteen prior felony offenses.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania Borough Alleging Its Zoning Code Violated Religious Land Use ProvisionsRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG — United States Attorney Brian D. Miller and the Justice Department today announced an agreement with the Borough of Kingston, Pennsylvania, to resolve allegations that it violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by enacting and enforcing a 2023 zoning ordinance that treats religious land uses worse than comparable secular uses and unreasonably limit religious land use.
The proposed consent order, which was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and must still be approved by the Court, would resolve a lawsuit the United States also filed today alleging that the 2023 zoning ordinance dramatically restricted how and where religious land uses can locate, which particularly impacted Kingston’s growing Orthodox Jewish Chabad community and prevented it from developing places needed for religious worship.
“Time and time again, local governments enact zoning laws that treat places of worship and religious schools worse than comparable secular places of assembly, and unreasonably limit where religious land uses can locate. And too often the Jewish community bears the brunt of those restrictions,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will relentlessly pursue and prosecute jurisdictions that violate RLUIPA.”
As alleged in the lawsuit, Kingston’s zoning ordinance violates RLUIPA because it requires that places of worship obtain discretionary special exception use permits, while comparable nonreligious assembly uses like theaters, bowling alleys, recreational facilities, and libraries are permitted as of right. The ordinance also restricts places of worship to one-acre or more parcels, while no acreage restriction is placed on comparable nonreligious assembly uses. These restrictions unreasonably limit religious land uses to only a tiny fraction of existing parcels in the entire Borough such that, in practice, there are essentially no available qualifying parcels on which to develop a new place of worship. As a result, Kingston’s Chabad community has struggled to find sufficient suitable places for prayer, religious study, religious schools, and mikvahs (ritual baths).
Under the consent order, the Borough will revise its zoning ordinance to allow places of worship and religious schools as a permitted use in commercial districts and as a special use in residential districts; eliminate the acreage requirements for places of worship and religious schools; and treat places of worship on comparable terms to nonreligious places of assembly with respect to other zoning concerns like parking and landscaping. The consent order also requires the Borough to train its officials and employees on RLUIPA’s requirements, establish a procedure for receiving and resolving RLUIPA complaints, and undertake other injunctive relief.
The Civil Rights Division’s Housing & Civil Enforcement Section handled this matter in collaboration with Middle District of Pennsylvania Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Butler, Civil Rights Coordinator.
RLUIPA is a federal law that protects persons and religious institutions from unduly burdensome, unequal, or discriminatory land use regulations. More information about RLUIPA and the Department’s efforts to enforce it can be found on the Place to Worship Initiative’s webpage. Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions may contact the Civil Rights Division Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (800) 896-7743, or through the online RLUIPA complaint portal. Anyone in the Middle District of Pennsylvania may also report civil rights violations to the Civil Rights Coordinator of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania by calling 717-614-4911 or emailing [email protected].
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Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania Borough Alleging Its Zoning Code Violated Religious Land Use ProvisionsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the Borough of Kingston, Pennsylvania, to resolve allegations that it violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by enacting and enforcing a 2023 zoning ordinance that treats religious land uses worse than comparable secular uses and unreasonably limit religious land use.
The proposed consent order, which was filed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and must still be approved by the Court, would resolve a lawsuit the United States also filed yesterday alleging that the 2023 zoning ordinance dramatically restricted how and where religious land uses can locate, which particularly impacted Kingston’s growing Orthodox Jewish Chabad community and prevented it from developing places needed for religious worship.
“Time and time again, local governments enact zoning laws that treat places of worship and religious schools worse than comparable secular places of assembly, and unreasonably limit where religious land uses can locate. And too often the Jewish community bears the brunt of those restrictions,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will relentlessly pursue and prosecute jurisdictions that violate RLUIPA.”
As alleged in the lawsuit, Kingston’s zoning ordinance violates RLUIPA because it requires that places of worship obtain discretionary special exception use permits, while comparable nonreligious assembly uses like theaters, bowling alleys, recreational facilities, and libraries are permitted as of right. The ordinance also restricts places of worship to one-acre or more parcels, while no acreage restriction is placed on comparable nonreligious assembly uses. These restrictions unreasonably limit religious land uses to only a tiny fraction of existing parcels in the entire Borough such that, in practice, there are essentially no available qualifying parcels on which to develop a new place of worship. As a result, Kingston’s Chabad community has struggled to find sufficient suitable places for prayer, religious study, religious schools, and mikvahs (ritual baths).
Under the consent order, the Borough will revise its zoning ordinance to allow places of worship and religious schools as a permitted use in commercial districts and as a special use in residential districts; eliminate the acreage requirements for places of worship and religious schools; and treat places of worship on comparable terms to nonreligious places of assembly with respect to other zoning concerns like parking and landscaping. The consent order also requires the Borough to train its officials and employees on RLUIPA’s requirements, establish a procedure for receiving and resolving RLUIPA complaints, and undertake other injunctive relief.
RLUIPA is a federal law that protects persons and religious institutions from unduly burdensome, unequal, or discriminatory land use regulations. More information about RLUIPA and the Department’s efforts to enforce it can be found on the Place to Worship Initiative’s webpage. Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions may contact the Civil Rights Division Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (800) 896-7743, or through the online RLUIPA complaint portal. Anyone in the Middle District of Pennsylvania may also report civil rights violations to the Civil Rights Coordinator of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania by calling 717-614-4911 or emailing [email protected].
Jury convicts two Houston-area men in murder-for-hire plot against wrong manRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Two men have been found guilty on multiple charges related to a conspiracy that resulted in the shooting of a Katy man on his way to work, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The federal jury deliberated for approximately two days before convicting Michael Seery, 43, Katy, and Ricardo Obando Jr., 51, Houston, following an eight-day trial.
The jury heard the men plotted the murder over the course of months and executed their plan in the early morning of Feb. 4, 2025. Obando shot the victim several times as the man was traveling on his way to work. The victim sustained gunshots wounds to his neck, torso and hand, but ultimately survived.
“An innocent victim was ambushed by gunfire during his daily commute—all because of one man’s jealousy and faulty information,” said Ganjei. “This verdict demonstrates my office’s commitment to identifying and prosecuting all members of violent criminal conspiracies. No matter your role, if you conspire to commit an act of violence in the Southern District of Texas, we will hold you accountable and seek a significant sentence. All Texans deserve to be able to travel to work without fear of becoming a target of violent criminals.”
“A murder-for-hire plot transformed a Houston highway into an incredibly dangerous situation for morning commuters,” said FBI Houston Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson. “Michael Seery and Ricardo Obando Jr. showed total disregard for human life and put countless innocent bystanders at risk. FBI Houston proudly partnered with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety to identify, locate, and apprehend these men in order to bring them to justice."
Seery hired Obando to kill a man he believed had an affair with Seery’s wife while Seery was in prison. Cell phone evidence demonstrated how Obando conducted extensive surveillance and a failed attempt on the victim before finally executing the plot.
Obando shot the victim using a firearm equipped with a silencer while the man was driving to work on Highway 99. Jurors heard testimony from the victim and watched the actual footage of the shooting captured on his in-car camera system, which showed the moment of the shooting and the subsequent 911 call.
In reality, Seery targeted the wrong person. The actual intended target had moved out of the residence where Seery believed he lived.
The intended target testified as did Seery’s wife. The jury heard about the affair that had occurred 12 years prior and that Seery could not get over it. Testimony revealed that even in January 2025, a few weeks before the murder attempt, Seery was angry about the affair.
Evidence included multiple photos of various firearms and firearm parts found at Seery’s home and storage unit. The jury also saw the 3D printer Seery used to manufacture the weapon and silencer that Obando is believed to have used.
Seery had paid Obando through his business to carry out the crime.
The defense attempted to convince the jury there was no evidence about the real intended target or that there was any relationship between the two men and the actual victim, or the intended target. Obando’s defense disputed cellular phone evidence, while Seery claimed he was not involved at in the conspiracy. The jury did not believe any of those claims and found the two men guilty as charged.
Both were found guilty of conspiracy to use interstate facilities to commit murder for hire causing bodily injury, aiding and abetting the use of interstate facilities to commit murder for hire causing bodily injury, aiding and abetting discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm silencer during and in relation to a crime of violence. Additionally, Seery was found guilty of transferring a firearm to be used in a felony and felon in possession of a firearm, while Obando was convicted of receiving a firearm that was to be used in a felony.
They face up to life in federal prison.
The FBI conducted the investigation along with Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and Katy Police Department with assistance of Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hunter Brown and Jill Stotts are prosecuting the case.
Jefferson County felon charged with federal firearms violation in Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been charged with a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
David Earl Greer, Jr., 23, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas this week charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
If convicted, Greer faces at least 15 years in federal prison.
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.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Java Center man charged with possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Patrick Kerwin, 43, of Java Center, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on January 2, 2026, the FBI was alerted by the New York State Police (NYSP) regarding an investigation of Kerwin for suspected possession of child pornography, which began in 2022 based on a CyberTip Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In November 2025, the NYSP also learned that the Lancaster Police Department arrested and charged Kerwin with violations of New York State Penal Law.
The arrest stemmed from a tip received from a civilian child safety advocacy group that indicated a group member communicated with Kerwin. Based upon the information provided by the group, Kerwin purportedly believed that he communicated with a minor to meet her for sex. On November 19, 2025, Lancaster Police encountered Kerwin at a local restaurant, at which time he was arrested, and his cell phone was seized. A preliminary review of the cell phone recovered several sexually explicit images and videos of underage females.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, the Lancaster Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Gummo, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Jasper County felon charged with federal firearms violation in Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Jasper man has been charged with a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Kenneth Mitchell Woods, 28, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas this week charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
If convicted, Woods faces at least 15 years in federal prison.
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.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jasper Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Inmates indicted for murder at Beaumont federal prisonRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – Four federal inmates have been charged with murder in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Conrad Edward Nedd, also known as CJ, 41; Jeremy Crow, 32; Ramon James Ybarra, also known as Apache, 35; and Curtis Ray McClendon, 43; were named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas, charging them with murder.
The indictment alleges that on November 21, 2025, the inmates were involved in an altercation resulting in the death of another inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont.
If convicted, the defendants each face up to life in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Prisons and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Illinois Resident Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jalen Jace Cancel, age 25, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to one month in prison and seven months home detention for one count of Wire Fraud Conspiracy, one count of Wire Fraud, and one count of Money Laundering Conspiracy, and ordered to pay $504,948.49 in restitution.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On July 21, 2025, Cancel pleaded guilty to the charges. Between June and September 2023, Cancel conspired with others to obtain money from area businesses through materially false and fraudulent pretenses. According to investigators, the businesses received emails claiming to be from legitimate vendors with instructions to wire payments to certain bank accounts. It was later determined the emails were created and sent by a member of the conspiracy, and the bank accounts were opened by conspirators to receive and distribute the fraudulently obtained funds. Cancel facilitated the fraud by opening bank accounts for receiving and distributing the funds.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, Chief District Court Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Cancel will self-report to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his sentence on March 2, 2026.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.