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12 March 2026
U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Continue Their Fight Against Sex Trafficking in New York – Pearl River Man and Woman ChargedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced the arrest of TYRON DUMEL, a/k/a “Boogie,” and NICOLE DUMEL in connection with a sex trafficking operation based in Rockland County, New York. TYRON DUMEL and NICOLE DUMEL were arrested March 11, 2026, and presented in White Plains federal court on Thursday, March 12, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victoria Reznik. TYRON DUMEL was ordered detained, and NICOLE DUMEL was released on bond.
“The message from New York families is clear: stop the sex trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “It is corroding our communities. Since August 2025, the defendants have allegedly conspired to traffic at least 10 women to engage in commercial sex. In furtherance of that operation, Tyron Dumel allegedly exerted ruthless control over sex trafficking victims through lies, intimidation, violence, and psychological abuse, while he and Nicole Dumel allegedly reaped thousands of dollars in profits. This kind of conduct should shock the conscience of every New Yorker, and it will not be tolerated. This Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to bringing the perpetrators of such crimes to justice.”
“These defendants allegedly operated a human trafficking network in which Tyron Dumel forced victims to engage in sexual acts for profit through physical and psychological coercion, while Nicole Dumel collected their illicit proceeds,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. ‘The Dumels allegedly exploited and abused nearly a dozen women across the country to generate a twisted cash flow. The FBI will target human traffickers who abuse and torment victims for personal enrichment.”
As alleged in the Indictment:[1]
From at least in or about August 2025 through at least in or about February 2026, TYRON DUMEL and NICOLE DUMEL conspired to traffic women to engage in prostitution (the “DUMEL Trafficking Operation”). TYRON DUMEL advertised the DUMEL Trafficking Operation on a popular social media platform, which he used to recruit women to engage in commercial sex. As part of the DUMEL Trafficking Operation, and in furtherance thereof, TYRON DUMEL transported at least ten women to locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Arizona, Tennessee, and Michigan, among other places, to engage, at his direction and under his supervision, in commercial sex.
TYRON DUMEL used means of force, fraud, and coercion to cause a victim (“Victim-1”) and others to engage in commercial sex acts. He physically assaulted Victim-1 and others, threatened to cause physical harm to Victim-1 and others, sprayed Victim-1 and others with pepper spray, forced Victim-1 and others to engage in sexual intercourse with him, required Victim-1 and others to tattoo their bodies with his personal “brand,” used his control of the proceeds of his sex trafficking operation to coerce Victim-1 and others to accede to his demands by withholding, and threatening to withhold, food, and lied to Victim-1 and others concerning the whereabouts of the proceeds of the DUMEL Trafficking Operation.
Also as part of the DUMEL Trafficking Operation, and in furtherance thereof, NICOLE DUMEL agreed, among other things, to (i) set up an online account that TYRON DUMEL used to post commercial sex advertisements; (ii) edit digital photographs of at least one female commercial sex worker for the purpose of creating commercial sex advertisements; and (iii) receive electronic funds transfers from purchasers of commercial sex to accounts controlled by NICOLE DUMEL and route such funds to accounts controlled by NICOLE DUMEL and TYRON DUMEL. From in or about August 2025 through in or about February 2026, NICOLE DUMEL received thousands of dollars in proceeds from commercial sex acts conducted as part of the DUMEL Trafficking Operation.
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TYRON DUMEL, 28, is charged with one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, one count of transportation for purposes of prostitution, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to transport individuals for purposes of prostitution, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
NICOLE DUMEL, 30, is charged with one count of conspiracy to transport individuals for purposes of prostitution, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI New York Office Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, Greenburgh Police Department, Clarkstown Police Department, White Plains Police Department, and Orangetown Police Department.
The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake Sidransky is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two Sentenced for Kidnapping St. Louis County ToddlerRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced Kendal “KD” White, one of the men who kidnapped a toddler in St. Louis County, Missouri in a bid to recover missing guns, to 20 years in prison.
Cam’Ron Henderson, 21, of St. Louis, was sentenced in January to 130 months in prison. Both men previously pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping.
White, 21, of St. Charles, believed that the father of the 2-year-old kidnapping victim had taken items from him, including firearms. On Aug. 10. 2023, White, Henderson and others began looking for the man and eventually found their way to the victim’s mother’s apartment in St. Louis County. When she did not answer the door, White and Henderson kicked it in. Both men were armed. After learning that their quarry was not in the apartment, White demanded that the mother turn over her daughter. When she refused, White struck her in the head with his gun repeatedly before grabbing the toddler and fleeing. The toddler’s mother called police.
When White and Henderson learned that an Amber Alert had been issued and included a description of the Hyundai Elantra they were driving, White paid three women to return the toddler to her uncle’s home.
“This was an incredibly violent offense,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski said during Thursday’s hearing.
The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case.
Two KC Area Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Meth and FentanylRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Kansas City, Mo., men were sentenced in federal court for their role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Donnique H. Kelley, also known as “Banks,” 36, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 200 months in federal prison without parole for participating in a conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Eugene Thomas, also known as “Texas,” 55, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 135 months in federal prison without parole for participating in a conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents, Kelley, Thomas, and others sold fentanyl pills, fluor-fentanyl (a fentanyl analogue), cocaine, and methamphetamine to law enforcement between Oct. 19, 2022, and Dec. 13, 2023. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases from Thomas, Kelley, and others.
In addition, on Sept. 12, 2023, following a car stop on East 63rd Street, Kansas City, Mo., a co-conspirator and source of supply of fentanyl and methamphetamine for the conspiracy was found in possession of 4.45 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2.02 kilograms of marijuana, and $14,382.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Overland Park, Kansas Police Department.
Homeland Security Task Force
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
Two Defendants Involved in Pharmacy Burglary Ring Across Multiple States Are Sentenced to Serve a Combined Time of More Than 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Antoinen Dion Hampton and Reginald Tremayne Jackson, both of Houston, Texas, will spend a combined time of 308 months in federal prison for their role in a criminal organization that was responsible for dozens of pharmacy burglaries and stolen controlled substances worth millions of dollars. Jonathan D. Ross, United States attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentences, which were handed down today by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
Hampton, 39, who is a multi-convicted felon, will spend the next 188 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, and other Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Jackson, 35, who was serving a 36-month federal sentence in the Western District of Missouri at the time of his arrest, will spend another 120 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, and other Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances.
On November 8, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Hampton and Jackson, along with 16 other defendants, and on July 2, 2024, the indictment was superseded to add an additional 24 defendants. On October 23, 2025, Hampton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, and other Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances and conspiracy to commit money laundering. On September 4, 2025, Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, and other Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances.
An investigation revealed that Hampton and Jackson were involved in a drug trafficking organization that included documented gang members from the 5th Ward area in Houston, Texas. Investigators discovered more than 96,000 tablets of Schedule II controlled substances—including oxycodone, hydrocodone, Adderall, and others—were stolen were stolen from pharmacies throughout the United States, including pharmacies Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia, and Florida. The street value of all controlled substances stolen by the organization in the Arkansas burglaries alone is close to $1.6 million. Investigators also seized six firearms, approximately $79,000 in U.S. currency, and custom jewelry retailing approximately $330,000. The quantity of Schedule II controlled substances stolen from pharmacies and distributed has a street value of more than $12,000,000.
Hampton’s criminal history includes several felony convictions for burglary with intent to commit theft, burglary of a building with intent to commit theft, and burglary of a dwelling structure. Hampton participated in over 50 burglaries in pharmacies across the United States, including in Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Utah, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and Wyoming.
Because Jackson has at least two prior convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense, he is classified as a career offender. Jackson participated in 10 burglaries of pharmacies across Arkansas and Oklahoma. Jackson’s criminal history includes a September 20, 2023, federal conviction for burglary of a business premises registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and he was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison, three years’ supervised release, and ordered to pay $9,347.45 in restitution. Jackson has felony state convictions for second-degree robbery and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.
Judge Miller also sentenced Hampton and Jackson each to three years’ supervised release. Restitution will be ordered at a later date. There is no parole in the federal system.
On September 4, 2024, Keith Wayne Brown, 36, of Humble, Texas, who was the leader of the pharmacy burglary ring, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit money laundering. On January 16, 2025, Judge Miller sentenced Brown to serve 209 months, over 17 years, in federal prison, three years’ supervised release, and ordered him to pay $272,937.42 in restitution.
On April 18, 2025, Judge Miller sentenced Alexis Simone Garner, 33, also from Houston, to serve one year and one day in federal prison for conspiracy to money launder. Judge Miller also sentenced Garner to three years’ supervised release and ordered her to pay $67,572.73 in restitution.
Investigators with the DEA, Little Rock District Office, worked in conjunction with the following law enforcement partners:
DEA New Orleans Division (Little Rock District Office, Fayetteville Resident Office, Shreveport Resident Office, Mobile Resident Office),
DEA Special Operations Division,
DEA Houston Division (Houston TDS Group, Galveston Resident Office),
DEA Omaha Division,
DEA Rocky Mountain Division (Salt Lake City District Office, Cheyenne Resident Office),
DEA Atlanta Division (Columbia District Office),
DEA Miami Division (Pensacola District Office),
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Little Rock Field Office,
FBI Cast Team,
U.S. Marshals Service,
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics,
Harris County Sheriff’s Office,
League City Police Department (Dickinson, Texas),
Houston (Texas) Police Department Northeast Division Crime Suppression Team,
Houston (Texas) Police Department CID, and
Arkansas State Police.
The case is being prosecuted in the Eastern District of Arkansas by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Fields.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Little Rock comprises agents and officers from state and local task force agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
# # #
Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Two Colorado Women Charged in Multi State Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Two Colorado women and an associate are charged in a drug‑trafficking and money‑laundering conspiracy that allegedly funneled methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico through New Mexico into other locations in the United States.
According to court records, between November 2023 and July 2025, Ebajelina Silva, 41, of Arvada, Colorado, and Tania Maldonado, 42, of Denver, Colorado, allegedly participated in a drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracy that moved methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico through New Mexico to other locations in the United States. Court records allege Silva coordinated narcotics pickups and deliveries with Reymondo Mandonado, 43, of Thornton, Colorado, while Maldonado allegedly helped transmit drug proceeds to individuals in Mexico through money service businesses using structured wire transfers. The investigation tied the conspiracy to repeated border crossings, communications and location data, financial records, and a July 7, 2025, traffic stop in Otero County, New Mexico, during which law enforcement seized 146.7 net kilograms of pure methamphetamine and 4.875 net kilograms of cocaine from a concealed compartment in an enclosed trailer driven by Mandonado.
Silva and Maldonado are each charged with one count of conspiracy and conspiracy to launder money. They will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, they both face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Mandonado pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Mandonado faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today on behalf of the Homeland Security Task Force
Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee Camacho is prosecuting the cases.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region II CORE 7 is comprised of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Customs and Border Protection – Office of Field Operations (OFO), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) and Air and Marine (AMO), Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), United States Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Joint Task Force North (JTF-N), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshal Service (USMS), Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS), El Paso Police Department (EPPD), New Mexico State Police (NMSP), West Texas / New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico Sixth Judicial District, Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Districts of Western Texas and New Mexico.
View the Criminal Complaint (Mandonado).pdf View the Criminal Complaint (Silva and Maldonado).pdf View the Indictment (Silva and Maldonado).pdfAn indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Cambria County Residents Indicted for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Two residents of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Dustin Blough, 30, of South Fork and Charles Triplin, 48, of Johnstown were named as the sole defendants in separate Indictments.
According to the seven-count Indictment against Blough, in and around September and October 2024, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Blough possessed with intent to distribute various quantities—including 500 grams or more on one occasion, and 50 grams or more on another—of mixtures and substances containing methamphetamine. Further, in and around November 2024, Blough possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine, along with quantities of fentanyl. During that same November period, Blough—who had been previously convicted of a felony—unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. The Indictment additionally charges Blough with possessing with intent to distribute quantities of mixtures and substances containing fentanyl and heroin on various dates in and around August 2024.
According to the one-count Indictment against Triplin, in and around December 2025, Triplin possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Triplin had previously been convicted in August 2023 of attempting to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl (read the guilty plea news release related to this case here).
For each defendant, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Both defendants have been ordered detained pending trial.
Assistant United States Attorneys Arnold P. Bernard Jr. and Maureen Sheehan-Balchon are prosecuting these cases on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Cambria County Drug Task Force, and Cambria County District Attorney’s Office conducted the investigations leading to the Indictments.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Additional Men Sentenced for Role in Mail and Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced two additional sentencings in a mail theft and bank fraud conspiracy involving four defendants.
On March 5, 2026, 24-year-old Tra’von Charles Rogers, of Prattville, Alabama, received a sentence of 24 months in federal prison. Two days prior, on March 3, 2026, a judge ordered 27-year-old Joseph Deshun Sheppard, Jr., of Montgomery, Alabama, to serve 24 months in prison. Both men previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and mail fraud. Following their prison terms, Rogers and Sheppard will each serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to their plea agreements and other court records, from March 2022 through February 2025, Rogers and Sheppard participated in a scheme with Kahneil Jahe Oliver, 28, of Montgomery, to steal mail and illegally alter or counterfeit stolen checks. The conspirators then deposited the fraudulently altered checks into numerous bank accounts under their control.
At sentencing, the court ordered forfeiture money judgments of $159,742.65 against Rogers and $62,050 against Sheppard.
A sentencing hearing for a fourth co-conspirator, Cedric Lanoid Hunter, Jr., 24, of Montgomery, is scheduled for next month. Previously, Kahneil Jahe Oliver was sentenced to 130 months in prison for his role in the scheme. On March 5, 2026, the court also ordered Oliver to pay $14,718.48 in restitution to a financial institution that incurred losses as a result of the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Bureau of Investigation, and the Montgomery Police Department, with assistance from the Prattville Police Department and Fulton County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb is prosecuting the case.
Three Sentenced in Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A group of defendants from Somerset, Ky., were sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for their roles in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.
Robert Allen, 55, Larry Ellison, 41, and Rebecca Garlandios, 45, were sentenced to 150 months, 164 months, and 70 months and two days, respectively, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to their plea agreements, from January 2024 through December 19, 2024, Allen, Ellison, and Garlandios conspired with each other to distribute methamphetamine from local sources of supply to purchasers in the Pulaski County area. Specifically, on January 23, 2024, law enforcement worked with a confidential informant to purchase two ounces of methamphetamine from Allen, who, during a subsequent traffic stop, was found with 56 grams of methamphetamine on his person. Law enforcement conducted a search of the house shared by Allen and his sister Garlandios that same day, and recovered a baggy from the bottom of a toilet bowl, a container Garlandios attempted to conceal in her pants, digital scales and baggies, and more than 48 grams of methamphetamine.
On December 19, 2024, law enforcement stopped Ellison during a traffic stop and recovered empty plastic bags, digital scales, and a bag containing 29.59 grams of methamphetamine. Ellison admitted that the methamphetamine came from a series of regular deliveries from a local source of supply, including a recent half-pound delivery of methamphetamine to his girlfriend, Garlandios. Ellison also confirmed that at the time of the earlier January 2024 traffic stop, he regularly drove Allen to deliver two ounces of methamphetamine to a customer.
Under federal law, Allen, Ellison, and Garlandios must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Upon their release from prison, they will each be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Three Charged for Interstate Wildlife ViolationsRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three people are facing charges for illegally transported wildlife across state lines, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
A federal indictment charges Brian Poling, 51, of Albright, West Virginia; Levi S. Weaver,74, of Fredericksburg, Ohio; and Leroy M. Miller, 40, of Millersburg, Ohio; with violations of the Lacey Act. As charged in the indictment, Poling, the manager of Dream Mountain Ranch in Preston County, West Virginia, conspired with Miller and Weaver, to illegally transport in interstate commerce live deer without health certificates as required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“West Virginians have long depended on a healthy and diverse wildlife population to feed our families, make memories, and enjoy our great outdoors.” said U.S. Attorney Harvey. “It is our shared heritage and will be protected.”
Under U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations, anyone who transports live deer in interstate commerce (across state lines) is required to ensure that the animals are accompanied by an Interstate Certificate of Veterinarian Inspection (ICV) and proof of a tuberculosis test. These regulations are aimed at curtailing the spread of a variety of deadly diseases including tuberculosis, brucellosis, and chronic wasting disease - a fatal, contagious neurological illness that can infect some deer and other animals like elk and moose. Additional information about cervid disease prevention and management is available here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cervid.
"The illegal transport of live deer poses a serious threat to people, wildlife, and the economy. Deer can carry deadly zoonotic diseases that may be spread to humans, livestock, and other animals. Without proper safeguards, outbreaks can occur that disrupt hunting traditions and jeopardize farm livelihoods,” said Doug Ault, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “We remain firmly committed to working with our state and federal partners to protect the American public and preserve our nation's natural resources for sustainable use by future generations.”
"This investigation is a clear example of why partnerships between state and federal agencies are so vital,” said Col. Alberto Maza, director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement. "The investigators and agents involved in this case should be commended for their dedication and hard work that led to these charges.”
Poling, Weaver, and Miller each face up to 5 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tallahassee Man Charged for Threats to Kill the President, Member of Congress, & Federal Reserve ChairmanRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Diego M. Villavicencio, 36, of Tallahassee, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with two counts of interstate communication of threats, one count of impeding or retaliating against a federal official, and one count of threats against the President. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Villavicencio appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for May 5, 2026, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
If convicted, Villavicencio faces up to five years’ imprisonment on each count of interstate communication of threats and threatening the President and ten years’ imprisonment for impeding or retaliating against a federal official.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Capitol Police, the Federal Reserve Board Protective Service, and the United States Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Swansea man accused of robbing a credit unionRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A man appeared in federal court Wednesday to face a federal charge for allegedly robbing a credit union in Swansea.
Deondre E. Jones, 55, is facing one count of bank robbery.
“Thanks to a strong, coordinated response by law enforcement, this defendant’s attempt to rob the credit union ended almost as quickly as it began,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Anyone who robs or attempts to rob a bank will face certain justice in a federal prison.”
According to the complaint, Jones is accused of robbing a credit union on North Illinois Street in Swansea around 2:14 p.m. on March 6. He allegedly approached the teller, demanded cash and said he had a firearm. After receiving the cash, Jones took off from the credit union on foot. Minutes later around 2:22 p.m., officers with the Swansea Police Department took Jones into custody.
“The rapid response by Swansea Police Officers was critical in neutralizing this bank robbery,” said FBI Springfield Acting Special Agent in Charge, Ruben Marchand-Morales. “The quick action by the Officers paved the way for a successful arrest, highlighting how collaboration between local and federal partners ensures we use every available resource to protect our community.”
A complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI Springfield Field Office is being jointly investigated with support from the Swansea Police Department, Fairview Heights Police Department, Belleville Police Department, and Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Arshi is prosecuting the case.
Suburban Chicago Man Charged with Sending Threatening Letters to Two Federal JudgesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been charged in federal court with sending threatening letters to federal judges in Texas and Florida.
JAMES LEBUHN, 65, of Libertyville, Ill., is charged with two counts of mailing a threatening communication, according to a criminal information filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Arraignment is set for March 26, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis.
According to the information, Lebuhn mailed letters in March of last year to U.S. District Court judges in Amarillo, Texas, and Fort Pierce, Fla. Lebuhn mailed the letters for the purpose of making a true threat and knowing that the letters would be viewed as such, the information states. When mailing the letters, Lebuhn also recklessly disregarded the substantial risk that others would regard the communications as a threat, the charges allege.
The charges were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Federal Protective Service, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Rothblatt of the Northern District of Illinois.
“The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to holding accountable anyone who seeks to intimidate and instill fear in members of the federal government, including the esteemed public servants on the bench,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “When a threat such as this occurs, our Office will find, arrest, and prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law. We are grateful for the close collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the Northern District of Texas and Southern District of Florida and the fine work they provided in support of this prosecution.”
“In today’s times of increasing threats of violence, these criminal charges should serve as a warning to others contemplating such behavior,” said Ryan Raybould, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. “I applaud the investigative efforts of our agents in this District and the prosecution team in the Northern District of Illinois for their outstanding work.”
The public is reminded that an information is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count in the information is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
lebuhn_information.pdfSt. Louis County Felon Admits to Crime Related to Toddler’s Accidental ShootingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon from St. Louis County on Thursday admitted lying about the accidental shooting of a toddler last year.
As part of a plea agreement, Rodrick Miller, 36, admitted that on March 6, 2025, he and his girlfriend, the toddler’s mother, cleaned an Anderson Manufacturing, AM-15 semiautomatic pistol and left it on a couch in the girlfriend’s Wellston home. Miller’s plea says he is unaware of how the toddler was shot, but afterwards, Miller and his girlfriend took the boy to the hospital with severe injuries to his calf. On the way, Miller stopped in a wooded area and hid the gun behind a tree. They then told North County Police Cooperative officers that the boy had been shot by a stray bullet during a gun battle between two vehicles, while Miller’s girlfriend was walking home. Miller told officers that he left work to take his girlfriend and her son to the hospital. Police later recovered the gun.
Miller, of Pine Lawn, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. As a convicted felon, he is barred from possessing firearms.
He is scheduled to be sentenced in June and faces up to 15 years in prison.
The North County Police Cooperative, the St. Ann Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Franks 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.
Southwest Georgia Repeat Offender Sentenced for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Moultrie, Georgia, resident with prior felony convictions was sentenced to prison for illegally possessing four firearms discovered during an investigation into armed drug trafficking in the community.
Johnny Will Murray, Jr., 41, of Moultrie, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands. Murray, Jr. was found guilty at trial of one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Nov. 3, 2025. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Repeat offenders who illegally arm themselves, disregard the law and endanger the community will be prosecuted in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Our highest priority is to ensure justice and work alongside our law enforcement partners to strengthen public safety for everyone in the Middle District of Georgia.”
According to court documents and statements referenced at trial, on Nov. 11, 2021, the Moultrie Police Department executed a search warrant at Murray, Jr.’s home on suspicion of armed drug trafficking. Officers found approximately two ounces of methamphetamine, two digital scales, several empty vacuum-sealed bags and a rifle in his bedroom. Inside the bedroom closet was a safe with three more firearms, magazines, ammunition and $5,600. Officers also found a plastic baggie containing methamphetamine floating on top of the water in a toilet. Murray, Jr. has several past felony convictions; it is illegal for a felon to possess a firearm.
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.
The Moultrie Police Department and the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Department’s Narcotics Division investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Daniels prosecuted the case for the Government.
South Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A South Portland man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to distributing controlled substances.
According to court records, in February and March 2024, an undercover agent with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency posing as a drug runner purchased cocaine from Lynel Moultrie, 43, on at least three occasions. Investigators surveilled and recorded the transactions.
Moultrie faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release. 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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, South Portland Police Department, and Gorham Police Department investigated this case.
South Carolina Couple Sentenced for Cyberstalking Scheme That Targeted Vulnerable Victim and His FamilyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A man and woman from South Carolina were sentenced today for carrying out a cyberstalking scheme targeting a vulnerable victim and his immediate family members using extortive and threatening text messages, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
Trysten Anthony Cullon, 27, and Jade Ashlynn Stone, 27, both of South Carolina, were sentenced to 41 months and 27 months in prison, respectively. They were also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after they are released from prison, and to pay restitution in the amount of $26,699.65. Cullon and Stone previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking.
“This case is heartbreaking,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson, “there was not a dry eye in the courtroom at sentencing. To fuel their drug addiction, Cullon and Stone turned to preying on the most vulnerable among us. Christopher had a developmental disability and lent his phone to a stranger out of kindness – only to have that stranger, Cullon, use the phone to steal Christopher’s money using financial apps. Even that wasn’t enough – Cullon and Stone then stole the phone and threatened to spread lies about Christopher, which drove him to suicide,” Ferguson added.
“This couple intentionally tormented a young man with intellectual disabilities for personal enrichment. While Christopher’s life is priceless and his family is forever changed, we hope a federal prison sentence will bring some form of justice and comfort for his loved ones,” said Special Agent in Charge Davis.
According to court records, from September 5 to September 8, 2024, the defendants engaged in a cyberstalking scheme against Christopher Tsoulos, a 27-year-old with an intellectual disability who was classified as “Educable Mentally Disabled.” Because of his disability, Christopher relied heavily on the support of his immediate family and did not live on his own. Christopher was also employed at a fast-food restaurant in Charlotte.
Court documents show that, on September 5, 2024, Cullon visited the fast-food restaurant where he encountered Christopher while he was at work. Cullon obtained Christopher’s phone, and because the phone was unlocked, Cullon and Stone had unfettered access to the financial applications on the phone, including mobile payment apps and Christopher’s bank account. Between September 5 and September 7, Cullon and Stone made repeated unsuccessful attempts to obtain funds from Christopher’s accounts.
Court documents show that Cullon and Stone then began to send Christopher’s family members multiple harassing and intimidating text messages demanding money and threatening to provide derogatory and embarrassing information to Christopher’s employer unless they were paid. Their salacious claims included false allegations that Christopher was a pervert, that he harassed girls, and that he paid girls for sexual pictures.
As a result of the substantial emotional distress caused by the extortive and threatening text messages sent by Cullon and Stone and fearing he would lose his job or go to jail, Christopher died by suicide.
In handing down Cullon and Stone’s sentences, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. said, “this is a particularly egregious version of this crime, resulting in a victim killing themselves.”
Cullon and Stone remain in federal custody. They will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI for their investigation of the case, along with substantial assistance from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte handled the prosecution.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 9, 2026.
Tyler Hausten, 46, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hausten was indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on December 22, 2025.
On November 24, 2024, Sioux Falls Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by Hausten. During the course of the stop, officers located a bag under the driver’s seat containing 132 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Hausten was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Silvis Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Silvis, Illinois man was sentenced on March 12, 2026, to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, John Able Rubingh, Sr., 45, ran from police at a convenience store and dropped a loaded pistol. Rubingh then rushed at the officer and struggled with him. Rubingh was eventually detained. Rubingh was prohibited from possessing firearms as a felon, including a 2022 conviction for felony eluding in the Iowa District Court for Scott County. Rubingh was on parole for a drug charge in the Illinois Circuit Court for Rock Island County at the time of the offense.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Rubingh will be required to serve 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 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.
Schenectady Man Indicted for Fentanyl Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kristoffer Jackson, age 39, of Schenectady, New York, was indicted on a charge of distributing fentanyl and cocaine that caused an overdose death in Schenectady County. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam made the announcement.
Jackson was arraigned last week in Albany, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart. On March 10, 2026, he was ordered detained pending trial.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Drug traffickers who flood our communities with dangerous controlled substances are not just dealing drugs—they are dealing death. As alleged, this defendant sold cocaine laced with fentanyl, a lethal poison that took a life in Schenectady County. Let this indictment send an unmistakable message: if you choose to profit from distributing these deadly substances, my Office will pursue you relentlessly and hold you fully accountable. We will continue to use every tool available to identify, investigate, and prosecute those responsible for poisoning our communities.”
“As we know, fentanyl remains one of the greatest threats facing our nation, and any loss of life caused by this poison is a senseless tragedy. Today’s indictment of Kristoffer Jackson, who allegedly distributed this deadly substance, reaffirms our commitment to working with our judicial partners to hold those who poison our communities accountable” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “The DEA remains steadfast in our mission to protect the public and make America Fentanyl Free.”
If convicted, Jackson faces at least 20 years and up to life in prison, as well as post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The DEA is investigating this case with assistance from the Schenectady Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mikayla Espinosa is prosecuting the case.
Serial Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – John D. Ford, 49, of Panama City, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Operation Take Back America was launched to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing violent criminals, like this defendant, from our communities to deliver the safe streets our citizens deserve. This serial felon has demonstrated a complete disregard for our laws and the safety of our community, so we must ensure he remains locked away in prison as long as possible.”
Court documents reflect that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives assisted the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Panama City. Three firearms were found in the defendant’s bedroom (a short-barreled shotgun and two pistols), along with job application paperwork with the defendant’s biographical information on it and court paperwork for the defendant. Post-Miranda, the defendant admitted that one of the firearms belonged to him. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s cellphone and discovered messages that indicated that the defendant was trading or selling the recovered firearms. The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms because of 12 prior felony convictions.
The defendant faces imprisonment for up to 15 years at sentencing.
The case involved an investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 20, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Richland County Man Sentenced to 10 years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Gun, AmmoRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jacob Lloyd Lower, 31, of Richland County, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on April 25, 2022, officers with Irmo Police Department responded to a single vehicle collision. On the way, officers received an update that the driver of the vehicle was physically assaulting a passerby who stopped to help him. There was also a report that the driver was attempting to steal a second vehicle.
When law enforcement arrived, a witness told the officers that the individual wearing a bloody white shirt, later identified as Lower, ran into the woods. As officers searched for Lower, they were then notified that Lower attempted to steal a truck in a nearby parking lot but was unsuccessful and continued to run. A Richland County Sheriff’s Department K-9 arrived on scene and led law enforcement to an area in the woods where they found a white shirt with blood on it. Lower was located nearby and arrested. During his arrest, Lower was found with several types of drugs and a .22 caliber pistol along with 300 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition.
Lower is prohibited from possessing a firearm and/or ammunition based upon convictions for criminal conspiracy, burglary second, grand larceny, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Lower to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Irmo Police Department, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case.###
Queens Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking Five Victims, Including Three Minors, at Hotels on Long Island and ElsewhereRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, a 12-count indictment was unsealed charging Tyrone Stylistic Crooks with multiple counts of sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, and transportation for prostitution. The charges in the indictment stem from Crooks’s sex trafficking of five victims, including three minor girls who were between the ages of 14 and 17 years old at the time of the alleged crimes. In addition to producing sexually exploitative images and videos of the minors, Crooks allegedly manipulated his victims to engage in commercial sex acts for his financial benefit using fraud, physical violence, and sexual violence. Crooks was arrested yesterday and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Lee G. Dunst.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Stefanie Roddy, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Field Office (FBI), and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, FBI, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charges.
“As alleged, the defendant preyed on vulnerable members of the community, subjecting his victims to threats, violence, and manipulation so that he could sell their bodies for his own profit,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s arrest demonstrates our Office’s unwavering commitment to aggressively prosecute sex traffickers, especially when minors are involved.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey; the Boston Police Department; FBI Boston Field Office; the New Jersey State Police Human Trafficking Unit; the Suffolk County Police Department; and the New York City Police Department for their contributions to the case.
“Cases like this remind us that children in our communities are still being exploited by traffickers who see them as commodities rather than young people with futures,” stated FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Roddy. “Our priority is identifying victims, protecting them, and holding those responsible fully accountable. If someone sees a young person who may be in danger or under someone else’s control, we urge them to report it to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. A single call could help protect a child from ongoing abuse.”
“Tyrone Crooks allegedly threatened, assaulted, and forced three minors to engage in sexual acts and produce sexually explicit content for his own personal gain. Through his alleged trafficking of these young girls, they were subjected to significant cruelty and unthinkable sexual abuse. “The FBI continues to coordinate with our federal and local law enforcement partners to apprehend sexual predators and traffickers targeting vulnerable victims, especially children,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
As set forth in court filings, since at least 2021 to the present, Crooks has operated as a “pimp” and trafficked victims across various locations in Brooklyn, Queens, and on Long Island, including in Westbury, Woodbury, Hicksville, Melville, Bethpage, and Huntington. Of the five victims that the defendant is presently charged with trafficking, three were minors who came from out of state to work for Crooks doing prostitution in New York.
Crooks enticed these victims using text and other online communications and paid for their travel. Crooks promoted and managed his prostitution business over the internet, including posting sexually exploitative photos that he produced of these minor victims to further his trafficking business. In addition to recruiting minors, the defendant used them to create sexually explicit images and videos, which he then posted on the internet in advertisements. In one message on January 27, 2025, the defendant said to a minor, “Do your make up for pics . . . And I got baby oil for the pics no diddy lol.” A search of the defendant’s iCloud account revealed multiple images of child pornography from that same date, including one video where a male believed to be the defendant is pouring baby oil on a naked child, who is dancing. Crooks set the prices for commercial sex acts, arranged prostitution “dates” for his victims and controlled the money made during those “dates,” and pursued his victims for money that he claimed they owed him for hotel rooms and other related expenses. Crooks also demanded that his victims engage in sex acts with him, and told at least one victim in text messages that she was not allowed to say “no” to him. Crooks physically assaulted multiple victims, including one who was pregnant at the time. After the victim texted the defendant that he “hurt [her] baby” and questioned “[yo]u thought punching in the stomach was a good idea[.] Could have been anywhere but [you] chose my stomach,” Crooks blamed the victim, texting, “You moved your arm not my fault.”
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of sex trafficking using force, fraud or coercion, Crooks faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life. If convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison. If convicted of trafficking a minor, Crooks faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section and Long Island Criminal Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan E. Farrell and Molly N. Delaney are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
TYRONE STYLISTIC CROOKS
Age: 33
St. Albans, QueensE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-55 (GRB)
Providence Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence man who admitted to his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
Marc Dure, 32, was sentenced yesterday, March 11, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 10 years in federal prison. Dure previously pleaded guilty on December 11, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
“Fentanyl trafficking inflicts tremendous harm on individuals, families, and entire communities,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “Those who choose profit from distributing this deadly drug must be held accountable for the damage that they cause.”
“Fentanyl traffickers like Marc Dure must be held accountable for the destruction caused by their crimes, and this sentence does exactly that by keeping him behind bars for the next decade,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Know the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force is working hard every day to battle the dealers and traffickers who are pushing this deadly poison into our neighborhoods and cashing in on the opioid epidemic with no regard for the devastating impact they have on Rhode Island families."
According to court documents, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force was conducting an investigation into drug trafficking in and around the Providence area and, during the investigation, law enforcement determined that Dure and his co-conspirators were involved in the distribution of fentanyl pills.
Dure was apprehended on December 7, 2023, during the execution of a court authorized search warrant of his Providence residence. The FBI seized fentanyl, cocaine, and cash. At the time of his arrest, Dure attempted to flush narcotics down the toilet and climb out a window, before being taken into custody. As a result of their investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 655 grams of fentanyl from Dure.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacey A. Erickson and Peter I. Roklan.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island FBI Safe Streets Task Force.
The Safe Streets Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, the Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, West Warwick, and Central Falls Police Departments, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.
President Trump’s Justice Department & Transportation Department Sue to Stop California’s Illegal EV MandateRead the Press Release
Attorney General Pamela Bondi and Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced that the Justice Department, on behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has filed suit to stop California from imposing an illegal electric vehicle (EV) mandate through what are effectively state-specific mileage requirements for car manufacturers. Federal law prohibits individual states from adopting regulations related to fuel economy.
President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Duffy created the “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” initiative to save the American people $109 billion over the next five years and save families $1,000 on the average cost of a new vehicle by resetting NHTSA’s corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. California’s scheme would force carmakers to radically revamp their production lines nationwide to meet standards more stringent than the national standards adopted by NHTSA. The deviation would send car prices through the roof, restrict consumer choice, and undermine interstate commerce.
“Oppressive, expensive electric vehicle mandates drive up costs for American consumers and violate federal law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “California is using unlawful policies from the last administration to create exorbitant costs for our citizens — this Department of Justice is proud to stand with President Trump and Secretary Duffy to bring litigation that will make life more affordable for American consumers.”
“I was proud to stand alongside President Trump to unveil our plan to eliminate the Biden-Buttigieg EV mandate and allow auto manufacturers to produce cars American families actually want to buy at a more affordable price. But Gavin Newsom is determined to continue pushing Democrat’s radical EV fantasy – even if doing so is illegal,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Newsom may not care about lowering costs, but President Trump does. I want to thank Attorney General Bondi for fighting to protect consumer choice and stop activist governors from destroying our manufacturing sector.”
“This lawsuit continues ENRD’s war on regulatory overreach by California that is set on undermining the national market for motor vehicles through unlawful state policies,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The state vehicle standards we are challenging today are preempted by federal law, just like the standards that were blocked by a court in our challenge to California’s so-called Clean Truck Partnership.”
“This litigation will help automakers design and produce cars and trucks to meet one federal fuel economy regulation. It was a mistake by Presidents Obama and Biden to enable California to set its own backdoor fuel economy policies, which have now spiraled into a costly patchwork quilt of individual state fuel economy requirements. This litigation will correct that misstep,” said NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison.
Read more about President Trump and Secretary Duffy’s “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” initiative HERE.
Read the United States’ complaint HERE.
Additional Information:
This case challenges the state’s regulations as preempted under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which makes NHTSA the exclusive regulator of fuel economy in the United States.
The litigation involves defendants California’s Air Resources Board and its executive officer in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.
ENRD filed the complaint.
The case number is 26-at-00450 in California.
CARB EDCA Complaint.pdfPortland Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Portland man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to two firearms-related offenses.
According to court records, in April 2025, Jeissey Khamis, 19, made false statements to a federal firearms licensee in Charleston, Maine, in connection with his attempted purchase of a Glock pistol. Khamis’s false statements concerned his identity, age, and place of birth. Later the same month, Khamis was found in possession of a different pistol that he knew had been stolen from the same licensee. Investigators seized the gun while executing a state search warrant at Khamis’s college dormitory room in Windham.
Khamis faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release on the false statement charge. He faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release on the stolen firearm charge. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the South Portland and Portland police departments.
Pasco Man Sentenced to 20 Years Imprisonment for Soliciting Sexual Acts and Explicit Content from Minors OnlineRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on March 11, 2026, Chief United States District Court Judge Stanley A. Bastian, sentenced Manuel A. Rodriguez, age 29, of Pasco, Washington, to 20 years of imprisonment for Online Enticement of a Minor and Attempted Production of Child Pornography. Judge Bastian also ordered that following his sentence, Rodriguez will serve a lifetime term of supervised release, register as a sex offender, and abide by a number of conditions, to include those pertaining to Rodriguez’s access and use of electronic devices.
According to court documents, in February of 2023, a student at a local high school disclosed that she had been sexually assaulted by a 26-year-old male when she was 15 years old. The sexual assault resulted in a pregnancy. A subsequent investigation by the Pasco Police Department (PPD) identified the male as Manuel A. Rodriguez, who resided in Pasco, Washington. Further investigation by PPD revealed that Rodriguez sought out the 15-year-old girl on the Snapchat application in October of 2022. Rodriguez messaged with the 15-year-old in a sexually explicit manner for an extended period of time. In December of 2022, Rodriguez picked the 15-year-old girl up in his vehicle on two occasions. Each time, Rodriguez transported the minor girl to a location in Pasco, Washington, and sexually assaulted her.
PPD and the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (SER-ICAC) obtained records from Rodriguez’s Snapchat account. Therein, detectives discovered that Rodriguez had communicated with numerous Snapchat users who identified themselves as minor girls, including girls as young as 13. The communications were sexually explicit. One such minor was identified as a 14-year-old girl living in another state. Rodriguez received and requested image and video files depicting the 14-year-old girl.
“Rodriguez reprehensibly used online applications to target, meet, and sexually abuse children in the Eastern District of Washington. I applaud the courage of the 15-year-old victim, whose report enabled law enforcement to protect other children from Mr. Rodriguez’s conduct,” stated First Assistant Serrano. “Through the courage of the victim and the tireless efforts of our ICAC Team, this offender will no longer be in the community to harm children. Although no sentence can overcome the ongoing harm suffered by the minor victims in this case, the collaborative work of the state and federal law enforcement officers and my office in this case makes clear that we will use every available tool and resource to protect our children.”
“Offenders who use social media platforms to exploit children often believe they can hide behind a screen,” said Hyrum Stohel, Sergeant with the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children (SER-ICAC) Task Force. “But through careful investigation and digital forensics, law enforcement is often able to identify those responsible and stop further victimization. Investigations like this demonstrate the importance of partnerships between local law enforcement and federal agencies to identify offenders, protect victims, and prevent further harm to children in our communities.”
“The extraordinary bravery of a victim, who worked with local law enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations special agents to provide crucial digital evidence, was instrumental in putting this child predator behind bars,” said Homeland Security Investigations Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “Her courage not only brought Rodriguez to justice, but also protected other children from potential harm. Predators who use online platforms to groom and arrange meetings with vulnerable children will find no refuge from law enforcement.”
This case was investigated by the Pasco Police Department and the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is comprised of special agents with Homeland Security Investigations and local detectives from the Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco Police Departments, and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laurel J. Holland.
4:25-CR-6003-SABNine-Time Felon Sentenced for Firearms Violation After Participating in ShootoutRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – GERARD CARR (“CARR”), age 27, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan on January 22, 2026 to 137 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), his ninth felony conviction.
According to court documents, in April of 2025, CARR was involved in a shootout in front of a convenience store on North Galvez Street in New Orleans. One week later, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence associated with CARR and found the gun he used during the shootout. Prior to possessing the firearm, CARR was convicted in Orleans Parish of several felony offenses, including conspiracy to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin, conspiracy to possess a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and illegally possessing a stolen firearm.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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New Orleans Resident Sentenced for Making Ransom Demand for Release of Kidnapping VictimRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –JANETTE RAMIREZ (“RAMIREZ”), age 34, was sentenced on January 15, 2026 by U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe to 42 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to interstate transmission of a ransom demand, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, the victim was kidnapped by RAMIREZ’s co-defendants, Hector Mondragon-Flores and Edwin Salgado-Nunez. They bound the victim’s hands and legs together, held him at gunpoint in Mondragon-Flores’s apartment, and demanded the payment of $7,000 ransom from the victim’s father for the victim’s release. Salgado-Nunez was arrested by New Orleans Police Department officers during a ransom exchange after the victim’s father paid Salgado-Nunez’s associate $3,000 in cash.
Following Salgado-Nunez’s arrest, Mondragon-Flores took the victim to RAMIREZ’s apartment. Mondragon-Flores then instructed the victim to facilitate a payment from the victim’s girlfriend for the victim’s release. RAMIREZ translated a conversation between the victim and his girlfriend in English, concerning the ransom payment, to Spanish for Mondragon-Flores, so that he could monitor the conversation. RAMIREZ also agreed to use her CashApp account to receive the ransom payment and sent the victim’s girlfriend CashApp payment requests knowing that they would be viewed as a request for ransom for the victim’s release.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys David Berman and Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit are in charge of the prosecution.
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New Orleans Man Indicted for Being Felon in Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CORTEZ JOHNSON (“JOHNSON”), age 42, was indicted on January 9, 2026, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and for being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the indictment, JOHNSON possessed a firearm and ammunition after previously being convicted of human trafficking in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and aggravated assault on a family member in Harris County, Texas.
As to each count, JOHNSON faces up to 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
New Orleans Felons Indicted for Federal Drug-Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –DONELL BARTHELEMY (“BARTHELEMEY”), age 22, and MICHAEL BROOKS (“BROOKS”), age 30, were charged in a recently unsealed eight-count indictment with violations of the Federal Gun Control Act and Federal Controlled Substances Act on February 6, 2026, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
BARTHELEMEY and BROOKS are each charged with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a), (b)(1)(C), and 846; conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(o); and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). BROOKS is additionally charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). BARTHELEMY is additionally charged with possessing a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(B)(ii), and possession of a machinegun, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(o) and 924(a)(2).
According to the indictment, on August 13, 2025, BARTHELEMY and BROOKS possessed marijuana and tapentadol, with the intent to distribute those substances, and possessed firearms in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. One of the firearms was a Glock handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device, making it a fully automatic machinegun.
BARTHELEMY has a prior felony conviction for negligent homicide in Orleans Parish, and BROOKS has prior felony convictions for first degree robbery, aggravated battery, and unauthorized use of a movable in Orleans Parish.
As to each of the drug-trafficking counts, BARTHELMEY and BROOKS face up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. They face up to 20 years in prison for the firearms conspiracy and up to 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, along with up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release for each of those counts.
As to the charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, BROOKS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release.
As to the charge of possession of a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking, BARTHELEMY faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence, up to a $250,00 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to the possession of a machinegun charge, he faces up to 10 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
Each of the eight counts also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Navy Commander Sentenced for Federal CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A Navy Lieutenant Commander learned his fate in federal court today, after a jury found him guilty of cyberstalking his ex-wife and her boyfriend late last year.
The Honorable Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Jason Michael Leidel, 45, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 41 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In December 2025, after a two-week trial, a federal jury found Leidel guilty of cyberstalking.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Greg Thompson, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG) – Mid-Atlantic Region; Special Agent in Charge Hanna Porterfield, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) – Washington, D.C. Field Office; Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD); and Chief Paul Neudigate, Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD).
According to court documents, and evidence presented at trial, on multiple occasions, Leidel sent emails with false allegations to get Victim 1, his ex-wife, fired from her job as a special education teacher at a public school.
Additionally, Leidel sent emails trying to get his ex-wife and their children evicted from their house. He also repeatedly filed false child protective services claims against Victim 1. When Victim 1 started dating someone new, Victim 2, Leidel filed false claims, stating that Victim 2 was abusing children. Then Leidel repeatedly emailed Victim 2’s supervisors with false claims to get him investigated and fired. Leidel harassed Victim 1 and Victim 2 for several years until law enforcement arrested him in connection with this case.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, DOT OIG, NCIS, MCPD, and VBPD. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Sarma and Ken Clark, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Minnesota Man Sentenced for Threatening to Murder A Member of CongressRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Michael Lewis of Minneapolis has been sentenced to 5 months imprisonment followed by a year of supervised release for threatening to murder a Member of Congress, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
According to court documents, on March 26, 2025, Michael Paul Lewis, 53, called the office of a United States Congressperson and left a voicemail threatening murder. When law enforcement went to Lewis’ apartment to speak with him, he admitted to making the call.
Lewis was sentenced on one count of threatening to murder a United States official.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney LeeAnn Bell prosecuted the case.
Milwaukee Man Sentenced to 264 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on March 11, 2026, Daniel L. Anderson (age: 56) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 264 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Lynn Adelman.
Anderson previously pled guilty to receipt of child pornography with a predicate (prior) qualifying conviction. Court records indicate that Anderson solicited and paid his co-defendant money in exchange for producing and sending him child sexual abuse material of an 11-year-old child, in both the Milwaukee and Memphis, Tennessee, areas. Court records also indicate that Anderson has prior convictions in Wisconsin and Alabama related to the sexual assault and exploitation of children.
Following his release from prison, Anderson will spend 5 years on supervised release. Anderson will also be required to register as a sex offender under state and federal law.
“Law enforcement has no higher priority than protecting our children. This predator has been committing crimes against children for nearly 25 years,” said U.S. Attorney Schimel. “The only way to stop him is to lock him up so he has no opportunity to have any contact in any way with any child. This conviction and sentence will finally end his predatory behavior.”
“The FBI will relentlessly pursue those who exploit and endanger children,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “Mr. Anderson is a repeat child sex offender, and our community is safer as a result of this sentencing. The FBI works tirelessly with our partners to identify and hold accountable those who take advantage of our most vulnerable.”
This case was investigated by the FBI and City of Memphis Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abbey M. Marzick and William T. Berens.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Milwaukee Fraudster Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on March 10, 2026, Lenard R. Monroe (age: 52) received a total sentence of 132 months in federal prison for Medicaid fraud, violations of the antikickback statute, wire fraud, and money laundering. The sentence, imposed by Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper, came after a federal jury found Monroe guilty of all charges following a six-day trial in October 2025.
The trial evidence established that over the course of at least three years, Monroe’s former business, Wellness Personal Care Service, falsely billed Medicaid for thousands of hours of home healthcare services that were never performed. Monroe also paid codefendant Phillip Daniels more than $600,000 in illegal kickbacks to induce him to refer clients to the phony agency, and he used his status as a registered Medicaid provider to fraudulently apply for and receive almost a quarter of a million dollars in COVID relief funds earmarked for healthcare businesses that, unlike his own, had suffered losses due to the pandemic. Finally, Monroe spent money obtained from his criminal conduct to make extravagant personal purchases, including a limited production drag racing car called a Dodge Demon.
At sentencing, Monroe was ordered to pay nearly 3 million dollars in restitution: $2,543,216.62 to Wisconsin Medicaid and $247,167.90 to the United States Department of Health and Human Service’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). After completing his prison sentence, Monroe also will be on supervised release for three years.
“Fraud like this takes resources from every one of us, especially those Americans most in need of the public’s help,” said U.S. Attorney Schimel. “The strong sentence in this case not only holds the defendant accountable but also sends a powerful message to other potential thieves who would defraud the goodwill of the American people.”
“COVID relief funds were meant to be a lifeline to keep legitimate businesses open, employees paid, and communities afloat during a national crisis,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Leonard Monroe saw that lifeline as an opportunity to steal. By exploiting programs meant to help people survive an unprecedented moment, he committed fraud, laundered the proceeds, and tried to hide the money trail. IRS Criminal Investigation and its law enforcement partners followed that trail, exposed the scheme, and ensured Monroe will spend the next 11 years paying for his crimes.”
“Abusing public assistance programs is a serious matter, and those who do so can face severe consequences,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “I’m thankful to those who worked to get justice and for the collaboration among agencies in this case.”
The case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit, the DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Internal Revenue Service -Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, comprised of officers and agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Milwaukee Police Department, West Allis Police Department, South Milwaukee Police Department, Wisconsin DCI, and the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Erica Lounsberry and Elizabeth Monfils prosecuted the case.
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For further information contact:
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Mills County Man Sentenced to More Than 18 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – An Emerson man was sentenced on March 10, 2026, to 218 months in federal prison for receiving child pornography.
According to public court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip that a social media account, later determined to be associated with Andrew Joseph Branigan, 37, uploaded files containing child sexual abuse material. In October 2024, law enforcement seized Branigan’s cell phone during a search of his Emerson residence. A forensic examination of the seized cell phone showed that Branigan used the device to receive and possess approximately 600 images and 50 videos containing child sexual abuse material. Branigan admitted he sent and received child sexual abuse material with other users on social media applications.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Branigan will be required to serve a 15-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Branigan was also ordered to pay $18,000 in restitution.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Criminal Investigation-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Child Exploitation Task Force, and the Mills County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Mexican National Indicted for Possessing and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national was arrested and indicted for possessing child sexual abuse material. The indictment shows that Ruben Manuel Barraza Reyes, 26, is charged with Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography, and Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children.
In August 2025, law enforcement identified and arrested an individual in Alaska who was receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material using the messaging application, Telegram. Court documents show that the person arrested was chatting with a user later identified as Baraza Reyes. Within two days, they shared dozens of images and videos that contained child sexual abuse material, including obscene drawings of children being sexually abused. Through search warrants, agents seized devices at Barraza Reyes home and a cellphone he possessed at the time of arrest. While booking Barraza Reyes into jail, agents discovered that he is unlawfully residing in the United States.
The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Dewhurst is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Mexican Man Charged with Illegal Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Deyvi Daniel Corona-Sanchez, 24, a Mexican citizen recently living in South Burlington, Vermont, has been charged by criminal complaint with violating 8 U.S.C. § 1326 – Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien.
According to court records, Corona-Sanchez unlawfully entered the United States in October of 2021 near Eagle Pass, Texas. He was located by immigration authorities at a detention facility in Dilley Texas in March of 2022 and removed from the United States shortly thereafter. Immigration authorities learned that Corona-Sanchez returned to the United States after his arrest for driving under the influence in Middlebury, Vermont on January 15, 2026.
On the morning of March 11, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office learned of a civil enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) personnel in South Burlington, Vermont had resulted in vehicular flight by a person ICE-ERO believed to be Corona-Sanchez, motor vehicle collisions on Dorset Street, and flight by Corona-Sanchez into a nearby residence. ICE-ERO subsequently requested criminal process related to Corona-Sanchez, who was believed to still be present inside the Dorset Street residence. A criminal complaint and federal arrest warrant were obtained, charging Corona-Sanchez with violating 8 U.S.C. § 1326. A federal search warrant was also obtained, allowing for entry to the Dorset Street residence to effectuate the arrest of Corona-Sanchez. The search warrant was thereafter executed by ICE-ERO personnel, who made entry into the Dorset Street residence. The occupants of the residence were identified, and Corona-Sanchez was found not to be present in the residence. The arrest warrant for Corona-Sanchez remains active.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Corona-Sanchez is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Corona-Sanchez faces up to 2 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt recognized the substantial efforts of the South Burlington Police Department, the Burlington Police Department, and the Vermont State Police in balancing the public’s right to peacefully protest ICE-ERO activities, while ensuring protestors and federal law enforcement remained safe throughout the day on March 11, 2026.
Methamphetamine Distributor Sentenced to 10+ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced today for distributing methamphetamine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Tony Lamar Carthran, 31, was sentenced to 126 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
According court records, law enforcement began an investigation into Carthran for distributing methamphetamine in the Charlotte area. Between June and August 2023, Carthran sold methamphetamine to an individual working with law enforcement on five occasions. While selling drugs to an individual, Carthran also sold that individual a Ruger LC9s 9mm handgun with one live hollow point round chambered, and an empty magazine inserted, as well as 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Carthran is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
The ATF and CMPD investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte was in charge of the prosecution.
Louisville Man Faces at Least 35 Years in Prison Following Conviction at Trial on 9 Federal Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was found guilty by a federal jury of nine federal child exploitation charges last week.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Paul L. Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
Quinnton Dawson, 35, of Louisville, used an electronic storage device to record himself engaging in sexual acts with a four-year-old child after having been previously convicted in Jefferson Circuit Court of possessing and distributing child pornography. Dawson also used his email account to seek out and trade child sexual abuse materials.
Dawson committed these horrific crimes after being granted shock probation in Jefferson Circuit Court for his prior offenses of possessing and distributing child pornography pursuant to case number 20-CR-2017. Dawson has also been convicted of robbery in the second degree in Jefferson Circuit Court pursuant to case number 22-CR-2095.
On Thursday March 5, 2026, Dawson was found guilty of all nine counts he was charged with at the conclusion of a weeklong jury trial in Louisville, Kentucky. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 11, 2026.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “It is hard to quantify the depravity it takes for a man to film himself engaging in sex acts with a four-year-old child. It truly demonstrates that evil is among us. My heart goes out to this innocent little girl and her family. I want to commend the prosecutors and law enforcement officers that diligently worked to ensure this monster was convicted and removed from Louisville for decades.”
Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson stated, “A jury of his peers confirmed what the FBI and our investigative partners already know to be true. Quinnton Dawson is a multiple time sex offender who not only committed horrific offenses against a young, innocent girl, but then sought to profit off of her exploitation. This guilty verdict will ensure Dawson is where he belongs—behind bars with zero access to vulnerable children.”
Chief Paul L. Humphrey stated, “Crimes involving the exploitation of children are among the most disturbing cases we investigate. We appreciate the hard work of the detectives who tirelessly built the case against this dangerous offender. This conviction shows what is possible when local and federal partners work together. We will continue pursuing child predators and doing everything we can to keep them behind bars for as long as possible.”
Dawson faces a minimum sentence of 35 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 340 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the LMPD.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danielle M. Yannelli and Stephanie Zimdahl prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Carissa Moss.
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.”
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Local Businessman Charged with Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former manager of a Lowell, Mass. temporary employment agency has been arrested and charged with tax crimes that deprived the U.S. Treasury of approximately $980,000 in revenue.
Siharath Panyanouvong, 56, of Dunstable, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of a false tax return. Panyanouvong was arrested today and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, Panyanouvong was the manager of Viscosity Inc. It is alleged that, between approximately 2017 and 2019, Panyanouvong deliberately failed to report more than $3.5 million of Viscosity’s gross receipts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As a result, Viscosity allegedly avoided paying more than $980,000 in federal income taxes.
The indictment alleges that Panyanouvong, often using the alias “Mike Pan,” cashed more than $4.5 million in customer checks. Panyanouvong allegedly used a substantial portion of the cash to operate an off-the-books cash payroll for Viscosity employees and to pay himself.
The charge of aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of $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 Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Jury Finds Castle Rock Man Guilty of Fraud, Money Laundering Charges for $2.4 Million COVID-Era Hand Sanitizer SchemeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney for the District of Colorado announces that a federal jury convicted Rico Tomas Garcia, 51, of Castle Rock, of nine counts of wire fraud and six counts of money laundering for devising a scheme in which he falsely promised to procure bulk quantities of hand sanitizer during the early months of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
According to the facts established at trial, beginning around April 2020 and continuing until June 2021, Garcia, doing business as Botani Labs, LLC., claimed he would source millions of bottles hand sanitizer as part of a multi-million-dollar deal to supply the product upstream to large national retailers. After receiving a $2.4 million deposit from victim businesses to finance the product, Garcia instead procured none and falsely claimed under oath in civil arbitration that he had wired the deposit to a Chinese hand sanitizer manufacturer. He provided false documents to support his claim. Investigation by the FBI revealed that Garcia established shell companies to use the $2.4 million deposit to pay off personal debts and buy property in California, Nevada, and Colorado, and also move over a million dollars of the remaining money into offshore accounts in the Caribbean.
United States District Judge Nina Y. Wang presided over the trial.
The FBI Denver Field Office handled the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Albert Buchman, Bryan Fields, Laura Hurd, and Aly Mance handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 1:24-cr-00106-NYW
Jurors Convict Former Missouri Police Officer of Civil Rights Violation, Other ChargesRead the Press Release
A jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Wednesday convicted a former Northwoods, Missouri police officer of charges related to the assault of a handcuffed man in 2023.
Jurors found Samuel Davis, 28, guilty of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, one count of witness tampering by way of misleading conduct for making a misleading statement to a police dispatcher and one count of falsifying records in a federal investigation for turning off his body-worn camera. He was found not guilty of one count of conspiracy.
Jurors acquitted another former officer, Michael Hill, 54, of all charges.
“Law enforcement officers are given immense public trust because of the gravity of the work they do to keep communities safe,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The defendant violated that trust when he took matters into his own hands and savagely beat the victim rather than processing him for the alleged theft. The jury’s verdict makes clear that these violations of trust will not be tolerated.”
Evidence and testimony at the trial, which began March 2, showed that Northwoods police were called to a Walgreens store on the evening of July 4, 2023, about a shoplifter, C.G. C.G. had shoplifted from the store before and was known to Davis. Davis handcuffed C.G., who was compliant and cooperative, and then placed him in Davis’ police vehicle. Instead of taking him to jail, Davis drove him to an empty field in a desolate area of Kinloch. C.G. testified during the trial that Davis pepper-sprayed him, beat him with a baton while he was still handcuffed, breaking his jaw, and then tased him. A passerby interrupted the attack, causing Davis to flee, evidence and testimony showed. She returned and found C.G., bloodied and crying out for help. C.G. told responding St. Louis County Police Department officers and medical personnel that he had been beaten by a Northwoods officer. Medical records documented the broken jaw. Davis’ TASER records indicated that it had been used around the time of the attack.
Davis did not file a report about the arrest of C.G., the trip to Kinloch or any use of force. He also turned off his body-worn camera.
Davis faces up to 10 years in prison for the deprivation of rights under color of law charge and 20 years in prison for the other charges.
The FBI and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug of the Eastern District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Jamestown woman arrested, charged with possession of methamphetamineRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Taylor Hernandez, 31, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt I. Kass, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on January 15, 2026, members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force executed a search warrant of Hernandez’s person and her Falconer Street residence, seizing approximately 181 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 23.5 grams of suspected fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and $4,165.00 in cash.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Acting Chief Scott Forster, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division.
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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Jamaican illegal alien who volunteered as local teacher, youth minister sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for child pornography crimesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – An illegal alien from Jamaica who volunteered as a teacher and youth minister in Worthington was sentenced in federal court here today to 160 months in prison for distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography.
Andrew Brown, 51, of Columbus, possessed a total of 15 terabytes of child sexual abuse material across multiple devices. Brown’s IP address was flagged by the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) as the most active IP address in the state of Ohio using peer-to-peer software to download child pornography.
“This defendant, who overstayed his visa in the United States, was such a prolific perpetrator that when agents arrived at his apartment to execute a search warrant, he was at his computer actively downloading and exchanging images and videos of children being sexually abused, including child pornography depicting infants and toddlers,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Adding to the alarm, Brown placed himself in a position of trust with children as a religion teacher and youth minister. Our children undoubtedly are safer with Brown serving this significant term of imprisonment.”
Further investigation revealed that Brown was using the computer where he volunteered at Worthington Adventist Academy and Worthington Seventh-Day Adventist Church to download child pornography when not at home. In fact, the IP address for the church and school was flagged as the third most active IP address in Ohio downloading child pornography.
Between October 2023 and April 2024, Brown possessed more than 40,000 files of minors engaged in sex acts.
Brown was charged by a bill of information and pleaded guilty in March 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office’s ICAC Task Force; Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley; and Ohio ICAC Task Force Commander David Frattare announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
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Independence Man Charged After 24 Kilograms of Methamphetamine and Multiple Firearms Seized from ResidenceRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man has been charged by criminal complaint for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Marceil Wortham, 38, appeared in federal court on the two-count complaint earlier today.
According to court documents, on March 10, 2026, law enforcement served a federal search warrant at Wortham’s residence and seized 24 kilograms of methamphetamine. Investigators also seized seven firearms, four of them with no make, model, or serial number listed on the weapons.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Siegele. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Jackson County Drug Task Force, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Independence Police Department, and Kansas City Mo Police Department.
Homeland Security Task Force
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 72 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- DeAndre Johnson, 42 years old, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Johnson was sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, between October 2023, and March 2024, Johnson conspired with his co-defendant, Fernando Porras, Jr., and others to distribute controlled substances on six occasions. Porras was previously sentenced to 96 months incarceration.
“The Defendant has forfeited the next six years of his life for agreeing to peddle this poison in our communities, and it is through the cooperative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lake County Combined Task Force - Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) that the Defendant was caught, prosecuted, and sentenced,” said Mildred.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lake County Combined Task Force - Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Toth.
Illegal alien with prior sexual assault conviction sentenced to federal prison for returning to the United States a sixth timeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 42-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the United States again, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Jose Mario Cervantes-Luna pleaded guilty Dec. 10, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Cervantes-Luna to serve 24 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In imposing the sentence, the court noted Cervantes-Luna's repeated removals, significant criminal history, and the danger he posed to the community given his previous sexual offense conviction.
Cervantes-Luna has prior convictions for illegal reentry and sexual assault of a minor under 14 years of age.
Authorities previously removed him from the United States in 2004, 2011 and three times in 2012. On Dec. 17, 2020, law enforcement discovered him once again in the United States with no authorization to be in the country.
Cervantes-Luna has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Alum and Benjamin Hostetter prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal alien pleads guilty to firearm possession as a part of Operation Take Back AmericaRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, MS – A Mexican national, illegally in the United States, pled guilty to the illegal possession of firearms in front of United States District Court Chief Judge Debra M. Brown. Sentencing will be held at a later date at which the defendant faces a statutory maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison.
According to court documents, Daniel Mireles-Reyna was arrested on December 26, 2025, on the Natchez Trace Parkway near Tupelo, Mississippi. Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement Rangers with the National Park Service discovered that Mireles-Reyna had a loaded stolen handgun in his pocket. Rangers also located two other firearms including a Glock handgun and a Draco 7.62 firearm in the defendant’s car. Information provided during the defendant’s guilty plea also noted that Rangers located ammunition for these firearms and suspected narcotics.
During the investigation into the defendant, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) learned that Mireles-Reyna was not a citizen of the United States and was illegally and unlawfully present in the United States following his illegal entry from Mexico.
Scott Leary, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, reiterated that “Beginning in 2020, our borders were opened and drugs and undocumented aliens poured into our country. Crime rates rose as drug prices dropped. To combat this reality, Operation Take Back America was initiated to protect communities from the rise of violent crime and cheap narcotics and to combat transnational criminal organizations that have so decimated our communities. As part of this initiative, federal law enforcement has worked tirelessly to stop illegal immigration. The right to possess firearms does not extend to those who enter our country illegally. Rangers with the National Park Service did an outstanding job seizing deadly firearms from an illegal alien in our district. Our law enforcement officers place themselves in harm’s way every day protecting the people of our State, I applaud them. We thank the Rangers of the National Park Service and HSI for their diligent work on this case.”
“This case demonstrates the importance of vital partnerships among federal law enforcement agencies,” stated Matt Wright, acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI. “HSI remains firmly committed to protecting public safety, and we are proud to have worked with the Rangers of the National Park Service to bring Mireles-Reyna to justice for his federal firearms violations.”
The law enforcement Rangers of the National Park Service and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Herzog Jr. 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.
Illegal Alien from Mexico Indicted After Agents Seized Large Quantities of Narcotics, Including 22 Pounds of Fentanyl PowderRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment against an alleged drug trafficker, living in the United States illegally, for multiple drug crimes after agents seized large quantities of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine from defendant’s residence.
FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task ForceRuben Flores Enriquez, 28, of Mexico, illegally residing in West Valley City, Utah, was initially charged by complaint on February 2, 2026.
According to the allegations in court documents, beginning in February 2026, the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF), initiated a criminal investigation into Enriquez and other members of a drug trafficking organization believed to be distributing large quantities of narcotics in the District of Utah. On February 23, 2026, a search warrant was executed on Enriquez’s residence in West Valley City. During the search, agents located and seized approximately 1,466 grams of blue counterfeit pills which field-tested positive for fentanyl; 9,811 grams of a powder-like substance, which tested positive for fentanyl; 1,373 grams of field-tested positive methamphetamine; and 679 grams of field-tested heroin. Enriquez was arrested.
FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task ForceEnriquez is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for March 16, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF). Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Assistant United States Attorney Seth A. Nielsen of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Attachments:
ruben_flores_enriquez.indictment.pdf ruben_flores_enriquez.complaint.pdf rubenfloresenriquez.dm_.pdfIllegal Alien Indicted for Possessing Firearms and Selling CocaineRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – An El Salvadoran national illegally living in Tulsa was indicted for possessing firearms and ammunition unlawfully and distributing drugs in the Northern District of Oklahoma.
Geovanny Alexander Pineda-Cubias, 25, is charged with being an Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; and Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crimes.
Agents began investigating Pineda-Cubias after he made several posts on social media showing that he was selling drugs, possessed firearms, and was selling a firearm and a machine gun conversion device, known as a “Glock switch.” While investigating Pineda-Cubias, agents discovered that he is unlawfully inside the United States, has been removed, and is not legally allowed to possess a firearm.
Pineda-Cubias was the passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over during a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, law enforcement found two firearms, cocaine, and cash in the vehicle. Agents then obtained a search warrant for his home and recovered more than 300 rounds of ammunition, cocaine, and drug distribution paraphernalia.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher 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.