Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
11 March 2026
Prior Felon Pleads Guilty to Selling Adulterated Animal DrugsRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Scott Robinson, 51, of Pace, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of Drug Adulteration. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Complying with federal laws that are in place to ensure the safety of regulated medications is not optional. This defendant knowingly flouted those requirements for several years, but thanks to the excellent investigative work of our federal law enforcement partners, his scheme has been dismantled.”
Court documents reflect that from 2022 to 2025, the defendant, via his website, advertised and sold the animal drug toltrazuril to customers across the United States. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, toltrazuril is deemed an adulterated new animal drug, which is subject to specific requirements for its production, labeling, and sale. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted multiple purchases of items labeled and advertised as toltrazuril from the defendant’s website. Those items were tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and confirmed to contain toltrazuril. The defendant never complied with FDA regulations regarding his production, labeling, and sale of toltrazuril.
Robinson faces up to one year imprisonment on each count, followed by a term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
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.
Panama City Meth Trafficker Receives 17 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Calvin Eugene Williams, 35, of Panama City, Florida, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to two separate methamphetamine charges. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “For years, this drug dealer flooded our streets with poison, plaguing our communities with addiction, blight, and despair. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America as a promise to our citizens that the Department of Justice will not stand idly by while criminals like this defendant terrorize our communities, and that we will root out and eliminate those criminal threats wherever they exist. This successful prosecution and substantial prison sentence delivers on that promise, but we won’t stop this fight until our streets are safe and drug-free.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant was arrested on April 19, 2024, by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office after being stopped with six-ounces of methamphetamine and approximately 95 pressed-pills containing fentanyl. The defendant subsequently bonded out of jail and was stopped on March 11, 2025, by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) on I-10. During the traffic stop, FHP troopers developed probable cause to search the vehicle and found a firearm and approximately 10 pounds (4450.1 grams) of 97% pure methamphetamine hydrochloride. The defendant had two cellphones which contained evidence of his drug-trafficking.
“This seizure absolutely will save lives,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “Our agents and law enforcement partners prevented poison from reaching our North Florida neighborhoods.”
“Drug traffickers who bring poison like methamphetamine and fentanyl into our community need to understand something clearly: we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will work tirelessly with our state and federal partners to make sure you face the consequences,” said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford. “This 17-year sentence sends a strong message, if you threaten the safety of the citizens of Bay County, you will be held accountable. Our deputies will continue to pursue those who profit from addiction and destruction, and we will not stop until our community is safer.”
Williams was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison. When Williams is released, he will be on supervised release for a period of 12 years.
The case involved an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
North Providence Man Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A North Providence man was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for production of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
Larry W. Albino, 52, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to 25 years of imprisonment to be followed by lifetime supervised release, sex offender registry and $3,000 restitution to victim. Albino previously pleaded guilty on November 4, 2025 to one count of production of child pornography.
“The depravity of the defendant’s actions cannot be overstated, and the victimization of children represents some of the most disturbing conduct our office prosecutes,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “We will continue to use every available resource, alongside our law enforcement partners, to identify, investigate, and hold those responsible fully accountable.”
“Albino earned each and every year of this significant sentence. He not only assaulted a child, but he also immortalized that abuse in the ultimate betrayal of an innocent life. This sentence cannot undo the harm he has done, but it does take him off the streets and away from children,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “This joint investigation was made possible through the close partnership with our colleagues at the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. We are working tirelessly, leveraging our combined expertise to hunt down predators like Albino and seek justice for their victims.”
According to information presented to the court, on September 16, 2024, a Rhode Island State Police Detective assigned to the ICAC Task Force received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an IP address, later determined to belong to Albino’s residence, was used to upload ten files depicting the abuse of a pre-pubescent child. Further investigation revealed that that the location where the videos were recorded matched images of rooms recently displayed in an online property rental listing where Albino resides.
As detailed in court documents, on September 17, 2024, members of the ICAC Task Force executed a court-authorized search of Albino’s residence and immediately recognized that some of the furnishings of rooms inside Albino’s residence matched those depicted in the videos of child sexual abuse. Additionally, sandals worn by the defendant at the time officers arrived matched those worn by the abuser in some of the videos.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams.
The matter was jointly investigated by the Rhode Island State Police ICAC Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations.
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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
New Orleans Woman Guilty of False Statements to the IRS and Cares Act FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – MYIESHA ROBERTSON (“ROBERTSON”), age 35, of New Orleans, LA, pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026 before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to a three-count Bill of Information that charged her with making false statements to the IRS on behalf of a client, and in her own tax filings, and false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, ROBERTSON admitted, in Count 1, making false statements to the IRS in 2022 when she falsely claimed credits for a tax customer, resulting in a refund to which the customer was not entitled in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1). As to Count 2, ROBERTSON admitted her failure to report the correct amount of her own taxable income of approximately $116,000 for 2022 in her 1040 IRS tax form in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2). Finally, as to Count 3, ROBERTSON made false statements to the SBA in order to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related, federal government funded, relief loans of approximately $60,900, including PPP funds in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001.
Sentencing will be on June 10, 2026. As to Counts 1 and 2, ROBERTSON faces up to three years in prison, up to $100,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for the false statements to the IRS. As to Count 3, she faces up to five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for the false statements count. There is also a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count due after conviction.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera is in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
New Orleans Woman Guilty of Aiding Preparation of False Tax Return, Aiding in Making False Statements to Small Business Administration and Making False Statements to Small Business AdministrationRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – ASHLEY COOPER (“COOPER”), age 41 of New Orleans, LA, pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026 before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to a three-count Bill of Information that charged her with aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, aiding and abetting in making false statements to the Small Business Administration, and making false statements to the Small Business Administration related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, as to Count 1, COOPER admitted that she aided and assisted with the preparation of a false tax return on behalf of a client by claiming false fuel tax credits in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1). This false tax return resulted in a fraudulently obtained refund from the IRS for the 2022 tax year. As to Count 2, COOPER admitted that she also aided and abetted a person in filing a false Paycheck Protection Program loan through the CARES Act, resulting in a fraudulently obtained loan of approximately $20,832.00 in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 and 2. Finally, as to with regard to Count 3, COOPER made false statements to the SBA to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related relief loans funded by the federal government, including PPP funds, for which she received approximately $19,790.00, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001.
Sentencing will be on June 10, 2026. For Count 1, COOPER faces up to three years in prison, up to $100,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release, for her false statements to the IRS. For Counts 2 and 3, she faces up to five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for her false statements. There is also a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, per count, due after conviction.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera is in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Drug-Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –ROBERT POLK (“POLK”), age 23, was indicted on February 6, 2026, for two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a) and (b)(1)(C); two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i); two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8); and one count of possession of a stolen firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(j) and 924(a)(2), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the indictment, on May 20, 2024 and December 30, 2025, POLK possessed tapentadol with the intent to distribute same and possessed firearms in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, including a firearm that POLK knew was stolen. POLK is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions in Arkansas for aggravated assault on a family or household member, and terroristic threatening in the first degree.
As to each of the drug-trafficking counts, POLK faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to each of the counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, POLK faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to each other and any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to each of the charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, POLK faces up to 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to the charge of possessing a stolen firearm, POLK faces up to 10 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each of the seven 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.
New Haven Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUIS SALAMAN, also known as “Bebe,” 44, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 168 months of imprisonment and eight years of supervised release for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2021, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force learned that Salaman was distributing large quantities of narcotics throughout New Haven. Between November 2021 and March 2022, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl from Salaman, his associate Jesus Seguinot, and their associates.
Salaman has been detained since his arrest on April 5, 2022. On December 19, 2024, a jury found Salaman and Seguinot guilty of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and Salaman guilty of three counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
The government learned that while Salaman was detained, and during the trial itself, he worked with others to make several threatening social media posts to intimidate individuals who were cooperating with the government and testifying at his trial.
Salaman’s criminal history includes convictions for reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, assault and firearms offenses, and criminal contempt.
On July 30, 2025, Seguinot was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment.
This investigation was conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, including members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
Nacogdoches County felon sentenced to federal prison for firearms violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas –A Nacogdoches convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
William Charles Fincher, 42, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on March 10, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in July 2024, local law enforcement was dispatched to Fincher’s Nacogdoches residence in response to a domestic disturbance. During the response, it was discovered there were multiple firearms at the residence. Further investigation revealed Fincher is a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Nacogdoches Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.
##
Muskegon Man Involved in Shooting Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, today announced that United States District Judge Jane M. Beckering sentenced Malik Jones-Smith (30, Muskegon, Michigan) to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for his supervised release violation associated with the new conviction. A jury previously found Jones-Smith guilty of the offense on November 13, 2025, following a three-day trial.
In the early morning of December 28, 2024, following a shooting in Muskegon Heights, Jones-Smith and another individual drove away from a Muskegon police officer in a van and then fled on foot. Near the van, police found a stolen pistol loaded with a round partially fed in the chamber and one additional round in the magazine. A search of Jones-Smith’s cell phone showed that he uploaded a video on Snapchat less than 10 hours before with the same firearm:
The search of his phone also showed that Jones-Smith and his passenger in the van were involved in the Muskegon Heights shooting. At the time of the offense, Jones-Smith was on federal supervised release for a prior conviction of distributing fentanyl. Jones-Smith was released from federal custody only 16 days before he possessed the firearm.
Other evidence found from a search of his Snapchat account and phone show videos of Jones-Smith possessing other firearms before this shooting, including on October 30, 2024, while still in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) at a halfway house, and on December 14, 2024, three days after he began federal supervised release.
United States Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “Jones-Smith got into a shootout a little more than two weeks after being released from prison for his last felony, and after promising to be a law-abiding citizen if he got released into the community. He deserved to get the maximum possible sentence for this conduct, and that is exactly what he got. My office will not tolerate gun violence, especially by convicted felons.”
“Working daily to put an end to gun violence in the Muskegon area is the top priority of our agency. This sentencing demonstrates our collective commitment to using all available resources to remove dangerous offenders from the streets and improve public safety in our community.” said Muskegon Police Chief Tim Kozal.
“Violent offenders who choose to carry and use firearms do not just destroy communities, they destroy their own futures by putting themselves on a path that leads straight to prison,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Malik Jones-Smith can no longer threaten our neighborhoods thanks to the strong collaboration of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners. Together, FBI Detroit will continue to do our part to crush violent crime by stopping offenders who attempt to terrorize our communities.”
The Muskegon Police Department - Muskegon Major Case Initiative, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vito S. Solitro and Clay Stiffler prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Missouri Sex Offender Admits Producing AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A sex offender from Farmington, Missouri on Tuesday admitted failing to register the social media accounts that he used to promote AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
Joel Kerbrat, 70, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of failing to update his registration as a sex offender. Kerbrat was convicted of possession of child pornography in a 2010 case. After his release from prison, he was placed on supervised release for life and required to register as a sex offender. Registration includes a requirement to also register “internet identifiers,” including any social media accounts.
On July 18, 2024, Kerbrat’s federal probation officer visited him at his home in Farmington. The officer spotted a laptop and cell phone in plain view. The officer found a program to generate AI images on the laptop, as well as a profile for an AI-generated teenage girl. Kerbrat admitted that he had used the AI program to create images depicting child pornography. A forensic examination of the devices revealed that Kerbrat had an unregistered account on Discord, another on LiveChat and an unregistered email address.
Kerbrat was a member of a Discord group where members discussed and promoted the production of AI-generated pornographic images. Kerbrat also utilized a website, which he visited hundreds of times, to create AI images of child pornography. One of the website pages he visited was titled “build a preteen.”
Kerbrat admitted as part of his plea agreement that he utilized the AI program to create 52 images containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving depictions of prepubescent girls, 251 images of “potential CSAM” involving depictions of teenage girls, hundreds of images depicting nude children and thousands of depictions of adult pornography.
Kerbrat is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15 for the current offense and for violating his supervised release. The failure to register charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
The U.S. Probation Office of the Eastern District of Missouri investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Michigan Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Michigan man has been sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release with special conditions for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after purchasing nearly 2,500 stolen login credentials from a malicious dark web marketplace and using them to make fraudulent financial transactions and offering some for sale on other cybercriminal internet sites, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
According to court documents, from approximately February 2020 to November 2020, Andrew Shenkosky, 30, devised and executed a scheme while residing in Minnesota to defraud and obtain money through false pretenses. Shenkosky accomplished his scheme by purchasing and accessing stolen account information from the Genesis Market, an illicit online marketplace that was ultimately taken down by the FBI in or about April 2023. Genesis Market compiled hundreds of thousands of stolen login credentials, including cell phone numbers, account numbers, email addresses, usernames, and passwords from malware-infected computers of victims across the world, and offered that stolen information for sale on the dark web.
According to court documents, Shenkosky purchased an account on Genesis Market using a cryptocurrency Coinbase account he fraudulently created in the name of one of his victims, using the victim’s driver’s license. In furtherance of his scheme, Shenkosky purchased 2,468 stolen credentials of various victims on Genesis Market. Shenkosky then used the stolen data to, among other things, make an unauthorized withdrawal from one victim’s bank account without their knowledge or authorization and transferred the funds to a PayPal account under his control. He also attempted to withdraw money from other victims’ accounts, but the transfers were reversed. Shenkosky also offered and attempted to sell one victim’s stolen account data and personal information on a now-defunct cybercriminal forum named Raid Forums.
When imposing the sentence, Judge Joan N. Ericksen noted that financial fraud crimes “go[] beyond actual financial loss” and impact victims’ “core insecurity that affects the way people live their lives.”
“Darknet marketplaces are a borderless powerhouse of criminal activity, allowing criminals like Shenkosky to steal money from unsuspecting victims and laundering the proceeds of their illegal activity,” said Chris Dotson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “Make no mistake, this significant sentence reflects the commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to dismantle networks operating with criminal intent, and sends a clear and unambiguous message that we will continue to evolve in the ways we ‘follow the money’ of illegal enterprise, employing all the tools and techniques at our disposal and drawing on our strong partnerships at home and around the globe.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Cybercrime Unit and the FBI Minneapolis and Detroit Field Offices.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar prosecuted the case.
Miami Man Pleads Guilty to Importing Synthetic Cathinones from ChinaRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Miami man pleaded guilty today to drug-trafficking offenses related to the importation of N-Isopropyl Butylone, a Schedule I drug and synthetic cathinone, from China into the U.S. for distribution in South Florida.
According to court documents, Terrell Jermaine Williams, 40, conspired with a China-based drug distributor to import controlled substances into the U.S. for distribution in Miami. The conspiracy began in or around 2022 and continued through 2025.
“This defendant worked with a supplier overseas to bring a dangerous synthetic drug into South Florida and profit from its distribution,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Synthetic cathinones—often referred to on the street as ‘bath salts’ or ‘flakka’—are powerful and unpredictable stimulants that pose a serious threat to public safety. Our Office will continue working with the Homeland Security Task Force and our federal, local, and international partners to stop these trafficking pipelines and prevent dangerous narcotics from reaching our communities.”
To facilitate the scheme, Williams communicated with the Chinese distributor through a mobile-based messaging platform. In a message dated Nov. 3, 2023, the distributor encouraged Williams to stock up on the substance before it was banned so he could charge higher prices when it became unavailable to others.
In another conversation in April 2024, the distributor warned Williams, “its election year there , they check more frequently than before, you know firearms and drugs from china.”
The distributor also sent Williams photographs of the controlled substances through the messaging platform.
Information developed during the investigation was shared with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Guangzhou in China. HSI Guangzhou coordinated with Chinese law enforcement authorities, who initiated a parallel investigation. In September 2025, China’s Anti-Smuggling Bureau (ASB) and other regulatory agencies seized approximately 700 kilograms of N-Isopropyl Butylone believed to be destined for the U.S.
At the time of the seizure, N-Isopropyl Butylone was not yet a regulated substance in China. Following the seizure, Chinese authorities determined that the substance had no legitimate use and subsequently placed it under regulatory control, restricting its manufacture.
Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import N-Isopropyl Butylone into the U.S. and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute N-Isopropyl Butylone. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of HSI Miami, and Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, made the announcement.
HSI Miami, HSI Guangzhou, USPIS, and the Homestead Police Department are investigating the case. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and City of Miami Police Department provided invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero is prosecuting the case.
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 Miami comprises agents and officers from HSI Miami, HSI Guangzhou, CBP, USPIS, the Homestead Police Department, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and City of Miami Police Department, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20471.
###
Mexican National Sentenced to 12 Months and 1 Day in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Jose Fuentes-Garcia, 53 years old, a felon from Mexico who had been previously removed from the United States in July of 1998, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty. The Defendant had pled guilty to felony Reentry of Removed Alien, after a thorough investigation by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
“The Defendant was previously convicted of two counts of attempted sexual abuse in Oregon and had been removed from our country thereafter. That is, the system worked. The Defendant did not think the rules applied to him, however, and he further violated our nation’s laws by illegally crossing our sovereign borders. He has been breaking our nation’s laws every single day since his illegal reentry. Thankfully, due to the solid investigation performed by Homeland Security, he was found, caught, and prosecuted. He will be returned home to Mexico after serving the balance of his time in prison. It should be clear that he is not welcome here as a result of his crimes,” Mildred said.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerome W. McKeever.
Man Sentenced to 5 Years’ imprisonment for Covid-19 FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a scheme that resulted in a $148,000 fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Jason Roath, 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 60 months’ imprisonment based upon his guilty plea to theft of government money relating to a scheme to fraudulently obtain and spend a COVID loan guaranteed by the SBA under the CARES Act.
According to court documents, a fraudulent application for an EIDL was submitted using the name and identifiers of a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer. All information on the loan application was false – the name, address, business, number of employees, and revenue. The application directed the loan to be deposited in Roath’s bank account.
On Aug. 5, 2020, the $148,000 loan was deposited into Roath’s account. That same day, Roath withdrew $500 in cash from an ATM and transferred $2,500 to his debit cards. Two days later, on Aug. 7, 2020, Roath used the EIDL proceeds to rent a room and gamble at the Ameristar Casino. He also bought fast food, paid past due utility bills, and put money on debit cards. On Aug. 9, 2020, Roath’s bank froze the account due to his spending being inconsistent with business spending.
Roath had 6 prior felony convictions and 17 prior misdemeanor convictions for theft, bad checks, and forgery dating back to 1994.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by Naval Criminal Investigation Service and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.
Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – A former Mexico, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for using a 9-year-old victim to produce child pornography.
Emrah Eymez, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough to 300 months and a lifetime of supervised release based upon his guilty plea to attempted production of child pornography where he used a child under the age of 12 to produce child pornography from March 11 through April 2, 2024.
According to court documents, the mother of the 9-year-old victim contacted law enforcement to report the extensive cell phone communication between Eymez and her daughter. The communication involved the exchange of nude images and a sexually explicit video the child sent to Eymez.
Eymez will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by The Boone County, Mo Sheriff’s Office.
Project Safe Childhood
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."
Lowell Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lowell man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Steven Estrada Ramirez, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to five years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In November 2025, Estrada pleaded guilty to receipt and possession of child pornography Estrada was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024.
Estrada was identified as a participant in multiple groups on a mobile chat application in which the primary purpose of the groups was for users to share and view CSAM. At the time of his arrest, Estrada was found to be in possession of a USB drive containing over 700 video files depicting CSAM, including files depicting children who appeared to be approximately one to eight years old. Additionally, the home screen of Estrada’s cell phone depicted an image of CSAM and the phone contained over 5,000 images and videos depicting CSAM.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Las Cruces Man Sentenced for Possessing Stolen Handgun While Under Felony IndictmentRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man pleaded guilty after being caught carrying a loaded, stolen handgun outside a Las Cruces gas station while under indictment and on community supervision for a felony robbery in Texas.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on January 14, 2025, Stephen Gregory Smith, 24, was found in possession of a loaded handgun and ammunition outside a gas station in Las Cruces, New Mexico after officers responded to reports that he was harassing customers. During the encounter, Smith admitted he had the concealed firearm in his pocket. Investigators later determined the firearm had been reported stolen earlier that day from a nearby residence. At the time, Smith was under indictment and on community supervision in Texas for a felony robbery charge, which prohibited him from possessing firearms.
Smith pleaded guilty to illegal receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment. Upon his release from prison, Smith will be subject to two years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations El Paso investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State University Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Armijo is prosecuting the case.
Justice Department Assists with Global Operation Targeting Environmental Crime and Waste TraffickingRead the Press Release
Note, the press release has been updated to include a disclaimer in the penultimate paragraph.
The Justice Department announced a recently concluded large-scale international operation targeting organized crime networks involved in waste and pollution crime. The global operation code-named Custos Viridis, took place between January and December 2025 on five continents, and was led by Europol working alongside partners from 71 countries and international organizations including the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is the largest-ever global law enforcement operation focusing exclusively on pollution and waste crime.
The aim was to significantly disrupt criminal networks engaged in environmental crime, waste trafficking, pollution, money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption. The enforcement actions helped protect society and the environment from serious risks. Starting with an intelligence phase between January to June 2025, the operation’s operational phase took place from July to December 2025.
The United States. focused on securing the southern border by targeting individuals and organized crime that sought to smuggle hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a type of fluorinated gas (FGas), and dangerous illegal pesticides into the country. The government’s efforts also combatted the sale and use of these illegal pesticides and illicit marijuana grows across the country. Collaboration with international and domestic partners significantly increased the effectiveness of this operation.
Large Amounts of Harmful Substances Seized
In the United States, investigations led to:
- 21 arrests;
- Total sentences of defendants to more than 21 months in prison and 155 months of probation
- Total sentences of defendants to pay more than $4.2 million in restitution and more than $2.2 million in forfeitures;
- 1484 pounds of FGas seized;
- 40 pounds and 6 gallons of illegal pesticides seized.
Globally, investigators conducted 1,048 inspections during the operation, leading to the arrest of 337 individuals. In total, the seizures include:
- 127,149 tons of waste;
- 602 tons of polluting agents, including 398 tons of FGas;
- 75 tons of plant protection products;
- 2.3 tons of mercury;
- Over $10 million in cash and bank accounts; and
- Key evidence, 130 vehicles, heavy machinery, firearms, apartments, and companies.
Investigators estimate that the commercial value of the illicit FGas trade alone ranged from $17 million to $23 million, depending on the final destination of the illicit goods. The seized waste types, which could generate illicit profits of at least $36 million, included various types of hazardous waste, end-of-life vehicles, scrap metal, plastics, used solar panels, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), tires, and textile waste.
Organized Crime Networks Identified
Several organized crime networks were identified as responsible for trafficking illicit waste within Europe and exporting waste to Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Among other offenses, these networks were also found to be involved in the illicit marketing of FGas, the illegal trade of plant protection products, and illicit gold mining activities using hazardous chemicals like mercury and cyanide.
New Trends and Phenomena
Operation Custos Viridis highlighted the global and flexible nature of environmental crime networks which show little regard for the environment and society.
The illegal trafficking and dumping of hazardous waste and polluting substances have severe environmental consequences, including long-term pollution of soil and water. Seizures of mercury highlight the link between environmental crime and illegal gold mining activities, with remediation costs potentially exceeding dozens of millions of dollars.
Custos Viridis Steering Group:
- The Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division was on the steering committee and helped design and plan the operation.
- Besides the United States, other countries on the steering committee were: Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Custos Viridis Participants:
- Countries: Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Colombia, Congo (Democratic Republic), Costa Rica, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Fiji, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine*, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.
*This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue. - Organizations and entities: AmbienDura – Waste Force Project, Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, CARICOM, CIVIPOL, EFCA, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), EL PAcCTO (Europe Latin America Program of Assistance against Transnational Organized Crime), Enforce, EnviCrimeNet, Eurojust, Frontex, GI-TOC, IMPEL, NGO Shipbreaking Platform, OzonAction, Wolfsberg Group, World Resources Institute.
Jury Finds Prior Felon Guilty of Aggravated Assault and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Derrick Gladden, 55, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for shooting Christopher Seward during a dispute in April 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Gladden was found guilty by a jury of one count each of aggravated assault while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. Superior Court Judge Brandt Rainey scheduled sentencing for May 15, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence, on April 15, 2024, at approximately 2:15 p.m., the victim was standing on the first-floor patio of his friend’s apartment in the 2300 block of Marion Barry Avenue SE. Gladden, who lived in the apartment next door, saw the victim and confronted him about an ongoing dispute about money. He then pulled out a firearm and shot the victim in the chest one time. The victim suffered grievous injury and almost died. However, thanks to the Whole Blood Program, which had been launched that month, the victim received a blood transfusion on the ambulance and survived. Unfortunately, in April 2025, before having a chance to testify, Seward died of cancer.
After learning the identity of the shooter from the victim, police obtained an emergency search warrant for the defendant’s residence and located ammunition that matched a casing found near the location of the shooting, along with firearms accessories and a holster. Additionally, a neighbor provided Ring cam footage showing the defendant fleeing from the front door of his apartment after the shooting.
Gladden was arrested on July 4, 2024, and has been in custody since. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eliot Folsom and Natalie Anderson.
2024 CF3 006550
Jury Convicts Man from Coggon of Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
A man who received and possessed child pornography was convicted by a jury today, after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Matthew Jason Manos, age 42, from Coggon, Iowa, was convicted of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography, including a depiction of a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age. The verdict was returned this afternoon following about two and a half hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that in February 2023, law enforcement officers searched Manos’s residence in Coggon and took his cell phone. Between December 2022 and February 2023, Manos had downloaded images of child pornography. He viewed the images on his cell phone multiple times. Manos then moved to Illinois, where he was arrested in August 2023. During his arrest, law enforcement officers took his new cell phone. Evidence showed that Manos had used that new phone to access child pornography. Manos was previously convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child, lascivious acts with a child, lascivious conduct with a child, dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors, and indecent exposure.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Manos remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Manos faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T. Hake and Ashley Corkery and was investigated by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office and the Cedar Rapids Police Department, with assistance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-14.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Jurors Convict Former Missouri Police Officer of Civil Rights Violation, Other ChargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – 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.
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 man pleads guilty to multiple sex trafficking charges and drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Zaid Mendoza a/k/a Diamond, 47, of Jamestown and Falconer, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to narcotics conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more methamphetamine, and heroin, and three counts of sex trafficking by force. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between 2020, and December 2022, Mendoza was a manager and supervisor of a drug trafficking organization, utilizing drug runners, drivers, and associates to sell his drugs and collect his debts. During the conspiracy, Mendoza bought and sold fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin for profit. He used his West Main Street residence to manufacture, distribute, and use the drugs. On October 6, 2022, law enforcement stopped a vehicle Mendoza was a passenger in and recovered methamphetamine from the driver and approximately 25 grams of fentanyl on Mendoza.
On December 7, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at Mendoza’s residence, recovering cash, approximately 34 grams of fentanyl, approximately 14 grams of methamphetamine, and approximately a gram of a combination of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, a semi-automatic pistol, and a large capacity magazine.
In 2000, Mendoza met Victim 1 and pursued her for sexual activity. Victim 1, who was addicted to drugs, believed that if she had sex with Mendoza, he would give her heroin/fentanyl. Consequently, Victim 1 had sex with Mendoza in exchange for drugs on three occasions.
In the Spring of 2022, Mendoza met Victim 2 at a drug house in Jamestown. She was also a heavy drug user and knew that Mendoza was a drug dealer. In June 2022, Victim 2 met Mendoza at a motel in Jamestown. Victim 2’s understanding was that she would engage in sexual activity Mendoza and that he would give her drugs. This occurred on several other occasions in July 2022.
Between October and December 2022, Mendoza conspired with co-defendants to force Victim 3 and Victim 4 to engage in a commercial sex act. Both victims struggled with drug addictions. Victim 3 and Victim 4 were provided shelter at Mendoza’s residence as well as food, clothing, and daily quantities of fentanyl in exchange for their performance of commercial sex acts for money. The proceeds went to Mendoza. The co-conspirators utilized the website “Skipthegames.com” to find customers.
Charges are pending against co-defendant Kelvin Thomas. Cora Waddington was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Acting Chief Scott Forster, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2026, before Judge Sinatra.
# # # #
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 28 Months in Federal Prison for Threatening a Witness on FacebookRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Jesse Lee McKenzie (43, Jacksonville) to 28 months in federal prison for threatening to retaliate against a witness in a federal case. McKenzie pleaded guilty on October 28, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, an associate of McKenzie was indicted for distribution of methamphetamine, a federal offense. In July 2025, McKenzie made a post to his Facebook page in which he identified a witness in that drug trafficking case, both by name and by posting a photo of the witness. In the same post, McKenzie stated the witness was a “snitch” and threatened physical harm, including that McKenzie would “wire that snitch box up” in retaliation for the witness’s involvement in the drug trafficking case. McKenzie also solicited information about the witness’s whereabouts by stating he would “tip” in exchange for information about the witness’s location.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney.
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 Neighborhoods (PSN).
Illegal Alien from Venezuela Arrested and Charged after Assaulting a Federal Agent and Grabbing His Gun While Resisting ArrestRead the Press Release
DETROIT – An illegal alien from Venezuela was charged in a criminal complaint with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer and grabbing and possessing the officer’s firearm – all of which occurred while the illegal alien was resisting arrest, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Detroit and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit acting Field Office Director Kevin Raycraft.
Charged was Arnoldo Jose Marquez-Pulido, 33, an illegal alien from Venezuela who appeared at the US-Mexico border crossing in San Ysidro, California in April, 2024. Despite having no visa or other travel document that would allow him to lawfully enter the United States, Marquez-Pulido was paroled into the United States. Marquez-Pulido will be appearing in federal court in Detroit this afternoon for his initial appearance. The government will be seeking to hold Marquez-Pulido in custody during the pendency of his case.
As alleged in the criminal complaint, law enforcement officers assigned to the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), acting on information they received that illegal aliens were working as delivery drivers at a business in Utica, Michigan, began conducting surveillance in the area. Agents observed a car registered to Marquez-Pulido, who agents determined was in the United States illegally, depart the parking lot of the business and began following him. Agents activated their vehicle emergency equipment and attempted a traffic stop. Marquez-Pulido briefly stopped then fled in his car at a high rate of speed. To avoid a dangerous vehicle chase, agents deactivated their emergency equipment and continued to follow Marquez-Pulido. Marquez-Pulido returned to the business location where he fled on foot. After Marquez-Pulido ignored a Task Force agent’s commands to stop, the agent tackled Marquez-Pulido as he tried to flee into the business. Marquez-Pulido forcibly resisted arrest, assaulting the task force agent by striking the agent in the face with his elbow. Marquez-Pulido then reached for the agent’s service firearm, a Glock Model 19 pistol. Marquez-Pulido was able to remove the firearm from the agent’s holster and briefly wield it before he lost control of the gun when the agent flipped him over. Additional Task Force officers and agents arrived on scene and recovered and secured the firearm from the ground where it landed after it slipped from Marquez-Pulido’s possession. Marquez-Pulido continued to forcibly resist and had to be restrained.
During the commission of this offense, Marquez-Pulida caused the agent to suffer a contusion to his elbow, abrasions on his knees and hands, and a contusion to his right cheek. Another agent suffered a contusion to his knee. Both agents were treated at the hospital and released.
“Some say that enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is unfair because illegal aliens are all harmless. Today’s allegations break that narrative. High speed flight from arrest, fighting federal agents, and grabbing an agent’s gun are not ‘harmless.’ And what’s ‘unfair’ is the fact that Americans pay the price for dangerous illegal aliens,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
“Homeland Security Investigations remains committed to holding accountable those who threaten law enforcement and public safety,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “Attacks like this endanger not only our agents, but everyone in the vicinity. HSI Detroit will continue to respond decisively whenever our agents and partners are confronted with violence.”
“Every day ICE Detroit officers work closely with our federal partners to safeguard our communities and uphold the integrity of our nation’s immigration system,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit acting Field Office Director Kevin Raycraft. “At a time when ICE officers are facing a 1,300 percent increase in assaults, ERO Detroit will relentlessly target illegal aliens who resort to violence against our officers and work to ensure they are removed from our communities
A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent. As a felony trial cannot be held on a complaint, a decision to seek an indictment will be made in the near future.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
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 El Salvador Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the US After Prior RemovalsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Salvadoran national was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for entering the United States after prior removals.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Helmer Osmin Gutierrez, 43, to time served. Gutierrez had been incarcerated since October 18, 2025.
According to court records, in October 2025, an officer with the Farmington Police Department stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. A U.S. Border Patrol Agent responded to the scene in response to a call for assistance in identifying the four men in the vehicle. The responding agent was able to identify the four men, including Gutierrez. The agent conducted a field immigration inspection of the four men and determined that Gutierrez was a citizen of El Salvador and did not have any documentation to be in the U.S. legally. A review of immigration records confirmed Gutierrez had been removed from the country in May 2008, at Miami, Florida and in May 2010 at Chandler, Arizona.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case with assistance from the Farmington Police Department.
Operation Take Back America: 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.
Human smuggling ringleader sent to federal prisonRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 21-year-old Weslaco man has been ordered to prison for his role in conspiring to smuggle illegal aliens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Hugo Jimenez Jr. pleaded guilty Nov. 13, 2025.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Jimenez to serve 36 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Jimenez attempted to mislead law enforcement about a failed smuggling attempt that resulted in the seizure of his vehicle. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Jimenez’s leadership role and the significant number of illegal aliens he transported.
From October 2024 to May 2025, Jimenez oversaw numerous alien smuggling events throughout South Texas and conspired with others to transport illegal aliens further into the United States.
Jimenez recruited local drivers to drive the illegal aliens through Border Patrol checkpoints by concealing them in the cargo areas of their vehicles. He often scouted the checkpoints in advance and coordinated rendezvous points north of the inspection sites.
At times, Jimenez personally transported the aliens to San Antonio or Houston.
Previously released on bond, Jimenez was taken into custody where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Border Patrol’s Intelligence Unit and the Kingsville Abatement Team conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Rio Grande Valley Sector Targeting and Intelligence Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Lamont 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.
Honolulu Man Convicted of Child Exploitation Offenses, Including Production of Child Pornography and Sex Trafficking of ChildrenRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that a federal jury today convicted Darren Patrick Riley, 45, of Honolulu, Hawaii, of 12 counts related to his trafficking and sexual exploitation of five minor boys in Oahu in 2019 and 2020.
According to evidence presented at trial, Riley used the app, Grindr, to meet the minors who ranged from 14 to 16 years old. After beginning the conversation with the victims on Grindr, Riley then arranged sexual encounters with them, enticing them with money, electronics, or drugs. Riley then engaged in a pattern of systematic sexual abuse, which included filming and later distributing videos he took of their sexual acts. In one video, Riley directed one of his victims to announce that he was 14 years old, his age at the time. Riley abused his victims in multiple locations, including his apartment, car, at the beach, and hotel rooms that Riley paid for. On one day, Riley abused two victims during separate assaults in the same hotel room.
Riley knowingly took advantage of his victims’ financial needs. For example, one victim was struggling to afford consistent meals, and another was saving money because he feared being expelled from his family home. During his abuse, Riley provided controlled substances to several of his victims. After Riley provided one victim MDMA and other pills, the victim described drifting in and out of consciousness while Riley abused him. Multiple victims tried to refuse Riley’s sexual advances, but Riley persisted. Riley’s crimes were finally uncovered when he was arrested by DEA at the Los Angeles airport for attempting to traffic methamphetamine into Hawaii. A search of his phone revealed a collection of child sexual abuse material, which prompted his charges.
“This verdict is the next step to holding Darren Riley fully accountable for his egregious pattern of preying upon and abusing children,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We commend the victims who bravely testified at trial despite the trauma they endured from a serial predator. Their testimony, along with the good work of law enforcement and the prosecutors, exposed Riley’s horrific, repeated exploitation. The work of the jury now ensures that Riley will not be a threat to other children in the future. The Department of Justice will continue prosecuting offenders like Riley, as one of the Department’s highest callings is protecting America’s children.”
“Our community is safer now that a Hawaii federal jury has held the defendant accountable for his predatory crimes against children,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “The evidence at trial was overwhelming, and the courage the five young victims demonstrated in recounting for the jury their abuse at the hands of Riley was instrumental in putting this child predator behind bars. We will continue to aggressively pursue, charge, and convict predators like Riley that victimize our children and threaten our families.”
“This verdict holds Darren Riley accountable for his egregious pattern of abusing minors in numerous ways,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Protecting children from predators such as Riley is a top priority of the U.S. Department of Justice. The victims who bravely testified in this trial described his outrageous pattern of exploitation, which included enticing vulnerable children with money and drugs, filming himself engaging in sex acts with them, and drugging them to incapacitation with or without their knowledge. We will stop at nothing to hold accountable anyone who preys on our children.”
“The defendant’s heinous acts and repetitive exploitation of victims were put to an end with this verdict,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “This is the direct result of the relentless work of our agents and partners to protect the children in our communities. There is no corner of the internet or crevice on the globe where these predators can hide, as the FBI will use every resource at its disposal to bring them to justice.”
The court has not set Riley’s sentencing yet. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison on particular charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
FBI Honolulu and Los Angeles investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Perlmutter and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
Hays woman sentenced to 22 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injuryRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Hays woman who beat a man so badly he later died from his injuries was sentenced to 22 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Heavenlee Drewann Sears, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in November 2025.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Fort Belknap law enforcement responded to John Doe’s house on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation around 6:00 AM on September 30, 2023. When the officer entered the house, he saw Doe on the kitchen floor, bloodied and unconscious. Doe’s daughter, Sears, and Alta Chandler were at the house, along with a relative of both Doe and Sears who had called 911.
Emergency medical services responded to the scene to transport Doe to the hospital. Body camera from the medical response shows Doe’s audibly labored breathing, along with his swollen and bloody face. Sears and Chandler are visible on the body camera lingering around the area where Doe had been laying, and the tribal officer repeatedly admonished Chandler to stop trying to wipe up blood. A peppermint schnapps bottle is depicted at the scene on the body camera.
Sears was arrested later that day and was wearing a bloody sweater and pants when she was taken into custody. When Sears spoke with the FBI, she told them she and Chandler had been drinking and driving around the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and their evening had included the purchase of a bottle of peppermint schnapps. Eventually, Sears admitted she and Chandler had gone to Doe’s house while they were heavily intoxicated and, once there, beat him. Sears hit Doe in the head with the bottle of peppermint schnapps, and Chandler hit Does with her fists while he was on the ground.
Doe was taken to Fort Belknap Indian Health Services. He was unresponsive and breathing erratically. His admission records state his ears and face were bruised and swollen, his nose was lacerated, his upper lip was lacerated, and there was a human bite mark on his forehead. There were also bite marks to his left wrist and left upper chest. After he was intubated, Doe was life flighted to a higher level of care.
On October 18, 2023, Doe was admitted to the Long-Term Care Hospital in Billings, Montana. He was diagnosed with traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. He was largely unresponsive to stimuli and completely nonverbal due to his traumatic brain injury. Doe died on December 11, 2023.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
XXX
Guatemalan Illegal Alien with Prior Conviction for Attempted Rape Found Guilty of Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Yesterday, in federal court in Brooklyn, Maynor Perez Baten, a national of Guatemala, was convicted of illegal reentry into the United States having previously been deported after a conviction for an aggravated felony. In November 2022, Perez Baten was found in the Eastern District of New York without the consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for readmission. The verdict was returned after a two-day trial before United States District Judge Ramon E. Reyes. When sentenced, Perez Baten faces up to 20 years in prison.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), announced the verdict.
“With today’s verdict, the defendant has been held accountable for brazenly re-entering the United States after he was deported for a serious felony conviction, the attempted rape of a child, and then endangering the community once again by driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The defendant clearly has no respect for the laws of our nation and will be returned to Guatemala after completing his sentence.”
“Maynor Perez Baten's attempted rape of a child and his subsequent decision to illegally re-enter the United States highlight his flagrant and repeated disregard for the criminal justice system,” stated HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. “His choice to return after removal, without authorization and despite his depraved felony record, demonstrates a brazen contempt for community safety and the rule of law that protects it. I commend personnel from HSI New York and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York for their unyielding commitment to identifying, investigating, and arresting violent offenders who pose a threat to those we are sworn to serve."
According to court filings, Perez Baten illegally entered the United States in 2009. In May 2011, he was arrested on a felony charge of first-degree rape. The victim was 12 years old. In October 2011, Perez Baten was convicted of attempted rape in the first degree and sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment. The defendant was released from New York State custody in April 2014 and deported to Guatemala. Perez Baten later returned to the United States illegally a second time, after which he was arrested by members of the New York City Police Department for driving while intoxicated in Staten Island. In April 2024, he was indicted for illegal reentry by a grand jury in the Eastern District of New York.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Vincent Chiappini is in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Cleon Thomas.
The Defendant:
MAYNOR PEREZ BATEN
Age: 36
Staten Island, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-130 (RER)
Four-Time Deported Alien Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison as Part of the Homeland Security Task Force for Trafficking 33 Kilograms of Cocaine and Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An armed Mexican national with multiple illegal reentry convictions was sentenced to prison yesterday as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) for trafficking more than 33 kilograms of cocaine and illegally reentering the United States after deportation, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), and Sheriff Van W. Shaw of the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
Raul Bello Rojas, 44, was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of a mixture of cocaine, and illegal reentry of a deported convicted felon.
“Rojas repeatedly violated our nation’s immigration laws and returned to the United States to traffic large quantities of cocaine. Armed with guns, he posed a serious threat to our community. This sentence ensures he’ll spend more than a decade in federal prison before being promptly deported,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson.
“Every time a dangerous criminal like Rojas returns to our streets and brings drugs and weapons into our neighborhoods, families and communities are put at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Zito. “This outcome shows that HSI and our partners are determined to stand between traffickers and the people they threaten. We’re committed to making Charlotte—and every community we serve—a safer place by taking action against those who repeatedly break our laws and endanger lives.”
“This investigation shows what is possible when local and federal agencies work side-by-side to keep our great city safe. Rojas’s actions posed a serious threat to our community, and through strong partnerships we were able to hold him accountable,” said Chief Patterson. “CMPD will continue to work closely with our federal partners to protect our residents and ensure that those who conduct criminal acts in Charlotte are held responsible.”
“This investigation shows the importance of law enforcement agencies working together in our areas to arrest and convict violent repeat offenders. Through these partnerships, we ensure that our limited resources are utilized to the fullest extent,” said Sheriff Shaw.
According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, Rojas was involved in high-level cocaine trafficking in the greater Charlotte area. Court records show that between December 2024 and January 2025, Rojas sold cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer on at least three occasions. Following the controlled purchases, on February 28, 2025, HSI agents and CMPD officers executed a search warrant at Rojas’s residence in Charlotte. During the search, investigators located a total of 34 bricks of cocaine weighing approximately 33 kilograms, including: 26 individual bricks of cocaine located in the attic and eight additional bricks located in the closet of the primary bedroom.
Investigators also located several additional items during the search including two firearms, an SCCY CPX-1 9mm handgun located in the primary bedroom nightstand, and a Bryco Arms .380 handgun located in a bag with a brick of cocaine. Investigators also located approximately $64,489 in U.S. currency, as well as digital scales and a drug ledger.
According to court records, Rojas has previously been deported from the United States on at least four occasions, frequently following criminal convictions. He was first deported on October 1, 2010, after an Assault on Family Member conviction in Virginia. Rojas was later deported from Texas in 2013 following an illegal entry conviction. In the ensuing years, Rojas was deported after felony illegal reentry convictions in Utah (2015) and Virginia (2019), before reentering the country again and trafficking cocaine.
Rojas is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended HSI, CMPD, and the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Bozin with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
Former U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Employee Agrees to Pay $122,480 to Resolve Conflict-of-Interest AllegationsRead the Press Release
Christine Tu, a former Patent Examiner for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), has agreed to pay $122,480 to resolve allegations that she violated conflict-of-interest rules during the course of her employment with the USPTO.
Among other things, the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 prohibits executive branch employees from participating personally and substantially in particular matters that will affect their own financial interests. The settlement resolves allegations that, between October 2019 and November 2022, Tu worked personally and substantially on at least one patent application submitted by a company in which she had a disqualifying financial interest. In addition, the settlement resolves allegations that Ms. Tu reviewed more than 20 patent applications submitted by a company that was a commercial competitor of a company for which she owned more than $125,000 worth of stock. As part of the settlement, Tu has agreed to pay a civil penalty to resolve allegations that her conduct violated conflict-of-interest prohibitions for federal employees.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, and Special Agent In Charge, Laura Barsczewski of the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations made the announcement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General.
This matter was handled by Trial Attorney Joshua Barron of the Civil Division.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Former Nye County Commissioner Indicted for COVID-19 Relief Fraud Totaling More Than $500,000Read the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A former County Commissioner from Nye County, Nevada, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Las Vegas for his alleged role in applying for fraudulent COVID-19 relief funds on behalf of his restaurant in Pahrump. In total, he received more than $500,000 through programs administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, and Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).
“Fraud will not be tolerated in our community—regardless of the position or identity of those involved,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office. “Fraud erodes public trust and undermines the institutions our communities rely on every day. The FBI remains committed to protecting the integrity of our public institutions and ensuring that no one is above the law.”
According to allegations contained in court documents, Leonardo F. Blundo owned and operated a restaurant named Carmelo’s Bistro in Pahrump, Nevada. As alleged, from about March 31, 2020 to about September 6, 2021, Blundo submitted false PPP, EIDL, and RRF applications. As part of the scheme, he falsely inflated the restaurant’s gross revenue, its average monthly payroll, and its number of employees when completing applications for those loans and grant. Additionally, he provided false documentation to support some of the false and fraudulent claims in those applications. Blundo obtained two PPP loans, two EIDLs, and an RRF grant totaling more than $500,000.
A federal grand jury charged Blundo with five counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. His initial appearance has been scheduled before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts for March 24, 2026.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 120 years of prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $1,750,000 fine, and a $700 special assessment.
Executive Assistant United States Attorney Summer Johnson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Delzotto made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the District of Nevada’s Public Corruption Strike Force. The Strike Force is within the Office’s Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys with extensive public corruption experience will handle cases of allegations of criminal misconduct. This specialized unit will focus on the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes affecting government integrity, including bribery of public officials at all levels of government, election crimes, and other related offenses. This endeavor will be a collaborative effort with federal, state, and local agencies across the Silver State.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
###
Former Navy Chief Petty Officer sentenced to 35 years in prison for conspiring to sexually abuse childrenRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Water View man was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for conspiring to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
According to court documents, after retiring as a Navy Chief Petty Officer, Cory Richard Hambley, 43, worked as a program analyst for the Missile Defense Agency, where he held a Top Secret security clearance. In November 2022, Hambley, who was married, contacted his former girlfriend, Grace Elizabeth Paradis, 43, of Virginia Beach. Hambley repeatedly encouraged Paradis to provide CSAM depicting Paradis abusing two minor children, ages five and nine.
Knowing that Paradis was struggling to pay her rent, Hambley leveraged Paradis’ financial situation as well as Paradis’ interest in a relationship with Hambley to induce her to provide CSAM. Hambley provided Paradis with a camera to be hidden and used to surreptitiously record images of the children, including Paradis sexually abusing them. In March 2023, Hambley transferred nearly $4,000 to Paradis with the expectation that she would produce and provide CSAM. Paradis recorded the children’s abuse and provided the resultant CSAM to Hambley. Hambley also provided Paradis access to a Google Drive folder to facilitate her provision of CSAM to him.
During this time, Hambley was married to “CH.” Before they were married, CH introduced Hambley to a minor child. Afterward, Hambley, CH, and the child lived together. On Hambley’s electronic devices, investigators found CSAM files depicting the child that were created without the child’s knowledge. Investigators also found images of two adult victims, with whom Hambley had served in the U.S. Navy, that Hambley created without their knowledge.
Hambley also collected and shared other CSAM on the Internet. Investigators identified an additional 1,155 images and 142 videos of CSAM on Hambley's electronic devices.
Paradis pled guilty on Oct. 23, 2025, to conspiring to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM). She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21 and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison.
The Homeland Security Investigations Norfolk office investigated this case with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Virginia Beach Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Gantt and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Marek prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Know2Protect.gov.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-44.
This release was revised on March 18, 2026, to more accurately reflect the defendant's position at the Missile Defense Agency.
Former Greenville CEO, Employees Indicted in Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a 16-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Kevin S. Murdock, 56, Thomas C. Lee, 56, both of Greenville, and Vidhya V. Narayanan, 45, of Atlanta, for health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
The indictment alleges that Murdock owned and operated Premier Medical Laboratory Services, headquartered in Greenville. Lee and Narayanan were both high-level employees of Premier. Premier offered diagnostic testing services for medical providers, including but not limited to COVID-19 testing. The defendants devised a multi-part scheme to fraudulently generate revenue from health care benefit programs related to the pandemic. This included submitted false claims to the federal government for individual tests when in truth the tests had been pooled together for combined, faster processing and for manipulating test processing software. As a result, the defendants billed for tests that virtually worthless and ineligible for reimbursement. The conspiracy to defraud healthcare benefit programs generated millions in fraudulent proceeds.
The defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release to follow the term of imprisonment.
Murdock previously agreed to a consent judgment of $27,544,460, acknowledging there is a likelihood he would be found liable in the civil action brought against him by the United States and the States of Colorado, Georgia, and South Carolina for violating the False Claims Act, the Georgia False Medicaid Claims Act, the Colorado Medicaid False Claims Act, and the South Carolina Medical Assistance Provider Fraud Statute.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the South Carolina Attorney General's Office's Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.###
Former Florissant Police Officer Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Searching Women’s Phones for Nude ImagesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a former Florissant, Missouri police officer to 24 months in prison for illegally searching the phones of 20 women for nude photos and ordered him to pay $2,681 in restitution to his victims.
Julian Alcala, 31, pulled the women over while on duty, in uniform and in a marked police vehicle between Feb. 6, 2024, and May 18, 2024. Alcala took mobile phones from 19 of the victims by claiming that he needed to go back to his patrol car and use their phone to confirm insurance coverage. He told the 20th that he was confirming her vehicle registration. Alcala then searched through the phones without a warrant, probable cause or a lawful reason. When he found images that portrayed either the victim or a loved one or both in a partial or full state of nudity, he used his own cell phone to take photographs. Alcala also found and forwarded a video of one victim to his cell phone. When that victim discovered the forwarding of the video and reported it to the FBI, court-approved search warrants of Alcala’s cell phone and his cloud storage uncovered the other victims.
In court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug said Alcala had violated his oath to protect and serve. Victims, she said, had previously trusted police officers, but Alcala’s actions had replaced that trust with “mistrust and disgust and fear of law enforcement.” She pointed out that Alcala victimized five women in just one shift. In another, he victimized three women and in a third he victimized two.
Alcala, 30, pleaded guilty in December to 20 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure.
“When Julian Alcala abused his authority, the damage extended far beyond his immediate victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “His actions dishonored the badge and undermined the public trust that every officer is sworn to uphold. I appreciate the leadership of the Florissant Police Department for working closely with the FBI to hold Alcala accountable and ensure he could no longer victimize members of this community.”
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug prosecuted the case.
Federal inmate sentenced for threatening Bureau of Prisons AdministratorRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A federal inmate has been sentenced to additional time in prison for threatening a prison official in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
John Robert Bond, 55, pleaded guilty to making threats against a federal official and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale on March 11, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on May 25, 2025, Bond stated that upon his release from prison he was going to “blow up” the home of one of the prison administrators at the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont. Bond was scheduled to be released on June 13, 2025. In response to the threat, jailers searched Bond’s belongings and found notes describing the administrator and the location of their home. As a result, Bond was charged with a criminal violation and not released as scheduled.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John B. Ross and Chris Jackson.
###
Federal grand jury returns 39 count indictment charging Tonawanda man with production, distribution and possession of child pornography, and traveling across state lines to have sex with a minor victimRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a 39 count indictment charging Trevor Knapp, 34, of Tonawanda, NY, with 15 counts of production of child pornography, two counts of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, one count of distribution of child pornography, 19 counts receipt of child pornography, and two counts possession of child pornography. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 930 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, in April 2024, a 17-year-old minor female contacted the Flagstaff, Arizona Police Department stating that she was being harassed by a 32-year-old male named Trevor Knapp online. The minor victim met Knapp in 2020, when she was 13 years old, on the friend finding website called “mylol.” As the two began communicating, the conversations became sexual in nature. Knapp sent sexually explicit videos of himself to the minor victim and he asked that she send naked images of herself, but she declined. However, the minor victim would get out of the shower naked while the two were video chatting and Knapp would screen capture an image of her. The two also messaged through Google Chat and Knapp utilized multiple Google email accounts. The minor victim, who was uncomfortable with how he was talking, would delete or block Knapp but he would utilize a new account to regain contact. Knapp also located the minor victim’s Instagram account and messaged her on that platform as well. The minor victim advised Knapp multiple times of her real age.
The minor victim requested for months that Knapp leave her alone, stating that she had a boyfriend. Knapp then requested images of the minor victim and her boyfriend having sex. He also sent her a naked image of a second minor victim, a female living in Pennsylvania. The two minor victims began communicating, and the second minor victim described Knapp as “the pedophile.” Subsequent investigation traced Knapp back to the Western District of New York.
On October 10, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Knapp’s residence, during which investigators seized two of his cell phones, both of which were found to contain child pornography. A preliminary search recovered a sexually explicit video that included Knapp and the first minor victim.
The indictment includes charges relating to six minor victims, one of which Knapp is accused of traveling in interstate commerce to have sex with the victim on two occasions.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Flagstaff, Arizona Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean Connolly, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Federal Jury Finds Tampa Convicted Felon Guilty of Possessing a Firearm Under the Armed Career Criminal ActRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Shannon Pernell Brown (40, Tampa) guilty of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute it. Brown faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison under the Armed Career Criminal Act. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 3, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to evidence presented at trial, on August 31, 2024, Brown attempted to flee from officers from the Tampa Police Department on an electric bicycle after they attempted to stop him for a traffic violation. Brown subsequently lost control of the bicycle as he turned a corner and crashed. Officers detained him and located more than a pound of marijuana in multiple packages along with a digital scale in a backpack that he was wearing. Officers also recovered a loaded Glock handgun in a separate satchel that Brown was wearing across his chest.
Brown had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including trafficking in cocaine and two convictions for possession of cocaine with the intent to sell or deliver, each of which occurred on a different occasion. As a convicted felon, Brown is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
Federal Jury Convicts McAlester Resident of Four Counts of Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Jeffrey Brent Thomas, age 48, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of three counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, punishable by 30 years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine, and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, punishable by up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The jury trial began with testimony on March 9, 2026, and concluded on March 10, 2026, with the guilty verdicts.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that between January 1, 2020, and January 16, 2021, Thomas sexually abused a child who was under the age of 12 years. The United States also presented evidence that Thomas sexually abused two other minor children.
The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Thomas will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals until sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessie K. Pippin and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Federal Jury Convicts Inmate Serving Life Sentence in Violent Kidnaping of Rideshare Driver During Escape from Georgia CustodyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal inmate serving a life sentence was convicted by a federal jury in Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 27 for his role in a violent scheme to abduct and rob a rideshare driver while fleeing Georgia state custody.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Stevenson Charles, 24, had been in federal custody until Dec. 5, 2025, when he was transferred to Georgia state custody to await trial on charges related to a 2022 murder and armed robbery. During a routine security check on Dec. 22, 2025, authorities discovered that Charles and two other inmates — Yusuf Minor, 31, and Naod Yohannes, 25 — were missing from the facility.
“This defendant’s escape from custody triggered a violent chain of events that put an innocent rideshare driver in grave danger,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The evidence at trial showed a brutal kidnapping carried out to facilitate his flight from justice. Thanks to the determined work of our federal agents and law enforcement partners, the victim survived and the defendant now stands convicted by a jury of his peers. Our Office will continue to work with our partners to ensure that violent offenders who threaten the public are held fully accountable.”
After escaping, Charles and his co-conspirators used a rideshare service in Georgia and kidnapped the driver. Once inside the vehicle, one of the defendants wrapped a rope around the victim’s neck from behind, bound the victim’s hands, and forced the victim into the backseat. The defendants then threatened the victim’s life and told the victim to keep their head down while they drove into South Florida.
The defendants forced the victim to provide access to her banking accounts and used the victim’s banking cards to make purchases at businesses in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, including securing a short-term rental residence in Broward County. When the victim attempted to escape, the defendants physically assaulted the victim and made threats against her life. The defendants transported the victim to the rental residence, where they prevented the victim from leaving.
Over 18 hours into the kidnapping, during the evening of Dec. 22, 2025, law enforcement located Charles driving the victim’s vehicle, with Yohannes also inside. Law enforcement attempted to disable the vehicle and Charles exited the vehicle while it was still moving. Charles fled on foot, leading agents on a chase through a construction site. During the foot chase, Charles discarded a semi-automatic handgun before being apprehended shortly thereafter. The firearm was subsequently recovered along the route of the pursuit.
The jury convicted Charles of kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, Hobbs Act robbery, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on the conspiracy and kidnapping counts and up 20 years in prison on the Hobbs Act robbery count. Charles also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison on the felon-in-possession count if the Court determines that he qualifies as an armed career criminal under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). Charles waived a jury trial on the ACCA phase of the felon-in-possession count, which the Court has set for a future date.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Yohannes and Minor are scheduled to stand trial on March 30.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami is investigating the case. FBI Atlanta; the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Atlanta; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division; the Martin County Sheriff’s Office; the Broward Sheriff’s Office; and USMS Miami provided invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Maultasch and Breezye Telfair are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 26-cr-60009.
###
Federal Child Pornography Charges for Registered Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Donschee Ricky Montrell Foster, 33, of Pensacola, Florida, was indicted a federal grand jury charging him with one count of possession of obscene material, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of being a registered sex offender while committing child exploitation crimes. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Jury trial is scheduled for April 6, 2026, at 8:30 am before United States District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
If convicted, Foster faces a mandatory minimum 20 years’ imprisonment. Foster remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service in the Santa Rosa County Jail pending trial.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pensacola Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case 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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The 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.
El Salvadorian Illegal Alien Charged with Assaulting Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – An El Salvadorian illegal alien made his initial appearance in federal court today, in connection with an attack on federal law enforcement during a traffic stop.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland filed a criminal complaint against Santos Alvarenga-Rodriguez, 47, for assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers in Howard County, Maryland.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the criminal complaint with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to the criminal complaint, on January 18, 2026, as Alvarenga-Rodriguez operated a vehicle, ICE-ERO officers checked its license plate. During the investigation, the query returned identification information for Alvarenga-Rodriguez, including a restriction code on his Maryland driver’s license. The restriction code indicated that he may not be legally present in the United States. Then law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and positively identified Alvarenga-Rodriguez.
Law enforcement gave Alvarenga-Rodriguez verbal commands to exit the vehicle, but he refused. Alvarenga-Rodriguez then started the vehicle and placed his hand on the gearshift to put it into drive. The officers continued ordering Alvarenga-Rodriguez to comply with the arrest and eventually engaged him to prevent him from fleeing. As Alvarenga-Rodriguez resisted, he bit an officer on his left forearm and injured another officer by causing a laceration to the officer’s nose.
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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
D’Iberville Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison and 30 years of Supervised Release for Distribution of Images of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A D’Iberville, Mississippi man was sentenced on March 10, 2026, to 11 years in prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for distributing images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office.
In October 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) received information from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that Joshua Budinich, a 26-year-old male, was uploading child sexual abuse material on the Discord and Kik platforms.
Further investigation revealed that the defendant was chatting with other Discord users, sending child sexual abuse material to other users, and trading child sexual abuse material with them.
The defendant pled guilty in November 2025. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cybercrime Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Delaware County Woman Sentenced for Carjacking, Shooting at Victim, and Fleeing with Infant in Stolen SUVRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Phillis Fugah, 25, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Timothy J. Savage to ten years and one day in prison and five years of supervised release for carjacking and discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
The defendant previously pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in connection with an August 29, 2024 armed carjacking and shooting in Upper Darby.
As detailed in court filings and admitted by the defendant, Fugah and a male accomplice approached a Honda Pilot parked on the 7100 block of West Chester Pike, where a man sat in the vehicle with his two young children while waiting for his wife. The accomplice opened the passenger-side door but fled the scene.
Fugah then opened the driver’s side door, got behind the wheel, and pointed a gun at the victim while demanding money. The victim’s five-year-old son exited the vehicle through the front passenger door and ran to the sidewalk. The victim exited the rear driver’s side door and attempted to stop the defendant, telling her that his infant child remained inside the vehicle.
During the struggle, Fugah raised the firearm and shot at the victim, with the bullet partially shattering the driver’s-side window and striking the victim’s baseball cap, narrowly missing his head. A fragment of the bullet also struck the window of an occupied SEPTA bus across the street, passing over the heads of several passengers.
Fugah then fled in the Honda Pilot with the infant still inside the vehicle. The SUV was located a short distance away, and the child was recovered unharmed.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newtown Square Resident Agency and the Upper Darby Township Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Doherty and Special Assistant United States Attorney Sandra Urban.
DOJ, VA Sign Agreement to Improve Care for Nation’s Most Vulnerable VeteransRead the Press Release
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will help some of America’s most vulnerable Veterans get the ongoing care they need.
VA cares for hundreds of Veterans who are unable to make their own health care decisions and have no family or legal representation to help them. This includes some Veterans who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The MOU gives DOJ the authority to appoint VA attorneys as special assistant U.S. attorneys. That appointment will give VA attorneys the legal authority to initiate and participate in state court guardianship or conservatorship proceedings in cases where a legal decision-maker is required for post-acute transitions of care for these vulnerable Veterans.
The appointment of a legal guardian or conservator can be a lifeline for Veterans in this situation. Among other things, a legal guardian or conservator can help Veterans avoid unwarranted continued hospitalization, protect their rights, and promote appropriate transitions of care from VA hospitalization to other forms of VA care or care in the community, if appropriate.
“The Department of Justice is proud to partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs to support our nation's brave Veterans by ensuring that they have the best legal resources available when it comes to making medical decisions and receiving timely care,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “We owe our Veterans a debt we can never fully repay — but we can give them the support they deserve.”
“Our new partnership with the Justice Department reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every Veteran receives timely, appropriate care, even in complex cases,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins.
Under President Trump, VA is always improving benefits and services for Veterans. This includes:
Completing 82,083,918 direct care appointments in FY2025, up 4.1% from FY2024.
Offering Veterans more than 2.2 million appointments outside of normal operating hours. These early-morning, evening, and weekend appointments are giving Veterans more timely and convenient options for care.
Opening 33 new health care clinics during the second Trump Administration, expanding health care access for Veterans around the country.
Reducing the backlog of Veterans waiting for VA benefits by 64%, after it increased 24% during the Biden Administration.
Crown Point Woman Sentenced to 46 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Loraine Duchscher, 52 years old, of Crown Point, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Duchscher was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $150,153.12 in restitution.
According to documents in the case, between April 2021 and October 2023, Duchscher worked as an office manager for a small business in East Chicago. In that capacity, she was responsible for processing payroll for each bi-weekly pay period, and she had unsupervised access to the company’s bank account and payroll software. During the first few months of her employment, Duchscher built goodwill with the company and convinced the owner to switch to a different payroll system. After that, she began fraudulently increasing the amount of her paychecks and awarding herself vacation pay to which she was not entitled, all without the knowledge or permission of the company. Over the course of the scheme, she defrauded the company out of $150,153.12, which she spent on travel, entertainment, restaurants, cosmetic procedures, a vehicle, and large cash withdrawals.
Duchscher committed this offense both while she was on pretrial release and after pleading guilty and awaiting sentencing in another federal case in which she defrauded a different employer out of $490,958.35. That case involved similar circumstances in which she, in her role as office manager, manipulated payroll data to steal from the company. For that offense, she was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison. Prior to that, Duchscher defrauded a third employer out of $53,616.94 through her unauthorized use of credit cards. For that offense, she was convicted of fraud in state court and sentenced to probation.
“Duchscher is a serial con artist who has defrauded three employers—all small businesses in northwest Indiana—out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. She brazenly abused the trust these businesses placed in her, all to fund her own lavish lifestyle,” said United States Attorney Mildred. “I am grateful to federal law enforcement for their relentless pursuit of this case, ensuring that Duchscher was brought to justice yet again.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven J. Lupa.
Criminal Alien Charged with Multiple Sex Crimes Involving Minors in the District of UtahRead the Press Release
An illegal alien, with three prior voluntary removals, will appear in court Monday, March 16, after he was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly producing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving a teenage girl.
Gerardo Aurelio Iturbide, 24, of Mexico, residing illegally in Hurricane, Utah, was indicted yesterday.
According to the allegations in court documents, on Nov. 23, 2025, Iturbide met three underaged teenage girls at a gas station parking lot in Hurricane. He took the girls to a nearby hotel, where he booked a room. He then gave the girls alcohol and sexually abused two of them. He filmed himself sexually abusing one of the underaged victims and sent the video to his friend using a messaging app on his phone. He encouraged his friend to come to the hotel room. Police arrived at the scene after one of the victims called 911.
Iturbide is charged with production of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography. He is currently being held on state charges of unlawful sexual contact with a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.
U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Hurricane Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brady Wilson 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.
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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Criminal Alien Charged with Multiple Sex Crimes Involving Minors in the District of UtahRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah – An illegal alien, with three prior voluntary removals, will appear in court Monday, March 16, 2026, after he was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly producing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving a teenage girl.
Gerardo Aurelio Iturbide, 24, of Mexico, residing illegally in Hurricane, Utah, was indicted on March 10, 2026.
According to the allegations in court documents, on November 23, 2025, Iturbide met three underaged teenage girls at a gas station parking lot in Hurricane, Utah. He took the girls to a nearby hotel, where he booked a room. He then gave the girls alcohol and sexually abused two of them. He filmed himself sexually abusing one of the underaged victims and sent the video to his friend using a messaging app on his phone. He encouraged his friend to come to the hotel room. Police arrived at the scene after one of the victims called 911.
Iturbide is charged with production of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography. He is currently being held on state charges of unlawful sexual contact with a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. His federal initial appearance on the indictment will be held March 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom 2B at the courthouse located at 206 West Tabernacle Street, St. George, Utah 84470.
United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Hurricane Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brady Wilson 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.
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.
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:
iturbide.indictment.pdf iturbide_u.s._motion_for_detention_filed.pdfCraven County Gang Members Sentenced to a Total of 89 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and GunsRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Kaihem Hicks to over 11 years in federal prison for selling methamphetamine and fentanyl and possessing a gun while selling drugs. Inmate Hicks pleaded guilty to the charges. Inmate Hicks is the final defendant to be sentenced in a Craven County drug and gun investigation.
“So much trauma inflicted by these men against their own community, and for what? The law protects children and families. These men destroy all of that for a little bit of money, but now they will endure nearly 90 years collectively in big boy federal prison. Time for anyone who might look up to this gang to reconsider, lest they earn decades of concrete and steel, instead. Respect yourself, your family, and your community.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and ATF identified the “Bloody Shovel Gang” and the “Gangster Disciples” as sources suppling fentanyl, methamphetamine, and guns in New Bern, Vanceboro, and the surrounding area. In 2023 and 2024, investigators conducted a series of controlled purchases of drugs and guns from several gang members, to include Inmate Hicks of the Bloody Shovel Gang. Through these controlled purchases, investigators learned that co-conspirator Torrey Denard Stevenson supplied dealers in the Bloody Shovel Gang with fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs sourced from the Atlanta area.
Stevenson and the Bloody Shovel Gang dealers set up shop at an apartment complex in New Bern to sell these drugs. Clayton James Wright, Jr., the leader of the Gangster Disciples, bought drugs from Inmate Stevenson for his Gangster Disciples to resell around Craven County. During the course of the investigation, Inmate Wright and the Gangster Disciples also bought drugs from Durham area suppliers. As a result of approximately 20 controlled purchases of drugs and firearms, traffic stops, and search warrants, investigators seized over 460 grams of fentanyl, over 1,500 grams of methamphetamine, and multiple handguns.
In addition to Inmate Hicks, the following other gang bangers got sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy: Inmate Torrey Denard Stevenson (16 years), Inmate Clayton James Wright, Jr. (21 years), Inmate Demario Lequan Moore (11 years), Inmate Brandon Jamal Smith (9 years), Inmate Robert Niquan Bryant (5 years), Inmate Andre Dimetrease Hudson (14 years), and Inmate Deaurvion Malik Roundtree (2 years).
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. CCSO, ATF, New Bern Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, NC SBI, Wayne, Nash, Beaufort, and Carteret County Sheriff’s Offices, USMS, District Attorney’s Offices in Craven, Nash, and Wayne counties investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorneys Julie Childress and Caroline Webb prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-FL, Case No. 4:24-CR-46-M, and Case No. 4:24-CR-56-BO.
Connecticut Man Sentenced to Nine Years’ Imprisonment for Participating in a Nationwide Romance ScamRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Connecticut man was sentenced on March 5, 2026, to nine years’ imprisonment for wire fraud and money laundering stemming from his participation in a romance scam that affected victims across the country, including in central Iowa.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Naabanyin Aniagyei-Cobbold, 30, played an integral part in an extensive romance scam conspiracy—a fraudulent scheme in which individuals create fake profiles on internet dating sites and other social media platforms to exploit victims for financial gain. Aniagyei-Cobbold operated a fake company, Alpha Distributions LLC, that he used to receive money from victims. Aniagyei-Cobbold recruited and coached at least one other individual through creating a sham entity, a website, and opening bank accounts—all for the purpose of receiving money from romance scam victims.
Aniagyei-Cobbold received over $1.5 million from victims, including over $400,000 from a victim living in the Southern District of Iowa. The victims sent Aniagyei-Cobbold money at the request of their purported romantic partners, believing it was going to be used to facilitate uniting them with their partner, among other things. Many victims drained their retirement accounts, sold their homes and vehicles, returned to work after retirement, and borrowed substantial sums from friends and family.
During the conspiracy, Aniagyei-Cobbold created and starred in a music video titled “S.C.A.M.” which contained lyrics about receiving “scam money” and “laundering it up,” with “money coming in” and “living lavish.” In one frame of the video, Aniagyei-Cobbold poses next to a vehicle on which “SCAM” is spelled out in on the hood of the car in one-hundred-dollar bills.
When confronted by the FBI, Aniagyei-Cobbold lied about the nature of Alpha Distributions LLC and why the victims were sending him so much money, claiming Alpha Distributions was a legitimate company used to source electronics for individuals in Africa. He produced false invoices, receipts, and other documentation in response to a federal grand jury subpoena in an attempt to further obstruct the investigation.
“Romance scammers prey on victims when they are at their most vulnerable,” said Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “They exploit people by convincing them they are in a real relationship, then slowly abuse that trust to steal their life savings, often leading to bankruptcy. This case is an egregious example of the ruthless persistence exhibited by scammers to enrich themselves at the expense of vulnerable people. The FBI will continue working with all of our partners to apprehend these criminals and bring them to justice.”
“The financial and emotional harm caused by this scheme has been devastating. Victims were deliberately targeted and manipulated through deception and false relationships, often losing money they could not afford to lose. Many were elderly or living on fixed incomes, and the impact has extended beyond financial loss to broken trust, emotional trauma, and lasting hardship for families,” said Polk County Sheriff Kevin J. Schneider. “The Polk County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the strong partnership with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in holding those responsible accountable and seeking justice for victims across central Iowa. We remain committed to protecting our communities, supporting victims, and working collaboratively to uphold the rule of law.”
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Aniagyei-Cobbold was ordered to pay $1,554,442.46 in restitution. After completing his prison term, Aniagyei-Cobbold will serve a three-year term of supervised release.
Co-defendant, Nana Takyiwa Adonu, will be sentenced on July 16, 2026.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Omaha Cyber Task Force and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Lubben prosecuted the case.
According to the FBI, in 2024, approximately 59,000 people fell victim to romance-related scams, losing over $672 million dollars. The FBI says that many times, once a victim realizes that they have been exploited, they feel embarrassed or ashamed, and do not want to let anyone know what happened to them, including law enforcement. However, the FBI encourages anyone who has been victimized by this fraud or unsuccessfully targeted to file a complaint. If you suspect an online relationship is a scam, stop all contact immediately. If you have already sent money, report any transfer of funds to your financial institution and contact law enforcement.
If you or someone you know has been targeted by a scam, contact the Iowa Attorney General’s office at 1-888-777-4590 or file a complaint online: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint. You can also report fraud complaints to your local FBI field office by calling 1‑800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or visiting https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety.