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Friday 23 January 2026
Kanawha County Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kelli Rucker, also known as “Kelli Engler,” 48, of Nitro, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, to wire fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Rucker was hired by the West Virginia Division of Labor as an Administrative Services Manager I in 2020 and assigned three state purchasing credit cards. From 2022 through February 2023, Rucker fraudulently made unauthorized purchases with the three cards that resulted in losses totaling $18,472.75 to the State of West Virginia. As part of her guilty plea, Rucker admitted that she knew she was not permitted to make personal purchases with the state issued card and that she electronically paid personal expenses including gas and electric bills, hospital expenses and cable television bills as part of her fraudulent scheme. Rucker further admitted that her fraudulent use of the cards included a $2,200 charge transmitted electronically on January 28, 2023.
Rucker is scheduled to be sentenced on May 19, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Rucker also owes $18,472.75 in restitution.
Rucker has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for access device fraud on October 13, 2010, and failure to appear on October 11, 2016, both in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the West Virginia Commission in Special Investigations and the assistance provided by the West Virginia Division of Labor.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-176.
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Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women Hosts 20th Annual Tribal Consultation and Announces Awards of more than $75M in Grants to Support Public Safety in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
On Jan. 21, 2026, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) convened the 20th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation on the lands of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. provided opening remarks in which he reaffirmed the Department of Justice’s commitment to Indian Country and its dedication to protecting Tribal communities — particularly women and children — from violent crime, exploitation, and drug trafficking.
The Justice Department announced today that it awarded over $75 million through six grant programs that support American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and communities in combatting domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking, and stalking. The Tribal Affairs Division (TAD) of the OVW administers these funds.
The OVW fiscal year 2025 awards announced today are:
- The Tribal Governments Program
- Nearly $47.5 million through 64 awards in support of efforts to combat domestic and sexual violence, trafficking, and stalking in Tribal communities.
- The Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Initiative
- More than$3.3 million through three awards to cross-designate Tribal prosecutors as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys, to prevent violent offenders from causing more harm.
- The Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program
- More than $8 million through 17 awards to establish, maintain, and expand assistance programs for sexual assault victims.
- The Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Program
- More than $7 million through eight awards to protect victims of assault or abuse by non-Indian offenders and to bring criminals to justice.
- The Tribal Coalitions Program
- More than $8 million awarded to 21 Tribal nonprofit coalitions to support organizations that serve victims in Tribal communities.
- The National Tribal Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault
- One award of $980,100 to provide resources on effective responses to sexual assault of American Indian and Alaska Native women.
OVW administers grant programs designed to combat sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking. Tribal organizations and governments interested in applying for these and other grants can visit the OVW website for more details and application guidelines.
- The Tribal Governments Program
- Jamaican Nationals Convicted of Maritime Drug Trafficking Offenses Following Federal Jury Trial
Israeli man pleads guilty to, sentenced on immigration chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Elazar Wigdorowitz, 33, a citizen of Israel, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to improper entry by an alien. He was then sentenced to time served and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan W. Fitzgerald, who handled the case, stated that in the early morning hours of January 08, 2026, during the secondary inspection of a vehicle at the Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry, officers noticed multiple pieces of luggage in the back of the vehicle. As an officer began removing the luggage, she noticed what appeared to be a person’s back. The remaining luggage was removed and officers discovered defendant Wigdorowitz. Subsequent investigation discovered that Wigdorowitz had obtained a visa in 2010, which was revoked in 2017 due to his criminal history in Israel. Wigdorowitz’s visa was then refused in 2023 because of his criminal history in Israel, which includes convictions for conspiracy to commit a felony, assault, extortion, threats, false imprisonment, and malicious damage to a vehicle. In addition, pending charges include receipt of an item by deceit, conspiracy to defraud, forgery with intent, use of a forged document, fabricating evidence, and obstruction of justice. On January 5, 2026, Wigdorowitz attempted to apply for Electronic System for Travel Authorization but was denied. Wigdorowitz stated to officers that he was in the back of the vehicle because he wanted to visit his rabbi’s grave in the United States.
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 plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
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Illegal Immigrant Sentenced to Time Served in PrisonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mexican national was sentenced today to time served in prison for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.
According to court documents, on October 18, 2025, Gulf Shores Police Department (GSPD) responded to a “shots fired” call and determined that Hernandez-Modesto, 38, had discharged a firearm multiple times. Following his arrest, GSPD contacted Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement who determined that Hernandez-Modesto had previously been removed from the United States in 2020.
At sentencing, Judge Dubose imposed the time served sentence of incarceration and a one-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Upon his release from prison, Hernandez-Modesto is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Hernandez-Modesto was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and the Gulf Shores Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Hutchins III prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Hunterdon County Man Charged with Wire Fraud and Money Laundering in Connection with Multimillion Dollar Liquor License Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Hunterdon County, New Jersey man made his initial appearance on January 23, 2026 following his arrest on charges of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme involving liquor licenses, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Sameh Aboelata, 50, of Raritan Township, New Jersey, was charged in a four-count criminal complaint with one count of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. Aboelata had his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge James B. Clark, III in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in Court:
As alleged, between 2016 and 2023, Aboelata obtained more than $17 million from a victim investor by claiming he would use the victim’s money to acquire and maintain liquor licenses. In reality, Aboelata used the money to line his own pockets, including for casino-related transactions, transfers or checks to family members or associates, rental payments for Aboelata’s restaurant, and transfers to other related bank accounts. Financial records show that only several thousand dollars of the $17 million was actually used to acquire and maintain liquor licenses.
The charge of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary gain that anyone derived from the offense or of any pecuniary loss sustained by any victims of the offense, whichever is greatest. Each charge of money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of criminally derived property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater.
Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited agents of the IRS Criminal Investigation Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanks the USPIS Newark Division, Homeland Security Investigations Newark, and Raritan Township Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
The Government is represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachelle M. Navarro and Mark Pesce of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Rahul Sharma, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark
Houston man convicted of distributing fentanyl that resulted in deaths in two statesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 25-year local resident has entered a guilty plea to distribution of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl that lead to the deaths of two people, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Antonio Curo admitted he distributed the drug through the U.S. mail to individuals across the country.
Specifically, Curo distributed fentanyl to a 16-year-old female in Houston who died after consuming pills that contained fentanyl. He had directly provided the counterfeit pills to the minor victim. The victim’s father found her in her room deceased with an imprinted “M-30” pill in a small, orange plastic bag next to her body. Laboratory testing confirmed the pill contained fentanyl.
Curo also acknowledged he was responsible for the death of a 24-year-old man in Connecticut. The victim ordered pills via social media and instant messaging service, and Curo sent them through the mail. The victim’s girlfriend saw him receive the package and ingest the pills before he died.
Curo admitted he was aware of the deaths and knew he was selling fentanyl.
“Curo knowingly distributed counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, showing a complete disregard for the law and human life,” said Ganjei. “The facts are incredibly clear: one pill can kill. Now, two more young lives have been lost to this scourge, and two families will endure a lifetime of grief all because a criminal placed money before morality. My office will always protect the families within the Southern District of Texas by aggressively prosecuting those who seek to poison our community.”
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the plea and set sentencing for April 30, at which time Curo faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of partner agencies in Vermont and Iowa, USPIS – Office of Inspector General, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force, Houston Police Department and Harris County Sherriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anibal J. Alaniz and Casey N. MacDonald are prosecuting the case.
Honduran National Guilty of Illegal Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MIGUEL ANGEL LOPEZ-MEJIA (“LOPEZ-MEJIA”), age 34, pled guilty on January 15, 2026, to illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the charging document, LOPEZ-MEJIA was found in the United States on October 16, 2025, having reentered the United States, without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on August 18, 2008.
LOPEZ-MEJIA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years, followed by up to one (1) year of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge 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).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Customs and Border Protection in investigating this case. Special Assistant United States Attorney Frederick Veters, Jr., of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Honduran Man Charged with Re-Entry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CARLOS ALBERTO ESCOBAR-LOZA (“ESCOBAR-LOZA”), age 47, a native of Honduras, was charged on January 21, 2026, by bill of information with re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the charging document, the defendant was found in the United States on December 26, 2025, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on July 2, 2012.
ESCOBAR-LOZA faces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for re-entry of a removed alien.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge 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).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Hammond Man Guilty of Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – KENYARIE GUZMAN (“GUZMAN”), age 30, of Hammond, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo on January 14, 2026, to distribution of a quantity of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) (Count 1). GUZMAN also pled guilty to distribution of forty grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B) (Count 2), as well as possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) (Count 3), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, in 2024, the Hammond Police Department learned that GUZMAN was distributing narcotics in Hammond and Pontchatoula, Louisiana. On February 27, 2025, under the direction of the Hammond Police Department (HPD), a person GUZMAN believed to be a legitimate buyer, purchased 8.39 grams of heroin and fentanyl from GUZMAN at a residence in Pontchatoula. On March 11, 2025, under the direction of the HPD, the confidential source purchased 43.01 grams of fentanyl and heroin from GUZMAN. After the two purchases, law enforcement executed a search warrant at GUZMAN’S residence and seized 15.61 grams of heroin and fentanyl.
For Counts 1 and 3, GUZMAN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years. For Count 2, GUZMAN faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years, a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and term of supervised release of at least 4 years. GUZMAN also faces a mandatory special assessment fee of $300.00.
This case is being investigated by the Office of Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the Hammond Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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).
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 New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
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Georgia Chiropractor Convicted of Healthcare FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS,LOUISIANA –United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that STEVEN D. PEYROUX (“PEYROUX”), age 56, of Canton, Georgia, pled guilty on January 15, 2026 to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1347 and 1349, in connection with a scheme to bill Medicare millions of dollars for over-the-counter (“OTC”) COVID-19 tests that were neither requested nor eligible for reimbursement.
According to court documents, PEYROUX, a chiropractor, conspired with others to pay and receive kickbacks in exchange for Medicare beneficiary information nationwide, including names, Medicare identification numbers, and fabricated recordings of individuals posing as beneficiaries and requesting OTC COVID-19 tests, which they used to bill Medicare for OTC COVID-19 tests that were not requested. In an attempt to avoid Medicare scrutiny, PEYROUX and co-conspirators solicited multiple providers to join the scheme, who they directed to enter into sham agreements and make false statements in response to Medicare audits, to conceal the misconduct. Under the terms of PEYROUX’s plea agreement, PEYROUX agreed to over $6.5 million in restitution owed to Medicare.
United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter set sentencing for May 14, 2026.
At sentencing, the maximum penalty PEYROUX may receive is ten years of imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under 18 U.S.C. § 3571, or both. PEYROUX also faces a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas D. Moses, of the Financial Crimes Unit and Health Care Fraud Coordinator, and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters, of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, are in charge of the prosecution.
Gainesville Man Sentenced to over 22 Years in Prison for Drug and Gun Crimes Committed While on Federal SupervisionRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Dovico Raynard Miles, a/k/a “Vico,” 47, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to a total of 270 months in prison after pleading guilty to narcotics and firearm offenses as well as violating the terms of his federal supervised release. The defendant pleaded guilty to three federal charges: possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, 500 Grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine, 28 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base, N,N-Dimethlpentylone, and marijuana; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This is yet another successful prosecution under Operation Take Back America, through which President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have unleashed the full might of the Department of Justice to eliminate the threats to the safety of our communities by drug traffickers and violent felons, like this defendant. We will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute anyone who peddles this poison on our streets.”
Court documents reflect that in 2022 two armed robbers kicked in the front door of the defendant’s residence intending to steal drugs and cash. During the home invasion, one of the robbers shot and killed the defendant’s niece. After the defendant returned gun fire and both robbers fled, the defendant proceeded to hide large quantities of drugs and firearms in the backyard. Law enforcement ultimately recovered over 1,000 grams of cocaine, over 70 grams of cocaine base, over 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, over 70 grams of marijuana, multiple firearms, and over $10,000 in cash.
At the time of the investigation, the defendant was on federal supervised release for a 2008 conviction involving trafficking cocaine and cocaine base. The defendant was also prohibited from possessing firearms after having been convicted of eight different felonies.
“We have zero tolerance for violent crime and will work with all our partners to seek justice,” said Chief Nelson Moya, Gainesville Police Department. “Keeping our community safe from guns and drugs will always be a priority.”
“Floridians are much safer with this violent drug dealer behind bars,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Harrell. “This joint investigation is yet another reminder that serious crimes come with serious penalties.”
“Bringing this poly-drug distributor to justice will make North Florida communities safer,” said DEA Miami Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Bobbitt. “Methamphetamine can tear apart families and its impact on communities is immeasurable.”
The defendant was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment for his gun and drug crimes. He received an additional 30 months’ for violating the terms of his supervised release. Following his term of incarceration, the defendant will be on federal supervised release again for an additional ten years.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner and Former Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Elsey.
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 and drug trafficking.
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.
Former local resident convicted for possessing over 500 images of child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 26-year-old Virginia man who previously resided in Corpus Christi has been found guilty despite claiming he was unaware it was illegal to possess child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei
The jury deliberated for approximately nine hours before convicting Anthony Porche following a three-day trial.
The investigation began in October 2023 when authorities discovered Porche had been engaging in activity involving images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material.
At trial, the jury heard how law enforcement executed a search warrant at Porche’s residence and seized his electronic devices. A physical search of his cellphone resulted in the discovery of several pornographic images.
Porche admitted he downloaded child pornography on his phone over a few months and that there were at least five images of child pornography on his device.
Forensic analysis resulted in the discovery of approximately 500 images and videos depicting CSAM. Evidence further revealed that some of images depicted prepubescent children engaging in sexually explicit conduct and in lewd or lascivious poses.
The defense attempted to convince the jury Porche was insane due to his autism diagnosis, therefore not fully aware of his conduct and unable to understand his viewing and possessing CSAM was illegal. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for April 23. At that time, Porche faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Porche was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Overman and Izaak Bruce are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Former Treasurer of New Mexico Abbey Indicted for $2 Million Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been indicted for allegedly stealing more than $2 million in funds from the Norbertine Community of New Mexico and Santa María de la Vid Abbey and filing a false federal tax return.
According to court records, from May 2022 to March 2023, James Joseph Owens, 68, a former member of the Norbertine Community of New Mexico (NCNM) and the treasurer for NCNM and Santa María de la Vid Abbey, allegedly abused his position of trust by transferring more than $2 million in abbey funds to accounts he controlled, including accounts associated with a nonprofit law practice he established, and used the funds for personal benefit, including deposits into investment accounts and the purchase of a residence in Placitas, New Mexico.
Prosecutors further allege Owens conducted domestic and international wire transfers, brokerage and cryptocurrency transactions, and other monetary transactions to conceal the origin of the funds and increase his profits from his crimes. Owens also allegedly failed to report the income derived from these transactions on his 2022 federal tax return and filed a false amended return that substantially understated his taxable income, thereby concealing the misappropriation from the Internal Revenue Service.
Owens is federally charged with eight counts of wire fraud, 23 counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity and one count of attempt to evade and defeat tax. If convicted, Owens faces up to 20 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory of IRS Criminal Investigation's Phoenix Field Office, made the announcement today.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.
View the Indictmnent (Owens).pdfAn indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former St. Louis Alderman Convicted of Fraud, Lying to the FBIRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A federal jury on Friday convicted former St. Louis Alderman Brandon Bosley of charges related to insurance fraud and lying to the FBI.
Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis found Bosley, 38, guilty of three felony wire fraud charges and one count of making a false statement to the FBI.
Bosley’s 2010 Toyota Prius was hit by another vehicle in September of 2021. The Prius was parked at the time and there was initially confusion over whether the driver was insured. The drivers’ insurance company contacted Bosley in February of 2022 and told him that they would pay for the damage. By the next day, Bosley had hatched a scheme to defraud the insurance company by falsely inflating the cost of needed repairs, evidence and trial testimony showed. He first contacted the auto repair shop owner who had sold him the used Prius in March of 2021 for the steeply discounted price of $500. Bosley then asked the business owner to prepare and submit an inflated repair estimate to the insurance company, hoping that the car would be totaled and the insurance company would pay Bosley its current value, evidence and testimony showed. “Mark that (expletive) all the way up,” Bosley told the business owner during the conversation, which was captured on audio and video. In return, Bosley said that he would pay a bribe to the business owner. Bosley also discussed buying the car back if it was totaled, and then paying for the actual estimated repair costs of $2,000 to $2,200, thus retaining the car while fraudulently netting thousands of dollars.
After the insurance company balked at the initial repair estimate of about $6,800, Bosley caused a second estimate of $4,333 to be submitted. The insurance company did agree to total the car and paid Bosley $7,978.90.
In March of 2023, Bosley was interviewed by FBI agents with his lawyer present. Jurors on Friday found that that he repeatedly lied. He falsely stated to agents that he never saw the two false repair bills that were prepared after the accident. He falsely claimed the repair estimates were not inflated. He also denied asking the repair estimates to be inflated.
The trial began with jury selection Tuesday.
Bosley is scheduled to be sentenced April 28. Each wire fraud charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The making false statement charge is punishable by up to five years in prison.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hal Goldsmith and Matthew Martin are prosecuting the case.
Former Quincy Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Nearly 10 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Quincy man, currently residing in Las Vegas, Nev., was sentenced on Jan. 21, 2026 in federal court in Boston for distribution of methamphetamine.
Samuel Jean-Baptiste, a/k/a “Jett Black,” 39, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In September 2025, Jean-Baptiste pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Jean-Baptiste was arrested in May 2024 and was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024.
In early July 2023, Jean-Baptiste was identified as a significant distributor of controlled substances in the Boston area. A confidential source made three controlled purchases totaling over 680 grams of fentanyl from Jean-Baptiste. In the subsequent months, Jean-Baptiste communicated with a second confidential source to set up a sale of approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine. On May 29, 2024, Jean-Baptiste arrived at an agreed-upon location for the sale of methamphetamine and was subsequently arrested. At the time of his arrest Jean-Baptiste was carrying a backpack that contained approximately 10 pounds of suspected methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit 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. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.Former Miami Heat Security Employee Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay Nearly $1.9 Million in RestitutionRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A former Miami Heat security officer has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,889,931.91 in restitution for stealing hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other valuable sports memorabilia from the team and selling the stolen items across state lines for personal profit.
U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez imposed the sentence on Marcos Tomas Perez, 62, of Miami, who previously pleaded guilty to transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce.
“This defendant was a former police officer who betrayed the public trust and exploited his access to our beloved hometown team for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The Miami Heat represent excellence built through hard work and discipline in South Florida — and this conduct was the opposite. This sentence and restitution order make clear that no badge, no past service, and no proximity to prestige shields anyone from accountability under the law.”
According to court documents, Perez, a 25-year retired veteran of the City of Miami Police Department, was employed as a security officer with the Miami Heat from 2016 to 2021 and later worked as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025. During his tenure, Perez worked on the game-day security detail at the Kaseya Center, where he had access to a secured equipment room that stored hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia set aside for a future Miami Heat Museum.
While employed in these positions, Perez stole more than 400 jerseys and other items from the secured equipment room. Over a three-and-a-half-year period, Perez sold more than 100 stolen items on various online marketplaces, often at prices well below their market value. For example, Perez sold a game-worn LeBron James Miami Heat NBA Finals jersey for approximately $100,000. That same jersey was later sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $3.7 million.
On April 3, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perez’s residence and recovered nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia, which the Miami Heat confirmed had been stolen from their facility.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case. U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, and the Miami Police Department provided invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moore and Jon Juenger prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raemy Charest-Turken handled asset forfeiture.
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-20346.
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Former Commissioner of Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation Sentenced for Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
A former Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation (SP&R), Calvert White, was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for soliciting and accepting a bribe from a government contractor in exchange for assistance in attempting to obtain a $1.43 million dollar government contract. His co-conspirator, Benjamin Hendricks, was also sentenced yesterday to 68 months in prison for his role in the same scheme.
“Calvert White rigged a public bid process in exchange for a bribe,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He abused the trust of those who live in the community he was supposed to serve. The Criminal Division will continue to prosecute government corruption. Such conduct undermines the integrity of our institutions at every level of government.”
“The defendants’ convictions send a message: public corruption is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by our community,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper for the District of the Virgin Islands.
Public officials take an oath based on trust and assume a responsibility of service to the people,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Claudia Dubravetz of the FBI San Juan Field Office. “When that trust is violated through acts of corruption, it undermines confidence in government and harms the communities it is meant to serve. This is unacceptable, and the FBI will continue to work with our partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who abuse their positions for personal gain.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, White solicited and accepted a bribe from a government contractor, David Whitaker, through Hendricks, who acted as an intermediary to facilitate payment of the bribe. The scheme lasted about seven months, beginning in at least December 2023 and continuing until the FBI approached the defendants in June 2024. As part of the scheme, in December 2023, White demanded the bribe from Whitaker to be later paid through Hendricks. In exchange for the bribe, White agreed to assist Whitaker in obtaining a valuable contract for the installation of security cameras at SP&R properties in the Virgin Islands. As part of the scheme, White provided confidential bid information to Whitaker and took official action to encourage the awarding of the contract to Whitaker. During the bid selection process, Whitaker sent the bribe payment to a bank account controlled by Hendricks, who later delivered the funds to White.
The jury convicted both White and Hendricks of one count of honest services wire fraud, and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
The FBI San Juan Field Office, St. Thomas Resident Agency investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case. Former PIN Trial Attorney Lina Peng also provided significant assistance in the investigation and prosecution.
Former Commissioner of Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation Sentenced for Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI –United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that on January 23, 2026, former Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation (SP&R), Calvert White, was sentenced to five years in prison for soliciting and accepting a bribe from a government contractor in exchange for assistance in attempting to obtain a $1.43 million dollar government contract. His co-conspirator, Benjamin Hendricks, was also sentenced yesterday to 68 months in prison for his role in the same scheme.
“Calvert White rigged a public bid process in exchange for a bribe,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He abused the trust of those who live in the community he was supposed to serve. The Criminal Division will continue to prosecute government corruption. Such conduct undermines the integrity of our institutions at every level of government.”
“The defendants’ convictions send a message: public corruption is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by our community,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper for the District of the Virgin Islands.
“This case sends a clear message that public corruption will not be tolerated at any level. The resources meant to benefit the people of the Virgin Islands, must be respected,” said Claudia Dubravetz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to working alongside our partners to safeguard public funds, and ensure integrity in government contracting by pursuing and imposing consequences on those who would exploit the system.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, White solicited and accepted a bribe from a government contractor, David Whitaker, through Hendricks, who acted as an intermediary to facilitate payment of the bribe. The scheme lasted about seven months, beginning in at least December 2023 and continuing until the FBI approached the defendants in June 2024. As part of the scheme, in December 2023, White demanded the bribe from Whitaker to be later paid through Hendricks. In exchange for the bribe, White agreed to assist Whitaker in obtaining a valuable contract for the installation of security cameras at SP&R properties in the Virgin Islands. As part of the scheme, White provided confidential bid information to Whitaker and took official action to encourage the awarding of the contract to Whitaker. During the bid selection process, Whitaker sent the bribe payment to a bank account controlled by Hendricks, who later delivered the funds to White.
The jury convicted both White and Hendricks of one count of honest services wire fraud, and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
The FBI San Juan Field Office, St. Thomas Resident Agency investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case. Former PIN Trial Attorney Lina Peng and former AUSA Michael Conley also provided significant assistance in the investigation and prosecution.Former Baltimore City Council Candidate Sentenced for Bank Fraud and False Statements in Connection with $1.7 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Nichelle Henson, 38, of Baltimore, Maryland, to four years in federal prison for bank fraud and making false statements in connection with filing fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans applications. Henson filed the applications in the names of multiple purported businesses that she previously incorporated in the state of Maryland.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Henson incorporated several businesses with the State of Maryland, including Crowns Construction, LLC; Nichelle Henson Campaign, LLC; One Stop for Services, LLC; Your Friendly Tax Preparation Services, LLC; Women Entrepreneurs Can Succeed, LLC; and Peace of Mind Services, Inc. Henson opened bank accounts in the names of some of her businesses and obtained Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the businesses.
In 2020 and 2021, she submitted six fraudulent EIDL applications to the SBA for her various businesses that contained false information concerning each business’s gross receipts, costs of goods sold, and number of employees. At the time of the submissions, none of the businesses were operating, and none of the businesses had employees. As a result of the applications, Henson received $18,000 in United States Treasury funds from the SBA.
Additionally, between April 30, 2020, and June 29, 2020, Henson submitted six PPP applications for her various businesses. One of these businesses, Nichelle Henson Campaign, served as an entity designed to fund Henson’s run for Baltimore City Council. However, on May 10, 2020, Henson submitted the application for the campaign, but she withdrew her candidacy back on November 19, 2019. Henson ultimately obtained $998,590 as a result of these six fraudulent applications.
Then on January 19, 2021, Henson submitted six more fraudulent PPP loan applications, this time to M&T Bank, for each of her six purported businesses. Each of these applications contained lies about the existence of each business, the number of their employees, and payroll paid.
In total, Henson obtained $1,692,840 in connection with her scheme to defraud. Henson used the PPP funds she received in multiple impermissible ways under the PPP, including for cosmetic surgery, extensive renovations to her home and a family member’s home, a year’s rent payment for her personal home, a year’s rent payment for a new business venture, and to fund other new business ventures. The business endeavors included a used-car dealership, which never opened, and creating a cryptocurrency called Subina Coin, to relatedly, fund an entity called the “Adageyhdi Indian Nation.”
This case is part of the District of Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force, a Strike Force that is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information about the Department’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.
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 Hayes commended the FBI and Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Fraud Task Force for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Wenner, who prosecuted the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Julie Jarman for her valuable assistance.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Five Arrested for Conspiring to Launder Tens of Millions of Dollars in Illicit Cash ProceedsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Four Brazilian nationals made their initial appearances in federal court Wednesday after a grand jury returned an indictment charging multiple defendants for their roles in a conspiracy to launder tens of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds, including drug money.
According to court documents, Ygor Fokin Saviolli, 35; Gabriel Cezar Menezes, 29; Joao Andrade De Mello, 29; and Leandro De Avila Goncalves, 42 — all Brazilian nationals — and Omar Aliperti De Mello Correa, 34, were part of a sophisticated money laundering organization that operated throughout the U.S. and across multiple countries.
As alleged, the defendants served as facilitators and couriers who deposited large amounts of illicit cash, including drug proceeds, into financial institutions across the U.S. to conceal the source of the funds and return profits to, among others, the sources of drug supply. During the course of the conspiracy, the organization concealed more than $30 million in cash.
Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. If convicted, Saviolli, Menezes, Andrade De Mello, and De Avila Goncalves would also be subject to removal proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rochester Office, Homeland Security Investigation’s Miami and Brasilia Offices, and FBI Orlando.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys James Hepburn and Jessee Alexander-Hoeppner of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Gonzalez for the Western District of New York.
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 the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Miami Office, Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rochester Office, Homeland Security Investigation’s Miami and Brasilia Offices, and FBI Orlando with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Miami.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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-20545.
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Felon Who Had Been Found Unconscious on Sidewalk Sentenced for Possession of Semiautomatic PistolRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Andre Foster, 49, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 15 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a Glock 19 pistol that had been modified for fully automatic fire, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Foster pleaded guilty Oct. 24, 2025, before Judge Amy Berman Jackson to one of count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In addition to the 15- month prison sentence, Judge Berman Jackson ordered Forster to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Metropolitan Police officers and emergency workers were called April 15, 2025, to the 2500 block of Sheridan Road, SE, for a report of an unconcious man on the sidewalk.
As EMT personnel rendered aid. Foster regained consciousness and MPD officers observed a firearm protruding from Foster’s right-side jacket pocket. The firearm was a Glock19 9mm handgun loaded with a 17-round extended magazine containing 14 rounds of ammunition and one round in the chamber. The Glock also was modified with a “giggle switch” that allowed the firearm to function as a machine gun.
Foster previously had been convicted of attempted distribution of cocaine and sentenced in Superior Court to three-to-nine years in prison. Because of his conviction, he was prohibited from carrying any firearm.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Roman.
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Federal Government Seeks Further Review After Release of Convicted Murderer from Immigration CustodyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS — The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada will seek further legal action after a court ordered the release of a man convicted of murder and identified by the Department of Homeland Security as a member of the MS-13 gang. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II ordered the release over the government’s objection.
“Our office remains committed to protecting public safety and enforcing the law remain top priorities,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “In this matter, however, the outcome results in the release of a convicted murderer and known MS-13 gang member into the community, raising serious public-safety concerns. We are deeply troubled by the risks posed to the public and will continue to pursue all lawful avenues to address those concerns and safeguard the community.”
The individual has a final order of removal from the United States. Under federal law, people with final removal orders are required to remain in immigration custody for a set period of time so that removal can be carried out and to help protect public safety. The government maintains that releasing this individual conflicts with that law.
While the individual’s immigration case was ongoing, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit declined to stop his removal and ordered that removal should proceed. That decision triggered the mandatory detention period required by federal immigration law.
In accordance with the Court’s Order, the individual was released on January 21, 2026. If the individual was not released from detention the federal government faced sanction by the Court, including being held in contempt for failing to follow the Court's Order.
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Former Physician Sentenced to over Seven Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Jesse Roger Armstrong, 35, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to ninety months in prison after previously pleading guilty to distribution of child pornography. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “Our state and federal law enforcement partners are committed to identifying, investigating, and rooting out the scourge of exploitation and sexual abuse of children online, and my office will continue to back up those efforts with aggressive prosecutions of anyone found to be peddling in child sexual abuse material. Keeping our kids safe is the highest priority for my office, and it begins with sending predators like this defendant to prison.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant knowingly uploaded images of child pornography to the Internet while searching for additional child pornography. Detectives with the Gainesville Police Department also located additional files of child pornography and images of sexual bestiality on the defendant’s electronic devices at his residence. At the time of these offenses, Armstrong was completing his residency in the psychiatric division of a local hospital.
“Keeping our children safe online is a priority,” said Chief Nelson Moya, Gainesville Police Department. “We will continue to pursue anyone who chooses to prey on our children via the internet.”
“HSI is committed to protecting children from exploitation, especially when offenders are in trusted roles like physicians,” said Nick Ingegno, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for HSI in Tallahassee. “Abusing that trust is unacceptable, and we will continue working with our partners to hold these individuals accountable and safeguard our communities.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
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 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.
Florida Attorney’s Racketeering Conviction for Defrauding Nfl Players & Other Clients Affirmed by the Eleventh CircuitRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – On January 7, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of Phillip Timothy Howard, 64, of Tallahassee, Florida. Howard is serving a 14-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to racketeering (RICO) in 2023. The affirmance was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
United States Attorney Heekin said, “This defendant repeatedly violated the trust placed in him by his clients, enriching himself by defrauding them of millions of dollars, and continued to try to evade accountability for his crimes even after he was found guilty. As this appellate victory makes clear, my office not only zealously advocates for criminal fraud victims at trial, but also ensures our successful prosecutions stick and criminals are held fully accountable.”
Court documents reflect between December 2015 and January 2018, Howard, a Florida attorney, used his Tallahassee law firm Howard & Associates, P.A., to commit wire fraud and money laundering through a racketeering enterprise. Howard defrauded several of his clients, including National Football League players, third-party litigation lenders, and a university professor. In all, Howard fraudulently obtained more than $12 million from his victims.
Howard’s appellate attacks on the validity of his prior guilty plea, the total loss attributable to his fraud scheme, and the severity of his sentence were well-rebutted in briefs filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office defending the conviction and sentence. Judges on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals fully agreed with the positions of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and affirmed the conviction and sentence in an unpublished opinion without requiring oral argument.
This conviction was the result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigations, with assistance from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Assistant United States Attorney Jordane New handled the appeal before the Eleventh Circuit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen and former Assistant United States Attorney David P. Byron.
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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Executive Director of South L.A.-Based Charity Arrested on Federal Complaint Alleging $23 Million Swindle of Homelessness FundsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Westwood man was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with fraudulently obtaining $23 million in public money intended to combat homelessness and pocketing at least $10 million of it, including using it for a $7 million house in Westwood, $125,000 Range Rover, private school tuition for his children, private jet travel, and stays at luxury resorts.
Alexander Soofer, 42, is charged with wire fraud. He was arrested this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
“California is the poster child of rampant fraud, waste, and abuse of tax dollars,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The state has facilitated the spending of billions of dollars to combat homelessness, with little to show for it and almost no oversight. Thankfully, the federal government has begun auditing California’s spending and today’s is just one example of how fraudsters have swindled millions of dollars from taxpayers. This money should have gone to those in need, instead in lines the pockets of individuals subsidizing their lavish lifestyle.”
“Soofer allegedly prioritized his own greed over decency and respect for the laws of our country,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain dedicated to investigating and holding accountable those, like Soofer, who we contend flagrantly disregarded our laws by seeking to enrich himself at the public’s expense.”
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Soofer is the executive director of Abundant Blessings, a Hyde Park-based charity. Through this charity, Soofer contracted with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to provide housing for people who were homeless or were at risk of becoming homeless. By July 2023, Soofer had multiple contracts with LAHSA to provide housing and supportive services to more than 600 homeless program participants at multiple sites across South Los Angeles.
In total, between 2018 and 2025, Soofer received more than $23 million in homeless housing funding. Of that, more than $5 million came directly from LAHSA and more than $17 million came through a downtown Los Angeles-based non-profit called Special Service for Groups Inc.
In some contracts, Soofer agreed to house participants at sites he managed. In other contracts, he committed to pay third parties, including hotels or motels, to provide this housing. And regardless of where participants were housed, Soofer committed to provide participants with three meals a day, which the contracts defined as meals that were healthy, balanced, and met participants’ nutritional needs.
But Soofer lied to LAHSA about how he was using the taxpayer money his charity received, falsely stating he used it exclusively to combat the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, when he was misappropriating millions of dollars for himself. He also lied about payments supposedly being made to third party vendors for homeless housing services and took steps to conceal that he was diverting the money to his personal bank accounts.
He also made it falsely appear he was leasing properties for homeless housing from third-party landlords at a market rate, when he was instead paying himself above market rate and again misappropriating money that could have been used to help alleviate the homeless housing crisis.
To cover up the fraud, Soofer fabricated fake and misleading invoices – at times stealing the names, addresses, and logos of real companies – to make it appear that the vendor and rent payments were legitimate.
When a LAHSA investigator asked Soofer if his charity’s board knew how he was spending money, he said they did, but the investigator later learned that the board was fake – some of the people did not exist, and others had never heard of Abundant Blessings or Soofer.
Soofer further failed to appropriately shelter and feed the homeless housing participants at his sites. After receiving hotline complaints and noticing discrepancies in Soofer’s billing and services, city and county investigators conducted site visits and found the only food items being served at these sites were things such as Ramen noodles, canned beans, and breakfast bars – which was in contrast to the three-meal-a-day commitment Soofer had made and for which the City of Los Angeles had paid.
Rather than providing the services for which he billed these public entities, Soofer pocketed at least $10 million. He used that public money for a down payment on his $7 million Westwood home, millions of dollars of upgrades to that home, private schooling for his children, lavish spending in Las Vegas, private jet travel, and stays at luxury resorts across the United States – from Hawaii to Florida. Soofer also appeared to use $475,000 to purchase a vacation property in Greece, sending this money to a Greek property developer.
“Alexander Soofer is alleged to have stolen millions of dollars designated to combat homelessness in Los Angeles,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “These funds were intended to support the city’s most vulnerable residents. IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to pursuing those who exploit public programs for personal gain. Today’s action demonstrates our determination to hold accountable individuals who misuse taxpayer dollars for self-enrichment.”
“Soofer is charged with embezzling funds designated to provide services for homeless individuals – some of the most vulnerable, struggling members of our community,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Aaron McCullough with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG). “HUD-OIG remains committed to working alongside our partners on the Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Joint Task Force to aggressively pursue individuals who compromise the integrity of HUD programs and exploit communities in need.”
A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
If convicted, Soofer would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kerry L. Quinn and Kevin B. Reidy of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.
Eastern District of Texas recognizes National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – Today the Eastern District of Texas observes National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and joins the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) in reaffirming the administration’s commitment to combating all forms of human trafficking and protecting victims and survivors. Human Trafficking Prevention Month presents an opportunity for DHS and DOJ, through Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) to intensify operational efforts, raise public awareness, and strengthen partnerships across federal, state, and local agencies to disrupt trafficking networks, protect vulnerable individuals, and ensure traffickers are brought to justice.
“This Department of Justice is working tirelessly alongside our partners to dismantle human trafficking networks, help survivors, and protect vulnerable populations from being exploited,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Under this administration we have seen an increase in human trafficking prosecutions, and during Human Trafficking Prevention Month we reaffirm our commitment to prosecuting traffickers and encourage Americans to report instances of human trafficking in their communities.”
“Through the Homeland Security Task Force, President Trump is taking the fight directly to human trafficking networks and disrupting their modern-day slave trade while seizing their assets and arresting their kingpins and foot soldiers. The American people should not have to live in fear of cartels, gang bangers, and foreign terrorists preying upon the most vulnerable among us,” the United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. “The Homeland Security Task Force is the largest coordinated campaign against transnational criminal organizations in U.S. history, and I’m proud to co-lead it with Attorney General Bondi.”
“During Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the FBI reiterates our work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and national victim-based advocacy groups in joint task forces to protect our communities across the country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The horrifying reach of human trafficking spreads far and wide. Homeland Security Task Forces are fighting back to disrupt these perilous networks and put a stop to that reach. The FBI will continue our investigations and bring justice to those exploited by human traffickers.
“The premise of Operation Take Back America is protecting our Homeland, which is particularly fitting today as we recognize Human Trafficking Prevention Month,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “There is no greater fight than this, but regardless of the month, from January 1st to December 31st every year, we will continue to seek justice for all victims of Human Trafficking.”
In January 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. Section 6 of this order directed the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to jointly establish HSTFs in every state nationwide. The HSTF objective is to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) throughout the United States; dismantle cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks; end the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking, with a particular focus on such offenses involving children; and ensure the use of all available law enforcement tools to faithfully execute the immigration laws of the United States.
Since January 20, 2025, the Eastern District of Texas has handled multiple cases involving Human Trafficking, including:
- Obtained convictions against sex traffickers who forced women to engage in commercial sex by means of force, including beatings, tasers, shock collars, frigid showers, unwanted tattoos, and acts of humiliation.
- Secured Seven Life sentences for a man who trafficked teenage girls, some as young as 13, for commercial sex
- Successfully prosecuted an individual for trafficking women across the country for prostitution and severely beating them when they attempted to leave
- Charged an individual with sex trafficking violations
In January 2026, DHS and DOJ are surging resources to fight and raise awareness about human trafficking, including:
- Identifying ongoing investigations and prioritizing featured operations across 45 federal locations and 10 state locations with an emphasis on border states.
- Coordinating with FBI Human Trafficking Squads and multi-agency Human Trafficking Task Forces to conduct victim recovery.
- Partnering with AMTRAK and FAMS to increase law enforcement resources and distribute posters with QR codes for reporting human trafficking in all station bathrooms and trains.
- Running advertisements related to $250 million recovery from Backpage to distribute to victims and additional victim restitution efforts by DOL-OIG.
- Organizing Human Trafficking seminars and outreach events with DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking at high schools and colleges to highlight the role of HSTFs in addressing human trafficking.
On August 25, 2025, HSTF officially launched its effort to protect the Homeland with a September Surge encompassing 400 operations nationwide. In just 43 days, HSTF nationwide operations resulted in 3,266 arrests and seizures including:
- 1,041 Sinaloa members,
- 856 Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (“CJNG”) members,
- 641 MS-13 members,
- 456 Tren de Aragua members,
- 1,067 weapons
- More than $3,250,000 in currency
- Approximately 91 metric tons of narcotics
Dominican National Living in Waterbury under False Identity Charged with Passport Fraud, Identity Theft OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian Wood, Special Agent in Charge, Diplomatic Security Service, New York Field Office, today announced that JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ, 46, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Waterbury, has been charged by indictment with passport fraud and identity theft offenses.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in June 2025, an individual who had been recently released from prison (the “victim”) applied for a Connecticut identification card at the Waterbury branch of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”). When processing the victim’s application, the DMV determined that there was already an active driver’s license for the victim that had been issued in 2001 and renewed multiple times. An investigation determined that Rodriguez was the unlawful holder of the driver’s license and had assumed the victim’s identity.
It is further alleged that on March 5, 2020, Rodriguez used the name, date of birth, and place of birth of the victim to apply for a U.S. passport in Waterbury. He received the passport and used it for travel and identification purposes.
Rodriguez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on December 30, 2025, after he submitted the false passport to the U.S. Department of State and falsely represented himself as a U.S. citizen.
On January 13, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Rodriguez with one count of making a false statement in a passport application and one count of using a passport secured by a false statement, charges that carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count, and one count of aggravated identity theft, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of two years.
Rodriguez has been detained since his arrest. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles and the Waterbury Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.
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.
District Man Receives Sentence of 32 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing a 12-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Darran Joyner, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 32 years in prison for sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl on multiple occasions, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Joyner was convicted by a Superior Court jury on July 8, 2025, on seven felony charges, including multiple counts of first- and second-degree child sexual abuse. In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Todd Edelman ordered Joyner to serve 10 years of supervision. He also will be required to register as a sex offender.
According to the government’s evidence, on May 27, 2023, the twelve-year-old victim was spending Memorial Day weekend with Joyner and Joyner’s girlfriend and slept in the bed with them. In the early morning of May 28, 2023, Joyner’s girlfriend pulled back the covers and saw that the Joyner’s hand was inside of the front of the victim’s pants. Later that night Joyner texted the victim, first asking her to lie about the sexual abuse, then asking the victim if she wanted him to touch her. Joyner raped the victim after sending the text messages. On May 29, the victim disclosed the abuse to her mother. Joyner’s DNA was on swabs collected during the victim’s sexual assault examination. The victim told the jury that the May incident was not the first time that Joyner had abused her, and that he had also raped her at his house, also located in Washington, D.C.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Victim Advocates Maria Sanchez-Garcia and Johnny Da Silva; Paralegals Nancy Murillo and Veronica Yale; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Folse and Richard Kelley, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
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District Man Charged with Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A complaint was unsealed today charging Angel Anthony Rios, 29, of the District of Columbia, with distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Those who exploit children will find no refuge,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My office will pursue swift and decisive prosecution of anyone involved in the creation, possession, or distribution of child sexual abuse material.”
According to court documents, starting on Dec. 18, 2025, Rios exchanged messages with another user on X regarding a variety of topics including politics. Rios ultimately stated that he has a sexual interest in children. He further stated that he communicated with the father of a three-year-old boy who sent Rios videos depicting his sexual abuse of his son. Rios distributed five videos depicting the abuse of the three-year-old son. During the course of his communications, Rios stated, “Kids are here to be used.”
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.
This case is being investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Janani Iyengar.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Charges in a complaint are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security Recognize National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) today observe National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and reaffirm the administration’s commitment to combating all forms of human trafficking and protecting victims and survivors. Human Trafficking Prevention Month presents an opportunity for DHS and DOJ, through Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) to intensify operational efforts, raise public awareness, and strengthen partnerships across federal, state, and local agencies to disrupt trafficking networks, protect vulnerable individuals, and ensure traffickers are brought to justice.
“This Department of Justice is working tirelessly alongside our partners to dismantle human trafficking networks, help survivors, and protect vulnerable populations from being exploited,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Under this administration we have seen an increase in human trafficking prosecutions, and during Human Trafficking Prevention Month we reaffirm our commitment to prosecuting traffickers and encourage Americans to report instances of human trafficking in their communities.”
“Through the Homeland Security Task Force, President Trump is taking the fight directly to human trafficking networks and disrupting their modern-day slave trade while seizing their assets and arresting their kingpins and foot soldiers. The American people should not have to live in fear of cartels, gang bangers, and foreign terrorists preying upon the most vulnerable among us,” the United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. “The Homeland Security Task Force is the largest coordinated campaign against transnational criminal organizations in U.S. history, and I’m proud to co-lead it with Attorney General Bondi.”
“During Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the FBI reiterates our work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and national victim-based advocacy groups in joint task forces to protect our communities across the country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The horrifying reach of human trafficking spreads far and wide. Homeland Security Task Forces are fighting back to disrupt these perilous networks and put a stop to that reach. The FBI will continue our investigations and bring justice to those exploited by human traffickers.”
In January 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. Section 6 of this order directed the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to jointly establish HSTFs in every state nationwide. The HSTF objective is to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) throughout the United States; dismantle cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks; end the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking, with a particular focus on such offenses involving children; and ensure the use of all available law enforcement tools to faithfully execute the immigration laws of the United States.
In January 2026, DHS and DOJ are surging resources to fight and raise awareness about human trafficking, including:
- Identifying ongoing investigations and prioritizing featured operations across 45 federal locations and 10 state locations with an emphasis on border states.
- Coordinating with FBI Human Trafficking Squads and multi-agency Human Trafficking Task Forces to conduct victim recovery.
- Partnering with AMTRAK and FAMS to increase law enforcement resources and distribute posters with QR codes for reporting human trafficking in all station bathrooms and trains.
- Running advertisements related to $250 million recovery from Backpage to distribute to victims and additional victim restitution efforts by DOL-OIG.
- Organizing Human Trafficking seminars and outreach events with DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking at high schools and colleges to highlight the role of HSTFs in addressing human trafficking.
On August 25, 2025, HSTF officially launched its effort to protect the Homeland with a September Surge encompassing 400 operations nationwide. In just 43 days, HSTF nationwide operations resulted in 3,266 arrests and seizures including:
- 1,041 Sinaloa members,
- 856 Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (“CJNG”) members,
- 641 MS-13 members,
- 456 Tren de Aragua members,
- 1,067 weapons
- More than $3,250,000 in currency
- Approximately 91 metric tons of narcotics
Since January 20, 2025, the Department of Justice has:
- Secured substantial sentences and landmark convictions against sex traffickers and labor traffickers who used violence, addictive drugs, and psychological coercion to exploit victims in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and beyond.
- Seized $15 billion from a wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy originating from a Cambodian forced labor scam center.
- Secured high-impact sex trafficking indictments in New York against an enterprise associated with the notorious Tren de Aragua Transnational Criminal Organization and in California against traffickers affiliated with local street gangs.
- Pursued extraditions of fugitive traffickers to permanently disrupt and dismantle transnational labor trafficking and sex trafficking enterprises
- Secured sizable restitution orders, including several over a million dollars, to aid victims in their recovery from the unspeakable losses they endured.
- Launched a Remission Portal for survivors of sex trafficking that was facilitated through Backpage or CityXGuide to seek compensation.
- Conducted nationwide crackdowns this month and during Operation Justice for All in August 2025.
- Streamlined and strengthened Joint Task Force Alpha efforts to combat combined human trafficking, human smuggling, and transnational organized crime threats by integrating the Department’s National Human Trafficking Coordinator and human trafficking prosecution experts into the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section; and
- Announced new grant funding opportunities to support victim services for the year ahead.
Davenport Man Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced January 20, 2026, to three years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Areion Marshaun Watson, 29, possessed a loaded pistol, which was recovered during a traffic stop. Watson fled on foot from the passenger’s seat during the stop. He was prohibited from possessing firearms because he was convicted of a felony, including a 2020 conviction for felon in possession of a firearm in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Watson will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
D.C. Man Arrested and Charged with Murder for the Death of 17-Month-Old ChildRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Lawerence Perryman, 76, of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged today, with first-degree cruelty to children and first-degree felony murder for the death of a 17-month-old child on March 12, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Perryman made his initial appearance before Superior Court Magistrate Judge Dorsey Jones on January 23, 2026, where Judge Jones found probable cause that Perryman committed the offense of first-degree cruelty to children and felony murder and ordered that Perryman be held without bond pending a preliminary hearing which is scheduled for February 2, 2026, before Judge Neal Kravitz.
According to court documents, on March 12, 2025, at approximately 7:00 a.m., Perryman contacted 911 for an unconscious 17-month-old child. A post-mortem examination was conducted on the child’s remains and his cause of death was determined to be “Combined Toxic Effects of Diphenhydramine and Methadone.”
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emma McArthur.
These charges are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
2026CF1001259
Collin County man indicted for sex trafficking in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Frisco man has been indicted and charged with federal sex trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Nolan Anthony Ritchie, 29, was named in a six-count indictment returned by a federal grand in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with sex trafficking violations.
If convicted, Ritchie faces up to life in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and the Frisco Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Calli Bailey.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Chester County Woman Charged by Superseding Indictment with Allegedly Running Years-Long Immigration Fraud Scheme, Committing Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Fatima DeMaria, 65, of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, was charged by superseding indictment with eight counts of asylum fraud, eight counts of mail fraud, and four counts of tax evasion. DeMaria was the owner and operator of Immigration Matters Legal Services, located in Oxford, Pa.
The superseding indictment alleges that the defendant falsely represented herself to clients and prospective clients as an immigration attorney who could help undocumented aliens obtain employment authorization or “work permits.” However, DeMaria was neither a licensed attorney, nor accredited or authorized by the Executive Office for Immigration Review to represent individuals in immigration proceedings.
As alleged, from at least December 2021 to July 2024, DeMaria prepared, and caused to be prepared, fraudulent Form I-589 asylum applications in her clients’ names, without their knowledge or consent, knowingly making, and aiding and abetting the making of, false and material misstatements in the I-589 asylum applications.
For example, the defendant caused to be stated on each asylum application that the applicant was “seeking asylum or withholding of removal” based on “political opinion” and “Torture Convention.” Her clients, however, were not seeking asylum based on either of these categories, and never informed DeMaria or anyone at Immigration Matters Legal Services of facts that could make them eligible for asylum under either of these categories.
According to the superseding indictment, DeMaria placed, and caused to be placed, her clients’ signatures on the Form I-589 asylum applications, certifying under penalty of perjury that the applications and supporting evidence were true and correct, again without her clients’ knowledge or consent.
The superseding indictment further alleges that the defendant, and those acting at her direction, failed to advise clients that the mechanism through which she would help them obtain work permits from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was by filing frivolous Form I-589 asylum applications. Nor did the defendant advise clients that, if the asylum applications filed on their behalf were rejected or referred by USCIS, it would result in their being placed in removal proceedings, at which point the filing of the baseless asylum application could jeopardize their eligibility for future immigration benefits.
According to the superseding indictment, DeMaria charged her clients approximately $6,000-$9,000 per individual, and $12,000-$15,000 per couple, for her purported legal services in conjunction with their applications. As alleged in the superseding indictment, she also frequently had her clients pay her in cash or peer-to-peer transactions that were deposited into her personal bank accounts, hundreds of thousands of dollars of which were withdrawn at casinos.
Finally, the superseding indictment alleges that the defendant willfully attempted to evade and defeat a large part of her income tax due and owing by her and her husband to the United States of America for calendar years 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 through various means, including the failure to report substantial business income from Immigration Matters Legal Services in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) filings; deposits of significant amounts of business funds, consisting of lmmigration Matters Legal Services’ gross receipts, into DeMaria’s personal bank accounts; and concealing amounts of DeMaria’s true and correct income, and the frequency with which she deposited money, by structuring cash deposits into her personal and business bank accounts.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 260 years’ imprisonment and a $5 million fine. The government is also seeking forfeiture of the defendant’s alleged ill-gotten earnings, which are alleged to be at least $1 million.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation. USCIS, the Diplomatic Security Service, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service provided assistance. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Solow and Eileen Castilla Geiger.
The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Superseding Indictment - U.S. v. DeMaria
Cheshire Nurse Admits Illegally Distributing Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on January 21, 2026, MICHELE RENE MUZYKA, 61, of Cheshire, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to an offense related to her illegal distribution of controlled substances.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately January 2024 and June 2025, Muzyka, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), unlawfully distributed amphetamines and benzodiazepines to individuals who did not have a legitimate medical need. During office visits, Muzyka did not conduct medical examinations of certain patients and did not confirm conditions that would medically require treatment using these controlled substances. Muzyka charged patients $200 in cash for the office visits in which she prescribed Schedule II and IV controlled substances, including to an undercover agent who posed as a Medicaid beneficiary. Although she was enrolled as a Medicare and Medicaid provider, Muzyka declined to accept the undercover agent’s Medicaid plan and instead charged her $200 cash fee. Medicaid paid $287.58 for the unlawful prescriptions written for the undercover agent.
Muzyka was arrested on June 23, 2025.
Muzyka pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, distribution of, and dispensing of controlled substances, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. She is released on a $75,000 pending sentencing, which is scheduled for April 30.
This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Boyles.
Cherokee County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — David Dustin Fowler, 41, of Gaffney, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in November 2024 Fowler sought and located his estranged wife. He then fired a shotgun at her multiple times, causing her to lose three fingers and sustain other significant injuries requiring medical treatment. Cherokee County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and found Fowler standing over the victim with a shotgun in his hand. After deputies arrested Fowler, they found an additional firearm in his truck.
Fowler has a prior felony conviction for criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature that prohibits him from possessing firearms.
United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Fowler to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Seventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Cauthen prosecuted the case.
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Cartel Member Convicted of Fentanyl Distribution and ObstructionRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 22, 2026, Jose Cardenas-Salcido (age: 43), of Arizona, was convicted after a bench trial before the Honorable J.P. Stadtmueller of distribution of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A); use of the mail to facilitate a felony, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(b); attempted obstruction involving physical violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(a)(2)(B)(i); and attempted obstruction involving corrupt persuasion, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(b)(1).
According to the trial evidence, the investigation of Cardenas-Salcido began after law enforcement determined he was responsible for an October 2022 shipment containing over 5,000 pills containing fentanyl. At trial, witnesses described how Cardenas-Salcido supplied pills containing fentanyl to lower-level distributors selling in the Milwaukee metro area. The evidence also showed that the defendant was an admitted member of the Sinaloa cartel, with familial connections to the same.
The evidence further showed that after Cardenas-Salcido was detained pending this trial, he attempted to obstruct justice, in multiple ways. First, the defendant offered to supply a fellow inmate with guns and drugs from the cartel, if that inmate would provide the defendant with false exculpatory affidavits. Next, the defendant offered a cartel connection to a different inmate, if that same inmate would kill the witnesses set to testify against him. And finally, the defendant attempted to intimidate the witnesses against him, by sending threatening letters, mentioning his cartel connections, to the witness’s families.
In announcing his verdict, Judge Stadtmueller emphasized that this “stand out case” was only made possible by the “gum shoe detective work” of the lead case agent, a Detective Sergeant of the West Allis Police Department, and his colleagues.
The defendant will be sentenced on April 24, 2026, by Judge Stadtmueller.
This matter was investigated by the West Allis Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine Halopka-Ivery and Kevin Knight.
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Buffalo man pleads guilty to his role in narcotics conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Ernest Brown, a/k/a Wayne Perry, a/k/a Wayne Brown, 43, Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr to narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Louis A. Testani, who are handling the case, stated that during the conspiracy, Brown was a source of supply for Joseph Zaso. Zaso met Brown through co-defendant James Jackson, a middleman for narcotics transactions. Brown met his co-conspirators at various locations in Buffalo, including Zaso’s and Jackson’s residences. At times, Jackson delivered fentanyl to Zaso on behalf of Brown. Joseph Zaso was previously charged and convicted and is awaiting sentencing. Charges remain pending against James Jackson.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Enforcement Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 26, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Sinatra.
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Brazilian National Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Federal Officers During His ArrestRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that LUIS PETERSON ROHR FERREIRA BORGES, 25, a citizen of Brazil, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to assault on a federal officer.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ferreira Borges has a case pending in Connecticut Superior Court stemming from an arrest on September 16, 2023. In that case, he is charged with assault of public safety, emergency medical, public transit or health care personnel; assault in the third degree; breach of peace in the second degree; interfering with an officer; and intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree. On October 10, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an arrest warrant for Ferreira Borges charging him with being present in the United States in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
On June 25, 2025, federal law enforcement officers, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations officers, apprehended Ferreira Borges in the area of Zion Street in Hartford. Ferreira Borges was non-compliant and resisted arrest. After being placed in a government vehicle, he kicked, flailed, and screamed obscenities at the ERO officers. As the vehicle traveled to the federal building on Main Street in Hartford, Ferreira Borges began raising and moving his leg, which was inches away from the ERO officer who was driving the vehicle, and Ferreira Borges stated he was going to kick the officer in the neck. Ferreira Borges then started to bite another ERO officer who tried to control him, and spit on the ERO officer who was driving the vehicle.
Ferreira Borges has been detained since his arrest. Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for April 16, at which time Ferreira Borges faces a maximum term of imprisonment of one year.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
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.
Brazilian National Arrested for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national, residing in Milford, was arrested and charged in federal court in Worcester for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Joao Carlos Tavares Da Silva, 21, was charged with possession of child pornography. The defendant was detained after making an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester.
According to the charging documents, Tavares Da Silva is a Brazilian citizen with an outstanding warrant in Brazil for statutory rape; production, reproduction, direction, recording or filming of scenes of explicit sexual acts or pornography involving children or adolescents; and selling or offering for sale any photograph, video, or other recording that contains scenes of explicit sexual acts or pornography involving a child or adolescent. During a search of Tavares Da Silva’s home in Milford, multiple electronic devices were seized. According to the criminal complaint affidavit, images containing CSAM were located on one of those devices. The images appeared to be of an alleged victim in Brazil.
The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, supervised release for life and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Milford Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting 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/.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Boston-Area Gang Member Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Crack Cocaine and Fentanyl OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the Annunciation Road/Mission Hill gang was sentenced yesterday in connection with crack cocaine and fentanyl possession with intent to distribute.
Shakeem Johnson, a/k/a “Sha-Money,” 35, was sentenced U.S. District Court Senior Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to five years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. On Oct. 14, 2025, Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (crack cocaine) and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
In early 2025, while on parole upon his release from state prison for a 2016 conviction for manslaughter in a gang-related shooting – for which he was sentenced to 12 to 14 years in state prison – Johnson was captured on recorded jail calls discussing his drug trafficking activity with another Annunciation Road/Mission Hill gang member who was incarcerated. Following these communications, the defendant was observed repeatedly traveling to the “Mass and Cass” area of Boston, a location known for drug use and drug distribution, and engaging in hand-to-hand drug transactions.
Search warrants executed in April 2025 resulted in the seizure of more than 45 grams of crack cocaine from Johnson and more than 24 grams of fentanyl from his Lynn residence. Other items indicative of street-level drug distribution were also seized.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip C. Cheng and John Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Attleboro Woman Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Embezzling More Than $400,000Read the Press Release
BOSTON – The former office manager for a Franklin environmental services business was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for embezzling more than $400,000 from her employer.
Marie Hobson, 55, of Attleboro, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to 18 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Hobson was also ordered to pay restitution of $511,119 and to forfeit $429,980. In October 2025, Hobson was charged with and pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return.
Between December 2019 and March 2025, Hobson inflated her own payroll by adding approximately $268,046 in phony expense reimbursements, such as uniform costs even though Hobson did not wear a uniform in her position. To conceal the thefts, Hobson manipulated her employer’s accounting software to make it appear she was only receiving her weekly salary. Hobson also misused her company-issued credit card to pay for country club memberships, vacations, cruises, timeshares and personal residence costs totaling more than $105,000.
To further conceal her scheme, Hobson failed to report the funds that she embezzled on her federal income tax filings for tax years 2021 through 2024, resulting in a tax loss to the government of approximately $81,000.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas E. Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. The Franklin Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Kosto, Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case.
Argentine National Sentenced to 80 Years in Federal Prison for Producing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MIAMI – An Argentine national was sentenced to the maximum term of imprisonment for producing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles sentenced Osvaldo Daniel Fernandez, 61, on Jan. 6 to 80 years of imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after a federal jury convicted him of two counts of production and one count of possession of CSAM a trial in September 2025.
“At 61 years old, this defendant will spend the rest of his life in federal prison for crimes that stole childhoods and inflicted lasting harm,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “An 80-year sentence reflects both the severity of his conduct and the justice owed to the victims. Our message is clear: those who sexually exploit children will be removed from society, no matter their age, nationality, or how long they think they can hide.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Fernandez sexually abused two minor victims over an extended period and recorded the abuse. Investigators determined that one victim was abused between the ages of nine and 17, and another between the ages of six and 15. A search of Fernandez’s residence resulted in the seizure of multiple cellphones and a laptop containing hundreds of explicit images and videos, including more than 500 files depicting one victim and more than 900 files depicting other minors, including pre-pubescent children, engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami, Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Miami Beach Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena Smukler-Dominguez and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey Pence Tomanelli prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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 24-cr-20406.
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Amherst man going to prison for selling cocaine and fentanyl that resulted in serious bodily injury to two individualsRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Lloyd Smith, 26, of Amherst, NY, who was convicted of distribution of cocaine and fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Duncan, who handled the case, stated on May 27 and 28, 2023, Smith communicated by Snapchat and text message with an individual identified as K.W about purchasing narcotics. On May 28, 2023, Smith met K.W., and another individual identified as J.D., to sell them narcotics. After using the narcotics, J.D. lost consciousness. Smith carried J.D. out of his vehicle to J.D.’s vehicle, where he left J.D. K.W. also lost consciousness at the time. After receiving a 911 call from a good Samaritan, Amherst Police responded to the scene of the overdose, finding K.W. and J.D. unconscious and unresponsive in a vehicle. Both individuals survived. Amherst Police found two baggies in K.W.’s pocket, which both tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. The baggies were purchased from Smith.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Chamberlin and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Enforcement Division.
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Albuquerque Man Sentenced for Online Sextortion and Sexual Exploitation of Two MinorsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison for coercing a 15-year-old girl into producing sexually explicit images over several years and for sexually exploiting a second victim who was 12 years old.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, between 2019 and 2022, Adrian Puentes, 26, engaged in an ongoing pattern of sextortion and sexual exploitation involving two minor victims. Beginning when Jane Doe 1 was in eighth grade, Puentes used multiple social media platforms, including Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, to coerce her into producing and sending sexually explicit photos and videos of herself. Puentes repeatedly threatened to post the explicit material online for her social media followers to see if she did not comply, and when Jane Doe 1 blocked his accounts, he created new ones to continue the abuse. Over the course of three years, Puentes harassed, manipulated, and threatened Jane Doe 1, misrepresenting his age and identity and ultimately posting explicit material of her publicly online.
Puentes also exploited a second victim, Jane Doe 2, who was 12 years old. Using his cellphone, he communicated with Jane Doe 2 to request sexually explicit material, sent her money, and arranged to meet her on multiple occasions at a public park, where he engaged in sexual acts with her. As with Jane Doe 1, he misrepresented his age to further the abuse.
Puentes subsequently pled guilty to two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor. Upon his release from prison, Puentes will be subject to 15 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro prosecuted the case 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.
334 more charged in new cases related to SDTX’s continuing efforts to secure southern borderRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – In support of Operation Take Back America, the Southern District of Texas has filed another 331 cases in immigration and border security-related matters from Jan. 16-22, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The cases include charges against 18 people allegedly involved in human smuggling. A total of 104 criminal complaints were filed for illegal entry, while another 206 people face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felonies such as narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. The remaining cases charged this week relate to other immigration crimes and smuggling of goods.
As part of the new matters, criminal complaints allege several individuals attempted to unlawfully reenter the country after they had already been removed within the last year. Mexican nationals Jorge Samuel Herrera-Elias and Abel Zambrano-Hernandez were previously removed Oct. 22, 2025, and Nov. 24, 2025, respectively, according to court records, while authorities removed El Salvadorian national Jasson Eduardo Canas-Membrano May 12, 2025. Each allegedly has prior felony convictions, including illegal reentry, injury to child/elderly/disabled with intended bodily injury or burglary of a habitation.
Further, authorities discovered Mexican national Juan Hernandez-Ramirez in the Roma area, according to his complaint. The charges allege he was previously removed August 2023 and has a prior conviction for sexual assault of a child.
All four now face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted
Also announced this week was the transfer of two alleged members of dangerous drug cartels to face federal drug trafficking charges. Juan Pedro Saldivar-Farias aka “Z-27” was allegedly a Los Zetas plaza boss and then regional commander of the northern region of Mexico, while Ricardo Cortez-Mateos aka “Billeton,” was a high-ranking member of Cartel del Gulfo, according to the charges. Separate indictments charge both men with participating in large-scale drug trafficking conspiracies operating along the U.S. – Mexico border. If convicted, they face up to life in prison.
In addition to the new cases, Penitas resident Diego Masiel Torres was ordered to federal prison for impeding federal law enforcement during a consensual worksite enforcement operation in Harlingen. Torres attempted to physically interfere by trying to remove the individual from custody and placing the law enforcement officer in a chokehold.
“There is, at present, an unfortunate belief that the public can freely obstruct law enforcement from carrying out their duties, and do so without consequence,” said Ganjei. “If you want to express your disagreement with a particular federal law or policy, there is a right way to do so, and a wrong way — and tangling with the police is one hundred percent always the wrong way. Today, Mr. Torres learned that lesson the hard way.”
Also announced was the sentencing of the owners of Abby’s Bakery and Dulce’s Cafe in Los Fresnos for employing and housing illegal aliens within their restaurant. Leonardo Baez-Lara and Alicia Avila-Guel hired and harbored workers who were in the United States illegally or on B1/B2 visas without having the right to work. The jury heard that employees were living in a storage area with only one exit, sleeping on mattresses and rarely had hot water.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Thursday 22 January 2026
Worcester Pharmacy Agrees to Pay $750,000 to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Trang Pharmacy (Trang), a Worcester-based pharmacy, has agreed to pay $750,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare for dispensing medications for which it lacked inventory.
As detailed in the settlement agreement, Trang admitted that between Jan. 1, 2016, and Jan. 13, 2023, it submitted claims to Medicare’s Part D program seeking reimbursement for dispensing certain medications for which they could not prove to have purchased. As such, the government alleges that Trang submitted false claims to Medicare for reimbursement for medications that it did not dispense to Medicare beneficiaries.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts and the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Sharobem of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the matter with assistance from the Civil Fraud Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Weathersfield Man Charged with Possession of Eleven Firearms as a Convicted Felon and Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on January 21, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Marshall Gagne, 35, of Weathersfield, Vermont, with possession of firearms as a convicted felon, possessing fentanyl and cocaine with the intent to distribute, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Gagne’s arraignment is scheduled to occur on February 23, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle.
According to court records, on May 19, 2025, Gagne was arrested in a hotel room in Claremont, New Hampshire with six other individuals, after law enforcement forced entry to discover evidence of firearms and illicit drugs recently having been flushed down the drain. Gagne was carrying more than $11,000 and a backpack with fentanyl and cocaine residue on its strap. The next day, on May 20, 2025, a search warrant was executed at a Weathersfield, Vermont residence linked to Gagne. During the search, law enforcement found thousands more in suspected drug proceeds and a dozen firearms, including privately made “ghost” guns and a silencer. The camping trailer where the firearms were kept also contained the box for the handgun found in the hotel room where Gagne was arrested the night before. Gagne had previously been convicted of multiple felonies and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Marshall Gagne is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, Gagne faces up to 15 years for possession of firearms, 20 years for drug distribution, and a consecutive sentence of at least five years for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police, the Vermont Drug Task Force, the FBI, the Claremont New Hampshire Police Department, the Hartford Vermont Police Department, and the Brattleboro Police Department.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill. An attorney for Gagne has not yet been appointed or appeared on his behalf.
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.
Wasilla man receives 30-year sentence for distribution of carfentanil, resulting in one fatal and one non-fatal overdoseRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Wasilla man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison and will serve the rest of his life on court mandated supervision following release from federal custody for distributing carfentanil to two people, resulting in the near fatal overdose of an adult victim and the fatal overdose of a minor victim.
According to court documents, on Nov. 14, 2024, Sean Mobley, 45, agreed to supply an individual with fentanyl powder to distribute to a third party. Mobley and the intermediary drove to a residence in Wasilla, where the intermediary sold the powder to an adult victim for $100. Shortly after the sale, the adult victim used the substance and overdosed. The adult victim was revived by Naloxone. Law enforcement later determined that the powdered substance that Mobley believed was fentanyl was, in fact, carfentanil. Carfentanil is an opioid used by veterinarians and is 100 times more potent than fentanyl.
After distributing carfentanil to the adult victim, Mobley drove to a local gas station, dropped the individual off, and picked up the 16-year-old victim. Mobley took the minor victim to an isolated location intending to use drugs together. Mobley provided some of the substance containing carfentanil to the minor victim. The minor victim used the substance, overdosed and died within minutes. Mobley dumped her body in a remote area and fled.
Following the overdoses, Mobley was found with a shotgun. On Jan. 28, 2025. At that time, Mobley was prohibited from possessing the weapon under federal law because of three prior felony convictions.
On June 10, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Mobley with distribution resulting in death and serious bodily injury. On July 17, a federal grand jury returned a separate indictment charging Mobley with being a felon in possession of a firearm and being an unlawful drug user and addict in possession of a firearm. On Oct. 9, Mobley pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution resulting in death or bodily injury, and one count of possessing a firearm as a felon.
During sentencing, the Court stipulated that Mobley will serve 30 years in prison for the distribution charges, and will serve 2 years in prison concurrently for the firearm charge.
“Mr. Mobley acted callously and without remorse. He peddled whatever he could get his hands on to make a quick buck, including deadly drugs, with zero regard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Let this be a warning—whether you lead an international drug trafficking organization or are a street-level dealer—if you endanger Alaskans, the consequences will be severe.”
“Mr. Mobley showed complete disregard for human life when he provided the deadly dose of carfentanil to the 16-year-old victim,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Not only did the teenage girl overdose in his vehicle, but instead of trying to get help, he disposed of her body in a remote area and fled. DEA was proud to work with our partners at the Alaska State Troopers and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska to seek justice for the young victim in this case. Mr. Mobley will spend the next 30 years paying for his complete disregard for human life. Let this sentence also send a message to other drug traffickers: you will be held accountable for peddling this poison.”
“This significant sentence reflects the danger and seriousness of distributing illicit drugs like carfentanil,” said Alaska State Troopers Colonel Maurice Hughes. “These drugs upend lives and devastate communities across our great state. Your Alaska State Troopers will continue to hold offenders accountable and keep dangerous narcotics out of Alaska.”
The DEA Anchorage District Office and the Alaska State Troopers investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Bradley and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case, with assistance and collaboration from the State of Alaska Department of Law, Office of Special Prosecutions.
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 drug trafficking and violent crime.
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