Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
4 March 2026
Cincinnati fentanyl dealer sentenced to 18 years in prisonRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A defendant who led a significant fentanyl trafficking organization in Cincinnati was sentenced in federal court today to 216 months in prison.
Quinell Hadden, 38, of Cincinnati, was responsible for obtaining and distributing hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Hadden’s drug trafficking organization obtained at least 100 kilograms of fentanyl directly from the Sinaloa Cartel, 45 kilograms of cocaine from members of the Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG), precursor shipments from China, fentanyl and methamphetamine in the mail from Arizona, and drugs from at least two other local drug trafficking organizations.
Hadden ran his drug operation from January 2020 until 2023 when he was arrested. At times, he was receiving at least 50 to 60 kilograms of fentanyl and heroin per week.
Hadden cut and processed each kilogram of fentanyl into three-to-four kilograms of product that was nearly as potent. He used a variety of cutting agents to dilute the fentanyl, resulting in deadly and unpredictable narcotics.
Forty other defendants in six current federal prosecutions were identified through the investigation into Hadden. In January 2026, Braylon Carr, one of Hadden’s “top lieutenants” according to court documents, was sentenced to 158 months in prison. And today, in addition to Hadden, co-defendant Alantee Hulbert was sentenced to 144 months in prison. Several other defendants await sentencing.
Hadden, who is also known as “Nell,” “Q” and “Fat Boy,” pleaded guilty in October 2025 to participating in drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit; Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and other members of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney David P. Dornette is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Career Offender from Little Rock Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Maurice Morning, who has a previous federal conviction and several state felony drug convictions, will spend the next 144 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
On January 7, 2025, Morning, 33, of Little Rock, was indicted by a federal grand jury in an Indictment charging him with one count for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute methamphetamine and two counts for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On October 22, 2025, Morning pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Judge Miller also sentenced Morning to five years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
An investigation revealed that on July 10, 2024, deputies from the Saline County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to serve a warrant at a residence. Upon their arrival, deputies observed Morning place an unknown object in a blue Ford truck. Deputies determined Morning was on federal supervised release with a search waiver on file. Deputies conducted a search of Morning’s person and located methamphetamine and keys that belonged to the truck. When deputies conducted a search of the truck, they located methamphetamine on the floorboard between the driver and passenger seat and $3,109 in the glove compartment.
On July 29, 2024, officers enlisted a confidential informant (CI) to conduct a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Morning. The CI contacted Morning to purchase fentanyl and methamphetamine. Morning replied he did not have any fentanyl, but he did have methamphetamine the CI could purchase. Officers conducted surveillance and observed Morning arrive at a hotel to deliver the methamphetamine to the CI. As Morning was walking to the hotel room, he saw the officers and attempted to flee on foot and destroy the methamphetamine. A search of Morning’s person revealed $3,411 in his pocket and approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine. During a search of Morning’s truck, officers located a scale and $1,700 in a clear purse.
Because Morning has two prior felony convictions involving possession with intent to distribute drugs, he is therefore classified as a career offender and subject to an enhanced sentence. Morning’s criminal history includes a federal conviction on August 2, 2019, for being a felon in possession of a firearm where he was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. He committed the current offense less than four months after his release from federal prison. Morning also has felony convictions for possession of cocaine with purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver, and possession of oxycodone with purpose to deliver.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Little Rock Police Department, and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office.
# # #
Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
California Man Who Trafficked Narcotics to Connecticut Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JONATHAN GARCIA, also known as “Gordo,” 37, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 78 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics into Connecticut.
In 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force began investigating a large-scale drug trafficking organization that was distributing kilogram quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in Connecticut. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, physical and electronic surveillance, controlled purchases of narcotics, and other investigative techniques, revealed that the organization was receiving narcotics from sources in California via Mexico. In February 2023, investigators seized two parcels that were mailed by a member of the organization from a post office in West Hartford to addresses in southern California. One of the packages contained approximately $6,500 in cash and two new Apple iPhones, and the second package contained approximately $38,300 in cash.
The investigation further revealed that that members of the Loose Cannonz motorcycle club, based in East Hartford, were receiving shipments of fentanyl and cocaine for distribution in the Hartford area.
During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Garcia and another individual were coordinating the shipment of kilogram-quantities of narcotics from Mexico to Connecticut. Garcia sometimes traveled to Connecticut to facilitate the transactions and to collect drug proceeds.
Garcia was arrested on October 24, 2023. On August 11, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Garcia, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on April 22.
Garcia’s criminal history includes a federal cocaine trafficking conviction in the Central District of California in 2017.
This investigation has been conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reed Durham and Robert Dearington.
California Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, announced that JOSE NUNEZ, 26, of Santa Clarita, California, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to receipt of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2024, Nunez began chatting on Roblox, a gaming and chat platform, with a 13-year-old minor female from Connecticut. The conversation transitioned to text messaging, where Nunez sent the victim several sexually explicit photos of himself. As the conversation progressed, Nunez requested sexually explicit photos of the minor female, which he received on his smartphone.
On August 7, 2024, HSI special agents arrested Nunez and seized his smartphone. A search of the phone revealed evidence of his conversations with the minor victim and sexually explicit images of the minor victim.
Nunez pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Nunez has been detained since his arrest. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
This investigation has been conducted by HSI and the Cromwell Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings with the assistance of the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Middlesex.
This case is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
CaaStle Founder Pleads Guilty to $300 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that CHRISTINE HUNSICKER, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of CaaStle Inc. (“CaaStle”), pled guilty to one count of securities fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud hundreds of investors in CaaStle, a retail-technology business. As part of her plea, HUNSICKER agreed to forfeit nearly $300 million in proceeds from her illegal scheme, as well as from a scheme to defraud investors in P180, a related business venture. HUNSICKER pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken.
“Christine Hunsicker fashioned a massive fraud scheme, built on forged documents, fabricated audits, and material misrepresentations to hundreds of venture capital investors,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message: individuals who exploit investor trust for personal gain will be held accountable. Fraud in the venture capital ecosystem not only harms investors financially, but also undermines innovation and confidence in emerging businesses. We will continue to pursue those who deceive investors and distort our private markets.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:
HUNSICKER, a well-known entrepreneur and successful businessperson in the fashion-tech industry, founded and was the CEO of CaaStle, a clothing technology business. While promoting CaaStle as a rapidly growing business valued at more than $1.4 billion, HUNSICKER knew that CaaStle was in financial distress with limited cash and significant expenses. To raise the capital for CaaStle’s operations, HUNSICKER provided investors with falsified income statements, fake audited financial statements, fictitious bank records, and sham corporate documents that grossly overstated CaaStle’s operating profit, revenue, and available cash. She also misrepresented to investors that their funds would be used to purchase discounted shares from existing shareholders who needed liquidity, when in fact she fabricated the existence of those shareholders and used the money as new capital for CaaStle while concealing the company’s cash needs.
When confronted by an audit firm in October 2023 about transmitting a fake audit to an investor, HUNSICKER lied, falsely claiming that she had created the fake audit in connection with a lecture she gave at Princeton University, and that sending the audit to the investor had been a one-time error. In reality, HUNSICKER had provided two fake audits to the investor while soliciting an investment. She later repaid that investor to prevent the public disclosure of her fraud. Undeterred, she continued the scheme, providing an investor with fake bank account screenshots showing nearly $200 million in available cash when CaaStle had less than $200,000. One month later, in October 2024, HUNSICKER provided a different investor with a fake draft audit. In 2024, HUNSICKER also falsified the signatures of two Board directors to make it appear that the Board had authorized the grant of stock options to another investor, raising more than $20 million for CaaStle.
In 2024, HUNSICKER extended her fraudulent activities to P180, a new business venture. HUNSICKER intended for P180 to acquire clothing brands. P180 would then pay for and leverage the CaaStle service, which would infuse CaaStle with desperately needed cash. HUNSICKER raised millions of dollars for P180 from existing CaaStle investors. In soliciting these investments, HUNSICKER repeated misrepresentations about CaaStle’s financial performance, and failed to disclose that her prior representations regarding CaaStle had been false.
In December 2024, the CaaStle Board removed HUNSICKER as Chair and prohibited her from soliciting investments. HUNSICKER, however, continued her fraudulent activities and raised and attempted to raise new capital for CaaStle and P180. In February 2025, HUNSICKER attempted to sell an additional $19 million of her CaaStle shares to another investor. HUNSICKER persisted in her deceptive practices even after law enforcement agents seized her electronic devices in March 2025, continuing to meet with the investor about a fake audit without revealing its fraudulent nature, her removal from the Board, or the prohibition against her selling shares. CaaStle filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 20, 2025.
If you believe you have been a victim of the schemes described above, and you wish to provide information to law enforcement in connection to sentencing or to receive additional information, please contact Valeen Defendre, the Victim Witness Coordinator at the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York, at 866-874-8900 or [email protected].
* * *
HUNSICKER, 48, of Lafayette, New Jersey, pled guilty to one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. HUNSICKER is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Oetken on August 5, 2026.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed a separate civil action, for its assistance and cooperation in the investigation.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marguerite B. Colson and Alexandra N. Rothman are in charge of the prosecution.
Bronx man pleads guilty to bank fraud conspiracy and ID theftRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael Herrera, 45, of the Bronx, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, which carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, who is handling the case, stated that in January 2025, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, co-conspirator Vance Ashley was recruited by members of the conspiracy to pose as other persons and make unauthorized withdrawals from the other persons’ bank accounts. Ashley agreed to do this in exchange for money. Between January 28 and February 3, 2025, Ashley drove with Herrera, and two other co-conspirators, to bank branches in Wilmington, Delaware, Liberty, NY, and Lock Haven, PA, where Ashely used the identifications of other individuals to make, or attempt to make, unauthorized withdrawals from the victims’ bank accounts.
On February 5, 2025, the defendants drove to a Northwest Bank branch in Lockport, within the Western District of New York. Ashley made an unauthorized withdrawal of from the account of an individual residing in Erie, PA. Ashley also purchased a bank check using funds from the account. That same day, the defendants drove to another Northwest Bank branch in Williamsville, within the Western District of New York, and again Ashley made an unauthorized withdrawal from an account and purchased a bank check using funds from the account of a victim from North East PA. Also on February 5, 2025, Hererra illegally used the identification of another person during the commission of a felony.
The total loss amount, including actual loss and intended loss, is $91,300.00.
Ashley was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry Chavis and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
# # # #
Billings woman sentenced to over 7 years in prison for distributing methamphetamineRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings woman who distributed methamphetamine was sentenced today to 87 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Rita Denny, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on September 21, 2022, law enforcement officers arranged to purchase methamphetamine and fentanyl from a co-defendant. Agents arrived and arrested the co-defendant, who was in possession of 50 fentanyl pills and approximately 64 grams of meth. The co-defendant’s passenger told agents “Rita” supplied the drugs to the co-defendant.
Agents obtained a search warrant for the co-defendant’s phone and located messages between the co-defendant and Rita Denny. Those messages indicated Denny was supplying the co-defendant with drugs and dictating the price at which the co-defendant should sell the drugs.
On September 30, 2022, agents obtained a search warrant for Denny’s residence. They seized 179.9 grams of methamphetamine and $5,694 in cash. Denny agreed to speak with agents and admitted to traveling to California to purchase bulk amounts of methamphetamine. Specifically, she told agents she took two recent trips to California to purchase five pounds of methamphetamine each time.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and the DEA conducted the investigation.
XXX
Bethlehem Man Convicted at Trial of Election Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Matthew Laiss, 32, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was convicted today at trial of election fraud offenses in connection with the 2020 presidential election.
The defendant was charged by indictment in September of last year with one count of voting more than once in a federal election and one count of voter fraud and was convicted on both charges.
As detailed in court filings, from at least October 2012 until about August 2020, Laiss resided in, and was lawfully registered to vote in, Ottsville, Pennsylvania, a municipality located in Bucks County. In or around August 2020, Laiss moved his primary residence from Ottsville, Pennsylvania, to Frostproof, Florida. The same month, he applied for and obtained a Florida driver’s license and registered to vote in Florida.
In or about October 2020, the Bucks County Board of Elections mailed a ballot for the November 2020 general election to the defendant’s former address in Ottsville, Pennsylvania, where Laiss’s parents continued to reside.
As proven at trial, on or about October 31, 2020, Laiss filled out and returned the Pennsylvania mail-in ballot, casting a vote for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States of America.
Then, on or about November 3, 2020, Laiss went to a polling location in or around Frostproof, Florida, and voted in the 2020 general election, casting a vote for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States of America.
“Today’s conviction reinforces a simple principle: our elections must be fair, secure, and lawful, " said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Casting a ballot in more than one jurisdiction undermines public trust and dilutes the votes of others. Our office will continue to protect the integrity of federal elections and hold accountable those who violate the law.”
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced June 10, 2026, and faces a maximum possible sentence of five years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $10,000 to $250,000 fine, for each of the charges on which he was convicted.
This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of State, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff.
Bangor Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor woman pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
According to court records, between July and October 2024, Nichole Kelley, 46, conspired with others to fraudulently obtain money by entering banks, impersonating legitimate bank account holders, and using fictitious identification cards to gain access to their bank accounts and withdraw funds. During a search of a coconspirator’s residence, investigators seized two fictitious driver’s licenses in other people’s names but with Kelley’s images on them. Kelley also agreed with coconspirators to travel to banks outside of Maine to impersonate customers and withdraw funds from their accounts.
Kelley faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bangor Police Department, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles – Enforcement Services Division.
###
Baltimore Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm and Ammunition by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for more than a decade for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
U.S. Chief District Judge George L. Russell sentenced David Funderburk, 47, to 125 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. A federal jury convicted Funderburk of the firearm-related offense, his fourth federal felony conviction, in September 2025.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Police Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
On November 3, 2023, BPD Southwest District Action Team detectives conducted routine patrols in the 1500 block of W. Baltimore Street. While patrolling the area, detectives observed Funderburk on the street exhibiting characteristics of an armed person. Law enforcement then saw him enter a local eatery. As the detectives watched Funderburk through the front window, they saw him bend down around a corner, pull a firearm out of his pocket — a FN Five-seven 5.7x28mm handgun — and then place it on the floor in the corner of the restaurant.
The detectives then immediately entered the eatery and detained Funderburk. They also recovered the firearm from the corner of the restaurant, which was loaded with 18 rounds of 5.7x28mm ammunition. This is Funderburk’s fourth federal felony conviction. Because of his prior felony convictions, Funderburk was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Rigney and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sippel who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Albuquerque Man Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for Threats Against the Former President and Vice PresidentRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A man convicted of posting threats against then President Biden and Vice President Harris on the social media site X was sentenced March 2, 2026, in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.
Michael David Hanson, 44, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Hanson previously pleaded guilty to making Threats Against the President and Successors to the Presidency.
On December 22, 2023, Hanson, posted “#joeAndKamala I’m asking you to resign on Monday your alternative is death brutally murdered…” on one of his X accounts. Hanson admitted that his threat was directed at President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and that he intended to communicate a threat of violence.
“Online death threats made against leaders of the United States are criminal acts, not protected speech,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “The U.S. Secret Service and Phoenix Police Department are to be commended for quickly identifying and arresting Mr. Hanson, whose 27-month sentence should serve as a warning that there are real-world consequences for threatening elected officials.”
”The U.S. Secret Service has zero tolerance for threats against our protectees. Let this serve as a warning. If you threaten the President of the United States, we will find you, we will arrest you and you will face justice,” said William Mack, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Phoenix Field Office. “We want to thank the Phoenix Police Department as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona for their assistance in this case.”
The U.S. Secret Service and Phoenix Police Department conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-0312-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-044_Hanson
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
3 March 2026
United States Enters into a Settlement with New York City Housing Authority to Resolve Alleged Violations of the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today a Settlement Agreement with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to resolve allegations that NYCHA violates Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) by discriminating against people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in the “services, programs, or activities of a public entity.” NYCHA — a public housing authority which provides affordable housing to low- and moderate-income New Yorkers throughout New York City — is a “public entity.” To comply with Title II, public entities such as NYCHA must ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to programs, services and activities, and that communications with individuals with disabilities is as effective as communications with individuals without disabilities, including through the provision of auxiliary aids and services and accessible features.
The United States investigated after receiving complaints from NYCHA tenants and housing applicants. The complainants alleged that NYCHA fails to provide Qualified Interpreters upon request and instead requires deaf or hard of hearing individuals to provide their own interpreters, who in some instances have been minors. The complaints also alleged that NYCHA does not provide deaf or hard of hearing individuals with appropriate auxiliary aids and services including accessible devices such as visual doorbells and fire alarms. The United States also investigated claims that NYCHA does not have consistent and reliable mechanisms for deaf or hard of hearing individuals to communicate with NYCHA employees to, among other things, request and receive auxiliary aids and services. The United States’ investigation included interviews with complainants and other NYCHA tenants, interviews and discussions with personnel and administrators at NYCHA, and review of NYCHA records.
Accessible Features:Accessible Features means devices and appliances that provide accessibility, including, but not limited to, visible alarm appliances for fire and smoke detection, visual alerting devices at the dwelling unit’s primary entrance, and deactivation controls.
Auxiliary Aids and Services:
Auxiliary aids and services includes qualified interpreters on-site or through video remote interpreting services; notetakers; real-time computer-aided transcription services; written materials; exchange of written notes; telephone handset amplifiers; assistive listening devices; telephones compatible with hearing aids; closed caption decoders; open and closed captioning, including real-time captioning; voice, text and video‑based telecommunications products and systems, including text telephones, videophones, and captioned telephones, or equally effective telecommunications devices; videotext displays; accessible electronic and information technology; or other effective methods of making aurally delivered information available to deaf or hard of hearing individuals.
Under the terms of the settlement, NYCHA has agreed to take appropriate steps to ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, including by creating signs and videos in American Sign Language to make deaf and hard of hearing individuals aware that free auxiliary aids and services, including qualified sign language interpretation services and accessible devices such as visual doorbells, are available. Additionally, NYCHA will update its forms to allow deaf or hard of hearing individuals to request such services. Employees of NYCHA who interact regularly with tenants or applicants will also receive training in effective communication and ADA compliance.
“The ADA requires NYCHA to communicate effectively and provide auxiliary aids and services to people who are deaf or hard of hearing,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s settlement ensures that individual with disabilities receive appropriate services. Our Office will continue to enforce the ADA and its protections against discrimination for people with disabilities.”
Mr. Nocella thanked the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division for its support.
This matter has been handled by Assistant United States Attorney Marika M. Lyons and the former Chief of the Office’s Civil Division Civil Rights Section Michael J. Goldberger.
Two Philadelphia Men Sentenced for August 2023 Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA — United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Quadir Findley, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Gerald A. McHugh for his role in an August 5, 2023, armed carjacking in Philadelphia. Co-defendant Eric Dickerson, 25, also of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was previously sentenced on April 16, 2025, by United States District Court Judge Gerald A. McHugh for his role in the carjacking.
Findley was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Following a jury trial, he was convicted of carjacking, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Dickerson was sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Following a jury trial, he was convicted of carjacking.
As proven at trial, in the early morning hours of August 5, 2023, the defendants approached the victim and forcibly stole the victim’s vehicle at gunpoint. During the offense, Findley threatened kill the victim and forced the victim to the ground before the defendants fled in the stolen vehicle.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Catherine S. Dos Santos and Priya T. De Souza.
Tucson Man Who Shot at Air and Marine Operations Helicopter Indicted for Attempted Murder of a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a five-count indictment against Patrick Gary Schlegel, 34, of Tucson, Arizona, for Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Assault on a Federal Officer, and Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer.
“Federal agents serve with integrity to protect all Americans and uphold our nation’s laws,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Any assault or attempted murder of a federal officer will be met with the full weight of the law. My office will pursue all appropriate charges and sentences for individuals who would cause harm to these brave men and women.”
“This indictment is a reminder that assault on law enforcement officers will not be tolerated. Officers who are sworn to protect and serve our communities must be able to do their jobs free from intimidation,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “The FBI alongside our local, state and federal partners will continue to vigorously investigate those who harm, or threaten to do harm, to those who wear the badge.”
"Our Air and Marine Agents put themselves in harm's way every day to protect our nation's borders and communities” said Director Jose Muriente, Tucson Air and Marine Branch. “Any act of violence against our federal agents will be met with swift action and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law."
According to a complaint filed in the case, Schlegel was transporting two illegal aliens on Jan. 26, 2026, when he was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol agents. Schlegel fled to avoid apprehension and left the illegal aliens in the desert.
The following day, Border Patrol agents again located Schlegel’s Dodge Ram in a remote desert area. Before he could be stopped, Schlegel drove into the desert, got out of his truck and fled on foot. To assist agents in locating Schlegel, an Air and Marine Operations Pilot flew his helicopter over the area. When Schlegel fired shots from a .45 caliber handgun at the pilot, an agent on the ground returned fire, striking Schlegel in the leg and head. Schlegel was then arrested and provided medical care.
A conviction for Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A conviction for Assault on a Federal Officer carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A conviction for Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A conviction for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-26-00819
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-042_Schlegel
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Three Southeast fishermen charged with intentionally sinking fishing boats in Alaskan watersRead the Press Release
JUNEAU, Alaska – Three Southeast Alaska fishermen were charged through separate criminal information filings last month with allegedly intentionally sinking their respective fishing boats in waters near Sitka and Petersburg, Alaska. Federal law prohibits the deliberate sinking of a vessel that obstructs navigable waters.
According to court documents filed relating to three separate incidents, the following occurred in navigable waters of the U.S.:
- On March 8, 2025, John Fisher, 59, of Sitka, intentionally sunk the F/V Igloo into the Sitka Sound;
- On Aug. 3, 2025, Joseph Poling, 40, of Petersburg, intentionally sunk the F/V Leeward into Thomas Bay;
- Between Sept. 28 and Oct. 3, 2025, Toni Vanveen, 65, of Sitka, intentionally sunk the F/V O’kisutch into the Sitka Harbor.
Each defendant is charged with one count of obstruction of navigable waters by sinking a vessel. If convicted, Fisher, Poling and Vanveen each face a mandatory minimum of 30 days and up to one year in federal prison, and a fine of up to $25,000 per day for every day the sunken vessel remains in the water. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Paul Schultz of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service Northwest Field Office made the announcement.
The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service is investigating the cases, with assistance from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Crimes Unit.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen M. Speer (U.S. Coast Guard) is prosecuting the case with the support of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Three Sales Executives Plead Guilty to $500 Million Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, the defendants Raymond John Pirrello, Jr. and Joseph Passalaqua pleaded guilty to all three counts of an indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Co-defendant Robert Cassino pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy on February 18, 2026. The proceedings were held before United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto. When sentenced, Pirrello and Passalaqua face a maximum sentence of 45 years’ imprisonment and Cassino will face a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the guilty pleas.
“For years, the defendants brazenly lied to investors all over the country about the fees associated with their investments,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The defendants diverted millions of dollars in undisclosed mark-up fees to pay themselves and their coconspirators. Our Office will vigorously prosecute those who lie to innocent investors and deprive them of their hard-earned money to benefit themselves.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), New York Regional Office for their work on the case.
As detailed in the superseding indictment and other court filings, Pirrello, Passalaqua, Cassino and their coconspirators engaged in a scheme to defraud investors and prospective investors in securities offered by the company Late Stage Management, LLC (Late Stage). Late Stage was a New Jersey-based manager of investment funds that offered investors “no fee” opportunities to invest in “Pre IPO” stocks, i.e., shares of stock in companies that anticipated an initial public offering (IPO) in the near term. Late Stage worked with several sales offices throughout New Jersey, New York and Florida to market the investments, including Prior2IPO and Pre IPO Marketing, Inc.
Pirello, also known as “Ray John,” held no official title at Late Stage or any of the sales offices, but worked as a partner to the leadership of Late Stage. Due to his long disciplinary history with multiple regulators, which included a permanent bar issued against him by the SEC, Pirrello intentionally kept his name out of Late Stage’s business, purposefully withholding his identity from relevant documents and representations made to investors regarding the firm’s leadership. Passalaqua worked alongside Pirrello at Prior2IPO as the Chief Executive Officer. Cassino led operations at Pre IPO Marketing, Inc. Pirrello and his co-conspirators directed the heads of the sales offices on how to market Late Stage to investors.
Pirrello, Passalaqua, Cassino and the other heads of the other sales offices then made material misrepresentations and omissions to investors and potential investors in Late Stage relating to, among other things, the existence and amount of fees paid by investors in stock offered by Late Stage and how the defendants would be compensated. For example, they claimed that the only time Late Stage profited was on exit, when the company made its IPO or sold to a larger company, in which case it would be entitled to a 20% share of the investor’s profits. In reality, however, Late Stage charged fees in the form of upfront markups ranging from 10-100% of each investment. The upfront revenue generated by the inclusion of these markups was then used to pay the principals of Late Stage, including Pirrello, Passalaqua, Cassino and the employees of the sales offices. In total, between approximately March 2019 and July 2022, sales offices working on behalf of Late Stage raised approximately $528 million from investors and diverted approximately $88 million in undisclosed upfront markups.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica K. Weigel and James R. Simmons are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Melina Piatti-Chayan and Liam McNett.
The Defendants:
RAYMOND JOHN PIRRELLO, Jr. (also known as “Ray John”)
Age: 49
Sparta, New JerseyJOSEPH PASSALAQUA
Age: 37
Sparta, New JerseyROBERT CASSINO
Age: 63
Long Beach, New YorkCo-Defendant Who Previously Pleaded Guilty:
JOSEPH RIVERA
Age: 45
Elmont, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-499 (KAM)
Texas man sentenced for monopolizing international transit industry, fixing prices, and extorting competitorsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 59-year-old resident of San Benito has been ordered to federal prison and must pay a substantial fine for his role in a long-running and violent conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency industry in the Los Indios border region near Harlingen and Brownsville.
Roberto Garcia Villarreal pleaded guilty Feb. 6, 2025, to conspiracy to illegally fix prices and allocate the market for transmigrante forwarding agency services, conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante market, and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now imposed a 30-month term of imprisonment. Villarreal must also pay a $50,000 criminal fine. He was ordered into custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Villarreal and others controlled the transmigrante industry through monopolization and by extorting competitors.
“Roberto Garcia Villarreal chose to join a criminal enterprise that seized control of an industry through threats and violence, rigged prices against legitimate businesses, and laundered its proceeds—and now, he is headed to federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei of the Southern District of Texas. “Today’s sentence serves as proof that no participant of this conspiracy will walk away without consequence. Although, the conspiracy may be finished, the Southern District of Texas is just getting started.”
“Antitrust criminals deserve lengthy sentences for the economic — and in this case physical — violence they sow. The Antitrust Division is proud to have worked with our law enforcement colleagues on this long-running investigation that will restore competition and punish violent criminals at the U.S.-Mexico border,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel W. Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “We will continue working to incarcerate antitrust criminals and hold accountable the remaining co-defendants in this scheme.”
“The use of violence and intimidation to threaten and remove competition will not be tolerated,” said Acting Assistant Director Gregory Heeb of the FBI Criminal Division. “Today’s sentencing shows the FBI’s commitment to investigating and holding accountable those responsible for price fixing and extortion schemes.”
“This case highlights the significant danger posed by transnational criminal organizations operating near our borders,” said acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, San Antonio. “As an accomplice in carrying out a violent operation that targeted small businesses for extortion, manipulated market prices, and concealed millions of dollars in illicit funds—undermining the security and fairness of lawful trade—HSI will relentlessly seek out those who harm legitimate industries through dishonest actions and intimidation. Our dedication to protecting our communities and economic stability remains firm.”
Transmigrantes arrange for and transport used vehicles and other goods from the United States through Mexico for resale in Central America. There are only a few locations where Transmigrantes can cross from the United States into Mexico, one of those being the Los Indios Bridge.
Transmigrante forwarding agencies are U.S.-based businesses that provide services to transmigrante clients, including helping those clients complete the customs paperwork required to export vehicles into Mexico. Villarreal and others fixed prices for transmigrante forwarding agency services and created a centralized entity known as the “Pool” to collect and divide revenues among the conspirators, limit competition from other agencies, and increase prices for their services.
Forwarding agencies who were not part of the conspiracy had to join and pay into the Pool. Villarreal and other Pool members enforced the rules by monitoring whether forwarding agencies were charging the agreed-upon prices and making payments. Forwarding agencies were also required to pay other extortion fees, including a “piso” for every transaction processed in the industry.
To date, eight others have been convicted, seven of whom have already been sentenced in the case, including the leader - Carlos Martinez, 39, McAllen, who received an 11-year prison term.
Three others - Rigoberto Brown, Miguel Hipolito Caballero Aupart and Diego Ceballos-Soto were also charged in the superseding indictment and remain fugitives.
ICE-HSI and FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander L. Alum prosecuted the case along with Senior Litigation Attorney John Davis and Trial Attorneys Brittany E. McClure, Anne Veldhuis, and Michael G. Lepage of the Antitrust Division; and Trial Attorney Christina Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the HSI Tip Line at 866-347-2423; the FBI Tip Line at tips.fbi.gov or by contacting the FBI San Antonio Field Office at 210-225-6741; or the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations. Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit https://www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
Texas Man Sentenced for Monopolizing International Transit Industry, Fixing Prices and Extorting CompetitorsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice today announced that Roberto Garcia Villarreal, 59, of San Benito, Texas, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay a $50,000 criminal fine for his role in a long-running and violent conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency industry in the Los Indios, Texas, border region, located near Harlingen and Brownsville, Texas. Villarreal and his co-defendants controlled the transmigrante industry through monopolization and by extorting competitors.The Court remanded Villareal into custody to begin his sentence immediately.
“Antitrust criminals deserve lengthy sentences for the economic — and in this case physical — violence they sow,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel W. Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division is proud to have worked with our law enforcement colleagues on this long-running investigation that will restore competition and punish violent criminals at the U.S.-Mexico border. We will continue working to incarcerate antitrust criminals and hold accountable the remaining co-defendants in this scheme.”
“Roberto Garcia chose to join a criminal enterprise that seized control of an industry through threats and violence, rigged prices against legitimate businesses, and laundered its proceeds — and now, he is headed to federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei of the Southern District of Texas. “Today’s sentence serves as proof that no participant of this conspiracy will walk away without consequence. Although, the conspiracy may be finished, the Southern District of Texas is just getting started.”
“The use of violence and intimidation to threaten and remove competition will not be tolerated,” said Acting Assistant Director Gregory Heeb of the FBI Criminal Division. “Today’s sentencing shows the FBI’s commitment to investigating and holding accountable those responsible for price fixing and extortion schemes.”
“This case highlights the significant danger posed by transnational criminal organizations operating near our borders,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco of the HSI San Antonio Field Office. “As an accomplice in carrying out a violent operation that targeted small businesses for extortion, manipulated market prices, and concealed millions of dollars in illicit funds—undermining the security and fairness of lawful trade — HSI will relentlessly seek out those who harm legitimate industries through dishonest actions and intimidation. Our dedication to protecting our communities and economic stability remains firm.”
Transmigrantes arrange for and transport used vehicles and other goods from the United States through Mexico for resale in Central America. There are only a few locations where transmigrantes can cross from the United States into Mexico, one of those being the Los Indios Bridge in Texas.
Transmigrante forwarding agencies are U.S.-based businesses that provide services to transmigrante clients, including helping those clients complete the customs paperwork required to export vehicles into Mexico. According to court documents and statements made in court, Villarreal and his co-defendants fixed prices for transmigrante forwarding agency services and created a centralized entity known as the “Pool” to collect and divide revenues among the co-conspirators, limit competition from other agencies and increase prices for their services.
Forwarding agencies who were not part of the conspiracy had to join and pay into the Pool. Villarreal and other Pool members enforced the rules of the Pool by monitoring whether forwarding agencies were charging the agreed-upon prices and making payments to the Pool. Forwarding agencies were also required to pay other extortion fees, including a “piso” for every transaction processed in the industry.
Villarreal pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally fix prices and allocate the market for transmigrante forwarding agency services; conspiracy to monopolize the same market; and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion.
To date, eight others have been convicted, seven of whom have already been sentenced in the case, including the leader - Carlos Martinez, 39, McAllen, who received an 11-year prison term.
Three others - Rigoberto Brown, Miguel Hipolito Caballero Aupart and Diego Ceballos-Soto were also charged in the superseding indictment and remain fugitives. Anyone with information about their whereabouts or with information in connection with this investigation is asked to contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI investigated the case.
Senior Litigation Attorney John Davis and Trial Attorneys Brittany E. McClure, Anne Veldhuis and Michael G. Lepage of the Antitrust Division; Deputy Chief Kelly Pearson of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander L. Alum for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the HSI Tip Line at 866-347-2423; the FBI Tip Line at tips.fbi.gov or by contacting the FBI San Antonio Field Office at 210-225-6741; or the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations. Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit https://www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
Takeshi Ebisawa Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Nuclear Materials, Narcotics, and FirearmsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Terrance Cole, and Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John A. Eisenberg, announced today that TAKESHI EBISAWA, a Japanese national, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon for his participation in a conspiracy to traffic nuclear materials, including uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, from Burma to other countries, as well as his participation in international narcotics trafficking, weapons, and money laundering crimes. EBISAWA previously pled guilty to six counts for those offenses before Judge McMahon.
“The illicit trafficking of nuclear materials is an existential threat to every New Yorker and every American,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Takeshi Ebisawa tried to sell uranium, thorium, and plutonium to fuel a purported nuclear weapons program, along with deadly drugs destined for U.S. streets. In exchange, Ebisawa hoped to procure battlefield weapons for insurgent groups and profit for himself. This case is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of our law enforcement partners, who worked across three continents to stop Ebisawa and bring him to justice in the United States.”
“National security and public safety are the very tenets of DEA’s mission, and this case demonstrates our ability to dismantle the world’s most dangerous criminal networks,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “Today’s sentence should send a clear message: threatening the United States by trafficking nuclear materials, narcotics, and military-grade weapons will trigger an uncompromising response. DEA will hold conspirators accountable—no matter the distance, no matter their allegiance.”
“Thanks to the exceptional work of the DEA and our DOJ prosecutors, Takeshi Ebisawa has been held accountable for his crimes, including an attempt to sell weapons-grade plutonium to Iran and to flood New York with deadly narcotics,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle criminal networks that seek to profit from the illicit trade in deadly weapons and substances.”
As reflected in the Complaint, the Superseding Indictment, and other filings and information in the public record:
From in or about 2019 until EBISAWA’s arrest on or about April 4, 2022, the DEA investigated EBISAWA in connection with the large-scale trafficking of narcotics, weapons, and nuclear materials. During the investigation, EBISAWA unwittingly introduced an undercover DEA agent (“UC-1”), posing as a narcotics and weapons trafficker, to EBISAWA’s international network of criminal associates, which spanned Japan, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, and the United States, among other places, for the purpose of arranging criminal transactions. Over the course of three years, EBISAWA and his associates negotiated four sets of transactions with UC-1.
First, EBISAWA attempted to broker the sale of nuclear materials in exchange for military-grade weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, for an ethnic insurgent group in Burma. EBISAWA intended to sell this nuclear material to UC-1’s associate, who was posing as an Iranian general in charge of Iran’s nuclear weapons program (the “General”). After initially offering uranium, EBISAWA proposed to supply the General with “plutonium” that would be even “better” and more “powerful” than uranium for Iran’s use. In or about February 2022, EBISAWA and two co-conspirators met with UC-1 in Thailand, where one of the co-conspirators showed UC-1 samples of the nuclear materials (the “Nuclear Samples”). With the assistance of Thai authorities, the Nuclear Samples were seized and subsequently transferred to the custody of U.S. law enforcement. A U.S. nuclear forensic laboratory examined the Nuclear Samples and determined they contained detectable quantities of uranium, thorium, and weapons-grade plutonium.
Second, EBISAWA attempted to broker the sale of methamphetamine and heroin to UC-1 in exchange for heavy weapons for another ethnic insurgent group in Burma. EBISAWA planned for the heroin and methamphetamine to be distributed in the New York market, and he understood the weapons to have been manufactured in the United States and taken from U.S. military bases in Afghanistan. In or about February 2021, EBISAWA traveled to Denmark to inspect some of the purported weapons, including anti-tank rocket weapons, machine guns, and automatic rifles.
Third, EBISAWA conspired to sell, in a separate transaction, approximately 500 kilograms of methamphetamine and 500 kilograms of heroin to UC-1 for distribution in New York. In furtherance of that transaction, in or about June 2021 and September 2021, one of EBISAWA’s co-conspirators provided samples in Thailand of approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine and approximately 1.4 kilograms of heroin. The methamphetamine had a purity of approximately 98%, and the heroin had a purity of approximately 86% to 87%.
Finally, EBISAWA laundered $100,000, which UC-1 described to EBISAWA as narcotics proceeds, from the United States to Japan, in exchange for a 15% commission. In or about November 2021, the DEA transferred $100,000 to U.S. bank accounts controlled by one of EBISAWA’s co-conspirators, and EBISAWA then delivered the Yen equivalent of approximately $85,000 in cash in Tokyo.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, EBISAWA, 61, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the DEA Tokyo Country Office, DEA Bangkok Country Office, DEA Chiang Mai Resident Office, DEA Jakarta Country Office, DEA Copenhagen Country Office, DEA New York Field Office, DEA New Delhi Country Office, the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, and our law enforcement partners in Denmark, Indonesia, Japan, and the Kingdom of Thailand for their assistance.
The case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaylan E. Lasky, Alexander Li, and Kevin T. Sullivan are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section.
Suspect in Oglethorpe Mall shooting pleads guilty to illegal possession of machine gunRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA: One of the individuals identified in a July 2025 shootout at a crowded Savannah mall has pled guilty to illegally possessing a machine gun.
Aujawan T. Hymon, 21, of Savannah, faces up to 10 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release and substantial financial penalties after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun, said Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“This prosecution symbolizes our continued resolve to remove illegal firearms from our communities, and hold accountable those who would threaten the safety of law-abiding citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to make our streets and businesses safer.”
As described in court and in the guilty plea, Savannah Police officers responded July 2, 2025, to the Oglethorpe Mall after gunshots were reported. Three people were wounded during the exchanges of gunfire, including Hymon, who was seen by witnesses and on surveillance cameras carrying a pistol. The footage also showed Hymon discarding a gun in a mall trash can where investigators later recovered the weapon, a .40-caliber Glock Model 22. Hymon did not appear to have fired the gun.
Technicians from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined the pistol was equipped with a functional “Glock switch,” an illegal device that converted the weapon to fully automatic fire. In his plea, Hymon admitted possessing the weapon and knowing that it had been converted into a machine gun. Hymon also face state charges in the shooting, along with other defendants who were not determined to have violated federal law.
Hymon remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker will schedule sentencing upon completion of a presentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services.
“The guilty plea in this case underscores our unwavering commitment to removing illegal firearms from our communities,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistance Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the ATF. “Together with our local and state partners, we are dedicated to ensuring public safety and holding accountable those who endanger it.”
The case is being investigated by the Savannah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Makeia R. Jonese.
Springfield, Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine Base in Central Vermont While FugitiveRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on March 2, 2026, Justin Llano, 25, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III to a term of 120 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Justin Llano previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine base in Central Vermont in two separate cases.
According to court records, over the course of multiple years, first in 2021-2022, and later in 2023-2024, Justin Llano operated a drug distribution operation in cooperation with his brother, Joseph Llano, his uncles, Tanashe Edwards and Edwin Davila, and numerous other co-conspirators, that trafficked cocaine base and fentanyl from Massachusetts to Central Vermont. The group distributed drugs to a large number of customers in Washington, Orange, and Lamoille counties. The defendant was initially arrested after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with federal drug crimes in May 2022. Prior to that arrest, law enforcement had conducted two controlled purchases directly from Justin Llano. During a controlled purchase on April 22, 2022, Justin Llano was wearing body armor and was armed with a handgun when he completed the drug sale, and additional firearms were present in the residence where the transaction occurred. The investigation determined that Justin Llano used his drug customers to obtain firearms in Vermont that he then trafficked to Massachusetts for profit.
In September 2022, Justin Llano was arrested by Springfield, Massachusetts Police for unlawfully possessing a firearm. Thereafter, he failed to report to his pre-trial services officer for his Vermont federal case, and became a fugitive from justice. Beginning in 2023, the defendant resumed trafficking drugs to Vermont while still a fugitive. Justin Llano directed individuals from Massachusetts to travel to Vermont to distribute drugs (“runners”), and had other individuals courier those runners, drugs and proceeds from the sale of drugs between Massachusetts and Vermont. During the course of the conspiracy, the courier that the Llano brothers used to transport drugs made approximately 100 trips between the Springfield, Massachusetts area and Central Vermont. By late 2024, while the courier’s activities were being directed by Justin Llano he was making multiple trips each week. On each trip he brought between 50 and 60 grams of cocaine base to Vermont, and at times also brought wax folds of fentanyl. Justin Llano managed multiple runners to distribute drugs in Vermont to customers with whom the defendant arranged drug transactions via a popular social media messaging application. On one occasion in September 2024, when one of the runners reported to Justin Llano that drug proceeds were missing, an armed associate of Llano went to the residence where the runner was distributing drugs and threatened the residents and the runner with a firearm, demanding that they locate the missing money. A search warrant was later executed at that residence by ATF and DEA, resulting in the seizure of cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, Barre Town Police Department, Barre City Police Department, Berlin Police Department, and Springfield, Massachusetts Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Turner. Justin Llano was represented by Allan Sullivan, Esq.
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.
Springfield Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Prison for Federal Hate Crime ViolationRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.— A Springfield, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for a federal hate crime after assaulting a victim on the basis of their sexual orientation.
Daniel Andrew McGee, 26, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release.
“The right to live safely in one’s community is a fundamental civil right. The District of Oregon remains committed to combatting hate crimes and protecting that right for all,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “While no conviction can undo the harm caused, we hope this sentence will bring some measure of justice to the victim and our community.”
“Hate crimes impact not just individuals, but entire communities,” said Acting FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Matt Torres. “The FBI works together with our partners to prevent hate crimes from impacting our communities, and every attack on someone because of who and what they are deserves to be acted on by the full extent of the law.”
According to court documents, on the evening of July 5, 2021, McGee met the victim at the victim’s apartment after communicating on the dating application Grindr, an application originally designed for, and primarily used by, gay men. McGee assaulted the victim over the course of several minutes, striking the victim on the head with a wooden tire thumper and using his hands to try to gouge the victim’s eyes out. The victim sustained life-threatening injuries during the assault, including serious head wounds.
The investigation revealed McGee had been researching and planning the attack for weeks. For at least one month prior to the attack, McGee searched the internet for homophobic and graphically violent anti-gay material. McGee planned for the attack by purchasing the weapon and other materials from Amazon and searching the internet for suggestions on how to get away with murder.
On November 18, 2021, a federal grand jury in Eugene, Oregon, returned a one-count indictment charging McGee with a federal hate crime involving an attempt to kill.
On November 25, 2025, McGee pleaded guilty to count one of the Indictment.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Eugene Police Department. Joseph Huynh, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and Tenette Smith, Trial Attorney for the Civil Rights Division Criminal Section, prosecuted the case.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 150 Months for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Springfield, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Kenneth Terrell Jones, 58, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Beth Phillips to 150 months in federal prison without parole to be followed by three years of supervised release.
On Aug. 15, 2024, a Springfield, Mo., Police Department officer initiated a traffic stop of an SUV with no license plates. During the stop the officer observed a baggie containing suspected controlled substances. A search of the vehicle found a Taurus, PT111 Millennium G2 pistol, which had previously been reported stolen out of St. Louis and additional controlled substances, including methamphetamine and heroin. In Jones’s subsequent statements to the officer, he admitted that both the firearm and the drugs belonged to him, and that he had purchased the firearm from a person who he only knew by an alias.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Jones has a significant criminal history, with prior convictions for burglary, unlawful use of a weapon, robbery in the second degree, rape, hindering prosecution of a felony, felony stealing, felony possession of a controlled substances, felony resisting arrest, tampering with a motor vehicle, and felony receiving stolen property.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Rochester felon facing new chargeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Legend Davis, 22, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of ammunition, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in September 2024, Davis was convicted in the Western District of New York of possession of a postal key and theft of mail and sentenced to serve three years’ probation. As a result, he is legally prohibited from possessing ammunition.
On December 16, 2025, Rochester Police officers responded to an address for a report of harassment. The caller stated that a car full of individuals came to their house, beeped the car horn, and called for them to come outside. According to the caller, Davis was one of the occupants of the vehicle and said, “you gonna lie down,” and “it’s on today, ya’ll going to see me light it up,” and made firearm gestures and pointed to his waistband. The incident led to United States Probation officers conducting home visits on December 16, 2025, on January 21, 2026 at Davis’s Rauber Street residence. An officer asked Davis if there was anything in the residence that he was not permitted to possess. He admitted that he possessed ammunition. Officers located nine rounds of ammunition.
Davis made an initial appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was held pending a detention hearing.
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 Buffalo/Rochester comprises agents and officers from HSI and the FBI with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, and United States Probation, under the direction of Clifford D. Jackson, Chief Probation Officer.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Roanoke Man Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke, Va. man, who used the Kik social media app to send three videos containing child sexual exploitation material to an undercover FBI officer, was sentenced yesterday to 40 months in federal prison.
Christopher Allan Johnson, 55, pled guilty in December 2025 to one count of possessing child sexual exploitation materials involving a prepubescent minor.
“The threat from online predators is real and remains a key enforcement priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia and our law enforcement partners,” Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “I am thankful to the FBI for their diligent work in this case to identify a real threat and bring justice to help protect our children.”
“Today’s sentencing takes one more criminal offline, but we know this epidemic of child exploitation is far from over. The FBI will continue fighting every day to protect our children from predators like Mr. Johnson,” said Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division.
According to court documents, on October 10, 2024, after leaving the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem, Virginia, Johnson logged into Kik and joined a public group dedicated to incest. There, an undercover FBI task force officer messaged Johnson. During the conversation, Johnson talked about his sexual fantasies involving children.
The next day, without prompting, Johnson sent the undercover officer three videos depicting children being graphically sexually exploited. At least one of the videos involved a prepubescent minor.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Inman is prosecuting the case for the United States.
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/.
Philippine National Sentenced in CNMI for Immigration FraudRead the Press Release
SAIPAN, CNMI – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Lorna R. Maramba, age 64, a Philippine national illegally living on Saipan, was sentenced on March 2, 2026, by the Honorable Ramona V. Manglona in the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, to credit for time served for Possession of a False Identification Document with the Intent to Defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)(4). The Court also ordered Maramba to pay a $25.00 special assessment fee. Maramba was deported to the Philippines today.
According to court documents, on January 21, 2026, Maramba attempted to depart Saipan for Hawaii through the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport. During an outbound inspection, she presented two fraudulent U.S. Permanent Resident Cards to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. Each card contained different biographical information, mismatched USCIS numbers, and distorted or blurred photographs.
Maramba initially claimed to be a lawful permanent resident. Record checks revealed she had no legal immigration status and had overstayed her CNMI‑Only Transitional Worker (CW‑1) visa, which expired in 2020. She later admitted the cards were counterfeit and stated she had paid $2,000 to a man she met on Facebook who falsely claimed to be a U.S. immigration officer. Maramba told investigators she intended to use the fraudulent documents to reach Hawaii to seek employment and acknowledged she was unlawfully present in the CNMI.
“The CNMI benefits from special provisions in federal immigration law that promote economic relief,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Our office will continue to aggressively enforce any violations. This case sends a message of zero tolerance to those who take advantage of these provisions to deprive citizens in other jurisdictions of employment opportunities.”
“HSI Saipan protects the community by investigating fraud and other crimes that threaten our security. Working alongside CBP and other partners, we make sure those who break the law are identified and brought to justice,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas.
The investigation was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation and prosecuted by Eric S. O’Malley, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jose Torres-Vega, aka “Pete” and “Big Hommie” of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Timothy J. Savage to 216 months’ imprisonment followed by 8 years of supervised release for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
The defendant was charged in a 20-count superseding indictment in June of 2023 with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and maintaining a drug house.
As detailed in case filings and statements, Torres-Vega was the leader and organizer of a drug trafficking group which operated in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. Torres-Vega obtained distribution quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine from suppliers in and around the Philadelphia area, and coordinated street sales of narcotics via his subordinates. Torres-Vega utilized a stash property, where he stored bulk narcotics and multiple firearms. A search warrant executed at the stash property revealed a cache of loaded firearms, to include an assault rifle, as well as bulk fentanyl.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica Kivitz and Lindsey Mills.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 78 Months for COVID Relief Fraud and International Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Adepoju Babtunde Salako, 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. As part of the plea agreement, Salako also agreed to plead guilty to seven counts of wire fraud in the District of Alaska. The defendant was ordered to pay $2,581,002.50 in restitution to the victims of his crimes.
According to the plea agreement, throughout most of the year 2021, Salako was part of a conspiracy that stole more than $5 million in funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, and 30 state unemployment programs through several complex schemes. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government launched the PPP and EIDL economic relief programs and provided federal funds to state unemployment programs. In one scheme, Salako and two co-conspirators used information of identity theft victims to fraudulently obtain PPP Loans and unemployment benefits and submitted fraudulent applications for EIDL Loans. In another scheme, co-conspirators, who were primarily located in Nigeria, used stolen identities and enlisted romance scam victims to obtain government money. Salako’s role was then to receive money from the romance scam victims and government agencies and to launder fraud proceeds, primarily to China and Nigeria, for a fee of approximately 25 percent.
“Mr. Salako and his criminal associates exploited innocent people and stole millions of dollars from American taxpayers,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “We are committed to finding and prosecuting fraudsters and, as this sentence demonstrates, these criminals will pay a serious price for their actions.”
“Salako was the point man in the U.S. for an international criminal organization that preyed on honest business owners and taxpayers, while also jeopardizing our national security,” said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Denver Field Office. “Our special agents are experts at uncovering complex financial crimes and today’s sentence is an example of their great work, our relationships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal and state law enforcement partners.”
“The U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General is committed to upholding the integrity of the Postal Service and its workforce. Our office will continue to investigate those who choose to breach the public’s trust and engage in fraudulent activity. The sentence imposed on the defendant stands as a clear warning that serious consequences await anyone who exploits government resources to commit criminal acts,” said Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office. “USPS OIG is thankful for the great longstanding relationships we have developed with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat fraud.”
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing.
IRS Criminal Investigation, the Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment handled the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig Fansler handled the prosecution.
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
Case Number: 25-cr-00162-CNS
Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A tribal member pleaded guilty on March 3, 2026, to the charge of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office.
According to court documents, Jerithan Keith Willis, 43, of the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation, distributed methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation.
In August of 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Willis on the methamphetamine charge. Willis pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 2, 2026. Willis faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is the result of the combined work of the FBI Safe Trails Task Force (STTF). The STTF is a collaborative effort between the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime and drug trafficking in Indian Country and surrounding communities. The STTF comprised of a variety of partners, including tribal, state, and local law enforcement. The STTF has been a key part of the FBI’s partnerships in Indian Country for almost 30 years and has been a presence on the Choctaw Indian Reservation since 2022.
U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, who all investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy.
Owner and Operations Manager of Wholesale Drug Distributor Admit Conspiring to Divert Nearly $50m of Cancer Medication to Sell Illegally for ProfitRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two North Jersey men have admitted to conspiring with doctors and others to purchase nearly $50 million worth of oncology and ophthalmology medications, under false pretenses, and then diverting and reselling these medications for profit, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Frank Incognito, 46, of Englishtown, New Jersey, and Stephen Corba, 50, of Farmingdale, New Jersey, have pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to conspiring to unlawfully resell various medications, including expensive oncology and ophthalmology medications, that a healthcare entity previously purchased. Corba entered his guilty plea earlier today, while Incognito entered his guilty plea on February 18, 2026.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
For years, Corba owned and ran a wholesale drug distributor, operating under New Jersey corporations located in Sewaren, New Jersey. During this time, Incognito worked as the operations manager of this drug distributor.
Corba and Incognito conspired with each other and multiple doctors to obtain expensive prescription medications that Corba and Incognito otherwise would not have been able to obtain on their own. These medications were first “straw-purchased” through the doctors’ medical practices, using the doctors’ medical licenses, and on the express condition that the medications would be used to treat the doctors’ own patients. After the medications were purchased, Corba, Incognito, the doctors, and their co-conspirators illegally transferred and resold the medications to others. Primarily, these medications were cold-chain biologic infusion medications that physicians typically use to treat cancers, macular degeneration, and autoimmune diseases.
In order to purchase the drugs, Corba, Incognito, and the doctors made numerous false and misleading representations to the pharmaceutical manufacturers and authorized distributors. These misrepresentations included that the doctors were purchasing the drugs to treat their own patients, and that the drugs would not be resold or redistributed to others. In actuality, none of the drugs were used to treat any of the doctors’ own patients but were instead sold to customers of Corba and Incognito, for a profit.
Corba’s and Incognito’s fraudulent scheme ran from June 2012 through January 2019, and included the purchase and sale of more than $47.5 million in prescription drugs. Doctors Anise Kachadourian, Jon Paul Dadaian, and Joel Lerner also previously pled guilty to their roles in the scheme.
The conspiracy to which Corba and Incognito pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In their plea agreement, Corba and Incognito also agreed to make restitution for the full amount of any losses resulting from their offenses. Sentencing for Incognito is scheduled for June 23, 2026, and sentencing for Corba is scheduled for July 8, 2026.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan, and special agents of U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Maltese, with the investigation leading to Corba’s and Incognito’s guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph McFarlane and Sara Aliabadi of the U.S Attorney’s Office in Camden.
###
Defense Counsel for Corba: Robert Stahl, Esquire
Defense Counsel for Incognito: Rocco Cipparone, Esquire
One Fresno Resident Sentenced, One Pleads Guilty in Illegal Gun Possession CasesRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announces a sentencing and a guilty plea in Fresno for two cases as part of Operation Take Back America.
Phatna Pich, 23, of Fresno, was sentenced Monday to three years and one month in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing machine guns. According to court documents, in October 2024, law enforcement officers were investigating Pich for trafficking illegal firearms. In November 2024, officers searched Pich’s home and seized a loaded firearm, several rounds of ammunition, and 12 auto-sears, which are devices used to convert firearms into automatic weapons. Pich has two prior firearm-related felony convictions, including a prior conviction involving an assault weapon and is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Pich pleaded guilty on Nov. 5, 2025.
The Fresno Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.
Thomas Carter Beasley, 21, of Fresno, pleaded guilty Monday to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Beasley engaged in a high-speed chase when police attempted to pull him over. Beasley sped through stop signs, nearly hit bystanders, and finally came to a stop by crashing into a parked car. After crashing, he fled on foot through a nearby apartment complex and hid a loaded .40 caliber Glock 27 handgun he was carrying under a resident’s doormat. Beasley faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
The Fresno Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody S. Chapple and Robert Veneman-Hughes are prosecuting the case.
These 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.
Oklahoma City Couple Sentenced to Serve 16 Years Collectively in Prison after Traffic Stop Yields 28 Firearms, Fentanyl, and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – MICHAEL DENNIS MILLER, 46, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 84 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and engaging in a drug conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Court records show that on September 23, 2024, an officer with the Union City Police Department pulled over a vehicle driven by codefendant SARAH JO MILLER, 34, also of Oklahoma City, with Michael Miller in the passenger seat. Because neither occupant had a valid driver’s license, the vehicle was impounded. During an inventory search of the vehicle, law enforcement recovered 28 firearms, approximately 87 grams of fentanyl, and 41 grams of methamphetamine.
According to public records, Michael Miller and Sarah Miller have the following prior convictions in Oklahoma County District Court:
- Sarah Miller’s previous convictions include unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in case number CF-2020-1871, as well as unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, acquiring proceeds from drug activity, larceny of merchandise from a retailer, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia in case number CF-2023-1042; and
- Michael Miller’s previous convictions include endangering others while eluding/attempting to elude a police officer in case number CF-2021-3, as well as conspiracy to conceal stolen property, second-degree burglary, concealing stolen property, larceny of an automobile, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in case number CF-2019-4332.
Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy and being a felon in possession of firearms in separate superseding informations.
At a sentencing hearing on February 20, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Michael Miller to serve 84 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On January 28, 2026, Sarah Miller was sentenced to serve 108 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentences, Judge DeGiusti noted the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal histories of the defendants.
This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Union City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hoch prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine and Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Youngstown, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court on March 2, 2026, to a charge of cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Wade Shaw, 51, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer to one count of possession with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine in September 2023.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for May 28, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Sharon Police Department, Farrell Police Department, Mercer County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Shaw.
Notary Pleads Guilty to Filing False Document in Orlando Immigration CourtRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Carlos Enrique Diaz Roque (29, Brooksville) has pleaded guilty to obstruction of official proceeding. Diaz Roque faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the plea agreement, Diaz Roque, a licensed notary, agreed to prepare an immigration document for Client-1. Diaz Roque, however, has never been a licensed attorney.
On February 3, 2025, Diaz Roque filed a motion to administratively close Client-1’s pending Orlando Immigration Court case. That same day, Diaz Roque also filed a document that was supposedly the Department of Homeland Security’s brief opposing Client-1’s motion. That brief said that the Department of Homeland Security “requests that the Court don’t deny the respondent’s motion to administratively close proceedings in the above-captioned case.” Diaz Roque signed the document in the name of the attorney for the Department of Homeland Security. In fact, as Diaz Roque well knew, the Department of Homeland Security’s attorney did not prepare, sign, file or authorize filing the brief with the Orlando Immigration Court in Client-1’s case.
On June 30, 2025, Client-1 testified under oath in Orlando Immigration Court that he hired Diaz-Roque to prepare the motion for administrative closure. Client-1 denied ever seeing the opposition to it. On November 18, 2025, Diaz Roque admitted to two Homeland Security Investigations agents that he falsely signed the Department of Homeland Security’s brief and filed it.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.
Norman Man Pleads Guilty to Arson in Indian Country and Gun Charge after Setting Sheriff's Deputy's Home and Vehicles on FireRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – AUSTIN GARRETT REEVES, 28, of Norman, has pleaded guilty to arson in Indian Country and possession of firearms after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to court records, on August 22, 2025, the McClain County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department (LHPD) responded to a reported burglary at a home in Washington, Oklahoma. The victim, a deputy with MCSO, told law enforcement that a handgun had been stolen from a family vehicle. A vehicle belonging to Reeves was parked near the victim’s residence, and law enforcement located Reeves nearby and arrested him. Reeves was released from the Grady County Jail later that day.
In the early hours of August 23, 2025, law enforcement responded to a fire at the same residence. Surveillance video showed Reeves using a large gas can to douse the victim’s personal vehicles and a MCSO patrol vehicle in gasoline. Reeves ignited the patrol vehicle, and the fire quickly spread to the other vehicles and then to the victim’s home, and Reeves was burned before fleeing the scene. The residents fled the home and were unharmed.
Later the same day, Reeves was arrested at his home in Norman after a standoff. Law enforcement observed a large burn on his left abdomen and recovered two firearms and burglary-related items from Reeves’ bedroom, as well as items related to arson from elsewhere in his home and from a vehicle.
On February 3, 2026, Reeves was charged by Superseding Information with arson in Indian Country and being a felon in possession of firearms.
Public records reflect that Reeves has previous felony convictions in Cleveland County District Court that include actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence in case number CF-20-937 and driving while under the influence of alcohol in case numbers CF-20-752 and CF-21-1175.
On February 24, 2026, Reeves pleaded guilty and admitted he willfully and maliciously set fire to two vehicles and a home, jeopardizing the lives of those inside, and that he knowingly possessed a firearm despite his previous felony convictions.
The arson charge is in federal court because Reeves is a member of the Cherokee Nation and the crime took place within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation.
At sentencing, Reeves faces up to life in federal prison and fines of up to $500,000.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, MCSO, LHPD, Newcastle Police Department, and the Washington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Ganote are prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
New Jersey Man Convicted for Driving Vehicle Towards Pedestrians near the Washington MonumentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jack Dessin, 43, of Mantua, NJ, was found guilty yesterday by a Superior Court jury for charges stemming from driving his SUV onto the sidewalk of the Washington Monument in July 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Dessin was found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon with a senior citizen enhancement. The Honorable Deborah Israel scheduled sentencing for May 15, 2026.
According to the Government’s evidence on July 3, 2021, in broad daylight, Dessin drove his dark blue Ford Explorer truck onto the sidewalk of the Washington Monument grounds, where numerous pedestrians were walking and sightseeing. While the 68-year-old victim was walking, Dessin accelerated his vehicle and drove directly at the victim, who struggled to jump over the wall for protection and had to be pulled out of the way by a family member.
Dessin was arrested by U.S. Park Police on July 3, 2021. He is now held pending sentencing.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Scott Brecht of the U.S. Park Police.
This case was investigated by U.S. Park Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emmanuel Hampton and Kraig Ahalt.
2024 CF1 010048
New Hampshire Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Atkinson, N.H. man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for possessing nearly 10 pounds of methamphetamine pills. Defendant led police on car chase at speeds in excess of 110 mph on Interstate 95.
Walter Norton, 46, was sentenced on Feb. 25, 2026 by Senior U.S. District Judge William G. Young to 15 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. In May 2025, Norton was convicted by a jury of one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
On April 3, 2024, law enforcement conducting a large-scale money laundering investigation observed Norton arrive at the residence of co-defendant Jason Hunter in Revere. After Norton left the residence, law enforcement attempted to execute a traffic stop car on Interstate 95. Norton fled from at speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour, driving on the left shoulder of the highway. He hit the median and another vehicle, breaking the axel of his own car, which came to rest in the center lane of the highway facing the wrong direction. Norton then fled on foot carrying a bag of over 15,000 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, which weighed 4.4 kilograms. He was subsequently apprehended.
Searches of Hunter’s residence and vehicle resulted in the seizure of over 16 kilograms of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, additional pills containing oxycodone, over a kilogram of cocaine and multiple kilograms of marijuana as well as $100,000 in drug proceeds.
On Jan. 8, 2026, Hunter was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Criminal Division 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.
Nearly Half Ton of Liquid Meth Seized at Otay Mesa Cargo FacilityRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 944 pounds of liquid methamphetamine concealed inside the fuel tank of a 2019 Kenworth T680 commercial tractor-trailer at the Otay Mesa Import Cargo Facility yesterday.
The driver, Oscar Alonzo Cesena Camacho, a Mexican citizen traveling on a business visa, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, on March 2 at approximately 11:20 a.m., a Customs and Border Protection officer observed a white, crystalline substance atop the passenger-side fuel tank.
Further inspection of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 29 buckets-worth of liquid concealed in the passenger-side fuel tank of the vehicle, with a total approximate weight of 428.60 kilograms (944.90 lbs.). A sample of the substance contained within the fuel tank field tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine.
DEFENDANT Case Number 26mj1162
Oscar Alonzo Cesena Camacho Age: 26 City of Residence: Tijuana, BC
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Importation of a Controlled Substance – Title 21, U.S.C., Section 952 and 960
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with mandatory minimum 10 years, $10 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Further inspection of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 29 buckets-worth of liquid concealed in the passenger-side fuel tank of the vehicle
Michigan City Man Sentenced to 66 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On March 3, 2026, Dontia Grant, 29 years old, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Grant was sentenced to 66 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Grant was pulled over in Michigan City for speeding. After an officer asked for his license and registration, Grant drove away from the traffic stop and led police on a pursuit for about a mile and a half before jumping out of his car and running away from police. When they caught up to him, officers found that Grant was carrying a loaded pistol with a 20-round extended magazine. Grant has prior felony convictions including unlawful transfer of a firearm and resisting law enforcement, and he was therefore prohibited from possessing the firearm in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Michigan City Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katelan McKenzie Doyle and Luke N. Reilander and former Assistant United States Attorney Molly E. Donnelly.
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
Miami Jury Convicts Pennsylvania Man of Attempted Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Pennsylvania man was convicted by a federal jury on Feb. 11 of attempting to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving a minor victim overseas.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Earl Richard Clouser, 55, of Burnham, Pennsylvania, engaged in months-long online communications with a 15-year-old victim in Cuba. Despite knowing her age, Clouser repeatedly solicited sexually explicit videos and directed her to produce CSAM, often in exchange for electronic payments he sent to her.
“This defendant targeted a 15-year-old child, directed her to create sexually explicit material, and then traveled overseas to exploit her in person,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The fact that the victim lived in another country did not put her beyond the protection of U.S. law. If you use the internet or international travel to exploit a child, we will find you, prosecute you, and seek the full measure of federal punishment.”
In September 2025, Clouser traveled from the U.S. to Havana, Cuba, to meet the victim for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. Prior to the trip, the victim provided Clouser with identification confirming she was underage. Nevertheless, Clouser arranged for the victim to meet him in Havana, where she stayed overnight with him at his rental apartment.
After returning to the U.S. through Miami International Airport on Sept. 19, 2025, Clouser was referred for secondary inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. During the inspection, officers discovered CSAM and communications between Clouser and the victim on three electronic devices in his possession, each containing sexually explicit material depicting the victim. Clouser was arrested.
After a two-day trial, the jury convicted Clouser of attempted production of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of a minor. He faces up to 30 years in federal prison with a mandatory minimum of 15 years. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement.
HSI Miami investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Hannah and Anthony Reynolds tried the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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-20444.
###
Mexican National with Prior Felony Convictions Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer Dorsey to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after being removed on four prior occasions from the country.
According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on February 6, 2025, Victor Manuel Navarro-Quesada was found in the United States after he was previously deported to Mexico on May 4, 2010; August 4, 2014; November 13, 2018; and June 10, 2019.
On February 5, 2025, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police arrested Navarro-Quesada for Trafficking a Controlled Substance and four counts of Possess to Sell a Controlled Substance. Navarro-Quesada has previous felony convictions for Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell out of the Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada, and Illegal Reentry after Deportation out of the U.S. District Court, District of Colorado.
Navarro-Quesada pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. After serving his prison sentence he will be deported to Mexico for a fifth time.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Levya Ruben made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
###
Mexican National Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Cocaine in New HavenRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MARTIN ONOFRE-MENDEZ, 50, a citizen of Mexico last residing in New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 20 months of imprisonment for a cocaine trafficking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the DEA New Haven District Office Task Force learned that Onofre-Mendez was distributing narcotics from a restaurant on Grand Avenue in New Haven. Between May and September 2024, investigators made multiple controlled purchases totaling approximately 600 grams of cocaine from Onofre-Mendez. Investigators observed Onofre-Mendez’s associate, Eygner Huezo, supplying him with cocaine immediately before two of the purchases.
Onofre-Mendez was arrested on October 1, 2024. On that date, investigators seized 225 grams of cocaine from Onofre-Mendez and 480 grams of cocaine from a location he used to store drugs.
Onofre-Mendez has been detained since his arrest. On September 19, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Onofre-Mendez will be removed to Mexico when he completes his prison term.
Huezo, 36, a citizen of El Salvador last residing in New Haven, pleaded guilty to a related charge on November 10, 2025, and awaits sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the DEA New Haven District Office (NHDO) Task Force and the New Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe.
Mexican National Sentenced to 20 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On March 3, 2026, Miguel Angel Vera-Rosales, 36 years old, a felon from Mexico who had been previously removed from the United States in 2018, illegally returned to the United States, and was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty to 20 months in prison. Vera-Rosales pled guilty to felony Reentry of Removed Alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
“This case is an example of why the government prosecutes felony Reentry of a Removed Alien. The Defendant has a previous felony conviction for attempted sexual assault and had been removed from our country. He continued to break our nation’s laws by violating her borders again. He will be returned home to Mexico after serving his time in prison. It should be clear that he is not welcome here as a result of his crimes.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T Jones.
Mexican Citizen Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A citizen of Mexico was sentenced in federal court to 30 months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Manuel Sebastian Valenzuela Olivas, 20.
According to information presented to the Court, Olivas exploited a temporary visitor visa to traffic in fentanyl. Specifically, on or about August 10, 2025, Olivas traveled from the U.S./Mexico border to New York City to obtain fentanyl from a narcotics supplier located in the Bronx. Olivas was on his way to sell the fentanyl to a buyer in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, when Pennsylvania State Police stopped his vehicle on a traffic violation. During a search of Olivas’ vehicle, troopers discovered one kilogram of fentanyl under the driver’s seat.
Olivas has been in custody since his arrest and will be returned to immigration custody following his imprisonment for his removal from the U.S., to which Olivas agreed as part of his plea and sentence.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Drug Law Enforcement Division, Western SHIELD Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Olivas.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Theft of Funds from the Department of Veterans AffairsRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Anthony Brewer, 47, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to theft of government property valued at over $50,000 in Department of Veterans Affairs funds. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
United States Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant abused his position of trust to financially benefit himself by illegally diverting money that was intended to support one of our brave military veterans, and this prison sentence ensures he is held accountable for his selfish, criminal conduct. Our military veterans deserve our respect and gratitude, and my office will ensure they receive the government benefits they have earned through their sacrifice and service by aggressively prosecuting anyone who tries to steal the U.S. government moneys intended for their support.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant agreed to serve as a fiduciary under the Department of Veteran Affairs’ fiduciary program and manage the monetary benefits of an individual who was unable to manage their own benefits. As part of the agreement, the defendant agreed to use the funds for the care, support, health, welfare, comfort, and desires of the beneficiary. The defendant subsequently misused and stole funds provided by the VA for the beneficiary between October 7, 2020, and January 9, 2023.
“This sentence holds the defendant accountable for defrauding a vulnerable beneficiary who was incapable of managing their finances,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “VA fiduciary roles require high integrity and trust, and the VA OIG is committed to rigorously investigating those who exploit veterans and their families.”
Brewer was ordered to pay $53,567 in restitution and his sentence will run consecutive to a state of Florida prison sentence that he is currently serving.
This case resulted from an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo and former Assistant United States Attorney Harley W. Ferguson prosecuted the case.
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 theU.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.
Lynchburg Store Owner Pleads Guilty to Federal Food Stamp FraudRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The owner of Taste of India, a medium-sized grocery store in Lynchburg, pled guilty today to federal food stamp fraud and other charges.
Rajan Babbar, 59, pled guilty today to one count of fraud regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program and one count of transacting in criminally derived property. SNAP was established by the United States government to alleviate hunger and malnutrition among low and middle-income families by increasing their food purchasing power and ability.
According to court documents, in 2016 Babbar filed paperwork with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for Taste of India to become a SNAP retailer. In December 2016, FNS approved Babbar’s application.
Beginning around April 2021, it is alleged that SNAP sales at Taste of India exploded from their previous levels. For example, in 2018, Taste of India was conducting an approximate monthly average of $2,600 in SNAP transactions. By 2023, the approximate monthly average was $65,000 a month, a roughly 2,500 percent increase. Between January 2019 and January 2025, the average individual SNAP transaction at Taste of India was for $115.77. By comparison, the average individual SNAP transaction among similarly sized stores statewide was $40.61.
To perpetuate the scheme, Babbar admitted that he permitted individuals to exchange their SNAP benefits for cash. Babbar rang up false transactions for non-existent food items and other products. He then provided those individuals with cash for approximately one-half the value of the SNAP benefits.
Between approximately January 2019 and January 2025, Babbar conducted numerous such fraudulent SNAP transactions in an amount that was more than $550,000 but not greater than $3.5 million.
Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci, Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the USDA-OIG, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The USDA-OIG, FBI, and Lynchburg Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Brett is prosecuting the case.
Longtime offender sentenced to 20 years in prison for running drug operations from Columbus houses & prisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A career criminal offender was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 240 months in prison for leading a narcotics operation, including from jail.
Petrocelli Robertson, 40, of Columbus, was part of a drug trafficking organization that sold fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. Robertson is also known as “Bible” and “Juice.”
According to court documents, from May 2021 until July 2024, Robertson trafficked narcotics out of Columbus residences on Racine and Dana avenues. After his arrest in this case, Robertson directed his other associates to continue his drug operations.
Robertson’s criminal history started at least 20 years ago. In the early 2000s, he was convicted of kidnapping with a firearm and sentenced to serve eight years in prison consecutive to a federal sentence imposed for dealing cocaine base. After serving those prison sentences, he was convicted of illegally conveying drugs into Mansfield Correctional Institution and spitting on a corrections officer at Lebanon Correctional Institution.
Two of Robertson’s four co-defendants in this case are also scheduled to be sentenced this week. Robertson’s former wife, Amber Limoli, pleaded guilty to continuing the drug operation while her husband was in jail. His doorman, Danny Hood, oversaw a residence on South Guilford Avenue where drugs were regularly sold and was in the process of establishing another stash house on Stevens Avenue.
The investigation also revealed that Hood was renting rooms for women engaging in prostitution and was exchanging drugs for things of value. Hood exploited drug-addicted women, often letting them stay with him and assisting them as they engaged in prostitution so they would have cash to purchase drugs from him.
Coconspirator Terrel L. Patterson has also pleaded guilty in this case and awaits sentencing later this month.
Robertson pleaded guilty in July 2025 to conspiring to distribute and possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, and to illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and officials with the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Kentucky Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Kody D. Harless, 28, of Tomahawk, Kentucky, was sentenced on Monday, March 2, 2026, to eight years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 15, 2023, Harless received approximately 4.75 grams of fentanyl from an individual in Huntington. A law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle in which Harless was traveling following the transaction and located and seized the fentanyl. As part of his guilty plea, Harless admitted that he obtained the seized fentanyl after arranging to purchase it beforehand, and that he intended to distribute some of it.
Harless also admitted to additional criminal conduct. Harless participated in a conspiracy to receive fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Southern District of West Virginia for distribution. Harless admitted that he took part in the conspiracy from at least July 2023 to in and around November 2023, received methamphetamine and fentanyl on a regular basis from others in the Huntington area, and transported the controlled substances to Kentucky where he distributed them.
Harless is among 27 individuals indicted on charges alleging they participated in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area. Harless and another co-defendant pleaded guilty to separate charges in lieu of the offenses alleged in the indictment. Twenty-three defendants pleaded guilty in the main indictment. Charges against the remaining defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department..
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
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. 3:24-cr-7.
###
Justice Department Secures Order Against Michigan Pet Store Owner to Allow Inspectors Access to Assess Health and Well-Being of AnimalsRead the Press Release
A federal court last week issued a temporary restraining order against K&M Pets LLC which owns a pet store in Saginaw, Michigan, that sells and offers encounters with exotic animals. The order was issued based on claims that K&M Pets had repeatedly refused to allow Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials access to inspect its facilities, animals, and records in violation of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
“This case shows that there are consequences for dealers and exhibitors who violate the obligations of their license and attempt to evade the Animal Welfare Act requirements that protect the health and safety of the animals in their care,” said Deputy Principal Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Animal Welfare Act exists to protect these animals, and the Department of Justice will vigorously enforce this law and hold to account those who violate it.”
“This action demonstrates the shared commitment of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use all available tools to ensure the effective and expeditious enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act,” said General Counsel Tyler Clarkson of the USDA.
The Department of Justice filed a complaint for injunctive relief in the Eastern District of Michigan on Feb. 24 — followed by a motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction three days later — alleging that K&M Pets engaged in a pattern and practice of attempting to avoid its AWA obligations. According to the complaint, the pet store operated by K&M Pets sells dogs and exotic animals, and has evaded federal oversight by denying inspectors from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) access to its facilities, animals, and records. During the latest attempted inspection in January, the APHIS inspector — who was ultimately unable to conduct an inspection — observed concerning conditions in the public areas of the pet store facility, including animals in enclosures without water or shelter and a sloth that was exposed to harsh drafts of negative-22-degree Michigan winter weather.
USDA referred this matter to the Department of Justice based on concerns of potential conditions animals faced by in facilities operated by K&M Pets. The temporary restraining order will help USDA assess the health and well-being of animals in K&M Pets’ possession. This lawsuit follows Attorney General Pamela Bondi’s “Prioritization of Animal Welfare Enforcement” memorandum and furthers the Department of Justice’s goal of combatting animal cruelty.
USDA’s APHIS is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Kamela A. Caschette, Christian H. Carrara, and Bonnie M. Ballard of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section are handling this case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Justice Department Files Civil Injunction to Bar New Jersey Tax Return Preparer from Preparing Tax Returns for OthersRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a civil injunction suit today in federal court in Trenton, New Jersey. The suit seeks to bar a Monmouth County, New Jersey, tax return preparer and his businesses from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others.
The complaint alleges that Thomas Donkor, doing business as VIP Biz Center LLC and VIP Tax Services, prepared federal tax returns for customers on which he claimed fraudulent deductions to purposely underreport the tax his customers owed, and claimed refunds they were not entitled to receive. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Donkor prepared returns that falsify business expenses, income, and losses, and claimed improper itemized deductions for non-deductible rent and unreimbursed business expenses for ineligible taxpayers. In addition to these fictitious and fraudulent claims, the complaint describes how Donkor violated the law by failing to obtain the customer’s signature on the return, failing to provide the customer with a copy of the return, and failing to explain the fee he charged.
According to the complaint, Donkor’s repeated understatement of tax has harmed the United States by causing an estimated revenue loss of over $2.4 million in tax year 2024. In addition to seeking an injunction against Donkor, the government has requested an order disgorging roughly $555,000 in ill-gotten gains to prevent him from profiting from his violation of the Internal Revenue laws.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Wu of the Civil Division’s Tax Litigation Branch made the announcement.
Attorney Adam S. Domitz of the Tax Litigation Branch is handling this matter.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information.
In addition, IRS Free File, a public-private partnership, offers free online tax preparation and filing options on IRS partner websites for individuals whose adjusted gross income is under $89,000. For individuals whose income is over that threshold, IRS Free File offers electronic federal tax forms that can be filled out and filed online for free.
In the past decade, the Department of Justice has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Civil Division, Tax Litigation Branch with details.
Donkor Complaint.pdf