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23 September 2026
Toilet Flush Fail! Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Raleigh. N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Monted Quintrell Council, also known as “Rude,” 39, to 6 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams of fentanyl. On June 11, 2026, Council pleaded guilty in federal court.
“Council flooded our communities with fentanyl, treating neighborhoods like hunting grounds without any regard to the families he left in shambles, broke and broken. Today’s sentence sends a stern warning across Eastern North Carolina; we will track every dealer who thinks they can slither through the weeds in the shadows, slash the smothering vines of their drug networks, and lock them away where they can’t spread poison. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
In November 2024, the ATF and the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into Council’s fentanyl‑trafficking operation. Investigators quickly gathered evidence, including a controlled purchase of fentanyl pills from Council. On December 12, 2024, officers moved in with a search warrant. As they breached his house, Council attempted to flush his stash of fentanyl pills down the toilet. He failed. Law enforcement recovered 55 grams of fentanyl from his septic tank, illustrating the lengths he would stoop to hide his crimes.
Council has multiple North Carolina state convictions, including a 2010 conviction for possessing a Schedule VI controlled substance, a 2010 conviction for possessing marijuana with intent to sell or deliver, and a 2017 conviction for maintaining a place for selling illegal drugs.
"Thank you to our community, narcotics team and our local, state, federal partners,” said Edgecombe County Sheriff Cleveland Atkinson. “We will remain committed to hold drug dealers accountable for the drugs they distribute in our community."
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The ATF and the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office collaborated on this investigation.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26CR0005D-1.
Texas Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking in the District of ColumbiaRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the District of Columbia convicted Devontee Parker, 38, of Dallas, today for sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, interstate transportation for purpose of prostitution, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering.
“Devontee Parker trafficked vulnerable women by intimidating them with physical violence to make money,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The courage of the victim resulted in compelling testimony that secured this important conviction, which will ensure that Parker will never be able to traffic victims again.”
“I am proud of the deep expertise our prosecutors bring to human trafficking cases,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Their exceptional work is a key reason we hold a 100% conviction rate in these prosecutions. With FBI agents embedded in our office, we have strengthened both our commitment to eradicating human trafficking and the successful results we are seeing in court.”
“Today’s verdict underscores the victims’ remarkable courage and the unwavering commitment of our agents and partners who pursued justice in this case,” said Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office. “The FBI will continue to lead aggressive investigations that hold traffickers accountable and connect victims with the support they need to rebuild their lives.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Parker met the victim in 2021 while she was struggling with housing insecurity, financial instability, and grieving the loss of a beloved family member. Parker made the victim believe he cared about her and enticed her to come live with him in Texas. Once the victim agreed, Parker advertised the victim online, set prices for the commercial sex acts, and drove her to sex buyers in multiple states as well as the District of Columbia.
Parker demanded that the victim turn over all her earnings to him and controlled her access to money, food, and other necessities. He also set a daily earning quota for the victim and punished her with violence if she did not make enough money. The victim testified that during one incident, Parker strangled her until she lost consciousness. During another incident, Parker gave her a black eye.
Parker also routinely looked through the victim’s phone to monitor her communications with others and forbade her from speaking with friends after they witnessed his abuse. Parker also introduced the victim to drugs, including cocaine, and routinely supplied her with illicit substances while instructing her to have sex with men for money. After several unsuccessful attempts to leave Parker, the victim escaped in 2024 when he was arrested on prostitution-related charges by state authorities. Parker was indicted in Texas on charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion related to additional victims in August 2026.
The jury convicted Parker of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, interstate transportation for purpose of prostitution, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3, 2027. Parker faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Trial Attorney Jessica Arco of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Bohlen and Karen Shinskie for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
The FBI Washington Field Office and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department are investigating the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tech CEO, Russian National Arrested on Complaint Alleging They Hid Russian Ownership and Development of Software Sold to U.S. GovernmentRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The CEO of a Virginia-based software company and a Russian national have been arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging them with concealing from U.S. government agencies that their company was owned and controlled by Russian nationals and that its software was developed in Russia, the Justice Department announced today.
Lee Reiber, 55, of Boise, Idaho, was arrested in Idaho on Sunday, made his initial appearance on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Idaho, and was ordered released on bond. He is expected to be arraigned in Los Angeles federal court in the coming weeks.
Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, 52, of Moscow, Russia, was arrested on Sunday at London Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom prior to boarding a flight to Istanbul. The United States expects to seek Davydov’s extradition.
The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Reiber allegedly represented to the government that the company had no foreign ownership or control and that its software was developed in the United States, when in fact five Russian nationals, including Davydov, owned and controlled the company and its software was developed in Russia.
The complaint does not allege that the software contained malicious code or that it was used to gain unauthorized access to any customer’s computer systems or data.
In a separate proceeding, a federal magistrate judge in the Central District of California on September 19 issued a warrant authorizing the seizure of corporate bank accounts, approximately 57 domains, and other cyberinfrastructure used in furtherance of the alleged acts. The domains and related infrastructure were seized on September 20.
According to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, from March 2022 to the present, Reiber, Davydov, and others conspired to obtain contracts from federal agencies through Oxygen Forensics Inc., a digital forensics company based in Alexandria, Virginia.
Digital forensic software is used to recover, preserve, and analyze electronic data from digital devices while keeping the original files unchanged.
The affidavit identifies the affected agencies as the U.S. Department of War and three components of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These components include the U.S. Secret Service and its National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI); Homeland Security Investigations; and the DHS Office of Inspector General.
According to the affidavit, Oxygen Forensics held itself out to the U.S. government as being an independent, U.S.-based company. In fact, Davydov and four other Russian nationals owned and controlled the company through a holding company based in Cyprus.
The same five individuals also owned a Russian company, known until September 2022 as Oxygen Software LLC and now as MKO Systems LLC, which Davydov co-founded in 2000. The developers who wrote the software worked in Russia, and MKO sold the software in Russia under different product names to customers that reportedly included the Russian Federal Security Service (known as the FSB), the Russian Investigative Committee, and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Davydov was the Russian company’s chief technology officer and was responsible for the development of its software. He helped establish Oxygen Forensics in Virginia in 2013. Reiber joined the company in August 2015.
After the United States imposed expanded sanctions on Russia in early 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Davydov, Reiber, and the Russian co-conspirators agreed to conceal Oxygen Forensics’ true ownership and the development of its software in Russia. Reiber was installed as the company’s CEO, president, and chairman of the board in March 2022. The Russian owners were then removed from the company’s public corporate filings.
The company’s Russian owners continued to make significant decisions and set Reiber’s compensation, overruled him on payments, and held signatory authority over the company’s bank accounts.
In December 2022 and October 2023, Reiber falsely certified to the U.S. government that Oxygen Forensics had no immediate or highest-level owner. According to the affidavit, in November 2023, a reporter asked Reiber about Oxygen Forensics’ ownership and its connection to the Russian company. Reiber then wrote to Davydov and two other Russian owners that public reporting on the connection “could destroy this entire opportunity,” referring to a pending contract with the National Computer Forensics Institute, and that the “current existence of this company hangs in the balance.”
In September 2024, the NCFI awarded a five-year contract for the software. The award file included Reiber’s October 2023 certification that the company had no immediate or highest-level owner.
In July 2024, at Reiber’s direction, Oxygen Forensics certified to the Department of War that no foreign person had the power to control the appointment of the company's directors or managers or to direct its other decisions or activities. As Reiber then knew, the company’s Russian owners were foreign persons who controlled its decisions and one of them had recently been appointed to its board under a Turkish identity.
Reiber and the Russian owners also concealed that the software was developed in Russia. In March 2026, Reiber told DHS personnel that no Russian was involved in developing the software and that no one in Russia had access to the environment in which it was built. Days later, Reiber authored a statement, published on the company's website, declaring that the company had no development presence in any restricted jurisdiction. According to the complaint, the software was written and managed by a team in Russia under Davydov’s direction, in a cloud environment administered by one of the Russian owners.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The United States Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security is investigating this matter with assistance from the Department of War Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Cyber Field Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs is assisting in the provisional arrest and anticipated extradition of Davydov.
Assistant United States Attorneys David C. Lachman of the Major Frauds Section and Joshua O. Mausner of the National Security Division are prosecuting this case. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling the civil and criminal forfeitures of the seized property.
Tampa Man Arrested for Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Aspen Chae Cartwright (21, Tampa) has been charged by indictment with distribution of child sexual abuse material. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court records, in May 2025, Cartwright engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with an individual whom he believed was a 13-year-old girl. During that conversation, on May 22, 2025, Cartwright distributed an image depicting child sexual abuse material. The minor was actually an undercover agent from Homeland Security Investigations. Cartwright was later arrested and is currently detained pending the resolution of the criminal case.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Statement of U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald on the Conviction of John LivigniRead the Press Release
“Moments ago, a jury returned a unanimous verdict finding John Livigni, a leader of the Washington Square Park drug ring, guilty of all narcotics charges, including three overdoses—two of which resulted in death. One of the victims was just 18 years old. Our Office’s commitment to keeping New Yorkers and their families safe includes ensuring they can use public spaces without the interference of dangerous drug dealers. For far too long, New Yorkers were forced to live with the dangerous drug dealers who had turned Washington Square Park, in the heart of Greenwich Village, into an open-air drug market. Not anymore: as a result of our Office’s dedication and the continued commitment of our partners at the NYPD and DEA, New Yorkers are able to enjoy our iconic Washington Square Park in peace—and safely.”
September Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Christopher J. Nassar today announced the results of the September Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Alejandro Aragon Nicolas. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Aragon Nicolas, 34, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2011 and 2016. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevion Freeman is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-357
Brandon Michael Cherry. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Cherry, 41, of Claremore, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender in August 2026. The U.S. Marshals Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-349
Imelda Corral Rodriguez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Corral Rodriguez, 48, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 1999. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-358
Mark Franklin, II. Possession of Child Pornography. Franklin, 31, of Guthrie, is charged with possessing visual images of the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-350
Mauricio Humberto Garcia Alvarado. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Garcia Alvarado, 18, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-351
James Dontal Garner. Possession of Child Pornography. Garner, 48, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing videos of the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. The Tulsa Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-353
Pedro Gomez Perez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Gomez Perez, 49, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2010. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Keller is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-352
George William Horton. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. Horton, 20, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is charged with assaulting the victim with a knife with the intent to do bodily injury, and with assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-355Jose Manuel Ibarra Gonzalez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ibarra Gonzalez, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2010 and 2012. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Diaz-Guma is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-354
Dany Isaias Lopez Juarez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lopez Juarez, 40, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2010, 2012, and 2013. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevion Freeman is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-356
Joshua Sadr-Ghadar-Ghadr. Possession of Child Pornography. Sadr-Ghadar-Ghadr, 39, of Oaks, is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-359
David Less Stephens, Jr. First Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Stephens, 37, of Skiatook and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with breaking into an occupied home with the intent to commit a crime. He is charged with assaulting the victims with a firearm and with intent to do bodily harm and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-360
James Kevin Stonecipher. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition After a Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Conviction. Stonecipher, 55, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony and a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Keller is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-348
Romanian National Admits to Conspiracy to Commit Marriage FraudRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Romanian national admitted to conspiring with an American to enter into a sham marriage so that she could obtain U.S. citizenship, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Antonia-Beatrice Mircea, 33, of Atlantic City, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court. According to statements made in court and documents filed in the case, Mircea is a citizen of Romania and entered into a sham marriage with U.S. citizen Victor Purilla for the purpose of obtaining permanent residence in the United States. On forms submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Mircea falsely stated that she lived with Purilla in Atlantic City when, in fact, Purilla never lived with Mircea and maintained his own residence in Absecon. Judge O’Hearn scheduled sentencing for January 25, 2027.
The charge of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud has a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, and of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, and USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security officers, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McFarlane in Camden.
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Defense counsel: Timothy Farrow, Esq., Domers Bonamassa & Farrow, P.C.
mircea.information.pdfRepeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 120 months in prison to be followed by 30 years of supervised release for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his digital devices while he was on federal supervision for a prior conviction of coercion and enticement of a minor. The government recommended a sentence of 120 months in prison.
“Today's sentence reflects the gravity of these horrific crimes and the necessity of removing repeat predators from our communities,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Individuals who continue to possess and consume child sexual abuse material inflict lasting harm on vulnerable children. Our office will remain relentless in pursuing and prosecuting those who perpetuate this cycle of abuse, especially recidivist offenders who defy prior court interventions.”
“To anyone targeting our children, understand this: you cannot outrun or evade justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “Law enforcement will find you, and you will face the full consequences of your actions. Our community has zero tolerance for child predators. The FBI remains fiercely dedicated to securing justice for victims and aggressively preventing future exploitation.”
According to court documents, Max Milton was on supervision for a prior federal conviction of coercion and enticement of a minor. While on supervised release, he possessed over 10 images and videos of CSAM depicting prepubescent minors.
Milton pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. In addition to his sentence of imprisonment, Milton will be required to pay restitution to his victims and to register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin prosecuted the case.
These cases are a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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North Fort Myers Man Charged for Threatening to Injure and Kill a U.S. Congressmember and His FamilyRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Jacob Lloyd Lashbrook (31, North Fort Myers) has been charged by indictment with two counts of influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a member of Congress by threat and one count of interstate communication of threats to injure and kill. If convicted, Lashbrook faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each of the first two counts and a maximum of 5 years’ imprisonment on the third count. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, in July 2026, Lashbrook threatened to assault and murder a member of the United States House of Representatives. He also threatened to assault family members of the congressmember, with the intent to impede, intimidate and interfere with the congressmember’s performance of official duties. The indictment alleges that Lashbrook transmitted and communicated a true threat to injure the congressmember and members of his family and staff using highly inflammatory, profane, and obscene language.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the United States Capitol Police – Threat Assessment Section and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III.
Nigerian national indicted for illegally votingRead the Press Release
Kansas City, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment charging a Nigerian national with falsely claiming to be a United States citizen to illegally vote in elections.
According to court documents, George Olawunmi Johnson, 67, who was residing in Olathe, Kansas, is charged with one count of false claim to United States citizenship, one count of false claim to United States citizenship in order to vote, one count of fraudulent election conduct, and one count of voting by an alien in a federal election.
Johnson is accused of falsely indicating that he is a U.S. citizen while registering to vote in February 2010 in Johnson County, Kansas. In November 2024, Johnson allegedly cast a ballot in Kansas that included candidates for the offices of U.S. President, Vice President, Senate, and House of Representatives after falsely certifying that he was eligible to vote as a U.S. citizen when he is in fact a permanent resident.
Johnson made his his initial court appearance September 23, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Michigan Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Controlled Substance OffenseRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Robert Newton, 34 years old, of Niles, Michigan, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Newton was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Newton was driving in Michigan City, Indiana, when police pulled him over for a traffic infraction and discovered three baggies containing a total of about 59.5 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the back hatch of Newton’s rental car.
“Robert Newton poisoned our communities with deadly drugs, and he will be confined ten years for it. For years, methamphetamine has torn apart Indiana families, fueled violent crime, and devastated our streets. The defendant chose to profit from that misery, operating with a blatant disregard for the law until police intercepted his vehicle and uncovered nearly 60 grams of pure methamphetamine. His sentence is not only entirely appropriate given the scale of his crimes, but it also serves as a critical deterrent to anyone else thinking of trafficking poison into our neighborhoods. This successful prosecution was made possible by the seamless coordination and strong partnerships of our local, state, and federal law enforcement teams. Thanks to the tireless work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA North Central Laboratory, the LaPorte County Drug Task Force, the Long Beach Police Department, and the Michigan City Police Department, there is one less major dealer on our streets today, and our community is safer for it," said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA North Central Laboratory, the LaPorte County Drug Task Force, the Long Beach Police Department, and the Michigan City Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brookline, Mass. man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor.
William Kahn, 28, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to six years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. As a result of the conviction, Kahn will be required to register as a sex offender. In May 2026, Kahn pleaded guilty to attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Kahn was charged in December 2025.
Between June 2025 and August 2025, Kahn engaged in online conversations with an undercover agent purporting to be a 14-year-old girl. Kahn engaged in sexually explicit chat discussions with the purported minor and sent a photograph of adult genitalia.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Brookline, Boston and Arlington Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Almost 10 Years in Prison for Threatening to Injure Congressman Randy Fine and His ChildrenRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Edwin Guerrero (26, MA) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to 9 years and 11 months in federal prison and a $15,000 fine for making interstate threats to injure the person of another. Guerrero pleaded guilty on March 23, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, between August 10 and 15, 2024, Guerrero used his social media account to make a series of antisemitic posts and threats directed to Congressman Randy Fine. At the time of the offense, Congressman Fine was a member of the Florida House of Representatives. The posts included the following threatening statements:
“Looks like I’m taking a little field trip to brevard county Florida let's play a game @VoteRandyFine” from an IP address in Spain. Attached to the post was a photo of an individual holding what appears to be a firearm.
“@VoteRandyFine when he steps out in Florida don't worry your 2 little precious. Jewish boys will suffer the same fate.” from an IP address in Spain. Attached to the post was a photo of a deceased male with significant head trauma.
“This is gonna be Randy Fine very very soon ... see you in Florida !” from an IP address in Spain. Attached to the post was the same photo of a deceased male with significant head trauma.
“Why don't you show us where you're at? @VoteRandyFine your scared of getting your brains blown in ? Don't worry we'll make sure your sons watch ...” from an IP address in Spain.
The investigation revealed that Guerrero was in Spain when he made the threats. Upon his return to the United States, Guerrero was interviewed and admitted to using his social media account to send the above threatening messages to the congressman. A subsequent search of Guerrero’s phone showed search history containing antisemitic and anti-Israel content, including “israel should burn in hell.”
During the sentencing hearing, Congressman Fine stated, “My boys are now victims of a crime;” “I was afraid for me, and I was afraid for my boys.” According to Congressman Fine, Guerrero’s threats involving his sons crossed a line and “made my blood run cold.” He expressed his hope that Guerrero’s sentence sends a clear message that this unacceptable behavior cannot be allowed in the United States of America.
“Threats of intimidation or harm against public officials or anyone for their political or religious beliefs will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “We will take such acts seriously and prosecute these offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Moe held that Guerrero’s threats against Congressman Fine and his minor children were motivated by hate. Judge Moe emphasized the seriousness of Guerrero’s threats against Jewish people, and the need for general deterrence for threats against all people, including elected officials and people in protected classes.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Richardson-Jones.
Justice Department Issues Statements on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan’s Decision in People of the State of Michigan vs. BP, P.L.C., et al.Read the Press Release
The Justice Department issued the following statements regarding the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan’s decision yesterday in People of the State of Michigan vs. BP, P.L.C., et al., which was an antitrust lawsuit brought by the state against energy companies.The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) had previously filed a statement of interest to inform the court of legal doctrines that limited the state’s claims.
“This dismissal should make states rethink the use of lawfare to enact climate change policy,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “We are committed to upholding antitrust and environmental law. Michigan’s case would have accomplished neither. That is what we highlighted in our statement of interest.”
“Last May, we filed a complaint against Michigan to prevent it from suing energy companies for climate change under state law theories that are preempted by federal law,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “After we filed our complaint, Michigan pivoted to the novel antitrust claims that the court dismissed yesterday. We are pleased that the district court has rejected another aggressively anti-energy lawsuit, and we are committed to protecting American energy from this sort of state overreach.”
“Antitrust law protects competition and thereby consumers; it is not a tool to advance societal goals unrelated to competition,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General G. Charles Beller of the Antitrust Division. “The court’s dismissal of Michigan’s novel antitrust claims reiterates the bedrock principle that State plaintiffs, like other private parties, must establish antitrust standing. This standing doctrine ensures that the relief provided to private parties is appropriately tailored to redress harms to competition. On behalf of the American people, we are proud to have worked with ENRD to protect and defend the proper application of federal law.”
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice and Meet a 13-Year-Old Child for Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Orlin Eli Gonzalez (27, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Wendy W. Berger to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a 13-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. Gonzalez was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. He was arrested on September 4, 2025, and has remained in federal custody. Gonzalez pleaded guilty on June 17, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, from August 28 through September 4, 2025, an FBI agent (UC) in Jacksonville was conducting an undercover operation on an online social media application (app) to identify adults who were seeking to make online contact with and engage in sexual activity with children. UC was posing as a 13-year-old child. UC and app user “Orlean” exchanged several private online messages on the app as well as via text messaging. After UC advised that the “child” was 13 years old, app user “Orlean” asked the “child” about “her” sexual experience and if “she” liked performing a particular sexual act. “Orlean” requested that the “child” send him nude photos and texted, “I wanna see you naked” and asked the “child” if “she” wanted to have sex. Further investigation by the FBI identified app user “Orlean” as Gonzalez.
On September 4, 2025, Gonzalez and the “child” exchanged more text messages. Gonzalez confirmed that he had intended to meet the “child” for sexual activity at “her” home in Jacksonville and asked the “child” to provide “her” address. That same afternoon, Gonzalez was observed biking toward the agreed-upon location. Upon his arrival, Gonzalez was arrested by FBI agents.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Illegal Alien Charged with Illegally Voting in Three Federal ElectionsRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Christiane Vinette Young (75), a Canadian national illegally present in the United States, has been charged by information with three counts of voting by an alien. If convicted on all counts, she faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the information, Young voted in three federal elections—the 2024 general election, 2022 general election, and 2022 primary—despite knowing that she was not a citizen of the United States.
An information is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Lee County Supervisor of Elections. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.
Hondo Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Threatening to Violently Overthrow the GovernmentRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Hondo man was sentenced in a federal court today to 27 months in prison for threatening a violent attack to overthrow the government, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jay Anthony Villarreal, 25, left his home in Hondo on June 28, 2025, with the intent to carry out an attack in Washington D.C., to overthrow the government. Villarreal was armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic assault weapon, a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, along with extra loaded magazines and multiple boxes of ammunition for each gun. He also possessed in his vehicle a police scanner, binoculars, and a copy of the Texas Penal Code.
As part of his plan to overthrow the government, Villarreal used social media in an effort to solicit military veterans to join him. A friend of Villarreal’s in Maryland saw the social media post on the morning of June 29, 2025, viewed it as potential mass murder situation, and reported it to the FBI. Another of Villarreal’s acquaintances from Hondo was disturbed by the messages and wanted to avert a mass killing so he reported it to the Hondo police. Furthermore, multiple family members and friends sent messages to Villarreal while he was on his drive from Hondo to Washington D.C., prompting him to turn around in the Beaumont area and return home on June 29 at approximately 8:00 pm. Later that day, FBI agents searched Villarreal’s home, resulting in the discovery of two U.S. military smoke grenades—all in addition to the firearms and materials he had in his vehicle.
Villarreal was arrested on July 2, 2025, and convicted by a federal jury on June 17, 2026. Today, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery sentenced Villarreal to 27 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. Villarreal was also ordered to forfeit the firearms and ammunition.
“Jay Villarreal set out on a mission loaded with weapons and ammunition to violently overthrow the United States government in our nation’s capital,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “Fortunately, those closest to him took his public threats seriously and did the right thing by reporting him to law enforcement while simultaneously talking him down. My office and our federal law enforcement partners continue to urge community members to speak up and make that same call whenever necessary. We will answer that call in order to ensure Americans remain safe.”
“This ruling sends a clear message to those who attempt to undermine our democracy,” said FBI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Daniel Faith. “These crimes will not be tolerated and those who perpetrate them will be brought to justice.”
The FBI-Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the San Antonio Police Department, Hondo Police Department, and UTSA Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg and Kirk Mangels prosecuted the case.
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Greenville Tax Preparer Sentenced to over 2 Years in Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Danielle Melissa Staten, 40, to over 2 years in federal prison and one year of supervised release for aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. The Court also ordered Staten to pay $1,508,171 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
‘This is yet another example of crooks milking the system to simply defraud the hard-working taxpayers of this great country,” said U.S, Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This serves as a stark warning to those who think they can pad their pockets with stolen taxpayer dollars: we will find you, we will prosecute you, and a federal prison cell waits for you. Cheaters. Never. Win.”
Staten engaged in a scheme to prepare and file false and fraudulent federal income tax returns (Forms 1040) for others from 2018 to 2023, resulting in approximately $1.5 million in fake tax losses. Staten owned and operated Precise Tax Preparation, LLC, a tax return preparation in Greenville, North Carolina. It was anything but precise. She prepared false tax returns for clients that reported phony information to increase her client’s tax refunds. Many of the offending returns included false Schedules C, to report annual profit and loss from a small business. Staten generated false Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) claims by making up the income and expenses on the Schedules C, which fraudulently allowed the taxpayer to maximize the EITC credit.
“Dishonest tax return preparers erode the integrity of the tax system by abusing their position of trust and placing honest taxpayers at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald ‘Trey’ Eakins of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Charlotte Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to expose these schemes and hold corrupt preparers accountable.”
W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the Honorable James C. Dever III pronounced the sentence. IRS-CI investigated the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-CR-15-D.
A copy of this press release is located on our website.
Gainesville Violent Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of Gun & AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Ramone Ron Young, Jr., 34, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Keeping dangerous, violent felons off our streets is one of my office’s top priorities, and thanks to the excellent investigative work of the Gainesville Police Department, with support from our federal law enforcement partners, we have delivered another successful prosecution in this case. Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Todd Blanche, my office is aggressively prosecuting criminal offenders to ensure our citizens can enjoy the safe, crime-free streets they deserve.”
Court documents reflect that on May 28, 2026, law enforcement responded to a report that the defendant had pointed a gun at another individual. Through investigation, officers determined the defendant possessed a loaded FMK .40-caliber pistol, despite being legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he had been previously convicted of robbery with a weapon and cocaine possession.
Young faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon count.
Young’s sentencing is scheduled for November 23, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. before Chief United States District Allen Winsor at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida.
The plea was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Fleming.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Former Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Keagan Garrett Bohlinger, 26, of Monticello, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to 11 counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography from the internet. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “It is one of my office’s top priorities to target and aggressively prosecute anyone who sexually exploits and victimizes a child. The fact that this defendant served as a public safety officer makes the commission of his heinous crimes even more egregious, and my office will pursue maximum punishment to achieve justice for the minor victim.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant was a Monticello Police Department Officer who sexually abused a young child and produced multiple videos and images of the sexual abuse on three occasions in January 2026. He also possessed videos and images of child pornography downloaded from the internet.
The defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 350 years, which includes up to 30 years per production count, and 20 years for possession, all potentially running consecutively. After his release from prison, the defendant will be a registered sex offender and will be sentenced to supervised release for at least 5 years and up to life.
The case involved an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2026, at 11:00 am, in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Final Kiccdoe gang member in 21-defendant prosecution sentenced for RICO conspiracy involving murder, robbery and drug traffickingRead the Press Release
FORT WORTH, Texas — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a member of the violent North Texas street gang Kiccdoe was sentenced Sept. 17 to more than 13 years in federal prison for his role in a racketeering conspiracy involving acts of violence, armed robbery and drug trafficking.
Blake Aaron Scott, 22, of Arlington, Texas, pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy on June 3.
“This defendant fueled a violent criminal enterprise that terrorized North Texas neighborhoods with shootings, robberies and drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Let me be unmistakably clear: My office will not tolerate this type of violence in North Texas. We will dismantle any gang that threatens our communities and aggressively prosecute its offenders.”
“This defendant’s role in a violent gang that terrorized the Arlington community warrants the sentence imposed in this case,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to dismantle violent criminal organizations that threaten the safety of our communities.”
“This is a significant win for our community,” said Arlington Police Chief Al Jones. “In Arlington alone, we documented more than 180 criminal incidents, many of them violent, involving the members of this street gang. Our city is safer with these defendants of our streets. I’m extremely grateful to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas for partnering with us on this case and for successfully prosecuting everyone who was part of this conspiracy.”
According to court documents, Scott was a member and associate of the Kiccdoe gang—an organization whose members engaged in murder, shootings, armed robberies, intimidation and narcotics trafficking throughout Arlington and other North Texas communities.
From at least August 2021 through 2025, Scott and other Kiccdoe members conspired to conduct the affairs of the enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity, including:
- Conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder: On Jan. 20, 2022, during a shooting at a residence in Arlington targeting an individual identified as N.C., Scott urged Kiccdoe members to locate and kill rivals in Instagram communications.
- Armed robbery: On May 7, 2022, Scott participated in a gunpoint robbery during which approximately $250 and personal items were taken from W.B. Scott later helped co-conspirators evade law enforcement.
- Drug trafficking: From at least August 2022 through November 2025, Scott used Instagram to advertise drug sales, posted images of large marijuana quantities and engaged in hand‑to‑hand deliveries. Proceeds were used to purchase firearms for use in further violent crimes.
The Kiccdoe Enterprise
Court records describe Kiccdoe as a criminal enterprise operating in Arlington, Texas, since approximately 2017. Gang members use violence, intimidation, narcotics distribution and social media promotion to maintain territory, influence and profits and climb in rank by trafficking controlled substances and committing violent acts, referred to as “standing on business.”
In court papers, Scott admitted that he knew the enterprise’s objectives, agreed to its goals and committed essential elements of the charged racketeering conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman sentenced Scott to 157 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Scott was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.
Scott is the last of 21 defendants convicted and sentenced in this racketeering conspiracy.
The FBI’s Dallas Field Office and Arlington Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura G. Montes and Eric B. Chen from the Fort Worth Division prosecuted the case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Capoccia.
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Federal Prison Awaits Wilson Gang Banger for Drug and Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW BERN N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Mijuel Taylor, also known as “Mthang,” 24, of Wilson to almost 12 years in federal prison for possessing meth with intent to distribute it and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“Stashing a loaded gun in your waistband while standing in a house tied to gang shootings, with a pocket full of meth, is a fast track to federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Wilson has seen far too many gang‑related shootings and lawlessness. This conduct only fuels more violence in a vicious cycle. The rules for staying out of trouble are simple: no gangs, no illegal guns, and don’t sell drugs. These young thugs destroy their families and communities with guns and drugs and the inevitable violence that follows. If you somehow avoid getting shot, you go to prison to rot. Get smart. Choose better.”
In the summer of 2024, Wilson experienced at least 12 gang‑related shootings. Investigators determined the violence fueled from a dangerous rivalry between two local hybrid gangs; the “600/Snail/Taliban,” tied to the Nine Trey Gangster Bloods, and “D.M.G.,” linked to the 52 Hoover Gangster Crips. During the investigation, law enforcement learned that the gang banger stored firearms tied to the gang shootings at a residence in Wilson.
On July 25, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at that residence suspected of hiding guns tied to gang‑related shootings. As they moved in, officers confronted Taylor near a side door and immediately detained him. During the search, they found a loaded 9‑millimeter handgun tucked into his waistband and more than 48 pills containing meth in his pocket.
“This sentencing underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the public and dismantling the violent criminal networks that undermine community safety. Gang-related violence remains a significant driver of violent crime nationwide, with federal assessments showing that criminal gangs are responsible for a substantial share of shootings and gun trafficking activity across the United States. Through close coordination with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to disrupt the organizations that fuel this violence, remove illegally possessed firearms from our streets, and ensure that individuals who traffic in narcotics and weapons are held fully accountable under federal law," said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.
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.
W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The FBI’s Raleigh Durham Safe Streets Task Force and the Wilson Police Department investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-00325-FL.
Dual Citizen Convicted of Smuggling Goods from the United States to RussiaRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The President of a freight forwarding company has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston of unlawfully exporting an Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 Mass Spectrometer from the United States into Russia without a license.
Kirill Gordei, 37, was convicted yesterday following a four day trial, of one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States; one count of smuggling goods from the United States; and one count of export of a spectrometer which is a commerce control item. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for Jan. 12, 2027. Gordei was arrested and charged in June 2024.
Gordei, a citizen of Belarus and the United States who resides in Hallandale, Fla., is the President of Apelsin Logistics, a freight forwarding company, located in Hallandale Beach, Fla. Apelsin also has an address in Russia and two websites both of which are registered and hosted in Russia.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, a series of stringent export controls were implemented that restrict Russia’s access to the technologies and other items that it needs to sustain its attack on Ukraine. As of April 8, 2022, license requirements for exports, reexports and transfers to or within Russia were expanded to cover the most sensitive items subject to controls on the Commerce Control List.
In August 2023, Gordei facilitated the export of an Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 Mass Spectrometer – an item that delivers high data quality and versatility to accelerate scientific discovery for academic, industry research, government and omics laboratories – from the United States to Russia via Turkey, in violation of the licensing requirements. In order to facilitate the transaction, Gordei provided falsified documentation to an American freight forwarding company indicating that the mass spectrometer was destined to Uzbekistan, rather than to Russia. Gordei simultaneously arranged for the mass spectrometer to be shipped directly to Moscow after it arrived in Turkey.
“Mr. Gordei went to great lengths to evade U.S. export controls, falsifying the destination of controlled technology and routing it through Turkey before sending it to Russia,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Export controls are a vital tool for protecting national and international security. We will continue to hold those who deliberately circumvent export controls accountable.”
“The Bureau of Industry and Security will relentlessly pursue those who violate U.S. export control laws,” stated David Peters, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, U.S. Department of Commerce. “This conviction demonstrates our commitment to dismantling these dangerous criminal networks.”
The charge of violating the Export Control Reform Act provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The charge of smuggling goods from the United States provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States provides for a sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Foley, Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the National Security Division and Assistant Secretary Peters made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Marshals Service; and the Transportation Security Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timonthy Kistner and Christopher Looney of the National Security Unit are prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Christopher Magnani of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence & Export Control Section.
Defendant Convicted of Violent Robbery of Postal Worker, Theft of Mail, and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Brooklyn yesterday convicted Mahwanga Campbell, also known as “Mahwanga Elijah Solo Campbell” and “Elijah Campbell,” on all counts of a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to rob a mail carrier, possession of stolen mail, and the fraudulent deposit of stolen and/or altered United States Treasury checks. The charges arise from Campbell’s participation in the violent assault and robbery of a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier in Queens, New York. The verdict was delivered after a two-week trial before United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano. When sentenced, Campbell faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment. Campbell’s co-conspirators remain at large.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS), announced the verdict.
“Today’s verdict holds the defendant accountable for the violent robbery of a United States Postal Service mail carrier,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Mail carriers perform a vital function and are part of the fabric of our communities. Our Office will vigorously prosecute criminals who assault government employees while they are doing their job and we will not rest until the co-conspirators in this cowardly attack are also brought to justice.”“U.S. Postal Service Letter Carriers perform a core function in serving the community every day and they should be able to do so without fear. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will aggressively investigate all those who seek to commit violence against USPS Letter Carriers and with the help of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District Court of New York hold all who would commit such acts accountable,” stated USPS Inspector in Charge Larco-Ward
As proved at trial, on September 2, 2023, a USPS mail carrier was delivering mail in the vicinity of Union Hall Street in Jamaica, Queens, when he was punched in the face, thrown to the pavement, and robbed of his arrow key (a USPS key used by mail carriers to open mailboxes) by two of Campbell’s co‑conspirators, while Campbell acted as the getaway driver. The victim suffered pain to his head and a cracked tooth as a result of the attack. Law enforcement traced the getaway vehicle driven by Campbell using surveillance video and license plate trackers. On February 11, 2025, pursuant to a warrant, Campbell was arrested during a traffic stop by a police officer in Charlotte, South Carolina, and Campbell’s cell phones were seized.
Campbell’s phones were searched pursuant to a judicially authorized search warrant and found to contain images and videos of checks made out to people other than Campbell, as well as identification documents in the names of other people. The checks depicted on Campbell’s phones were issued to various payees other than Campbell by various individuals and companies across multiple states, including New York, Delaware, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, with issue dates ranging from at least June 2023 to February 2025. Several of the checks depicted on the phones were issued by payors located within the geographic area where mailboxes can be accessed with the stolen arrow key and were dated within three weeks of the date of the robbery in Queens. Campbell’s phone also contained videos showing how stolen checks were altered: first by “washing” the recipient and dollar amount off the stolen checks by dissolving the handwritten ink in acetone or brake fluid, and then by replacing those with a new recipient and dollar amount.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Russell Noble, Alessandra Rafalson, and Andrew Wang are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Johnson Peow.
The Defendant:
MAHWANGA CAMPBELL (also known as” Mahwanga Elijah Solo Campbell” and “Elijah Campbell”)
Age: 34
Charlotte, North CarolinaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-218 (ENV)
Columbus drug dealer sentenced to 20 years in prisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A high-level narcotics trafficker was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 240 months in prison for drug and gun crimes.
David Ector, 51, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics, illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon and conspiring to commit money laundering.
According to court documents, between 2012 and 2024, Ector generated millions of dollars through illicit drug sales. Ector served as a source of supply of large quantities of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl to drug traffickers operating on the west side of Columbus. Ector would also fly to California to obtain bulk amounts of narcotics to send back to Ohio.
Investigations by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force (COHTTF), Columbus Division of Police, Ohio Attorney General's Office (AGO) Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC) and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, and Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) revealed that Ector kept notes in his cell phone that contained coded references to drug sales and a ledger including nicknames for individuals and how much money they owed.
Ector conspired to launder proceeds of his drug trafficking, in part through a front business called “Daze Auto Sales.” The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles has no records of the business ever buying, selling or owning any vehicles in Ohio. He also orchestrated numerous deposits of money to various bank accounts and obtained properties. One of those properties that Ector purchased with drug trafficking proceeds was a multiunit apartment building in Columbus being utilized as a sober living facility.
As a part of his plea agreement, the Court ordered the forfeiture of two real properties owned by Ector as well as five firearms, a Cartier watch and a Rolex watch.
Ector was charged by a bill of information in October 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed on Sept. 22 by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Timothy D. Prichard are representing the United States in this case.
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Columbia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Offense Related to Columbia Woman’s MurderRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Anthony Detemrius Reese, 56, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm in relation to the murder of a Columbia woman.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on the night of Aug. 29, 2025, Reese left a residence in Cayce with Angela Fuller. In the early morning of Aug. 30, 2025, Reese dumped Fuller’s dead body in a wooded area off Two Notch Road.
The Columbia Police Department identified Reese as the last person with Fuller. On Aug. 31, 2025, Columbia Police officers spotted Reese’s vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but he instead fled, led officers on a high-speed chase, and eventually crashed the car in Lexington. Officers recovered a loaded firearm from Reese’s vehicle. Following an extensive search, law enforcement recovered Fuller’s body. Ballistic testing confirmed that the firearm found in Reese’s possession was used to kill Fuller.
Reese has prior felony convictions for domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, shoplifting, burglary, and assault and battery. He is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson concluded that Reese was responsible for Fuller’s murder and that the firearm was used to commit the murder. Judge Anderson sentenced Reese to 180 months’ imprisonment, the statutory maximum, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.
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Brockton Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to drug distribution and conspiracy charges.
Antonio Dossantos-Tirado, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Dec. 21, 2026. Dossantos-Tirado was arrested and charged in October 2025.
On May 29, 2025, Dossantos-Tirado sold 55 grams of crack-cocaine in the Sunset Hill housing development in Fall River, Mass. On June 10, 2025 Dossantos-Tirado organized the sale of cocaine, fentanyl and a firearm between a relative and a cooperating witness.
The charge of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base carries a sentence of no less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, no less than four years and up to a lifetime of supervision and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Fall River Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the cases.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Bloomfield Man Pleads Guilty to Fatal StabbingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Bloomfield man pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing a man during an argument.
According to court documents, on May 20, 2026, Seviano Kee, 18, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, got into a physical altercation with John Doe. During the altercation, Kee fatally stabbed John Doe with a kitchen knife and was not acting in self-defense.
Kee pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. At sentencing, he faces up to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.
Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Drug-Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man pled guilty in federal court to charges stemming from his role as a drug trafficker.
Kanye Green, 23, admitted to possession of a firearm and ammunition by the respondent of a domestic violence protective order and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to court documents, on October 28, 2025, as BPD officers conducted proactive enforcement in Northwest Baltimore, they observed Green standing on a corner. Officers noticed Green’s jacket seemed to bulge out, indicating that he possessed a heavy object consistent with a firearm.
Then officers approached Green and asked him if he possessed a firearm. Green then lifted his shirt and replied “no,” but stated he had weed on him. As Green removed the packet of marijuana from his clothing, an officer observed the handle of a firearm inside of his jacket. Then officers patted Green down and located a handgun in his jacket pocket.
Officers then arrested Green and subsequently recovered several vials of a controlled substance from his person. Further testing revealed the substance was cocaine and cocaine base.
Additionally, at the time of the arrest, Green was the respondent of a final order of protection for a domestic violence order by the District Court for Baltimore County which prohibited him from possessing firearms and ammunition during the duration of the order.
Green faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of life in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. He is also facing a maximum of 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. U.S. District Court Judge Deborah K. Chasanow set sentencing for Friday, Jan. 8, 2027, at 1 p.m.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Safe Home. These programs bring 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. Project Safe Home is an initiative under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to reduce domestic violence and prevent escalation to lethal violence by targeting offenders who use or possess handguns with a history of Domestic Violence.
In response, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is working closely with its federal, local, and state partners — along with Baltimore City community organizations — to reduce violent crime and enhance public safety. This partnership and coordination between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the City of Baltimore ensures that federal resources are leveraged effectively to address intimidate-partner firearm violence.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their collaborative efforts in this investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Y. Hagan who are prosecuting this case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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10 Indicted in Takedown of Major Philadelphia Cocaine Trafficking Organization That Coordinated with Mexican CartelRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – At a news conference this morning, United States Attorney David Metcalf announced the indictment and takedown of a major Philadelphia drug trafficking organization, resulting in the seizure locally of over $8 million in cocaine and multiple firearms. In total, along with partners in other districts, over $17 million in cocaine was seized over the course of the investigation.
The indictment charges 10 alleged members of the Jones-Basley Drug Trafficking Organization (“DTO”) with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and related offenses.
U.S. Attorney Metcalf discussed the case today alongside FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel.
“Literal truckloads of cocaine have been seized as a result of this case and kept from flooding our city,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Know that the investigation is ongoing and there will more arrests to come. We, the FBI, and the Philadelphia Police Department are zeroing in on the drug traffickers and cartels poisoning our neighborhoods and communities.”
“Drug trafficking does not simply end with the transaction. Its impact can reach far beyond those involved in the criminal activity, threatening the safety and well-being of our neighborhoods, and putting families and communities at risk,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “No one agency can do this work alone. We appreciate our partners at the Philadelphia Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office for their diligent efforts in this investigation. We will continue working alongside them to identify those who bringing dangerous drugs into our city, take down the organizations behind this activity, and bring those responsible to justice.”
“This investigation is another example of what is possible when local and federal law enforcement work together with a shared mission,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “Drug trafficking organizations operating at this scale fuel violence, destabilize neighborhoods and cause tremendous harm in our communities. I am especially proud of the Philadelphia Police Department members assigned to this task force, whose work alongside our federal partners helped bring this investigation to this point. I want to thank U.S. Attorney Metcalf, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, the FBI, and every investigator and partner who contributed to this case. We will continue working shoulder-to-shoulder to disrupt these organizations, hold those responsible accountable and make Philadelphia safer.”
As alleged in the indictment, the Jones-Basley DTO, led by Gregory Jones, aka “Smallz,” 48, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Edward Basley, aka “Beeb,” 47, of Wayne, Pa., coordinated with a Mexican drug cartel to transport hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Mexico to Philadelphia, with the DTO pushing between $5 million and $10 million dollars’ worth of cocaine onto the city’s streets every month.
Jones and Basley are both charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
In addition, Jones is charged with possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of an elementary school, and Basley with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Their eight co-defendants — Shawn Bell, 54, of Cheltenham, Pa., Jabari Savage, 46, Renard Brown, 43, Jermaine Singleton, 52, Farid Haddad, 48, and David McField, 43, all of Philadelphia, Orenthial Bailey, 50, of Temple, Texas, and Eduard Amador, 38, of Manassas, Virginia — are charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The indictment alleges that they are active members or associates of the Jones-Basley DTO.
Five defendants were arrested by the FBI in coordinated operations yesterday. Five defendants were already in state or federal custody.
If convicted, all the defendants face maximum possible sentences of life imprisonment.
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 U.S. 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 Philadelphia is co-led by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, and partner agencies include the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Probation Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Delaware State Police, Maryland State Police, and Virginia State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Stram and Christopher Parisi.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
22 September 2026
Valdosta Man Convicted of Domestic Violence Faces 15 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Albany, Ga. – A Valdosta resident is facing up to 15 years in federal prison after he admitted to illegally possessing three firearms, including a stolen machine gun, when he was taken into custody for a probation violation for a prior domestic violence misdemeanor conviction.
“Individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms can expect to be held accountable at the federal level, especially when they have a violent criminal history and illegally possess a machine gun,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “This case underscores that people with prior domestic violence convictions, including misdemeanors, are generally prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. Working with law enforcement, we are identifying repeat offenders with violent criminal pasts and bringing them to justice.”
“Individuals prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms cannot disregard that prohibition without consequences—especially when the weapons involved include an illegal machine gun,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Graves. “This conviction demonstrates the strength of our partnership with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and our shared commitment to protecting communities from armed repeat offenders.”
“We appreciate the strong cooperation we have with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, which helps us keep repeat offenders with guns off the streets,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk. “Their collaboration with our office is essential in ensuring these individuals are held accountable.”
Eddie Arnold, 24, of Valdosta, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime of domestic violence before U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on September 21. Arnold faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment to be followed by a maximum term of supervised release of three years and a maximum fine of $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements in court, Arnold was wanted for probation violation for a prior domestic violence conviction. Investigators arrested Arnold on Jan. 9, 2025, at his residence on Ponderosa Drive in Valdosta. Investigators obtained a search warrant and found two semiautomatic firearms and a 9mm Glock stolen from Gainesville, Florida, with a machine gun conversion device attached, located in Arnold’s bedroom. Arnold was previously convicted of simple battery family violence in Lowndes County and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Two Alexandria Men Sentenced on Federal Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA – On September 15, 2026, United States District Judge Jerry Edwards, Jr., sentenced Terrence D. Taylor, Jr., 28, of Alexandria, to 102 months in federal prison with six years of supervised release, after his guilty plea to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
On the same day, Judge Edwards also sentenced Mikell Dewayne Boyd, 30, also of Alexandria, to 37 months in federal prison, with two years of supervised release, after his guilty plea to Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Subject to a Domestic Violence Protective Order.
TAYLOR
Taylor, a previously convicted felon, was encountered by Louisiana Probation and Parole (LPP) and Louisiana State Police (LSP) on May 9, 2024, for arrest on outstanding warrants. During the arrest, officers saw marijuana in plain view inside his residence. Taylor admitted there was a backpack inside the residence containing methamphetamine and a Glock firearm. A search warrant was executed, and investigators recovered the backpack containing approximately 27.87 grams of methamphetamine—a distribution amount—and a loaded Glock Model 42 firearm that was later determined to be stolen.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), LPP, and LSP. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Daniel Siefker, Jr., with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon.
BOYD
On March 31, 2025, Boyd was in possession of a loaded Omni Hybrid .223 pistol and .223 ammunition. At the time he possessed the firearm and ammunition, Boyd was subject to a Louisiana domestic violence protective order which prohibited him from doing so. Boyd admitted the firearm and ammunition were in his possession despite the court order.
This case was investigated by the ATF and Alexandria Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Johnson with assistance from Legal Assistant Tanya Broussard.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcements.
These cases were prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Numbers 26-cr-00047 (Taylor) and 26-cr-00061 (Boyd).
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Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana [email protected] www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
(337) 262-6704Tucson Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for 2022 Hostage TakingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Julio Cesar Rodriguez Rojas, 30, of Tucson, was sentenced earlier this month by Senior United States District Judge Raner C. Collins to 13 years in prison. Rodriguez Rojas previously pleaded guilty to Aiding and Abetting Conspiracy to Hostage Take.
Rodriguez Rojas’ co-conspirators, Olegario Lares-De La Rosa and Ivan Heriberto Borboa-Ruiz, both of Mexico, were previously sentenced to 18 years and 14 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in the same offense.
On April 6, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations received a tip from an individual in New York that two of his cousins were being held captive and that their captors had demanded a $16,000 ransom for their release. The cousins were illegal aliens who were part of a group of six individuals abducted in the desert by armed men after they crossed into the United States. The armed captors confiscated their cellphones and then transported the six aliens to a house where they were held for multiple days in a room where the door was screwed shut each night to prevent escape. The two cousins were the final hostages to have their ransom paid.
Investigators learned that Borboa-Ruiz made the phone calls arranging for the ransom and hostage exchange. Rodriguez Rojas then instructed Lares-De La Rosa to bring the cousins from where they were being held.
On April 8, 2022, Borboa-Ruiz arrived at the location of the money exchange in Tucson, Arizona and met with two undercover agents. Borboa-Ruiz was armed with a loaded 9mm pistol that Rodriguez Rojas gave him. Borboa-Ruiz received and counted the $16,000 in cash twice to confirm the ransom had been paid, made a phone call to Rodriguez Rojas stating they were “good,” and that the two victims could be released. In response, Rodriguez Rojas directed Lares-De La Rosa, who was parked nearby, to release the victims. The victims got out of the car and walked to the vehicle where the ransom had been paid. As the victims reached the undercover vehicle, Borboa-Ruiz was immediately arrested by law enforcement.
While agents were arresting Borboa-Ruiz, Lares-De La Rosa sped away, leading agents on a high-speed vehicle chase. During the pursuit, Lares-De La Rosa threw a loaded 9mm pistol out of the window and bailed out of the vehicle. He then fled into a residential neighborhood, hiding in several private backyards before being arrested. Rodriguez Rojas left the scene and was arrested in 2023.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marana Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Serra M. Tsethlikai and Sarah Precup, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 22-CR-00974-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-164_Rodriguez Rojas# # #
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.Tallahassee Man Pleads Guilty to Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – James Dalton Bryant, 54, of Tallahassee, Florida, has pleaded guilty in federal court to a single count of bank robbery. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case exemplifies the excellent investigative work of the Tallahassee Police Department to identify, track down, and arrest violent criminals, like this defendant. The safety of our communities is not negotiable, and I am committed to ensuring we aggressively prosecute these crimes to send criminals like this defendant to federal prison.”
Court documents reflect that on June 22, 2026, minutes after opening, a Regions Bank in Tallahassee was robbed by a male who approached a teller with a note demanding cash. The individual was given approximately $3,190 in cash, after which he left the bank. Investigators determined that the robbery suspect, later identified as the defendant, had arrived at the bank as a passenger in a white Mercedes sedan, and after robbing the bank, had fled in the same vehicle. Detectives identified the suspect vehicle and questioned the owners, who were determined to have not been aware of nor involved in the actual robbery. With the aid of information provided by witnesses, as well as through an anonymous Crime Solvers Tip, the defendant was located and arrested. At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of some of the currency stolen from Regions Bank. When questioned, the defendant confessed to the robbery.
The defendant faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for December 10, 2026, at 10:00am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
This case was investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Summer Immigration Prosecutions Under Operation Take Back AmericaRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Pensacola and Gainesville – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced 22 new indictments since July 2026 against previously deported illegal aliens for illegal reentry into the United States. Since July, a total of 53 illegal aliens have been convicted of federal immigration crimes in the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Each of these defendants brazenly thought they could violate our nation’s laws with impunity, and that they could lie, cheat, and steal their way into remaining in our country. Wrong. American citizens deserve to live in a country with secure borders and law enforcement officials willing to uphold the laws that keep us safe. My office is answering that call with continued aggressive prosecutions and swift punishments for the criminal illegal aliens caught in the Northern District of Florida, and we will continue to do so until our citizens get the safe, crime-free communities that they deserve.”
According to court records, 53 indicted illegal aliens have been convicted and sentenced since July:
- Jose Guadelupe Escobar, 48, of Nicaragua, who was previously removed in July 2009, was encountered in Leon County on October 22, 2025.
- Romeo Escalon, 44, of Honduras, who was previously removed in January 2012, was encountered in Okaloosa County on February 21, 2026.
- Darlin Alvan-Galdamez, 32, of Honduras, who was previously removed in April 2019, was encountered in Okaloosa County on March 1, 2026.
- Leonel Morales-Gaytan, 33, of Mexico, who was previously removed in March 2020 and April 2022, was encountered in Bay County on April 14, 2026.
- Alex Joel Maldonado-Erazo, 38, of Honduras, who was previously removed in November 2015, was encountered in Okaloosa County on March 20, 2026.
- Cirilo Perez-Michua, 39, of Mexico, who was previously removed twice in March 2009, October 2009, December 2024, and January 2025, was encountered in Walton County on April 22, 2026.
- Jose Barahona-Paz, 27, of Honduras, who was previously removed in September 2019, was encountered in Walton County on April 28, 2026.
- Pascual Hernandez-Shilon, 56, of Mexico, who was previously removed in March 2011, May 2011, October 2019, and November 2019, was encountered in Walton County on April 26, 2026.
- Victor Sanchez Lopez, 30, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in February 2017, was encountered in Okaloosa County on April 21, 2026.
- Jose Patzan-Camey, 28, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in October 2018, was encountered in Santa Rosa County on April 21, 2026.
- Marcelino Mendez-Gomez, age, of Mexico, who was previously removed in August 2013 and October 2019, was encountered in Walton County on May 11, 2026.
- Adelmo Alvardo-Lopez, 55, of Honduras, who was previously removed in February 2018 and May 2018, was encountered in Bay County on May 16, 2026.
- Juan Ruiz-Jimenez, 31, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in May 2014 and November 2020, was encountered in Bay County on May 4, 2026.
- Irvin Noe Arias Marquez, 28, of Honduras, who was previously removed in April 2021 and February 2024, was encountered in Washington County on February 15, 2026.
- Angel Gabriel Santos-Guerra, 29, of Honduras, who was previously removed in June 2023 and July 2023, was encountered in Bay County on April 20, 2026.
- Andres Antonio Mendez, 34, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in May 2015, August 2015, and December 2015, was encountered in Jackson County on June 11, 2026.
- Ramon Alfredo Solano-Cruz, 36, of Honduras, who was previously removed in October 2012 and February 2019, was encountered in Bay County on May 15, 2026.
- Hugo Angeles-Cruz, 42, of Mexico, who was previously removed in March 2016, was encountered in Bay County on May 18, 2026.
- Josue Orlando Medina-Lira, 35, of Honduras, who was previously removed in August 2009 and February 2023, was encountered in Escambia County on May 17, 2026.
- Denis Eduardo Garache Moncada, 29, of Honduras, who was previously removed in January 2019, was encountered in Bay County on March 20, 2024 and on or about May 28, 2026.
- David Chavez-Lopez, 32, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in November 2018, was encountered in Escambia County on June 9, 2026.
- Javier Bovadillo-Cedillo, 39, of Mexico, who was previously removed in December 2019, was encountered in Bay County on May 12, 2026.
- Santos Martinez-Sadillo, 33, Mexico, who was previously removed in January 2013, was encountered in Bay County on May 12, 2026.
- Jose Hernandez-Coca, 38, of Mexico, who was previously removed in August 2017 and September 2017, was encountered in Bay County on May 11, 2026.
- Edson Saravia-Romero, 45, of Honduras, who was previously removed in May 2008, was encountered in Bay County on May 13, 2026.
- Fredy Solano-Maldonado, 25, of Honduras, who was previously removed in October 2023, was encountered in Bay County on May 15, 2026.
- Edras Sinaid-Arisandieta, 42, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in May 2006, was encountered in Bay County on June 5, 2026.
- Frederico Ramos-Perez, 27, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in December 2020, was encountered in Jackson County on April 30, 2026.
- Angel Urbina-Meza, 34, of Honduras, who was previously removed in April 2013, was encountered in Bay County on June 19, 2026.
- Osanin Diaz-Cantarero, 46, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Madison County in June 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2019.
- Saul Alvarado-Hernandez, 30, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2019.
- Rodrigo Quintana-Sanchez, 41, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United Sates illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported three times in 2012, once in 2013 and again in 2014.
- Luis Banos-Guzman, 40, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2016.
- Jose Gomez-Palma, 45, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2012 and 2019.
- Abelardo de Jesus Gonzalez-Carrilo, 30, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2016.
- Carlos Jimenez-Martin, 42, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2017.
- Maria Linares Gonzalez, 47, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in June 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2009.
- Jose Guillen-Padilla, 36, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2020 and 2023.
- Ever Dias-Portillo, 27, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2019.
- Roman Aguilar-Bedolla, 41, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in August 2026, after previously being deported in 2011.
- Natalio Espinosa Lopez, 38, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019.
- Luis Alonza Garrido Ortiz, 45, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
- Augustin Guerrero-Guerrero, 41, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in August 2026, after previously being deported in 2006, 2012, and 2022.
- Saul Mendez-Perez, 43, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2018 and twice in 2019.
- Luis Fernando Rivera-Luna, 31, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2019.
- Jeny Paola Ruiz-Pulgarin, 25, of Colombia, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in August 2026, after previously being deported in 2021.
- Wilson Yony Velasquez-Perez, 28, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in August 2026, after previously being deported in 2016.
- Daniel Martinez Aguilar, 40, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2014.
- Daniel Moshan Martinez, 32, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2016.
- Jose Antonio Ovalle-Pichiya, 32, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in May 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2014 and again in 2016.
- Salomon Ruiz-Garcia, 35, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2015, 2019 and 2025.
- Saul Francisco-Marquez, 40, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2012.
- Teodoro Emanuel Marcial-Mayo, 29, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2017.
According to court records, four illegal aliens are currently under indictment and awaiting a trial:
- Melkin Manueles-Vasquez, 26, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in July 2026, after previously being deported in 2019.
- Donato Cazuela-Cazuela, 40, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Lafayette County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2022. Trial is scheduled for October 21, 2026, in Gainesville, Florida.
- Nelson Paz-Alvarenga, 46, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in December 2024, after previously being deported in 2005 and 2010. Trial is scheduled for October 5, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida.
- Ever Paz-Perez, 33, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2012, 2013, and 2024. Sentencing set for September 29, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida.
The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Cazuela-Cazuela faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine pursuant to allegations of prior convictions qualifying for an increased maximum sentence.
The cases involved investigations by Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with the assistance of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department, Lynn Haven Police Department, Panama City Beach Police Department, and the Milton Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler Fleming, Alicia H. Forbes, Thomas S.P. Geeker, Brooke Lindsay, James A. McCain, Walter E. Narramore, Joseph A. Ravelo, Emma Schwan, Jeffrey Tharp, and Eric W. Welch prosecuted the cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Shiprock Man Charged with Assaulting Victim with Post Hole DiggerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man has been charged in connection with an alleged assault that left the victim seriously injured.
According to court documents, on August 29, 2026, Tyron Begay, 20, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted the victim with a post hole digger following a day of consuming alcohol. As a result of the assault, the victim sustained multiple bruised and a large laceration to his head which required 11 stitches.
Begay is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Begay faces up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sex offender pleads guilty to downloading child pornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A registered sex offender pleaded guilty to uploading child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) from the internet.
According to court documents, Peter Ferley, 45, of El Dorado pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of child pornography.
In June 2025, Ferley gained access to CSAM using his email address. He used his phone and the internet to send himself images of prepubescent children engaged in sex acts.
Ferley is a registered sex offender based upon a 2012 conviction in Butler County, Kansas.
Ferley is scheduled to be sentenced on December 21, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and El Dorado Police Department are investigating the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Providence Attorney Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence attorney pleaded guilty in federal court today to wire fraud and tax evasion in connection with a scheme to defraud immigration clients and evade the payment of federal taxes.
Joseph Molina‑Flynn, 43, formerly a practicing immigration attorney in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion. He appeared before U.S. Chief District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2026. The sentence will be determined by a U.S. District Court Judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Wire fraud carries a statutory maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison; tax evasion carries a statutory maximum sentence of up to five years in. Each count also carries potential fines and periods of supervised release.
Molina- Flynn admitted that between 2019 and 2023, he devised and executed a scheme to defraud some immigration clients by collecting legal and filing fees for services he did not perform and providing some clients with false information related to the status of their immigration matters. Molina-Flynn admitted that he collected approximately $98,000 from immigration clients for legal services not provided and expenses not incurred. He used the fraudulently obtained funds to operate his law practice and pay personal expenses.
Molina-Flynn also admitted that he failed to file a federal income tax return for 2021 and took steps to conceal income and payroll tax obligations, including using his law firm’s operating account to pay personal expenses. Under the plea agreement, the parties will recommend at sentencing that the tax loss attributable to Molina-Flynn’s tax evasion is at least $550,000 but less than $1.5 million.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Molina-Flynn is required to pay $83,265 in restitution to victims of the wire fraud scheme. He must also file accurate delinquent federal tax returns for tax years 2019 through 2023 and pay the U.S. Treasury outstanding federal taxes, interest, and penalties.
The case was initially prosecuted by former District of Rhode Island Assistant United States Attorney Sandra R. Hebert and is currently being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Milind M. Shah.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, the Providence Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Operation Relentless Justice Delivers 20-Year Federal Prison Sentence for Former Corrections OfficerRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Devin Scott Waldeck, 35, of Cross City, Florida, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for child exploitation and distribution of child pornography. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Through Operation Relentless Justice, we continue to identify, target, and take down the sexual predators lurking online who seek to sexually exploit and victimize children. This defendant’s abhorrent crimes deserve severe punishment, and thanks to the successful prosecution by my office he will spend decades in federal prison. My office, and our state and federal law enforcement partners, will continue our relentless pursuit of these sick individuals to ensure our kids are safe, both online and in our communities.”
Court documents reflect that, in November 2025, law enforcement became aware the defendant, posing as the mother of a minor child, was using the online Reddit platform to discuss the sexual exploitation of the minor child. The defendant offered the minor child to the Reddit user and graphically described ways the user could sexually exploit the minor. The defendant saved explicit videos and pictures of the minor child in a secret app on his cell phone along with other sexually explicit videos and photos of other named individuals. The defendant had hundreds of communications with other Reddit users discussing sexual “hookups,” including 17 conversations where he stated he either had sexual encounters or wanted to have sexual encounters with minors.
“Devin Waldeck once wore a badge and was trusted to protect others,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “Instead, he chose to engage in the exploitation of a child. Protecting children from dangerous predators who target them online remains one of our top priorities. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who exploit children online and use technology to harm the most vulnerable members of our community.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.
This case was a result of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. For more information, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/justice-department-announces-results-operation-relentless-justice.
These operations underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and combating child sexual exploitation. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 147 Months Imprisonment for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that on September 17, 2026, PHALANDERS RASHAAD KING (“KING”), age 37, was sentenced to 87 months as to Counts One, Two, Three, Four, and Six of the superseding bill of information pending against him, and a consecutive term of 60 months as to Count Five, for a total of 147 months.
Count One charged KING with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five (5) grams or more of methamphetamine, forty (40) grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, and quantities of heroin and marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D) and 846. Count Two charged KING with distribution of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Count Three charged KING with distribution of forty (40) grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). Count Four charged KING with possession with intent to distribute five (5) grams or more of methamphetamine, and quantities of heroin and cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C). Count Five charged KING with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). Finally, Count Six charged KING with maintaining a drug-involved premises, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 856(a)(1).
According to court documents, on August 24, 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted an operation to locate fentanyl distributors in the French Quarter neighborhood of New Orleans. Through this effort, agents located KING’s co-defendants. Through 2023 and into 2024, as a part of the investigation, agents made ten purchases of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine from KING’s co-defendants, and eventually, from KING himself. Through investigative methods, agents established that KING conspired with his co-defendant to distribute these drugs, utilizing an apartment, and a storefront, that KING maintained in the Central Business District of New Orleans. Agents executed a search warrant on those two locations in May 2024, that uncovered additional controlled substances, fourteen firearms, and over $10,000 in U.S. currency. In total, over the course of the investigation, agents recovered over 300 grams of fentanyl, and over 300 grams of methamphetamine, from members of the conspiracy.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Dawkins and Brittany L. Reed of the Violent Crime Unit.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Markham, Illinois Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MOLINE, Ill., - A Markham, Illinois, man, Orlando Dampier, 47, of the 15000 block of Whipple Street was sentenced on September 16, 2026, to 15 years of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements in court, in late 2025, Dampier, engaged in multiple pound sales of methamphetamine, culminating in his arrest in January 2026. At the time of his arrest Dampier was found with an additional pound of methamphetamine and fentanyl packaged for resale. That same day, a search warrant was conducted at Dampier’s Markham home. During the search, law enforcement located three firearms, one with a defaced serial number, and additional fentanyl and cocaine.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow commented on the devasting impact methamphetamine and fentanyl are having on communities and the concerning volume of these controlled substances that Dampier had access to.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Dampier in January 2026. Dampier has remained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since his arrest. He pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow in May 2026.
“Armed felons and drug traffickers pose a great risk to the community, and this office will continue to work with local officials to ensure these violent offenders are held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “This case is an excellent example of how the federal government assists local law enforcement with resources and support to protect the community from these crimes.”
“The Rock Island Police Department would like to thank the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois for their continued partnership and assistance in this investigation.” said Rock Island Police Chief Timothy McLoud. “Collaborative efforts such as this are critical to disrupting illegal drug activity, removing dangerous narcotics from our communities, and holding those responsible for their distribution accountable. We remain committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to protect the public and make Rock Island and the greater Quad Cities area safer.”
“This drug trafficker will no longer poison our communities in Illinois,” DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said. “Without a doubt, the sentencing of Orlando Dampier to 15 years behind bars will save lives. The teamwork and cooperation of law enforcement is at the heart of this sentencing and we’re grateful to have such solid partners in the Rock Island Police Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
The statutory penalties for distribution of at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine are, not less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, at least five years up to life of supervised release, and up to a $10,000,000 fine.
The Rock Island Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer L. Mathew represented the government in the prosecution.
Las Cruces Woman Sentenced for Armed Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces woman was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while armed with a stolen handgun after leading deputies on a high-speed pursuit.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on July 30, 2025, Cassidy Shae Montoya, 32, fled from Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office deputies after they attempted to stop her near Vado, New Mexico. Montoya drove toward Las Cruces at speeds of approximately 90 to 110 miles per hour, continued fleeing after spike strips were deployed and eventually struck a curb near Telshor Boulevard and Terrace Drive. She then ran from the vehicle before deputies apprehended her.
Deputies found a loaded handgun on the driver’s side floorboard. The firearm, which contained a magazine loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, had been reported stolen in March 2025. Deputies also recovered approximately 356 fentanyl pills and approximately $373 in cash.
Montoya admitted that she intended to distribute the fentanyl and possessed the firearm to protect herself, her drugs and the proceeds from her drug trafficking. At the time, Montoya had a prior felony conviction and knew she was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Tanisha V. Henson prosecuted the case.
Las Cruces Man Accused of Pointing Loaded Rifle at Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man has been charged in federal court after allegedly pointing a loaded AK 47 style rifle at two Homeland Security Investigations agents who were conducting surveillance as part of an unrelated warrant operation.
According to court documents, on September 1, 2026, Charles Reeser, 20, allegedly pointed a loaded AK 47 style rifle at two Homeland Security Investigations agents who were assisting the U.S. Marshals Service with a warrant operation in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The agents were conducting surveillance at an apartment complex for a wanted subject and had no prior interest in Reeser. He was first observed by the HSI agents due to Reeser manipulating the AK 47 inside his car, then stepping outside to point the AK47 at a passing vehicle. Reeser was wearing a ski mask despite temperatures approaching 100 degrees.
The HSI agents relocated to a different area for tactical advantage. As they were relocating, Reeser allegedly stepped into the middle of a residential street, assumed a shooting position and aimed the rifle directly at the agents from approximately 20 yards away. Believing they were about to be fired upon, the agents ducked and took evasive action. One of the agents later told the court that Reeser’s actions, including aiming the rifle at them as they were attempting to leave, led him to believe Reeser was prepared to fire.
Reeser then entered an apartment with the rifle. A short time later, he came outside without the firearm and was taken into custody without incident. Agents recovered the rifle inside the apartment and found it fully loaded with a round in the chamber.
During an interview with the FBI, Reeser allegedly said he believed the two agents had been following him and that he pointed the rifle at them because he could not allow someone to “mess with him.” Before being transported to the Doña Ana County Detention Center, Reeser was allowed to use his cellphone to provide his father with contact information. However, instead of getting the information for his father, Reeser sent a message stating that it had been “homeland.” According to the complaint, Reeser had not yet been told that the two men were HSI agents when he sent the message.
Reeser is charged with assaulting a federal officer and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Reeser faces up to 20 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Benajamin Suslavich are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department Finds UCSF Medical School Discriminates Based on Race in AdmissionsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today its finding that the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine (UCSF Medical School) discriminated based on race in granting and denying admission to its 2023-2025 incoming classes. UCSF Medical School’s discriminatory conduct violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA), which banned race discrimination in higher education.
“Unfortunately, at UCSF Medical School, MCAT scores and undergraduate GPAs have taken a backseat to race,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Aspiring doctors should be admitted based on their qualifications. The Supreme Court has spoken clearly — federally funded medical schools may not admit students based on misguided and illegal notions of diversity.”
UCSF Medical School’s application process has three stages: the Primary Application, the Secondary Application, and the interview. The Department’s investigation found that race is used to determine which students will advance from one stage to the next, and ultimately be admitted. The Primary and Secondary Applications prompt applicants to identify and discuss their race. And while less than 10% of Secondary Applications advance to the interview stage, black and Hispanic applicants were invited to interview at far higher rates than white and Asian applicants, despite having lower MCAT scores and undergraduate GPAs.
From 2023-2025, UCSF Medical School admitted black and Hispanic applicants who academically underperformed the average rejected white and Asian student. But even where MCAT score, undergraduate GPA, and socioeconomic traits were the same when compared to white applicants, UCSF Medical School was 4.6 times more likely to admit Hispanic applicants and 12.6 times more likely to admit black applicants. When compared to Asian applicants, black and Hispanic applicants had similarly higher chances of admission.
Medical schools receive substantial federal financial assistance and are subject to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to investigate their compliance with Title VI, as interpreted by SFFA’s prohibition on race-conscious admissions. Where a violation has been found, the Department is engaging in settlement negotiations to ensure the school’s admissions practices are brought into compliance. If those efforts fail, the Department will file suit.
Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov.
Note: Read the Department’s Findings Letter here.
Iowa Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sex Trafficking Three Women, Drug Distribution, and ObstructionRead the Press Release
Dave Shumpert III, 30, of Des Moines, Iowa, was sentenced today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa to life in prison after being found guilty by a jury on June 11 of charges related to sex trafficking, distribution of a controlled substance, and obstruction.
“This sentence reflects the violent and reprehensible acts of coercion this defendant used to exploit the victims for his own personal profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Human traffickers use people like disposable products for an illegal business and violate them in endless ways when doing so. We recognize the courage of the survivors who faced their abuser at trial, and today’s sentence ensures that Dave Shumpert will not victimize anyone else ever again.”
“When the jury returned its guilty verdict in June, I pledged that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa would aggressively prosecute human traffickers who exploit vulnerable victims through violence, coercion, and drug addiction,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Waterman for the Southern District of Iowa. “Today’s life sentence delivers on that commitment. The defendant preyed on three vulnerable young women, profited from their exploitation — even while incarcerated — and attempted to intimidate and threaten a government witness. I commend the extraordinary courage of the victims who testified against him and thank our partners at the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Des Moines Police Department for their outstanding work in bringing him to justice. This sentence sends an unmistakable message: those who prey on the most vulnerable members of our communities will be held accountable.”
“The evidence developed through this investigation helped show the court how Shumpert exploited vulnerable women, profited from their abuse and attempted to obstruct justice even after his arrest,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. “HSI is proud of the investigative work that led to today’s sentence and delivered a measure of justice for the victims. HSI will continue to relentlessly pursue human traffickers who exploit vulnerable people through violence, coercion and fear.”
According to court documents, Shumpert, aided by his co-defendant, Haley Morrison, 30, also of Des Moines, coerced three women to perform commercial sex acts using a combination of physical force, threats of force, a coercive debt scheme, withholding of drugs, and other threats of harm. Shumpert and Morrison targeted vulnerable young homeless women struggling with drug addiction, provided them with shelter and drugs, and then used violence and other coercive means to compel the women to engage in commercial sex. Shumpert and Morrison advertised the women online, set the prices for the commercial sex acts, communicated with the sex buyers, rented hotel rooms, and kept most of the proceeds of the commercial sex acts. Electronic communication evidence between Shumpert and Morrison demonstrated that Shumpert directed Morrison on how to manage and control the victims. One of the victims testified about the physical violence Morrison employed, such as hitting a victim with closed fists and dragging her by the hair. The victims explained their fear of homelessness, drug withdrawal, and of being indebted to Shumpert.
Shumpert kept up his coercive scheme even after being arrested, placing thousands of calls to Morrison to discuss his criminal commercial sex business, and even received over $32,000 on his commissary accounts from the victims’ commercial sex proceeds. While incarcerated, Shumpert sought to intimidate and threaten a government witness by having someone outside of the jail post threatening messages on his social media accounts.
Morrison previously pled guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion on Nov. 25, 2025, and was sentenced on Aug. 3 to 174 months in prison.
The jury convicted Shumpert of three counts of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, obstruction of a sex trafficking prosecution, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance to a person under 21, conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering.
HSI is investigating the case with assistance from the Des Moines Police Department.
Trial Attorney Slava Kuperstein of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Jennings for the Southern District of Iowa are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Grand jury indicts prior felon on gun chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Earl Stone, 34, of Buffalo, NY, with being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
According to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, late in the evening on April 12, 2026, Buffalo Police officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on Route 33 Expressway. During the stop, officers detected the smell of alcohol and asked the driver to step out of the vehicle to conduct a standard field sobriety test. Officers then asked the passengers for a New York State Drivers’ License so someone could move the vehicle to a safe location. All passengers refused, including Stone, who got out of the vehicle and sat on ground of the 33 Expressway. Officers noticed what appeared to be the outline of a slide of a firearm by the right shin of his pantleg. As he stood up at the request of officers, a loaded .40 caliber firearm fell out of his pant leg. Stone was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon- 2nd Degree: Loaded Firearm and Criminal Possession of a Weapon-3rd Degree: Large Capacity Feeding Device. In December 2013, Stone was convicted of a felony in Erie County Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Stone was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Louis A. Testani. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shields and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Fort Erie man going to prison for sneaking meth and fentanyl across the borderRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Eric Hagen, 57, of Fort Erie, Canada, who was convicted of importation of controlled substances, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
In June 2024, Hagen was convicted of possessing child pornography in St. Catharines, Ontario. On the morning of August 1, 2025, Customs and Border Protection encountered Hagen at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry, and he was referred for a secondary inspection. During Hagen’s secondary screening, CBP found multiple cellular telephones, hard drives, a laptop, and a baby monitor, as well as two plastic containers, which contained methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Adler and Sasha Mascarenhas. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone.
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Former Waterloo Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A man who sexually exploited children and distributed, received, and possessed child pornography, was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison. Steven William Acklin, age 29, formerly from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 23, 2026, guilty plea to sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child pornography.
Information at the sentencing hearing showed that in the fall of 2023, while he was living in Waterloo, Acklin contacted an undercover police officer who was posing as a mother of a 12-year-old child. Acklin asked to see naked photos of the child. Between January 2024 and September 2024, Acklin contacted multiple children online, requesting that they make and send him depictions of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Acklin successfully obtained child pornography from some of the children. Acklin also distributed child pornography on multiple occasions, and he received and possessed child pornography, including depictions of infants and of sadistic and masochistic conduct.
Acklin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Acklin was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to make $15,000 in restitution. He must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Acklin is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 25-CR-2057.
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Former Postal Worker Indicted After Allegedly Disposing of Hundreds of Mail-In Ballots in UtahRead the Press Release
Note: View indictment here. View detention memo here.
An indictment was unsealed today charging a former postman with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) with unlawful secretion, destruction, and delay of mail after he allegedly unlawfully threw away mail that he was entrusted to deliver – including approximately 300 mail-in ballots to registered voters in Utah.
Photo of ballotDamon Matai Seei, 34, of Payson, Utah, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 16. He was arrested and appeared for his arraignment at the Orrin G. Hatch U.S. Courthouse this afternoon.
“When American voters lawfully cast their vote, they should feel confident that it is counted,” said Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter. “Allegedly throwing away hundreds of ballots is a serious federal crime that undermines the integrity of our elections. Ballot integrity is not a partisan issue.”
“When the defendant allegedly threw away the mail he was entrusted to deliver, he also threw away the chance for those citizens to exercise their right to vote,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah. “Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, takes these offenses seriously and will continue to investigate them to ensure justice is served for anyone whose constitutional right to vote has been infringed.”
“Every eligible voter deserves confidence that our elections are lawful, secure, and fair. Homeland Security Investigations supports the integrity of the voting process by working closely with the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and our law enforcement partners to investigate alleged federal criminal violations that may undermine election integrity, including unlawful voting, fraudulent voter registration, false claims of U.S. citizenship, identity fraud, and document fraud,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. “HSI’s mission is to safeguard the homeland by conducting evidence-based, thorough, and impartial investigations. We will continue to follow the facts, uphold the rule of law, and refer criminal violations for prosecutorial review in order to protect the integrity of lawful voting.”
“Postal Service employees entrusted with delivering mail must uphold the highest standards of integrity,” said U.S. Postal Service Assistant Inspector General of Investigation Robert Kwalwasser. “Those who destroy mail intended for recipients will be held accountable for their criminal actions. Special agents with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General remain steadfast in their commitment to protecting the integrity of Postal Service operations through thorough investigations and continued collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
According to court documents, on June 3, 2026, Seei was working for the U.S. Post Office as a letter carrier where he was entrusted with delivering mail to at least 300 Eagle Mountain, Utah, residents. Among the mail were advertisements and hundreds of mail-in ballots that were sent to Eagle Mountain residents to allow them to vote in a June 23, 2026, primary election. As alleged, Seei threw away some of the mail, which he had been entrusted to deliver, into a dumpster in a church parking lot.
Photo of dumpster in church parking lotSeei’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 30.
The case was investigated jointly by The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) and HSI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd C. Bouton for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Seei Indictment.pdf Seei Detention Memo.pdfFilipino National Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Voting as an AlienRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Bernadette Acaso, 20, a Filipino national residing in Honolulu, Oahu and Kahului, Maui, pleaded guilty on September 18, 2026, to unlawfully voting as an alien.
As admitted in the plea agreement, Acaso was born in the Philippines and came to the United States in or around September 2018 on an immigrant visa and became a Lawful Permanent Resident. Despite not being a U.S. citizen, Acaso voted in the 2024 election by casting a mail-in ballot. Acaso admitted she understood she was not a United States citizen and was therefore not eligible to vote in U.S. elections at the time she voted.
“Voting is a sacred right of United States citizens. When citizens of other countries exploit voting processes to vote in our elections, the collective power of Americans to choose their leaders is badly compromised. Unlawful voting by non-citizens violates federal law and threatens the integrity of our elections,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We will continue to vigorously enforce laws that seek to preserve the integrity of our elections and ensure that those who disregard them are held accountable.”
“Participation in Federal elections is fundamental to our democracy and reserved for U.S. citizens,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “The FBI remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that anyone who attempts to compromise it through voter fraud is held responsible.”
“Protecting the integrity of our nation’s elections is essential to maintaining public trust in our democratic process,” said CJ Ammons, HSI Honolulu Acting Special Agent in Charge. “HSI will continue to work alongside our federal partners to investigate violations of election laws and ensure those who unlawfully exploit the system are held accountable.”
Acaso faces up to one year in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner is prosecuting the case.