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23 February 2026
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 25 years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
Raymond James Cornett, 53, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 25 years in prison for sexual exploitation of children, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Cornett requested and received videos and images of a 6-year-old and a 7-year-old victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct from a woman in Canada. In addition, Cornett admitted to requesting images and videos of sexually explicit conduct from two additional minor victims. Evidence from Cornett’s social media accounts corroborated the admissions. Cornett pleaded guilty on Aug. 11, 2026.
The Sacramento Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Yang prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Rockford Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who received images and videos of child pornography pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Anthony Paul Harden, age 47, from Rockford, Iowa, was convicted of one count of receipt of child pornography.
Evidence in a plea agreement and at a prior hearing showed that in August 2025, law enforcement officers searched Harden’s home in Rockford and seized four electronic devices that contained child pornography. Between May 2023 and July 2025, Harden received and possessed hundreds of images and videos of child pornography, including of toddlers and sadistic and masochistic conduct.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Harden was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Harden faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, special assessments of $35,100, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-2065.
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Richmond man sentenced to over 10 years in prison for armed robbery committed while on probation for previous firearms convictionsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to 10 years and 10 months in prison for robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to court documents, on Oct. 13, 2022, Jarviontae Tykee McLaurine, 26, and two accomplices robbed a Dollar General store and people inside the store. Each of the robbers entered the store armed with a firearm and wearing a mask. One of the robbers ordered the clerk to open the register and get on the floor. Another robber ordered a customer to lie on the floor, and another customer was ordered to the front of the store at gunpoint.
The robbers held the store manager at gunpoint and ordered the manager to open the register. Two of the robbers then forced the manager and the clerk to accompany them to the back office where they attempted to gain access to more money. McLaurine and his accomplices then fled the store.
In June 2023, Mclaurine was convicted in Richmond Circuit Court of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In August 2023, Mclaurine was convicted in Hanover Circuit Court of making a false statement on a criminal history consent form and attempting to possess a firearm as a convicted felon. Two months later, Mclaurine was arrested again and on Feb. 1, 2024, was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Mclaurine was on supervised probation for two convictions when he robbed the Dollar General store.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and the Richmond Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen E. Anthony and Janet Jin Ah Lee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:23-cr-164 and 3:25-cr-97.
Previously deported illegal alien faces federal charges for trafficking fentanyl in BrookhavenRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Abelardo Avila Gomez, an illegal alien who was previously deported from the United States, appeared in federal court to face charges related to his alleged trafficking of 37 pounds of fentanyl from a Brookhaven apartment.
“Avila Gomez allegedly trafficked a staggering amount of deadly fentanyl stored in his metro Atlanta apartment,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Diligent efforts by our law enforcement partners stopped this illegal alien and removed his lethal stash from our streets.”
“With the seizure of 17.9 kilograms of fentanyl, our agents have removed an extraordinary amount of deadly poison from the streets,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Fentanyl is measured in milligrams, not grams and this quantity had the potential to cause catastrophic harm. Through the Fentanyl Free America campaign, DEA and our law enforcement partners are aggressively targeting every level of the supply chain. Our mission is to save lives and protect our communities from those who profit off addiction and death.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg and the criminal complaint filed in federal court: On February 19, 2026, DEA Atlanta agents executed a federal search warrant at a Brookhaven apartment, where they located 15 rectangular-shaped “bricks” of fentanyl, weighing a total of approximately 37 pounds. Agents arrested Avila Gomez in the apartment parking lot, who allegedly confirmed that he lived in the apartment, illegally reentered the United States in March 2023, and was involved in the distribution of fentanyl.
The investigation further revealed that Avila Gomez is a citizen and national of Mexico with no legal status in the United States. Immigration records allegedly confirm that Avila Gomez was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in November 2014.
Abelardo Avila Gomez, 46, of Acapulco, Mexico, appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge earlier today on a criminal complaint that charged him with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and illegal re-entry by a previously removed alien.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Atlanta Police Department, Doraville Police Department, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, Dekalb County Police Department, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Clayton County Police Department, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, and Sandy Springs Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Hwang is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Pennsylvania Man Arrested at Castaic Motel Federally Charged After Grooming Minor Victim into Engaging in Acts of Self-HarmRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Pennsylvania man has been arrested and federally charged after grooming a girl who recently turned 13 years old to send him sexually explicit material of herself and images of self-harm over the internet, a pattern of abuse consistent with nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) ideology that culminated in law enforcement rescuing her at a Santa Clarita Valley motel.
Matthew Edward Pysher, 18, of Bangor, Pennsylvania, was arrested late Friday in Castaic and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
Pysher is charged in a federal criminal complaint with travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, a felony punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison.
“The facts charged in this case are chilling,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “If your children have access to use the internet, sadistic predators may have access to your kids. Law enforcement will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who seek to harm children. We advise parents to keep their kids offline.”
“The subject arrested this weekend is one of a growing number of alleged nihilistic violent extremists who prey on children and talk them into compromising sex acts and self-mutilation,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to finding and holding accountable these sadistic predators and ensuring they face serious consequences for their vile acts.”
“Violent online exploitation that targets our children through manipulation, coercion, and fear has absolutely no place in our communities, whether on our streets or behind a computer screen,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “Because of the swift and coordinated efforts of local and federal law enforcement, and the decisive action of a vigilant mother who immediately contacted law enforcement, this young victim was safely recovered, and further harm was prevented. We will continue to work with our local and federal partners, using every investigative tool available, to protect our youth and hold predators accountable in Los Angeles County.”
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, from at least December 2025 until February 20, Pysher groomed and encouraged the victim to send him material of herself engaging in sexually explicit acts. He also encouraged the victim to cut herself and engage in other acts of self-harm.
On February 10, the victim’s mother contacted the FBI because she was concerned her daughter was being encouraged to harm herself by a person named “Matthew,” whom the victim met on the Discord online platform. The victim encountered Pysher on a Discord server related to individuals suffering from mental illness.
On February 20, Pysher traveled to Los Angeles to engage in sexual activity with the victim. On that day, Pysher met the victim near her home and took her to a motel in Castaic.
When law enforcement arrived at the motel room, they encountered Pysher and the victim and found condoms, a knife, lubricant, razor blades, bloody tissues, and a boarding pass for Pysher’s flight from Philadelphia to Los Angeles. Law enforcement also found a faraday bag, commonly used to block electronic signals, near Pysher’s cellphone. The victim told law enforcement that Pysher and she had engaged in sexual conduct and that he had used a knife to repeatedly cut her.
Based on a review of the contents of the victim’s smartphone and Pysher’s online activities, law enforcement believes that Pysher is associated with NVE ideology.
The complaint details the nature of NVEs, including 764, a group whose members are known to the FBI to engage in criminal conduct within the United States and abroad in furtherance of political, social, or religious goals that derive primarily from a hatred of society at large and a desire to bring about its collapse by sowing indiscriminate chaos, destruction, and social instability.
NVEs often target vulnerable individuals, including minors, and frequently use social media platforms to share child sexual abuse material or gore material or to groom victims toward committing acts of violence. NVEs and their members frequently extort or blackmail victims into complying with NVE demands, which vary but may include self-mutilation; online and in-person sexual acts; harm to animals; sexual exploitation of siblings and others; acts of violence; and threats of violence, suicide, and murder.
A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which is comprised of various agencies including the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, and California Highway Patrol, is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Colin S. Scott of the National Security Division and Brandon E. Martinez-Jones of the Major Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Orthodontist Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison for Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Thomas Shannon, 44, previously of Byron Center, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for sexual exploitation of children.
U.S. Attorney VerHey said he was not surprised at the sentence imposed. “Shannon’s selfish and senseless exploitation of these children has exposed them to a lifetime of emotional damage. I sincerely hope they can overcome it. But preying on our children must stop, and we will seek long sentences against people like Shannon until it does stop.”
From 2019 through 2024, Thomas Shannon exploited at least eighteen children online, ranging in ages from 12 to 17. Police discovered Shannon’s crimes when a16-year-old minor in North Carolina reported that she had been sexually exploited on Snapchat. Investigators identified the perpetrator as Shannon, then an orthodontist in Grandville. Investigators reviewed Shannon’s Snapchat account and found at least 16 additional minor victims, one of whom was only twelve years old. One additional minor victim came forward. Shannon met and exploited her through a different online application while he was on bond for state child pornography charges. He did this from his yacht in Ottawa County, which was forfeited as part of the criminal prosecution.
“Protecting children from exploitation is at the heart of Homeland Security Investigations’ mission,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “This offender preyed on vulnerable children, but through extensive collaboration between HSI and our law enforcement partners, we were able to identify victims and ensure the defendant was held accountable. We hope this sentence delivers some measure of justice to his victims. We relentlessly investigate these crimes and tirelessly pursue those who exploit children.”
“This investigation demonstrates how local, state, and federal partners work together to identify offenders, locate victims, and hold those responsible accountable,” said Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young. “Our Human Trafficking Task Force continues to work aggressively to identify both victims and suspects in cases involving the exploitation of children.”
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, the Fuquay-Varina Police Department, and Prince George’s County Police Department.
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.
Orlando Man Convicted for Extensive Child Sextortion Scheme Involving More than 50 Child VictimsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida– A federal jury has found Montrey Roseberry (20, Orlando) guilty of three counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, three counts of production of child sexual abuse material, and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Roseberry faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 28, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, from at least July 14, 2023, through at least April 2024, Roseberry operated a scheme to extort, intimidate, and threaten children into producing CSAM. Roseberry, while impersonating a woman, coerced young victims he identified on social media into producing images and videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. After obtaining the CSAM, Roseberry used the images and videos to extort the victims into producing increasingly perverse content involving, sadomasochism, coprophilia, bestiality, and the sexual abuse of other children.
If the child victims did not comply, Roseberry threatened to disseminate prior images and videos they had sent him that were sexual in nature to the child victims’ family members, friends, and classmates. In some cases, Roseberry threatened the child victims with death. As part of the scheme, and to further scare and extort the victims into complying with his demands, Roseberry sent the child victims photographs of their homes and names of their schools, friends, and family members. As a result of this scheme, Roseberry obtained CSAM of over 50 victims.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Noah P. Dorman and Kaley Austin-Aronson.
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.
Ohio Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Assault on Cruise ShipRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Antonio Salazar Munos, 23, of Columbus, Ohio has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for assaulting a dating partner by suffocation.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in April 2023, Munos, the victim, and other family members traveled from their home in Ohio to Charleston, South Carolina for a three-day cruise. While onboard the Carnival Sunshine, Munos physically assaulted the victim at various locations onboard the ship before the two returned to their cabin. Upon returning to the cabin, Munos sexually and physically assaulted the victim. The victim notified the Sunshine’s onboard security team, who investigated the incident and then reported it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Munos to 30 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit Sowards prosecuted the case.
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Office of U.S. Attorney Moore Capito Collects $4,322,154.61 in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito announced today that the Southern District of West Virginia collected $4,322,154.61 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $2,400,940.61 was collected in criminal actions and $1,921,214.00 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Southern District of West Virginia worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $2,339,409.44 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $3,082.92 was collected in criminal actions and $2,336,326.52 was collected in civil actions.
“Public money is not a personal piggy bank, and crime has real victims. Whether it’s fraud, violence, or exploitation, we will use every civil and criminal tool available to hold offenders accountable,” Capito said. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer dollars, make victims whole, and ensure justice is done. I am incredibly proud of the tireless work of our attorneys and professional staff who fight every day to deliver those results.”
The collections include $451,237.51 in criminal restitution and a $451,237.51 civil penalty paid by Mark William Bailey, 53, of Beckley, after he pleaded guilty to theft of government monies. Bailey admitted to stealing COVID-19 relief loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The civil collections also include $1,207,600.00 from Horne LLP, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, to resolve civil allegations that it received improper payments from federal disaster recovery grant funds in connection with services it provided in 2017 and 2018 in West Virginia. Another $191,070 was paid by Thompson Construction Group Inc., of Sumter, South Carolina, to resolve civil allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payment from federal disaster recovery grant funds and by falsely certifying that homes it had constructed were compliant with contract conditions. Both civil collections involve disaster recovery services provided in response to the severe and deadly flooding that struck parts of the Southern District of West Virginia in June 2016.
The collections also include $146,771.37 in criminal restitution and a $5,000 fine paid by Luther A. Hanson, 73, of Charleston, after he pleaded guilty to willful failure to pay over taxes. Hanson admitted that he willfully and intentionally did not withhold or pay employment taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for two employees of his accounting services businesses.
The civil collections in jointly pursued cases include $415,112.00 secured by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Southern District of West Virginia in a lawsuit alleging employment discrimination by Wal-Mart Stores East LP.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Southern District of West Virginia, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $1,264,871 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
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Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA –Ronald Pate Newman, III, 27, of Youngstown, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of the production of child pornography. 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 threats our kids face online from disgusting predators like this defendant who seek to sexually exploit and victimize them. My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting cases like these, and will seek maximum punishments to keep monsters like him locked away in prison and unable to exploit more children.”
Court documents reflect that on April 28, 2025, law enforcement became aware that a previously convicted sex offender was using an 11-year-old child from Florida to produce images of the child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The defendant met the victim on a “safe for work” account, meaning all posts must be publicly appropriate, but he soon convinced the child to message him privately where he began grooming and then directing the child to create explicit photographs, which he posted in other accounts. The defendant was arrested in Ohio, and a subsequent forensic analysis of seized devices identified over 500 images of child pornography.
Due to his prior convictions, Newman faces a mandatory minimum of thirty-five years’ imprisonment and up to Life imprisonment, and a lifetime of supervision upon release.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.
Sentencing for is scheduled for April 28, 2026, at 3:00 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Norwood Man Sentenced for Making Violent Threats Against Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
DURANGO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Bryan Cornwell, 42, formerly of Norwood, Colorado, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after being convicted by a jury of two counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce. Cornwell was also sentenced to serve a three-year term of supervised release.
According to the facts established at trial and at sentencing, from late August through later October 2023, Cornwell knowingly sent over 80 emails containing graphic and threatening messages to a law enforcement official. The messages included threats to kill and seriously injure the official, such as “You will beg me… beg and plead and scream in pain by my hand tick tok m***** f***er,” and repeated statements that “I AM GOING TO KILL YOU.” At the time that Cornwell sent the threatening messages, he was pending sentencing on a prior case where he admitted to threatening to blow up the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office.
“Do not make threats against law enforcement officials,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “Doing so will land you in federal prison.”
“This FBI will not tolerate threats against any law enforcement professionals. The defendant sent more than 80 emails threatening violent death in a calculated scheme to terrorize his target -- all while on bond in a similar case,” said Amanda Koldjeski, Special Agent In Charge of FBI Denver. “It is not permissible to tell an agent, deputy, or officer ‘I am going to kill you.’ The FBI will identify you, arrest you, and ensure justice is served.”
United States District Judge Gordon Gallagher handled the sentencing.
This case was investigated by the FBI Denver Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey K. Graves handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 24-cr-047-GPG-JMC
New Brighton Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Brighton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to federal drug and firearm charges, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chad Antoine Lindsay, 35, pleaded guilty to one-count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack; a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine; and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Lindsay also pled guilty to one-count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.
According to admissions made during Lindsay’s plea hearing, on June 17, 2025, a resident of New Brighton, Pennsylvania called 911 related to Lindsay damaging her home. The caller reported that Lindsay deals drugs and that he was moving the drugs out of the house into his vehicle. Authorities attempted a traffic stop of Lindsay as he drove his vehicle shortly after it departed the 911 caller’s residence. Lindsay fled in the vehicle before crashing. A search warrant executed upon the vehicle resulted in the seizure of two loaded handguns, over 40-rounds of ammunition, two cellular phones, drug packaging material, over $4,000, about 43 grams of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack, about 343 grams of cocaine, and about 10 grams of fentanyl. Following the search, authorities determined that one of the handguns recovered from Lindsay’s vehicle was reported stolen.
At the time Lindsay possessed the loaded handguns, he had previously been convicted of eight (8) felonies. Under federal law, felons are prohibited from the possession of firearms and ammunition.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for June 23, 2026. The maximum penalty for the drug trafficking crime committed on June 3, 2022, is a term of imprisonment of at least ten (10) years and a maximum of life, as well as a $10,000,000 fine. The maximum penalty for possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime is a term of imprisonment of at least five (5) years and a maximum of life, which must be served consecutively to the sentence imposed on the drug trafficking crime. There is also a maximum fine of $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, Judge Wiegand ordered Lindsay remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service.Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The New Brighton Area Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
Members of Jacksonville Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Drive-By Shooting on I-95Read the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – James Toney (20, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger to 16 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, committing a drive-by shooting in furtherance of a major drug offense, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Judge Schlesinger also sentenced Javon Davis (27, Jacksonville) to 7 years in federal prison and Christian Guyton (23, Jacksonville) to 8 years and 4 months in federal prison, both for conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana.
According to court documents, Toney, Davis, and Guyton served as armed distributors for a Jacksonville-based drug trafficking organization (DTO), operated and led by Nathaniel Hatcher, III. Hatcher’s DTO trafficked bulk marijuana from Northern California to Jacksonville by smuggling the drug on commercial airlines, shipping it through the mail, and transporting it by vehicle across state lines. Once the marijuana arrived in Jacksonville, Hatcher and the other DTO members transported the marijuana to various short-term rental homes throughout Jacksonville where they stored, packaged, and distributed the marijuana. Hatcher and other members of the DTO carried and possessed firearms at these residences to protect themselves, their drugs, and their drug proceeds during drug sales. In addition to trafficking, transporting, smuggling, and selling marijuana, Toney was also responsible for carrying out violence on behalf of the DTO. Hatcher had assistance from a former correctional officer, Desmond Maxwell, to unlawfully buy firearms on behalf of Hatcher and members of the DTO.
On September 18, 2023, Hatcher, Toney, and other DTO members arranged a bulk marijuana transaction with subjects whom they had met that evening in Jacksonville. The drug transaction, which occurred at a gas station along Old St. Augustine Road, failed. The other subjects never provided the promised marijuana, and instead, stole approximately $45,000 from Hatcher and Toney. After the failed drug transaction, Hatcher contacted a former police officer who illegally accessed law enforcement databases to provide Hatcher with the names and addresses of the subjects who had stolen the money. For nearly a month, Toney, Davis, Guyton, and other DTO members tracked, surveilled, and cyber-stalked the other subjects and their family members. In text messages, they plotted retaliation for the robbery, including committing acts of violence.
On October 15, 2023, Briyhon Johnson and Toney traveled to the Jacksonville International Airport to break into a rental car lot. They stole two cars with the intention of using one of the stolen cars in the planned retaliation.
Two days later, on October 17, 2023, Toney traveled to the Duval County courthouse for a scheduled court date in an unrelated pending criminal matter. Toney and other DTO members knew that one of the subjects from the September 18 failed drug transaction also had court that day for a separate criminal matter. After court concluded, Hatcher and other DTO members surveilled this subject as he exited the Duval County courthouse, accompanied by a female subject, and entered his vehicle.
Toney traveled to meet with Johnson, who provided Toney with a firearm. Johnson, Toney, Hatcher, and Tavarius Blue were operating multiple vehicles, including a stolen sedan and an SUV. They followed the subject’s vehicle from downtown Jacksonville to I-95, traveling southbound toward St. Johns County. Darion Jerido was driving a separate sedan, acting as the lookout for the others and keeping pace with the subject’s car. Johnson was driving the stolen sedan, with Toney traveling in the passenger seat. Blue was driving the SUV, with Hatcher traveling in passenger seat. At approximately 11:20 a.m., during the pursuit along I-95 South, the stolen sedan and the SUV boxed the subject’s sedan into the left lane of traffic. Toney and Hatcher discharged dozens of rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition at the subject’s sedan. According to witness interviews, Johnson and Toney were both wearing masks. Following the shooting, the red sedan and the gray SUV fled the scene.
Officers with the St. Johns County Sheriffs’ Office and emergency medical personnel arrived on scene. The male subject from the courthouse sustained one gunshot wound but survived and was air-lifted to a trauma unit. The front passenger of his vehicle, the female subject from the courthouse, suffered injuries from broken glass. The sedan sustained gunshots to the passenger side, the rear, the front and hood, the front windshield, the interior, and the engine block. On scene, deputies recovered approximately 25 spent 7.62 caliber shell casings. According to ballistics analysis, two different firearms were used during the shooting.
Status of Hatcher DTO Co-conspirators
NameStatusNathaniel Hatcher, IIISentenced to 35 years federal prisonTavarius BlueSentenced to 12 years federal prisonYaquasia DelcarmenSentenced to 8 years in federal prisonAl’Donta EasterlingSentenced to 10 years in federal prisonDarion JeridoSentenced to 6 years and 6 months federal prisonBriyhon JohnsonSentenced to 14 years and 3 months federal prisonDesmond MaxwellPleaded guilty to straw-purchasing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and faces up to 25 years in federal prisonJahson HatcherPleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prisonThis case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
McKees Rocks Man Charged with Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Kevin Damont Scott, age 26, as the sole defendant.
According to Indictment, on July 28, 2025, Scott, who had been previously convicted of several crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, knowingly possessed 9 mm ammunition. Additionally, Scott was found in possession of one 9 mm caliber Polymer 80, Inc. handgun bearing no serial number, which law enforcement determined to be an unregistered ghost gun. Scott is prohibited from possessing both firearms and ammunition as a result of his felony convictions for two counts of aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, and three counts of firearms not to be carried without a license.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McKees Rocks Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Maryland Man Charged with Murder for a September Stabbing After Court Finds Probable CauseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Shawn Conway, 50, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, was charged today for second degree murder while armed, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Judge Dayna Dayson found probable cause to charge Conway following a preliminary hearing which was held on February 18, 2026, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Judge Dayson also ordered the defendant’s continued detention at D.C. Jail.
According to court documents, at approximately 3:53 a.m., on September 13, 2025, 9-1-1 calls were placed to the Office of Unified Communications for the report of a stabbing victim in front of 2000 14th Street NW. The first responding patrol officers located a male victim laying on the sidewalk in front of the location, suffering from apparent sharp force injuries to the body. The victim, later identified as Jermaine Foster, was unconscious and unresponsive. Members of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to Howard University Hospital in NW, where despite all lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced dead at 4:41 a.m.
Based on several witness interviews coupled with social media postings and surveillance video footage, the defendant was identified as the person seen stabbing the victim several times.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nebiyu Feleke.
A complaint or indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
2025 CF1 015806
Man from Netherlands sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug trafficking and money launderingRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A man from the Netherlands who trafficked more than ten kilograms of fentanyl into Montana and other states was sentenced today to 240 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Gerad Nigel Punch, 40, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
“This defendant and his organization mailed a staggering quantity of drugs from Arizona to Montana and other states and laundered the proceeds,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme. “The sentence he received today sends a message to drug traffickers around the country that we will take the fight to them to keep Montana safe. I’m grateful to the lawyers and staff in our office and our law enforcement partners for working so hard to dismantle this criminal organization.”
“This investigation and subsequent conviction are a great example of how we can work with our federal partners to keep Montana communities drug free. I’m especially proud of the work that was done by the Division of Criminal Investigation to get this poison off our streets,” Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. “As Attorney General, I will continue to use every resource available to the state to keep drugs out of our communities, criminals behind bars, and Montana safe.”
“While the enforcement of our nation’s tax laws remains our top priority, IRS Criminal Investigation plays a critical role in the battle against narcotics trafficking as well,” said Amanda Prestegard, IRS-CI Denver Field Office Special Agent in Charge. “We target the illicit financial networks that fund these criminal organizations, and work side-by- side with our law enforcement partners to ensure drug traffickers cannot continue profiting from addiction and suffering in our communities.”
“Today’s sentencing of Punch sends a clear message that those who traffic dangerous and deadly narcotics through our communities will be held accountable,” said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti. “The Postal Inspection Service along with our partners fights every day to keep these poisonous drugs from reaching communities across Montana. One pill, one gram, that’s all it takes to change the course of someone’s life. Removing someone like Punch from the streets is one step closer to the goal of ending this epidemic”
“This investigation successfully dismantled a major drug trafficking and money laundering organization responsible for moving over 300,000 fentanyl pills into Montana in 2024 before they were arrested,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Deputy Special Agent in Charge for the Rocky Mountain Region Charles Engle. “HSI would like to thank all of its investigative partners for the outstanding work. The collaborative investigation led to charges against 14 defendants, making a significant impact on Montana and its communities.”
The government alleged in court documents that Between February 2023 and March 2025, members of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) headed by Gerad Nigel Punch transported fentanyl into Montana for distribution. Punch and his coconspirators mailed and transported fentanyl from Phoenix, Arizona, for distribution to local dealers in Texas, Washington, and Montana.
When the fentanyl arrived in Montana, Punch either directly distributed those drugs to local traffickers or arranged for other coconspirators to sell the drugs. Punch was paid several different ways for the drugs he provided, including through coconspirators depositing money in Montana bank accounts he controlled, but were opened in the names his coconspirators. Punch would then withdraw the funds the coconspirators deposited as payment for the drugs. Punch also utilized money transfer services, like Cash App and Western Union, to both receive and distribute money to further the DTO.
During the investigation of Punch’s DTO, law enforcement seized over 10 kilograms of fentanyl. Punch was personally caught with over 2,000 grams of fentanyl, which he sold to an undercover officer in Butte in October 2024.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Lowney and Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, and the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, which includes agents from the Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.
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Man Sentenced for Receiving and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced today for receiving and distributing thousands of images and videos showing children being sexually abused, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Evan Christopher Lee, 36, for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Judge Hill ordered Lee to serve 87 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and to pay $24,000 in restitution. Upon his release, Lee will be required to register as a sex offender.
While FBI agents were conducting an undercover operation online in 2024, agents discovered an IP address sharing files that contained child sexual abuse material. After further investigation, agents executed a search warrant at Lee’s apartment and seized several electronic devices. Agents reviewed the devices and found thousands of images of children being sexually abused, as well as thousands of images of computer-generated child sexual abuse material. Court records show that Lee also possessed images and videos of children under the age of 12 and infants being sexually abused.
The child sexual abuse material found by agents was sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Child Victim Identification Program. They identified at least 93 known victims, and victim impact statements were provided to the court. Restitution paid by Lee will go directly to the victims who requested restitution.
While awaiting trial, Lee was released on bond. He was taken into custody after pleading guilty and will remain in custody until transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual. 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.
Leader of Transnational Criminal Organization Extradited from Jamaica Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Smuggle Firearms to Trinidad and TobagoRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Shem Wayne Alexander (36, Port of Spain, Trinidad) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to four years and nine months in federal prison for conspiracy to smuggle firearms from the United States to Trinidad and Tobago. The court also ordered Alexander to forfeit firearms seized during the offense. Alexander previously pleaded guilty. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the plea agreement and court records, between April 2019 and April 2022, Alexander and his co-conspirators unlawfully exported firearms, firearms components (including upper/lower receivers and gun parts kits), and related items from Florida to Trinidad and Tobago. Alexander is a national of Trinidad and Tobago. In total, more than 200 firearms were smuggled from the United States into Trinidad and Tobago.
On April 21, 2021, members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and Customs and Excise Division at the Piarco International Airport in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, seized a shipment containing two punching bags.
X-ray photo of one of the punching bags showing the firearms and firearm components concealed inside.
One of the punching bags cut open.
Trinidad and Tobago Police Service revealing the hidden firearms components.
Concealed firearms, firearms components, and ammunition retrieved from the punching bags.
Alexander and his co-conspirators had sent the shipment from the United States to Trinidad and Tobago describing the contents of said shipment as “household items.” In reality, concealed within the two punching bags were approximately eleven 9mm pistols, two .38 caliber special revolvers, a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun, three AR-15 barrel foregrips, 19 lower pistol grip assemblies, 11 forearm bolt assemblies, three AR-15-style barrels with forearm grips, 32 AR-15 magazines, one AR-15 drum magazine, 470 rounds of AR-15 ammunition, 34 9mm magazines, three 9mm drum magazines, 284 9mm rounds, fifteen .38 caliber rounds, 36 shells, six magazine couplers, and two shotgun chokes. Alexander and his co-conspirators arranged this shipment without written notice to the shipper as to the contents of the shipment.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, including HSI’s Attaché, Caribbean, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance provided by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (Transnational Organized Crime Unit and Special Investigations Unit), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Jamaica Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force provided critical support in the extradition of Alexander. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.
Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission Seek Public Comment for Guidance on Business CollaborationsRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched a joint public inquiry regarding potential additional guidance on collaborations among competitors. The joint inquiry seeks input on the value and potential content of guidance concerning the range of collaborations utilized to drive innovation and promote competition in the modern economy.
This public inquiry will help the Antitrust Division and FTC (together, the Agencies) with their effort to develop up-to-date guidance to the business community, building on the previous 2000 Antitrust Guidelines for Collaborations Among Competitors (2000 Collaboration Guidelines). The guidelines explain how the Agencies analyze various antitrust issues raised by such collaborations. The 2000 Guidelines were withdrawn in December 2024.
“Vigorous and effective enforcement can only exist when the rules of the road are clearly outlined,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Procompetitive collaborations are not only permissible but also encouraged in a complex and dynamic economic environment. The abrupt withdrawal of the prior guidelines left stakeholders without guidance in this important area. Replacing the withdrawn guidelines is key to promoting certainty, allowing American businesses to work together effectively and lawfully, and enabling the private antitrust bar to enhance compliance in this area.”
“In an everchanging economy, businesses need transparency and predictability from enforcers more than ever. These times may require the federal government to update its guidelines,” said FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson. “The previous administration decided, at the 11th hour, however, to withdraw the 2000 Antitrust Guidelines for Collaborations Among Competitors. This decision, made entirely out of spite and resentment, left millions of businesses in the dark.”
Many collaborations and joint ventures among competitors are procompetitive and benefit the economy and consumers by allowing expansion into new markets, enabling investment into innovation, and lowering production and other costs. However, some collaborations carry potential risk to competition. The 2024 withdrawal of the prior guidelines left the industry without guidance in this important area.
In recent years, new types of competitor collaborations, joint ventures, and alliances, including those facilitated by new technologies, have led to increased requests for clarity regarding their treatment under the antitrust laws.
Some of the specific areas of inquiry on which the Agencies are seeking public input and information include:
- What topics would benefit from additional guidance — for example, joint licensing arrangements? Conditional dealing with competitors? Other topics?
- What new technologies and business models would benefit from additional guidance — for example, algorithmic pricing, information and data sharing, or labor collaborations?
- What significant legal, economic, or technological developments should be considered in any revisions to the prior competitor collaboration guidelines?
The public comments will help enforcers to consider reintroducing guidance built on the prior guidelines. Such guidance will provide businesses with the predictability and confidence they need to collaborate and grow while avoiding anticompetitive conduct that risks raising prices or stifling innovation. The guidance will help increase antitrust compliance by guiding the market on antitrust law and policy in this important area. An unfettered free market safeguards competition to the benefit of the American people.
Comments, no longer than 18 pages each, can be submitted at www.regulations.gov/docket/ATR-2026-0001/document and must be received no later than April 24, 2026. The information will be used by the Agencies to consider updated guidance.
Justice Department Finds the Special School District of St. Louis’s Seclusion and Restraint Practices Discriminate Against Students with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department (“the Department”) notified the Special School District of St. Louis, Missouri (“the District”) that it found the District’s seclusion and restraint practices violate Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. After a twenty-one month investigation, the Department concluded that the District discriminates against students with disabilities by routinely subjecting them to ineffective seclusion practices that are highly susceptible to abuse and restraints without justification, rather than providing the interventions and supports they need to receive the education they are guaranteed by federal law.
During the two-year period covered by the investigation, the District secluded over 300 students almost 4,000 times and restrained almost 150 students 777 times. One District school that enrolled less than 100 students used seclusion 1,667 times. Every student who attended that school was secluded or restrained at least once during the investigative period. At another school a student spent 101 hours, or the equivalent of 17 school days, in seclusion during a single school year.
“The Justice Department will not tolerate the abuse of our most vulnerable students,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Parents should not have to worry that their children could be subjected to solitary confinement and dangerous restraint techniques at school because of their disabilities. This Civil Rights Division will put an end to these unlawful practices everywhere we find them.”
These numbers demonstrate that the use of restraint and seclusion is routine, not a crisis response to be used in rare emergencies that pose a safety threat—the only time they are allowed under Missouri law. For example, students were secluded for knocking over a teacher’s coffee, refusing to go into music class, or being “disrespectful.” The Department also found that the District routinely uses seclusion in cases where students engage in self-harm and other concerning behaviors, putting students at serious risk of physical and mental harm. The full findings letter can be found here.
The Department is hopeful the District will agree to the reforms needed to remedy these gross violations of federal law. To that end, the Department has proposed a settlement agreement to the District in conjunction with issuing its findings.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section’s work to combat disability discrimination including by improper seclusion and restraint is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.
Jury convicts Mexican national of human smugglingRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 63-year-old woman who resided in Penitas has been found guilty of transporting an illegal alien further into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for approximately 25 minutes before convicting Ludivina Vasquez-Salinas following a one-day trial.
On May 7, 2025, law enforcement encountered a white SUV with Vasquez-Salinas driving. Authorities initially observed three people in the vehicle, but the rear window soon went dark as if someone had covered it with a blanket or other item.
The jury heard that Vasquez-Salinas claimed only she and her daughter were in the vehicle.
However, testimony revealed authorities observed movement beneath a blanket on the rear floorboard. Vasquez-Salinas eventually admitted to law enforcement at the time that she knew there was an illegal alien in her vehicle and that she was transporting them past the checkpoint.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that Vasquez-Salinas was tricked into transporting the illegal alien. The jury did not believe those claims and found her guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for May 27. At that time, Vasquez-Salinas faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. She could also lose her status to reside in the United States.
Vasquez-Salinas has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Griffith and Izaak Bruce are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Huntington-Area Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Geon Lavell Henderson, also known as “Money,” 52, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl. Henderson admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 9, 2025, Henderson sold approximately 110 grams of methamphetamine and 1.9 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Huntington in exchange for $800. As part of his guilty plea, Henderson admitted that he conducted the transaction, that he arranged it beforehand, and that it took place at his residence.
Henderson further admitted to arranging the sale of approximately 111 grams of methamphetamine for $900 and of approximately 55 grams of methamphetamine for $400 on April 17, 2025. Another individual sold the methamphetamine during both transactions, each time to a confidential informant at a residence in Huntington.
Henderson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million.
Henderson is among 10 defendants indicted on charges alleging they participated in the DTO while it operated from in or about January 2025 to in or about August 2025. Five defendants pleaded guilty, including Henderson. The indictment against the other defendants remains pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Courtney L. Finney are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-154.
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Honduran National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry after DeportationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY – U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Honduran man convicted of Illegal Reentry after Deportation. The sentencing took place on February 23, 2026.
Pedro Perez-Murillo, 41, was sentenced to time served.
Perez-Murillo was indicted for Illegal Reentry after Deportation by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 31, 2025.
Perez-Murillo is an alien and Honduran national. Perez-Murillo has been deported from the United States on three previous occasions, with his most recent deportation occurring in 2019. Perez-Murillo was found in the United States in September of 2025. Reentering the United States after deportation is a felony.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Hastings Man Sentenced to 198 Months for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Hunter Geidl, age 29, was sentenced in United States District Court to 198 months imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release for multiple counts related to the production and possession of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
According to court documents, on May 19, 2022, Hunter James Geidl, 27, knowingly possessed a video file of a minor victim engaging in sexually explicit activities. From approximately July 29, 2022, until March 22, 2024, Geidl employed and used minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing sexually explicit video images.
"Protecting our nation's children is a mission we hold sacred in the FBI,” said Richard Evanchec, the Interim Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office. "The sentence imposed on Mr. Geidl should send a strong message about our work to bring to justice those who prey on America's kids. If you have information about additional victims of Hunter James Geidl who have not yet been identified, you are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.”
U.S. District Judge Katherine M. Menendez when handing down the sentence said while Mr. Geidl may be a first-time defendant, he is not a first-time offender.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Hastings Police Department. It 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. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant U.S. Attorney LeeAnn K. Bell prosecuted the case.
Fresno Woman Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping a Mother and Child, and Transporting Them from Fresno to Mexico Against Their WillRead the Press Release
Claudia Gonzales, 39, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to kidnapping involving a minor, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on May 8, 2024, a woman reported her boyfriend after a domestic violence incident, which resulted in his arrest. In retaliation for calling the police, the boyfriend’s sister, Rosa Ventura, 35, of Fresno, persuaded the woman to place her 5-month-old daughter in the care of another sister. Ventura, with Gonzales hiding in the back of the SUV, then drove the woman and her 9-year-old daughter to an unknown field outside Fresno.
At the field, Gonzales emerged from the SUV’s rear cargo area and sat in the front seat. Throughout the night, Ventura and Gonzales continued to drive the mother and child against their will toward the Mexican border. At one point, they stopped at a gas station where the mother and child attempted to flee. Gonzales chased the 9‑year-old girl and forced her back into the car. Gonzales and Ventura then caught the mother and used a stun gun to physically force her back into the car. When Gonzales and Ventura arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, they dropped mother and daughter at an unknown bus station in an effort to prevent the mother from testifying in the domestic violence case where she was a victim.
The 5-month-old daughter was kept in Fresno out of the victim’s custody from May 8, 2024, until November 2024.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Fresno Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Veneman-Hughes and Cody S. Chapple are prosecuting the case.
Gonzales is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Gonzales faces a statutory minimum of 20 years to a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Ventura is set for trial on April 23, 2026. If convicted, she faces a statutory minimum penalty of 20 years to a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; Ventura is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
gonzales_indictment.pdf gonzales_plea_agreement.pdf gonzales_plea_agreement.pdfFour-Time Congressional Candidate Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Funneling Campaign Money to Himself via His Mother and FriendRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A South Bay man and former congressional candidate was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison for embezzling approximately $250,000 from his political campaign through a fraudulent scheme involving his mother and friend, pocketing more than $100,000 in cash and using the money on personal expenses such as Las Vegas trips and to defend himself against criminal stalking charges.
Omar Navarro, 37, of Torrance, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi, who ordered Navarro immediately remanded into federal custody. A restitution hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
Navarro pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of wire fraud.
Navarro unsuccessfully campaigned in the four election cycles from 2016 to 2022 to represent south Los Angeles County residents in California’s 43rd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.
According to court documents, from July 2017 to February 2021, Navarro defrauded his campaign committee, Omar Navarro for Congress, by illicitly funneling campaign cash to himself. Navarro understood that federal law required his campaign to make regular, public disclosures about the receipt and disbursement of any funds raised or spent on its behalf.
As a congressional candidate, Navarro knew and understood that campaign funds raised by him and others for his campaign were restricted to supporting his election efforts and could not be used for his own personal use or enjoyment. Nevertheless, Navarro conspired with his co-defendants – his mother, Dora Asghari, 61, of Torrance, and his friend, Zacharias Diamantides-Abel, 37, of Long Beach – to convert campaign donations to personal use.
From 2018 to 2020, Navarro’s campaign received more than $1 million in contributions from donors across the United States who supported his election to Congress. To use these funds for personal use and to fund his lavish lifestyle, Navarro illegally transferred campaign checks to himself by sending payments to Asghari and Abel – purportedly for campaign work. Asghari and Abel then sent that money – minus their cut – back to Navarro.
To further the scheme, Navarro represented on those checks, and later lied via disclosures to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that Abel, Asghari, and others – not Navarro – had received payment from the campaign for their services.
For example, in November 2019, Navarro wrote a $2,500 campaign check to his mother for little or no work that she performed for the campaign, knowing she would funnel a substantial amount of that money back to him for his personal use. Asghari cashed the check, which caused the transmission of an interstate wire communication. She then provided most of that money back to Navarro, who took the money and made three cash deposits totaling $2,340 in his personal bank account.
Navarro also wrote thousands of dollars’ worth of checks to Brava Consulting, a company that his mother owned and operated, purporting to be in payment for campaign work, but which instead the bulk of which was funneled back to him for personal expenses.
These expenses included trips to Las Vegas, Nintendo Switch video games, a private investigator and personal criminal defense lawyers. Navarro admitted in his plea agreement to spending at least $12,822 in campaign money on legal fees to defend his criminal stalking case.
Navarro did not report to the FEC or his campaign donors that these payments were for personal expenses. Instead, he caused other people to file on his behalf false reports with the FEC representing that the payments were for campaign expenses.
In total, Navarro’s scheme deprived the campaign and its donors of approximately $268,932 in campaign funds, according to prosecutors.
Asghari pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of making false statements for lying to the FBI in September 2020 when she said she never received any money from her son’s congressional campaign and that she never provided her son any money she from the campaign checks she accepted as the owner of Brava Consulting. She will face up to five years in federal prison at her April 13 sentencing hearing.
Abel pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of conspiracy and awaits sentencing.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The California Fair Political Practices Commission provided assistance.
Assistant United States Attorneys Frances S. Lewis of the General Crimes Section, Thomas F. Rybarczyk and Juan M. Rodriguez of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.
Four Defendants Charged via Superseding Indictment for Fraud and Exploitation-Related Federal Offenses involving Yakima and Benton County H-2A WorkersRead the Press Release
YAKIMA, Washington – Four individuals from the Yakima and Tri-Cities area have been charged via Superseding Indictment by a federal grand jury for fraudulently obtaining temporary work visas (H-2A visas) and subsequently unlawfully transporting over 500 temporary foreign laborers over the United States/Mexico border and into the Eastern District of Washington.
Francisco Rodriguez Martel, his wife Esmeralda Rodriguez, and Erica Cisneros, all from the Tri-Cities area, and Giovanna Sierra Carrillo, of Yakima, were charged in a fifty-one count Superseding Indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Yakima, Washington, on February 11, 2026.
The Superseding Indictment alleges Rodriguez-Martel, Cisneros, and Carillo conspired to fraudulently obtain temporary work visas under the H-2A program by falsely representing to multiple federal agencies that approximately ten agricultural farms in Yakima and Benton Counties needed temporary foreign labor for crop seasons 2022, 2023, and 2024. The defendants operated their farm labor contract business under the name “Harvest Plus.” Rodriguez-Martel, Cisneros, and Carillo submitted documentation falsely representing Harvest Plus as a farm labor contractor for various farms located in Sunnyside, Goldendale, Pasco, Wapato, Yakima, and Prescott, Washington. These representations were made on paperwork submitted to the United States Department of Labor, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the United States Department of State. By submitting fraudulent applications with bogus job locations, hours, and wages, and agreeing to provide food, approved housing, safety equipment, fair wages and hours (to include overtime), and coverage for injury or illness, the defendants successfully obtained hundreds of illegitimate temporary H-2A work visas.
The Superseding Indictment also alleges Rodriguez-Martel, Cisneros, and Carillo recruited and lured foreign laborers from Mexico with promises of legal employment at various farms in the Eastern District of Washington, which included adequate housing, food, paid travel and visas, and predictable locations and hours of work. Upon arriving in the Eastern District of Washington, many workers found themselves performing non-approved domestic labor, working overtime without pay, were forced to work under extreme heat conditions without access to clean water, and were exposed to chemical pesticide agents without proper protection. Moreover, some laborers found themselves in overcrowded and unapproved housing with no access to kitchen facilities. Additionally, Rodriguez-Martel imposed mandatory illegal housing and food fees.
The Superseding Indictment further alleges Rodriguez-Martel and Esmeralda Rodriguez threatened to call immigration authorities on, and Rodriguez-Martel threatened the physical safety of, the foreign laborers in the employ of Harvest Plus to ensure the foreign laborers did not alert the responsible Washington state agency about the illegal employment practices of the defendants.
Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito said, “The Office of Inspector General is unwavering in our commitment to protect the integrity of the Department of Labor’s Foreign Labor Certification programs. When bad actors exploit vulnerable workers or attempt to game the system, we investigate, we expose, and we hold them accountable. At the same time, we safeguard the U.S. employers who follow the law and play by the rules. We will continue working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure these programs serve legitimate labor needs — not criminal enterprises. Fraud will not be tolerated. Accountability is not optional.”
“The importance of this case cannot be understated,” said Pete Serrano, First Assistant United States Attorney. “When the United States Attorney’s office receives credible information from investigating agencies that stand as the basis for immigration fraud, we will charge these cases. The United States Attorney’s office will protect these vulnerable victims and the integrity of a vital federal programs, including the H-2A program which is critical to Eastern Washington’s agricultural successes” stated Serrano.
The charges contained in this Superseding Indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney R. Pratten, Jeremy J. Kelley, and Tyler H.L. Tornabene. They were investigated by the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service.
Fort Eustis soldier sentenced for coercion of minorsRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A soldier at Fort Eustis was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a child.
According to court documents, Brady Beck Fant, 32, used social media platforms to engage in sexually graphic conversations with minor girls. In addition to those conversations, Fant received sexually graphic images and videos of the victims and sent sexually graphic images and videos of himself to at least one victim.
After the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) taskforce identified Fant, law enforcement seized his electronic devices on which investigators found child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
An Other Than Honorable Discharge from the United States Army is currently pending.
This case was investigated by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Washington Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon E.A. Heath prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-cr-58.
Former Fort Worth Resident Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Unemployment Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
A former Fort Worth, Texas resident was sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits from the United States Department of Labor, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Mark Alan Valles, 51, previously of Fort Worth, Texas, pled guilty in October 2025 to the federal offense of conspiring to steal government funds. On February 20, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor sentenced Valles to 60 months in federal prison. He also ordered Valles to pay $407,724 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration.“This defendant exploited government programs and stole funds intended to aid Americans during a critical economic period in this country,” said U. S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “I applaud the diligent work of our law enforcement partners in uncovering the fraud scheme and seeing justice done in this case.”
“Mark Valles conspired with others to defraud the Texas Workforce Commission, U.S. Government, and the American taxpayers in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme that enriched himself at a time when millions of Americans desperately needed the money,” stated Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “My office is committed to protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance program by vigorously pursuing those who commit this type of fraud. Fraud will not be tolerated. Accountability is not optional.”
Court documents indicate that from approximately April 2020 through September 2021, Valles and others conspired to unlawfully use stolen personal identifying information of at least 44 victims to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance funds administered by the Texas Workforce Commission (“TWC”) and funded by the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”). Valles and his coconspirators used the stolen information to fill out false applications claiming a total of $899,719 in benefits to be loaded onto to debit cards. They directed the associated debit cards to be mailed to a physical address accessible by Valles or others, retrieved the debit cards from the particular address, and withdrew cash from multiple ATM machines at banks in Fort Worth and the surrounding areas. Valles caused a loss to the government of more than $407,000.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security–Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark McDonald prosecuted the case.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Swears in Special Assistant U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – On February 3, 2026, Saratoga County Assistant District Attorney William G. Berger was sworn in as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
SAUSAs are able to prosecute cases in federal court under the supervision of the U.S. Attorney’s Office while remaining employed as ADAs. Other ADAs recently sworn in as SAUSAs include: First ADA Michael T. Johnson (Herkimer County); Chief ADA J. Sam Rodgers (Madison County); ADAs Manpreet Kaur and Kathleen Hofmann (Montgomery County); and Chief ADA Christopher Bednarski and Senior ADAs Sara Fitzpatrick and Alphonse L. Williams III (Onondaga County).
First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “We are proud to welcome William Berger as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. His experience as an Assistant District Attorney in Saratoga County and his commitment to public safety will strengthen our efforts to combat violent crime and complex criminal organizations throughout the Northern District of New York. Partnerships like this exemplify the strong collaboration between state and federal law enforcement, ensuring that we use every available resource to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law.”
Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby stated: “Our ongoing collaboration with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York is essential to our mission of dismantling complex criminal enterprises that threaten the safety of our communities. By working hand-in-hand with our federal partners, we can leverage shared resources, intelligence, and expertise to pursue justice more effectively and keep the people of Upstate New York safe. These strategic partnerships strengthen every level of law enforcement.”
Pictured above (left to right): Saratoga County Assistant District Attorney William G. Berger, First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, and Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby.
Durham Man Sentenced for Cyberstalking Gay Men in Raleigh-DurhamRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced David Ryan Winters, age 40, to 3 years in federal prison for cyberstalking. For almost a decade, Winters stalked, harassed, and threatened gay men online in the Raleigh-Durham area. Winters pleaded guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Winters became enraged at the gay community in Raleigh-Durham for perceived slights. Starting around 2016, Winters began stalking gay men online and in person, including by showing up at victims’ homes and sending them pictures of their residences. Winters would discover victims’ personal information and send angry messages. He repeatedly threatened to kill specific victims and gay men generally, saying that he wanted to make national headlines and invoking the Pulse homicides from Florida. Winters visited one victim’s workplace, shattered a window, and threw a metal trashcan on the victim’s car. Winters’s obsessive harassment campaign terrified many people, forcing them to move or take other self-protective measures.
“We believe in protecting all citizens who deserve to live their lives in peace. This antisocial behavior cannot fester without serious attention and prevention. Thanks to our dedicated law enforcement partners for taking this very seriously and putting this criminal behind bars.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The FBI and Raleigh Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin C. Blondel prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-343-M-RN.
Dominican National Previously Convicted of Drug Trafficking and Identity Theft Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national who used the alias, “Jose Perez Antonio,” and who unlawfully resided in Dorchester has been charged with illegally reentering the United States after having been deported on three separate occasions. The defendant has previously been convicted of drug trafficking, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud dating as far back as 1997.
Wilson Radhames Peguero Brea, a/k/a Jose Perez Antonio, 56, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien with a prior felony conviction. The defendant is currently in ICE custody.
According to the charging documents, Peguero has illegally entered the United States at least four times, and used numerous aliases, including aliases belonging to U.S. citizen victims. In 1997, under an alias associated with a U.S. citizen victim, Peguero was convicted of drug trafficking. He was removed from the United States in 2005 and thereafter illegally reentered the country. In 2016, Peguero was arrested and charged by the state for possession of a fraudulently obtained driver’s license. That criminal case remains in default status. He was removed from the U.S. a second time in 2016.
After Peguero allegedly illegally entered the U.S. a third time, he was charged in Dorchester District Court with trafficking cocaine and fentanyl in a criminal case that remains in warrant status. According to court documents, his Massachusetts criminal history is associated with his alias Jose Perez Antonio.
In 2021, Peguero was arrested and charged with his true name in federal court for aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. He was convicted of both charges on Jan. 11, 2023, and sentenced to more than two years in prison. In 2023, Peguero was removed a third time. Peguero then illegally reentered the United States a fourth time and was encountered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on Feb. 5, 2026, while using a false identity document.
The charge of illegal reentry by an alien with a prior felony conviction provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Detroit Man Sentenced to More than 11 Years in Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Franklin Fitzgerald Elly, also known as “Costco,” 36, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 11 years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from in or about May 2025 to in or about July 2025, Elly conspired with co-defendant Eric Jaeshon Ray and with other individuals to distribute fentanyl in the St. Albans area of Kanawha County. On four separate occasions between May and June 2025, Elly assisted Ray in distributing a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant in St. Albans as part of the conspiracy. Elly was found responsible for over 500 grams of fentanyl in this case.
Elly has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for drug dealing offenses in Michigan and Indiana and for drug dealing offenses and being a person prohibited from possessing firearms in West Virginia. Elly was on parole at the time of his current offense.
Elly and Ray are among 16 individuals indicted as the result of a federal investigation on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. Six co-defendants in the main indictment pleaded guilty. Elly and Ray are among four additional defendants who pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the investigation. Ray, also known as “Brody,” 32, was sentenced on January 15, 2026, to eight years and one month in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
“Franklin Fitzgerald Elly is a career criminal who has sold drugs in West Virginia and two other states. He has committed three of his drug-dealing crimes, including this one, while on parole or probation for a prior drug-related conviction,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “As today’s sentence shows, this office and our law enforcement partners are determined to go after those who seek to harm our communities to the maximum extent the law allows.”
Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-128.
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Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
A man who distributed methamphetamine was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison.
John Robert Moro, age 34, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 6, 2025, guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
Information from the sentencing hearing showed that Moro sold methamphetamine on two separate occasions in March 2024 to an individual who was working with law enforcement.
Moro was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Moro was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF Kansas City is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, covering Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. HSTF Kansas City is composed of agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the State Investigative Agencies for Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska, and the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.
Moro is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This HSTF case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by HSTF Kansas City, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA, the Linn County Sheriff's Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-45.
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Carbon County Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that David Feliciano-Seize, age 61, of Carbon County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 20, 2026, to 18 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Feliciano-Seize attempted to purchase a firearm in 2021, but the purchase was denied based upon Feliciano-Seize’s prior conviction for armed robbery. Feliciano-Seize thereafter illegally obtained a firearm, and on October 22, 2023, brandished that firearm and began shooting into the air during a dispute with his girlfriend’s family. He then aimed the firearm at members of his girlfriend’s family.
The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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CarMax to pay nearly $500,000 to remedy illegal repossessions of U.S. servicemembers’ vehiclesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Justice Department today announced that it has reached a settlement with CarMax, Inc., the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, to resolve allegations that CarMax violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by illegally repossessing motor vehicles owned by members of the military. As part of the settlement, CarMax will pay at least $420,000 in damages to servicemembers and a civil penalty of $79,380 to the United States.
The Department alleges that CarMax repossessed servicemember vehicles without obtaining court orders as required by federal law, as well as repossessed some vehicles even after owners told CarMax that they were in military service. CarMax also allegedly failed to extend SCRA protections to reservists who had received orders to report for active duty. In addition to paying a civil penalty and compensation to harmed individuals, CarMax will revise its policies and procedures to ensure that the rights of U.S. servicemembers are protected in the future.
The SCRA is a federal law that provides legal and financial protections for servicemembers and their families. The law prevents an auto finance or leasing company from repossessing a servicemember’s vehicle without first obtaining a court order, as long as the servicemember made at least one payment on the vehicle before entering military service. For members of a reserve component, the protections begin on the date the member receives orders to military service.
This case was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $484 million in monetary relief for over 149,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The civil claims settled are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.
CarMax to Pay Nearly $500,000 to Remedy Illegal Repossessions of U.S. Servicemembers’ VehiclesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that it has reached a settlement with CarMax Inc., the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, to resolve allegations that CarMax violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by illegally repossessing motor vehicles owned by members of the military. As part of the settlement, CarMax will pay at least $420,000 in damages to servicemembers and a civil penalty of $79,380 to the United States.
“Federal law prohibits businesses from repossessing service members’ vehicles without a court order,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice is proud to defend the rights of those who serve in our military and will continue to vigorously enforce the laws that protect them.”
The Department alleges that CarMax repossessed servicemember vehicles without obtaining court orders as required by federal law, as well as repossessed some vehicles even after owners told CarMax that they were in military service. CarMax also allegedly failed to extend SCRA protections to reservists who had received orders to report for active duty. In addition to paying a civil penalty and compensation to harmed individuals, CarMax will revise its policies and procedures to ensure that the rights of U.S. servicemembers are protected in the future.
The SCRA is a federal law that provides legal and financial protections for servicemembers and their families. The law prevents an auto finance or leasing company from repossessing a servicemember’s vehicle without first obtaining a court order, as long as the servicemember made at least one payment on the vehicle before entering military service. For members of a reserve component, the protections begin on the date the member receives orders to military service.
This case was handled by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $484 million in monetary relief for over 149,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.
Broken Arrow Resident Sentenced for Armed AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rafael Martin Sangines, age 30, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and to 70 months for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. The Court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Broken Arrow Police Department, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office.
On May 13, 2025, Sangines pleaded guilty to the charges in federal district court. According to investigators, on September 29, 2024, Sangines struck the victim repeatedly with the barrel and stock of an AR-15 style rifle and threatened to kill the victim. The victim sustained multiple contusions and lacerations before escaping to safety. Law enforcement apprehended Sangines a short time later during a traffic stop and took Sangines into custody. A search conducted of Sangines and the vehicle he was driving revealed a loaded pistol magazine, a chamber-loaded AR-15 with a 30-round magazine, a chamber-loaded semi-automatic pistol with a 30-round magazine, and spent rifle casings. Prior to the attack and apprehension, Sangines had been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Sangines will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Bradenton Man Convicted of Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – A federal jury has found Alejandro Marquetti-Blanco (34, Bradenton) guilty of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Marquetti-Blanco faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing date has not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Marquetti-Blanco distributed one pound of methamphetamine to a co-conspirator. Another co-conspirator later sold the methamphetamine to an undercover DEA Special Agent in Port Charlotte.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Morgan and Benjamin Winter.
Baltimore Man Indicted for Alleged Child Sex Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a Baltimore man for child sex trafficking crimes.
Deion “Poppa Fetti” Philip, 33, is charged with two counts of sex trafficking of a child and one count of transportation of a minor.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office, Scott Shellenberger, State’s Attorney for Baltimore County, and Acting Superintendent Michael A. Jackson, Maryland State Police (MSP).
According to the indictment, Philip trafficked two minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts for profit. Phillip trafficked one minor victim for several weeks in 2025, and the other minor victim from October to November 2025.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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 justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, Philip faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison for each count of sexual trafficking of a minor.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, and MSP for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Alleged Utah Child Predator and Creator of the “Squatty Potty” Indicted After Allegedly Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah – An indictment was unsealed today in the District of Utah following the arrest of a Southern Utah entrepreneur, and original co-founder and creator of the “Squatty Potty,” after he was charged for receiving sexually explicit images of a child.
Robert Edwards, 50, of Ivins, Utah, was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 10, 2026. He was arrested on February 12, 2026, in Washington County, Utah. During his initial appearance on the indictment, he pleaded not guilty and was remanded to the U.S. Marshal Service by U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Kohler in St. George.
According to the allegations in court documents, beginning in March 2021, and continuing through November 2025, in the District of Utah, and elsewhere, Edwards knowingly received multiple images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In March 2021, an undercover FBI agent assumed the identity of an online profile account and joined a group chat used to trade child sexual abuse material. The online meeting room was viewing a collection of child sexual abuse material videos, which were being streamed on the main screen. Participants in the meeting were visible, including one user later identified as Edwards.
As alleged in court documents, the investigation continued and in May 2025, FBI agents learned that Edwards was suspected of purchasing additional child sexual abuse material via his PayPal account, which flagged four transactions involving Edwards’ account as possibly related to CSAM. On November 4, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Edwards’s person and residence. Agents seized a cell phone from his vehicle, which contained multiple videos and images of child sexual abuse material, some of which downloaded onto the cell phone just two weeks before the search warrant was executed. At Edwards’s residence, law enforcement seized additional devices and found additional child sexual abuse material files.
Edwards is charged with receipt of child pornography. His detention hearing is scheduled for March 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom 2B at the courthouse located at 206 West Tabernacle Street, St. George, Utah 84470.
United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, St. George Resident Agency.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Burton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
20 February 2026
Wynne Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Tyler Ball will spend eight years in federal prison for possession of child pornography. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Thursday by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.
On August 22, 2025, Ball pleaded guilty to a one-count Superseding Information charging him with possession of child pornography. Chief Judge Baker also sentenced Ball to five years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
An investigation by the Arkansas State Police ultimately revealed that Ball took sexually explicit photos of a 10-year-old victim in or around 2015. Seven years after taking the photos, on January 27, 2022, Ball sent messages on Snapchat to the victim apologizing for “what went down back then,” when the victim was 10 years old. Ball messaged the victim, “I’m really sorry. I’m balling my eyes out. You mean so much to me and I’m very, very sorry.” After receiving these messages, the victim and the victim’s mother went to the police.
On February 1, 2022, Ball was interviewed by officers and stated that on the night he sent the Snapchat messages, he “blacked out” because he had consumed alcohol and did not have any memory of “anything that happened that night.” Officers then obtained a search warrant for Ball’s residence. During a search of the residence, officers located a cell phone in a safe. A subsequent search of the cell phone revealed 14 images of sexually explicit conduct involving the victim.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Parents are encouraged to always monitor your children’s online activity.
The investigation was conducted by the Arkansas State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
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Woodland Hills Film Production Accountant Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Money from Indie Films That Employed HimRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A film production accountant from the San Fernando Valley pleaded guilty today to embezzling money from the independent film productions that employed him, moving the illicitly obtained funds into an account he called “Fun Fun Fun.”
Joshua Mandel, 48, of Woodland Hills, pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud.
According to court documents, Mandel owned the Woodland Hills-based company First J Productions Inc., where he served as both its CEO and chief financial officer. He also worked as a film production accountant who specialized in accounting services for independent films.
As a production accountant, Mandel oversaw cash flow, payroll, and expenses for the film productions. He also was an authorized user for bank accounts belonging to the production companies and added funds to prepaid debit cards issued by CASHét Card, which are commonly used in the film industry.
From 2019 to 2023, Mandel misappropriated funds belonging to the film productions by writing unauthorized checks, making unauthorized wire transfers, and moving funds into a CASHét Card account he controlled called “Fun Fun Fun.” To hide his scheme, Mandel used funds from one production company to pay expenses incurred by another.
Law enforcement believes the total amount Mandel embezzled approached $2 million and that he used the embezzled money to maintain his lifestyle, including paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to various young women, including pornographic actresses, and more than $129,000 to a woman he met through a “sugar daddy” website; spending more than $24,000 at Las Vegas hotels, clubs, and shows; and purchasing more than $12,000 in luxury items from Louis Vuitton.
United States District Judge John F. Walter scheduled a May 4 sentencing hearing, at which time Mandel will face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count. Mandel remains free on $25,000 bond.
The FBI is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab, Acting Chief of the Criminal Division, and Lauren E. Border of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Waterloo Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Buying Gun for BoyfriendRead the Press Release
A Waterloo woman who bought guns for her boyfriend was sentenced February 19, 2026, to one year in federal prison.
Arryel Skye Waters, age 24, of Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a September 4, 2025, guilty plea to one count of false statement during purchase of a firearm.
Evidence at the sentencing and plea hearings showed that in July 2023, Waters attempted to purchase a gun from a business in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Waters’ boyfriend, who was 17 at the time, went with her to the store. Employees at the store felt Waters was not being truthful about who she was buying the gun for, so they denied the purchase of the gun. Waters then left the business and travelled to another business in Cedar Falls. This time, her boyfriend stayed in the car. Waters went inside and purchased a Glock firearm. When she filled out the paperwork to purchase the gun, she noted she was buying the gun for herself. In reality, Waters was buying the gun for her boyfriend. Waters and her boyfriend were also both marijuana users at the time.
In November 2023, Waters was working as a delivery driver. Employees at one of the businesses she delivered to made comments to her that Waters relayed to her boyfriend. Waters’ boyfriend confronted employees with the gun Waters had purchased for him. The boyfriend was later arrested and charged with multiple counts, including felon in possession of a firearm. Waters boyfriend had a prior felony conviction for burglary which prevented him from possessing firearms.
Waters was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Waters was sentenced to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee. Waters must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley L. Corkery and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, the Cedar Falls Police Department, and the Waterloo Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 24-CR-2043.
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USAO-Kansas: Threats or interference with federal agents is a felony offenseRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser of the District of Kansas is concerned about incidents of persons threatening federal agents and/or persons using their vehicles to aggressively chase or interfere with federal agents engaged in their official duties. As a result, USAO-KS is spreading public awareness on the difference between legal protest and criminal behavior.
U.S. Attorney Kriegshauser issued the following statement:
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Kansas strongly supports and seeks to protect freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest. We also believe it is imperative that protests be carried out in a responsible and legal manner to reduce the chance of injury to either law enforcement or to the public. Interfering with federal agents who are carrying out their duties can be charged by our office, depending on the conduct. Making threats against federal officials can be charged by our office, depending on the conduct. Individuals engaged in these activities should be aware that they are subject to prosecution in federal court. Recently, in the District of Kansas we have charged these types of crimes as federal felonies.
We at the U.S. Attorney’s Office- District of Kansas are actively following reports on interactions between federal agents and the general public in our state. Our commitment is to review allegations with an impartial lens that scrutinizes the actions of everyone involved, law enforcement and the public, to determine if those actions are in accordance with the law.
We are aware that on February 14, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were in Olathe conducting a targeted search for an identified individual. During that time, ICE agents had an encounter with two other local residents who were involved in tracking and following ICE agents while using their vehicle in an exceedingly aggressive manner. The license plate of the vehicle was determined to be associated with a previously deported individual for whom a Warrant for the Arrest of an Alien was issued, and the vehicle was stopped. The 19-year-old driver of the vehicle was ultimately determined to be a United States citizen. After reviewing the arrest for interference, we determined that the individual involved admitted to following federal agents in his vehicle while screaming at them, and he admitted to driving recklessly to where he almost struck the agent with his vehicle. Our office has decided not to pursue charges at this time given the specific circumstances. However, that decision may change if additional information is obtained.
This is just one instance of an increasing number of reports we have seen lately of the public following agents while using their vehicles in an aggressive manner. Increasingly, some of those following agents in potential reckless or criminal manner are young people, an age group that is generally more impressionable and more likely than older adults to act rashly when swept up with emotions. We encourage parents to have discussions with their children about what forms of conduct are appropriate as they exercise their constitutional right to freedom of speech so that they do not commit federal crimes. Federal agents enforcing immigration law can arrest United States citizens who commit federal offenses in their presence such as threats or interference inhibiting their duties.
Again, we support the right to peacefully protest. However, we will not allow illegal conduct that endangers the safety of law enforcement and other members of the public.”
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 84 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 84 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week:
- On February 13, Mexican nationals Carlos Cortes De La Cruz and Carlos Cortes Garcia – a father and son who were the alleged captains of a smuggling vessel carrying a dozen undocumented passengers - were arrested and charged with Attempted Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted the vessel which was dead in the water and riding low under the weight of the passengers, off the coast of Point Loma. Officials deemed the vessel unsafe and transported the passengers to Ballast Point, where the defendants were arrested by Border Patrol. Also arrested were Mexican nationals Jorge Andrade-Guzman, Aristeo Cortez-Abarca, Jose Antonio Lorenzo De La Cruz, Allan Alfonso Mancilla Garcia, Lorenzo Meza Hernandez, Sergio Luis Rico-Ornelas, Ciriaco Rojas-Duarte, Luis Vargas-Vill and Javier Zavala-Paredes. They were passengers charged with Attempted Entry After Deportation.
- On February 15, Aracely Guadalupe Herrera Gutierrez, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 153 packages containing 154 pounds of methamphetamine and seven pounds of fentanyl concealed in the rear bumper of the defendant’s vehicle as she tried to cross into the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
- On February 18, John Nixon, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, Nixon and a passenger applied for admission to the U.S. in the vehicle lanes of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. Customs and Border Protection officers found the passenger’s identification to be fraudulent. The passenger, Mexican citizen Jose Rosales-Murillo, was arrested for Attempted Entry After Deportation. Rosales-Murillo had been previously removed from the U.S. in 2008. According to the complaint, Nixon claimed he accepted the smuggling job in order to pay off his girlfriend’s $5,000 drug debt.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $35.5 Million in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
Louisville, KY – U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office collected more than $35.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $4,309,149.70 was collected in criminal actions and $31,208.840.42 in civil actions.
Additionally, the Office worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $6,012.405.23 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $57,235.63 was collected in criminal actions and $5,995,169.60 was collected in civil actions.
“These exceptional recoveries reflect our Office’s unwavering commitment to victims of crime,” said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. “I am proud of our team’s determination to deliver meaningful results in both criminal and civil proceedings. This Office will continue to aggressively pursue the collection of every dollar owed to crime victims, victims of fraud, and federal agencies.”
Notable recoveries in the past fiscal year include $800,000 paid in United States v. Robert Hunt, Case No. 1:25-cr-10 and $340,000 in United States v. James Worthington, Case No. 3:24-cr-104. The Office recovered more than $16 million for violations of the False Claims Act and $9.5 million for unpaid taxes owed by a debtor in bankruptcy. The office also collected more than $1 million in state foreclosure actions involving federal liens.
In addition to the criminal and civil collections, last fiscal year the Office worked with partner agencies and divisions to collect $1,148,244 in asset forfeiture actions. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
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U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes ReportRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.
In the one-week period ending February 20, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:
- 67 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
- 9 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
- 59 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
- 48 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.
Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for drug trafficking, healthcare fraud, money laundering, human smuggling, burglary, and immigration offenses.
In one significant case, on February 13, 2026, Border Patrol agents at the Las Cruces checkpoint on I-25 stopped a tractor trailer driven by Adriana Alejandra Coss, who appeared nervous and claimed she was hauling an empty, locked trailer without a key. A canine alerted to the trailer during secondary inspection, and agents cut the lock, discovering nineteen undocumented individuals trapped inside with no way to exit. Agents also found a cooler bag in the cab containing cell phones belonging to those inside and later recovered a key in Coss’s former detention cell that opened the trailer lock. Witnesses stated they had paid smugglers, were held in stash houses, and were loaded into the trailer by multiple transporters before traveling nonstop to the checkpoint in cold conditions. The truck’s owner said Coss did not have permission to operate the vehicle and that there was no legitimate reason for the trip.
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.
These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.
Two Individuals Arrested in Connection with Undercover Federal Firearm Investigation in Chicago SuburbsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Two individuals have been arrested in connection with an undercover federal firearm investigation in the Chicago suburbs.
On Feb. 5, 2026, MATTHEW BARRAZA, 21, of Chicago, illegally sold a loaded handgun to an undercover law enforcement officer for $2,000, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The handgun was equipped with a machine gun conversion device, which allows the gun to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger. Also attached to the firearm was an extended magazine containing 19 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition, the complaint states. During the firearm transaction, which occurred at a gas station in Bolingbrook, Ill., Barraza also sold approximately 127 grams of cocaine to the undercover officer for $3,600, the complaint states. Barraza is charged with unlicensed dealing of a firearm, possession of a machine gun, and distribution of a controlled substance.
A separate federal complaint charges EDWIN MORENO, 27, of Chicago, with possessing a machine gun. Moreno possessed the firearm, which was equipped with a machine gun conversion device, on Jan. 15, 2026, while providing what he believed was security for tow operators allegedly conducting a vehicle repossession in Joliet, Ill., the complaint states. Unbeknownst to Moreno, the purported tow operators were undercover law enforcement officers, the complaint states.
Barraza and Moreno were arrested on Wednesday. Detention hearings in federal court have been scheduled for Feb. 25, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura K. McNally.
The charges and arrests were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Substantial assistance was provided by the Joliet Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Saqib Mohammad Hussain.
barraza_complaint.pdf moreno_complaint.pdfTuba City Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing ChildrenRead the Press Release
Phoenix, Ariz. – A man convicted of sexually abusing two young children on Navajo Nation was sentenced Feb. 17, 2026, in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.
Avery Cody Billy, 30, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 188 months in prison, followed by 180 months of supervised release. Billy previously pleaded guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child.
Billy sexually abused two young girls who lived on Navajo Nation. The victims were in first grade when Billy began to abuse them, and he continued the abuse repeatedly over many years. Billy is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
“Avery Cody Billy degraded, hurt and betrayed the trust of two little girls,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Our Justice system must protect the most vulnerable and hold predators fully accountable for the harm they cause to children. I am grateful for the dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys, victim specialists, FBI agents and tribal partners who joined forces to secure this sentence of nearly 16 years. Their commitment also ensures that survivors of abuse receive the critical support and resources they need to heal.”
“Protecting our nation’s kids is one of the most formidable missions of the FBI,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “This defendant’s unspeakable actions will not be tolerated. This sentencing reflects the dedication of the FBI and our tribal law enforcement partners in assuring offenders like this are held accountable and brought to justice."
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Flagstaff office and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-8029-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-036_Billy
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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