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30 January 2026
Justice Department Requires Reddy Ice to Divest Assets to Proceed with Proposed Acquisition of Arctic GlacierRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division announced today that it will require Stone Canyon Industries Holdings LP (owner of Reddy Ice) and Chill Parent Holdco LP (owner of Arctic Glacier) to divest assets in California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Washington to resolve antitrust concerns arising from Reddy Ice’s proposed more-than $126 million acquisition of Arctic Glacier. The proposed divestitures preserve competition for packaged ice sold to retail chains, airlines, and airline caterers in these states.
The Antitrust Division filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the proposed transaction. At the same time, the Division filed a proposed settlement that, if approved by the court, would resolve the competitive harm alleged in the lawsuit.
“The Antitrust Division is committed to enforcing the antitrust laws in markets that impact American consumers and businesses,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This transaction, as originally proposed, would have led to higher prices and lower service quality on packaged ice, a staple Americans enjoy everywhere from backyard cookouts to cross-country flights. Today’s settlement will maintain competition for the sale of packaged ice to the benefit of American consumers.”
As detailed in the complaint, Reddy Ice and Arctic Glacier are the largest suppliers of packaged ice sold to retail chains in Oregon, Washington, and Imperial and Riverside counties in southern California. They are also the largest suppliers of packaged ice sold to airlines and airline caterers in the Boston and New York City metropolitan areas.
The proposed settlement resolves anticompetitive concerns in these geographies where the parties currently compete, either directly via their facilities or via co-packers that manufacture and deliver ice to the parties’ customers on their behalf.
Under the terms of the proposed settlement, the parties must divest (1) Reddy Ice’s manufacturing and distribution facilities and customer relationships and contracts, along with other assets, in Imperial and Riverside counties in southern California and in Washington; and (2) divest customer relationships and contracts, along with other assets, in Oregon and in the Boston and New York City metropolitan areas. The parties must also provide advance notification for certain future transactions and allow a monitor to supervise the parties’ divestiture of the assets and compliance with the consent decree.
Reddy Ice is the largest producer of packaged ice in the United States with annual revenues of approximately $511 million. The company sells packaged ice in 37 states and the District of Columbia.
Arctic Glacier is the third largest producer of packaged ice in the United States with annual revenues of approximately $306 million. It sells packaged ice in 19 states.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person should submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Jill Maguire, Acting Chief, Healthcare and Consumer Products Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 4100, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
Note: View the Proposed Final Judgement here and the Complaint here.
Jefferson Parish Man Indicted for Mail TheftRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DEVIN HUTTON (“HUTTON”), of Kenner, Louisiana, was indicted on January 29, 2026, for theft of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to the indictment, HUTTON stole mail from mailboxes at an apartment complex in Metairie, Louisiana.
If convicted, HUTTON faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years of imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.00. A mandatory special assessment fee of $100 also applies.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Christine M. Calogero of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Joint Statement of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Regarding Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church FireRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE — Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, issued the following joint statement:
We are actively coordinating with local and state partners regarding a suspicious fire at the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Havana, Florida, and stand ready to offer additional federal resources needed for this state-led investigation. This alleged arson is just the latest in an alarming trend of attacks and threats directed toward our churches, synagogues, and houses of worship nationwide.
As made clear by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi, we have zero-tolerance for attacks and threats directed at our churches, synagogues, and houses of worship, and the Department of Justice will ensure those vital institutions, and the congregants who gather to freely practice their religion, are kept safe and secure.
Indian national convicted at trial for sexual assault during an airline flightRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted an Indian national yesterday on charges of abusive sexual contact and assault onboard a flight.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Aug. 29, 2024, during final approach on a flight from Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, a passenger awoke to find Varun Arora, 38, sexually groping her. Arora, who was wearing a sleep mask, feigned sleep as he continued to place his hand on the victim despite her repeatedly removing his hand.
Arora is present in the United States without lawful status. He faces up to two years in prison when sentenced on May 7. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Mumma and Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell L. Carlberg are prosecuting the case.
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. 1:25-cr-288.
Illegal Immigrant from Mexico Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Throwing Molotov Cocktail at LASD Deputies During Anti-ICE RiotRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An illegal immigrant from Mexico was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison for lighting and throwing a Molotov cocktail at law enforcement during an anti-immigration enforcement riot in Paramount last year.
Emiliano Garduño Gálvez, 23, of Paramount, was sentenced by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr.
Gálvez pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of obstructing, impeding, or interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder. He has been in federal custody since June 2025.
“This defendant’s reckless behavior threatened the lives and safety of law enforcement officers and that of a lawful protester,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “My office remains steadfast in its efforts to prosecute and punish those who commit acts of violence against others.”
On June 7, 2025, in Paramount, Gálvez was present during a civil disorder, a public disturbance involving acts of violence by an assemblage of more than three people that caused immediate danger of and resulted in damage to property or other people.
Specifically, groups of individuals in Paramount amassed around federal personnel, and later local law enforcement, all of whom were lawfully engaged in the performance of their official duties. The demonstration’s purpose was to protest the federal enforcement of immigration laws in Los Angeles County.
For several hours, the group threw objects, including rocks or chunks of cinder blocks, at federal and local law enforcement, lit objects on fire, and set off fireworks in the direction of law enforcement. Law enforcement declared the protest an unlawful assembly.
The civil disorder interfered with a federally protected function, namely, the coordination of federal agencies’ personnel and preparation for immigration enforcement activities. Rioters also caused The Home Depot, a local business, to temporarily close, and they stole store products during the disorder.
The streets in this area were blocked by the civil disorder and objects individuals lit on fire, affecting access to The Home Depot and other businesses in the area.
Hiding behind a stone wall, Gálvez lit and threw a Molotov cocktail towards Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputies who were on duty in Paramount during the civil disorder. Gálvez admitted he threw the Molotov cocktail intending to obstruct, interfere with, and impede the sheriff’s deputies who were lawfully engaged in their official duties.
The Molotov cocktail Gálvez threw landed in a grassy area near the foot of a protestor in the crowd and approximately 15 feet from LASD deputies. Gálvez had never registered this Molotov cocktail, nor any destructive device, with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. He then fled the area.
“[Gálvez] threw an incendiary device capable of killing someone,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “And his destructive device came far closer to injuring a civilian holding a sign, as opposed to [Gálvez’s] intended target – the sheriff’s deputies.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this matter with the assistance of the FBI and LASD.
Assistant United States Attorney Jenna W. Long of the National Security Division prosecuted this 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.
Houston-area resident pleads guilty in stock investment Ponzi schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 40-year-old Mont Belvieu man has admitted to wire fraud in connection with a Ponzi-style investment scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
From January 2022 through August 2023, Carl Channing Spence operated “AEI Financial” from his residence. He solicited friends, acquaintances and colleagues by promising high returns through stock trading specializing in “meme stocks.” Spence promised victims 10 to 12 percent returns by investing in popular stocks during a period of rapid stock market gains. Instead, he diverted funds for personal use and to make purported returns to earlier investors.
Once victims provided funds, Spence created fraudulent account statements that falsely showed investment growth and returns which he used to persuade victims to reinvest. In reality, he commingled investor funds into a single account and lost much of the money through unsuccessful trades.
The scheme resulted in numerous victims who received fraudulent account statements but never recovered their original investments or promised returns. Spence took in approximately $2.1 million from the known victims.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal will impose sentencing April 14. At that time, Spence faces up to 20 years in prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Carter and Brad Gray are prosecuting the case.
Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Takes Down Drug and Gun Trafficking Ring; Six ArrestedRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that the following six individuals were arrested today on federal charges related to their alleged involvement in a narcotics and firearms trafficking ring:
MANOLIN VARGAS D’OLON, also known as “Robelin,” 30, of Waterbury
GIOVANNI BENOIT, 41, of New York, New York
ALVARO PEREZ, 40, of Waterbury
ANDERSON AMADOR NOVA, 35, of Waterbury
ANGEL VASQUEZ, also known as “Bebo,” 36, of Hamden
ANDY MARTINEZ, 46, of Paterson, New JerseyAs alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the FBI and the Homeland Security Task Force New Haven (HSTF New Haven) have been investigating a narcotics and firearms trafficking organization led by a Dominican national who resides in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican national coordinates the distribution of narcotics and firearms in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, through multiple redistributors in those locations. During the investigation, investigators made more than 30 controlled purchases from redistributors totaling more than one kilogram of fentanyl, more than 200 grams of methamphetamine, and 17 firearms. Laboratory analysis of the purchased fentanyl revealed that some of it was mixed with bromazolam, which is a relatively new synthetic benzodiazepine that was unscheduled at the time it was sold, and which is increasingly found as a component in mixtures of drugs resulting in overdoses.
It is alleged that the Dominican national made statements to sources suggesting that he had the ability to direct violence against individuals in the U.S.
The six defendants appeared today in federal court. Vargas D’Olon and Perez, who are citizens of the Dominican Republic, and Nova and Vasquez, were detained. Benoit and Martinez were released on bond to home confinement.
On December 9, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a 15-count indictment charging the six defendants. The indictment, which was unsealed today, charges Vargas D’Olon, Benoit, Perez, Amador Nova, and Vasquez with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl and methamphetamine. If convicted of this charge, based on the type and quantity of drug attributed to each defendant, Vargas D’Olon faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; Benoit, Perez, and Amador Nova face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; and Vasquez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The indictment also charges Vargas D’Olon, Benoit, Perez, Amador Nova, and Vasquez with one or more counts related to the distribution of controlled substances. The indictment also charges Vargas D’Olon, Benoit, Perez, Amador Nova, and Vasquez with one or more counts related to the distribution of controlled substances.
In addition, the indictment charges Vargas D’Olon, Benoit, Vasquez, and Martinez with engaging in a firearms trafficking conspiracy; Vargas D’Olon with unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien illegally present in the United States; Vasquez with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon; and Vargas D’Olon, Benoit, and Vasquez with unlawful transfer of a firearm. Each of these charges carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
It is further alleged that in May 2025, Vargas D’Olon was arrested on state narcotics charges. Analysis of a cellphone seized from him at the time of his arrest revealed cache folders for the encrypted messaging service Telegram that contained video and image files depicting child pornography. On December 9, the New Haven grand jury returned a separate indictment charging D’Olon with possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF New Haven comprises agents and officers from the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor, and Connecticut State Police, with prosecutions led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.
This investigation was assisted by FBI New York, FBI Newark, FBI Tampa, FBI Orlando Resident Agency, FBI Legal Attache (LEGAT) – Santo Domingo, and the New Haven, East Haven, North Haven, Milford, and Waterbury Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont.
Haileyville Resident Sentenced for Stealing Property from Army Ammunition PlantRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Garland Leon Seay, age 39, of Haileyville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 5 years’ probation for two counts of Theft of Government Property, and 5 years’ probation for one count of Entering a Military Installation for a Purpose Prohibited by Law. All three counts are to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant Police Department, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Savanna Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On April 22, 2026, Seay pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on July 22, 2024, law enforcement discovered Seay in possession of various items he had stolen from the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (MCAAP), including an inert training missile. During the ensuing investigation, law enforcement recovered additional MCAAP property stolen by Seay over the prior year.
The Honorable Robert J. Shelby, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Guatemalan National Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced MARIO RAMIRO ARAGON-RUANO, also known as Mario Ramiro Aragon and Jose Juana-Zapata, 38, a citizen of Guatemala, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in August 2006, Aragon-Ruano, using the name Jose Juana-Zapata, was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona. He was deported to Guatemala later that month and warned that he could not return to the U.S. for a period of five years. He subsequently reentered the U.S. and was arrested in 2007.
In August 2008, Aragon-Ruano was convicted, under the name Mario Ramiro Aragon, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on a federal charge of murder for hire, and was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment. In September 2013, he was again deported to Guatemala.
In July 2019, U.S. Border Patrol encountered Aragon-Ruano in Arizona. In January 2020, he was convicted in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported and he was sentenced to 13 months and one day of imprisonment. He was deported to Guatemala a third time in July 2020.
Aragon-Ruano subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S. On January 10, 2026, he was arrested by Waterbury Police and charged with criminal trespass in the first degree and breach of peace in the second degree. After Aragon-Ruano was released on bond on those state charges, he was arrested by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations on January 12, 2026, in Waterbury.
Aragon-Ruano appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Aragon-Ruano faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Georgia Man with Prior Aggravated Assault Conviction Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A South Georgia man with prior assault and drug convictions was sentenced to prison after police found him with a stolen gun following a traffic stop and car crash.
Ricky Hill, 39, of Lakeland, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 130 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on Jan. 29. Hill pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Oct. 1, 2025. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Convicted felons with violent criminal histories who are caught with illegal firearms will be prosecuted federally, where there is no parole,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “We are working with law enforcement at every level to identify and prosecute repeat offenders with stolen guns.”
"This case underscores our commitment to ensuring that individuals with violent criminal histories face the full force of the law. We will not allow convicted felons to jeopardize public safety with illegal firearms,” said ATF Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.
“We are grateful to the United States Attorney’s Office for their steadfast partnership and persistence in cases like this one. Their commitment to pursuing federal charges against violent offenders who are illegally in possession of firearms, sends a clear message that this type of dangerous behavior will not be tolerated in our community,” said Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan. “Working together, we are holding individuals accountable and making our neighborhoods safer for the families we serve.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, a Valdosta Police Department officer pulled Hill over for driving without headlights or taillights at night on Sept. 16, 2024, on East Hill Avenue. Hill did not have a license and, while holding his phone in his left hand, began reaching under the driver seat, stating he was searching for his phone. The officer observed a magazine for a firearm on the passenger seat of the vehicle and instructed Hill to stop reaching under his seat and exit the car. Hill put his vehicle in drive, accelerated and fled from the traffic stop. Hill then drove his car into a utility pole and ran from his car. Officers located Hill and took him into custody. Officers found a stolen Glock firearm under the front seat, where Hill had been reaching during the traffic stop, along with a 33-round magazine extension, 35 rounds of 9mm ammunition and $2,565 in the car or on Hill. Hill has prior felony convictions for aggravated assault and distributing cocaine. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Valdosta Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Daniels is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Franklin men sentenced to over eight years in prison for armed robbery and firearms offensesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Two Franklin men were sentenced to eight years and four months in prison today for robbery and firearms crimes relating to a 2024 robbery.
According to court documents, Leondre Douglas, aka Worm, 27, set up a drug transaction on Oct. 28, 2024, with a marijuana dealer and Janathian Porter, aka Frankboy Nate, Nate, or Nate Dog, 28. When they met for the transaction, Porter robbed the dealer at gunpoint, taking the dealer’s firearm. Porter and Douglas then fled in separate vehicles.
On Nov. 1, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that reportedly had been involved in the Oct. 28, 2024, robbery. Douglas was driving, and three children were inside the vehicle. Officers recovered a stolen handgun from underneath the driver seat. As a previously convicted felon, Douglas cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
On Nov. 12, 2024, a man observed Porter rummaging through the man’s vehicle at his home. The victim entered his vehicle, noticed that a speaker had been stolen, and followed Porter, who was attempting to flee in another vehicle. The victim pursued Porter to the end of a cul-de-sac, where Porter shot at the victim. Shell casings at the scene matched a firearm that a witness reported stolen the same evening from his vehicle near where Porter was observed breaking into cars.
Porter is an eight-time convicted felon, including for breaking and entering, grand larceny, buying/receiving stolen goods, eluding/endangering police, and twice each for probation violations and hit and run.
Douglas pled guilty on Aug. 25, 2025, to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. A federal jury convicted Porter on Aug. 26, 2025, of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and being a felon in possession of ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case. The Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of the Oct. 28, 2024, and Nov. 1, 2024, offenses. The Franklin Police Department assisted in the investigation of the Nov. 12, 2024, offense.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda L. Cheney and Matthew Heck and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikolas Nelson 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. 2:25-cr-62, 2:25-cr-77, and 2:25-cr-78.
Fort Dodge Man to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Aaron StandsAndLooksBack, a/k/a Aaron Woodman, 42, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was sentenced on January 29, 2026, to 300 months’ imprisonment. StandsAndLooksBack pled guilty June 4, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that between December 2020 and December 2023, StandsAndLooksBack and others conspired to distribute at least 45 kilograms of methamphetamine. Evidence also showed that StandsAndLooksBack obtained methamphetamine, by buying or stealing it from sources to distribute to others. StandsAndLooksBack specifically admitted that he stole sizable amounts of methamphetamine from his mother, who was also sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking, then re-distributed the methamphetamine to others in the Fort Dodge, Iowa area.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. StandsAndLooksBack was sentenced to 300 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of five years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. StandsAndLooksBack remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Fort Dodge Iowa Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-3053. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Former TD Bank Employee Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes, Laundering $5.5 Million to ColombiaRead the Press Release
NEWARK – A former Florida-based employee of TD Bank, N.A., Leonardo Ayala (“Ayala”), pleaded guilty today to accepting bribes in return for facilitating a money laundering network’s movement of over $5.5 million to Colombia through TD Bank accounts.
Ayala, 25, pleaded guilty today before the Honorable Esther Salas in Newark to a two-count Information charging him with conspiring to launder monetary instruments and for receipt of bribes by a bank employee. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 11.
According to court filings and statements made in court, from June 2023 to November 2023, Ayala, 25, of Homestead, Florida, then a TD Bank employee in Doral, Florida, accepted bribes and leveraged his position to facilitate a money laundering network’s expatriation of over $5.5 million from the United States to Colombia. Ayala, who bragged about being “tapped in with them Venezuelans,” opened fraudulent bank accounts, issued debit cards, unblocked debit cards that TD Bank had restricted due to questionable activity, and provided other banking services to his co-conspirators. In particular, Ayala issued over 150 debit cards to six business accounts that had been opened by a different TD Bank employee in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Those debit cards were then used to make over 10,000 ATM withdrawals throughout Colombia, totaling approximately $4,723,114.64. Ayala’s co-conspirators paid him over $6,000 in exchange for these services, typically either in cash or through a peer-to-peer digital payment network.
The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater. The charge of receipt of bribes by a bank employee carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000 or three times the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater.
The DEA, IRS-CI, and FDIC-OIG investigated the case. The department also thanks the Morristown Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marko Pesce, Chief of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
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Defense counsel: Peter Katz, Esq.
ayala.information.pdfFormer TD Bank Employee Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes, Laundering $5.5 Million to ColombiaRead the Press Release
A Florida man pleaded guilty Wednesday to accepting bribes and facilitating the laundering of more than $5.5 million to Colombia while employed by TD Bank, N.A.
According to court filings, Leonardo Ayala, 25, of Homestead, Florida, accepted bribes and exploited his position as a bank employee to help launder drug money to Colombia. From June to Nov. 2023, Ayala opened fraudulent accounts, issued over 150 debit cards to shell companies, and unblocked debit cards that TD Bank had restricted due to questionable activity. The bank accounts and debit cards were then used to make more than 12,000 ATM withdrawals in Colombia, funneling approximately $5.5 million out of the United States. In exchange, Ayala received more than $6,000 in bribes paid in cash and through a peer-to-peer digital payment network.
Ayala pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with conspiring to launder monetary instruments and receipt of bribes by a bank employee. The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The charge of receipt of bribes by a bank employee carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Ayala’s sentencing has been set for June 11. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey made the announcement.
The DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and FDIC-OIG are investigating the case. The department also thanks the Morristown Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marko Pesce, Chief of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering and Recovery Unit for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
Former Paralegal for Chicago-Area Company Sentenced in Federal Court for $100,000 Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former paralegal for a Chicago-area public company has been sentenced in federal court for embezzling nearly $100,000 from the company.
As part of her paralegal duties, NAKESHA DAVIS facilitated payments from the company to former employees with whom the company had entered into settlement agreements. Davis created and submitted false approvals from managers in the company’s legal department purporting to approve settlement payments to certain former employees. Davis knew, however, that those former employees either did not have a settlement agreement with the company or, if they did, the amount of the settlement was different than the amount specified in Davis’s submissions. Davis supplied the company’s payroll department with her own bank account information in place of the former employee’s information, causing the company to issue the settlement payments directly to Davis.
In total, Davis caused the company to fraudulently issue her $99,905.17.
Davis, 46, of South Holland, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah sentenced Davis to six months of home confinement as part of a two-year term of probation. Judge Shah also ordered Davis to pay restitution to the company in the amount of $99,905.17.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hayley Altabef.
Former Nashville Auto Dealer and Co-Defendants Sentenced on Federal Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Mark Janbakhsh, 51, of Brentwood, Tennessee, was sentenced yesterday to 42 months in federal prison on multiple federal fraud charges, including Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Bank Fraud, Making False Statements to a Bank, Bankruptcy Fraud, and Making False Statements Under Oath, announced United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Braden H. Boucek. Mark Janbakhsh was found guilty after a jury trial in August 2025. Three other co-conspirators, each of whom had previously pled guilty, were also sentenced for their involvement in the fraud scheme. Ron Janbakhsh, 46, of Niceville, Florida, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, Steven L. Piper, 54, of Nashville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison, and Christian Quiroz, 46, of Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison.
“People who think they can commit fraud against businesses here in Tennessee need to know that our office will prosecute you and that you will go to federal prison,” said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek. “Middle Tennessee is one of the best places in America to do business and our office is committed to making sure that those who try to ruin that with fraudulent activities are held accountable for their actions.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, Janbakhsh was the chief executive officer and majority owner of a car dealership company named Auto Masters. In addition to Auto Masters, Janbakhsh owned several other Nashville area businesses, including Plaza Mariachi. Between approximately 2013 and 2017, Auto Masters had a line of credit with Capital One and First Tennessee Bank (now First Horizon Bank). Janbakhsh conspired with his brother Ron Janbakhsh, and their co-conspirators, Steve Piper and Christian Quiroz, who also worked for Auto Masters, to submit false documentation to Capital One to artificially inflate the value of the company’s collateral which would allow Mark Janbakhsh to draw on lines of credit he was otherwise not entitled to take. During the course of the scheme, Auto Masters fraudulently obtained over $24 million dollars that it was not entitled to receive.
From at least 2013 until October 2017, Mark Janbakhsh conspired with Piper, Ron Janbakhsh, and Quiroz to submit false borrowing base certificates to Capital One—by inflating their collateral—so that Auto Masters could take draws on the line of credit that they were not entitled to take. The reason for committing this fraud scheme was simple: Mark Janbakhsh wanted access to additional money to pay for his lifestyle and his other business ventures (as did his brother Ron). Mark Janbakhsh lived a lavish lifestyle—he and his wife drove luxury cars (including a Bentley and Ferrari) and his family took expensive vacations, including to places like Dubai. But the biggest driver was Mark Janbakhsh’s need for money to support his other businesses and, in particular, the construction of Plaza Mariachi.
As investigators and bankruptcy proceedings loomed, the evidence showed that Mark Janbakhsh directed company employees to delete data, emails, and other company information that would have shown his fraudulent dealings. Auto Masters declared bankruptcy in 2017, and Mark Janbakhsh lied about the fraud while under oath during the bankruptcy proceedings. When Mark Janbakhsh learned that federal agents who were investigating the fraud were attempting to speak with co-conspirators, he offered Quiroz over $300,000 if he would leave the jurisdiction in order to thwart the investigation.
In addition to their terms of imprisonment, Mark Janbakhsh, Steven Piper, and Christian Quiroz were ordered to pay $11,272,521.20 in restitution and to serve one year of supervised release. Ron Janbakhsh was ordered by pay $4,185,478 in restitution and to serve one year of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christopher Suedekum prosecuted the case.
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Former Milford Resident Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MARC ANTHONY ALEXANDER, 45, of formerly of Milford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to fraud and firearm offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2022, a business known as “Traveling Graces, LLC” was registered with the State of Connecticut with Melanie Ham as its registered agent and “Dr. Marc Anthony Alexander” as its manager. Between July 2023 and December 2023, Alexander and Ham misrepresented to a Connecticut resident (the “victim”), who Alexander had met on a dating app, that Traveling Graces was a legitimate business and they were looking for investors. The victim provided two bank checks totaling $167,000 to Alexander and Ham, which they used for their own purposes.
In May 2024, Alexander met with an employee of the residential community in which he resided and claimed to be an FBI agent who required additional parking spaces assigned to him for professional reasons. He wore clothing that falsely identified him as an FBI agent, showed a fake FBI identification badge, and possessed a Hellcat 9mm pistol in a holster.
Alexander pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
Alexander’s criminal history includes convictions for fraud and other offenses. In April 2017, he was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 96 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his involvement in a scheme related to the theft and negotiation of postal money orders that defrauded the U.S. Postal Service of more than $300,000, and his role in a separate scheme that involved the fraudulent sale of financed vehicles, which defrauded lenders of more than $1 million. Alexander was released from federal prison in February 2023.
In February 2024, while he was on supervised release, Alexander was arrested by Stamford Police for illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension, illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, and failure to drive in a proper lane. In November 2024, Alexander is alleged to have used a bank statement he manipulated with false information to facilitate the purchase of a vehicle from a car dealership in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Alexander also falsely reported his address to his probation officer, left Connecticut without permission, and opened nine new lines of credit, all in violation of the terms and conditions of his supervised release.
Alexander has been detained in federal custody since January 13, 2025. On February 26, 2025, he was sentenced in Hartford federal court to two years of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
On November 19, 2025, Ham pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She awaits sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.
Former Massachusetts State Senator Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Obstruction of Justice and False StatementsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for attempting to cover up a fraudulent job offer and job offer letter from his sister’s company.
Tran, 50, of Fitchburg, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to one year in prison, 11 months to run concurrent with his current sentence and one month to run consecutive, to be followed by 18 months of supervised release to run concurrent with his current sentence. In December 2025, Tran pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice and one count of making a false statement. Tran was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024 along with his sister, Tuyet T. Martin.
Tran was convicted by a federal jury in September 2024 for fraudulent collection of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and his willful omission of consulting and rental income from his tax returns in 2020, 2021 and 2022. He is currently serving an 18-month sentence in federal prison for those convictions.
“This case is clear and simple. It is about entitlement. Entitlement to benefits Mr. Tran was not owed, entitlement to lie when confronted and entitlement to blame everyone but himself. Dean Tran did not only commit fraud; he lied, obstructed justice and tried to derail a federal investigation to protect himself. Even after being convicted, Dean Tran continued to deny responsibility for his actions,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Today’s sentence makes one thing clear: if you think you can lie to federal agents, manipulate the system and obstruct justice – you are sorely mistaken. As we have said over and over, no one is above the law. Justice is blind to power, wealth and status.”
“This investigation underscores our continued commitment to protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance system,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “Mr. Tran’s fraudulent receipt of pandemic unemployment benefits was compounded by false statements made to federal law enforcement during the execution of a lawful search warrant. Individuals who exploit critical benefit programs and attempt to obstruct investigations will be held accountable.”
“Today’s sentencing of Dean Tran demonstrates that lying to federal law enforcement officers is a serious offense,” said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “Obstruction of justice, at a minimum, prolongs an investigation and costs the American taxpayers thousands of additional dollars. In these situations, obstruction can lead to the destruction or loss of evidence, allowing guilty parties to evade justice and deprive their victims of a fair and just outcome.”
“Anyone who obstructs a federal investigation is attempting to subvert the course of justice, and when a former Massachusetts State Senator does it, that’s even more egregious,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “The FBI and our partners will always seek to hold those foolish enough to try to interfere with our cases accountable because it is a direct threat to our entire system of justice.”
As part of an ongoing investigation into unemployment benefits and tax fraud schemes, federal law enforcement interviewed Tran at his residence while executing a federal search warrant. During the interview, Tran was asked about a letter he provided to unemployment agency officials when his benefits were briefly suspended, and he was attempting to have benefits reinstated. Tran made material misrepresentations to the federal law enforcement agents about the letter, including that his sister and co-defendant, Tuyet Martin, had authored the letter when she was not the sole author of the letter and Tran had revised it before the letter was finalized and submitted to unemployment officials. Tran also told federal law enforcement agents that his sister’s signature appeared on the letter when in fact Tran had signed the letter, not his sister.
In January 2026, Martin pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice. She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Foley; DOL IG D’Esposito; IRS-CI SAC Demeo; and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy, Lauren Maynard and Dustin Chao of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.
Former IT Professional Sentenced for Possessing and Attempting to Possess Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A former IT Professional was sentenced today for possessing and attempting to obtain child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby sentenced Jonathan Tyler Gross, 37, of Mounds, for Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. Gross was ordered to serve 123 months imprisonment, followed by 20 years of supervised release. Upon his release, he will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Shelby further ordered Gross to pay $3,000 in restitution and $10,000 fine.
In 2025, Gross worked as an IT professional, and his employer reported to law enforcement that he was fired for having child sexual abuse material on his work computer. The employer told agents they believe Gross was accessing encrypted chat rooms. Agents reviewed the devices provided and found several images and videos of children being sexually abused.
From at least November 2022 through his arrest in April 2025, Gross admitted to viewing and possessing images of children being sexually abused and having a sexual interest in children between the ages of 14 and 17. Some of the images found by agents showed children as young as five to seven years old being sexually exploited, including child erotica. The investigation further revealed that law enforcement received a CyberTip from an email provider that Gross was uploading child sexual abuse material to one of the twelve personal email accounts he had. The child sexual abuse material found was sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Child Victim Identification Program. They helped identify at least one known victim. A victim impact statement was provided to the court. Restitution paid by Gross will go directly to the child victim identified.
After being indicted in April 2025, a victim came forward. At 15-years-old, the minor victim worked for the Gross family as a housecleaner and babysitter. She reported meeting him through church. Court records show that Gross began grooming her in January 2016, messaging her late at night, and that he contacted her through different aliases on Snapchat. After reviewing Gross’s devices, agents discovered Gross created 22 alias Snapchat accounts from January 2016 through January 2019. During Gross’s plea, he admitted to knowingly engaging in Snapchat conversations with the 15-year-old and to persuading the minor victim to send him sexually explicit photos.
Released on bond, Gross was taken into custody after pleading guilty in October. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The $10,000 fine that Gross was ordered to pay goes to the Crime Victims Fund to help provide resources to victims of federal crimes.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and 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.
Former Google Engineer Found Guilty of Economic Espionage and Theft of Confidential AI TechnologyRead the Press Release
Yesterday, a federal jury in San Francisco convicted former Google software engineer Linwei Ding, also known as Leon Ding, 38, on seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets for stealing thousands of pages of confidential information containing Google’s trade secrets related to artificial intelligence technology for the benefit of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The jury’s verdict follows an 11-day trial before U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria for the Northern District of California.
“This conviction exposes a calculated breach of trust involving some of the most advanced AI technology in the world at a critical moment in AI development,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Ding abused his privileged access to steal AI trade secrets while pursuing PRC government-aligned ventures. His duplicity put U.S. technological leadership and competitiveness at risk. I commend the trial team and investigators whose exceptional work resulted in this conviction.”
“In today’s high-stakes race to dominate the field of artificial intelligence, Linwei Ding betrayed both the U.S. and his employer by stealing trade secrets about Google’s AI technology on behalf of China’s government,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI's Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Not only does this case mark the first-ever conviction on AI-related economic espionage charges, but it also demonstrates the FBI’s unwavering dedication to protecting American businesses from the increasingly severe threat China poses to our economic and national security. We remain committed to working closely with our partners across the private sector to protect our nation’s innovation, safeguard our trade secrets, and hold our foreign adversaries accountable.”
“Silicon Valley is at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation, pioneering transformative work that drives economic growth and strengthens our national security. The jury delivered a clear message today that the theft of this valuable technology will not go unpunished. We will vigorously protect American intellectual capital from foreign interests that seek to gain an unfair competitive advantage while putting our national security at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California.
“This conviction reinforces the FBI’s steadfast commitment to protecting American innovation and national security. The theft and misuse of advanced artificial intelligence technology for the benefit of the People’s Republic of China threatens our technological edge and economic competitiveness,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani for the San Francisco Field Office. “The FBI San Francisco division serves Silicon Valley and the companies who lead the world in innovation, and we are committed to safeguarding their work. This case demonstrates the strength of collaboration between the FBI and the private sector, including leading companies like Google, whose partnership is critical to protecting sensitive U.S. technology. Today’s verdict affirms that federal law will be enforced to protect our nation’s most valuable technologies and hold those who steal them accountable.”
Ding was originally indicted in March 2024. A superseding indictment returned in February 2025 described seven categories of trade secrets stolen by Ding and charged Ding with seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets.
According to the evidence presented at trial, between approximately May 2022 and April 2023, while a Google employee, Ding stole more than two thousand pages of confidential information containing Google’s AI trade secrets from Google’s network and uploaded them to his personal Google Cloud account. Ding also secretly affiliated himself with two PRC-based technology companies while he was employed by Google: around June 2022, Ding was in discussions to be the Chief Technology Officer for an early-stage technology company based in the PRC; by early 2023, Ding was in the process of founding his own technology company in the PRC focused on AI and machine learning and was acting as the company’s CEO. In multiple statements to potential investors, Ding claimed that he could build an AI supercomputer by copying and modifying Google’s technology. In December 2023, less than two weeks before he resigned from Google, Ding downloaded the stolen Google trade secrets to his own personal computer.
The jury found that Ding stole trade secrets relating to the hardware infrastructure and software platforms that allow Google’s supercomputing data center to train and serve large AI models. The trade secrets contained detailed information about the architecture and functionality of Google’s custom Tensor Processing Unit chips and systems and Google’s Graphics Processing Unit systems, the software that allows the chips to communicate and execute tasks, and the software that orchestrates thousands of chips into a supercomputer capable of training and executing cutting-edge AI workloads. The trade secrets also pertained to Google’s custom-designed SmartNIC, a type of network interface card used to facilitate high speed communication within Google’s AI supercomputers and cloud networking products.
In presentations to investors, Ding called out the PRC’s national policies prioritizing AI development and innovation in the PRC, and in late 2023 Ding applied for a government sponsored “talent plan” in Shanghai, PRC. The jury heard evidence pertaining to the PRC government’s establishment of talent plans to encourage individuals to come to China to contribute to the PRC’s economic and technological growth. Ding’s application for this talent plan stated that he planned to “help China to have computing power infrastructure capabilities that are on par with the international level.” The evidence at trial also showed that Ding intended to benefit two entities controlled by the government of China by assisting with the development of an AI supercomputer and collaborating on the research and development of custom machine learning chips.
Ding is next scheduled to appear at a status conference on Feb. 3, 2026. Ding faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count of theft of trade secrets in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1832 and 15 years in prison for each count of economic espionage in violation of 18 U.S.C § 1831. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the Court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Northern District of California Casey Boome, Molly K. Priedeman, and Roland Chang are prosecuting this case, with assistance from Veronica Hernandez and Trial Attorney Yifei Zheng from the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, National Security Division. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Florissant Man Sentenced to 170 Months on Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced a man caught with child sexual abuse material, including material that he had produced or solicited, to 170 months in prison.
Patrick Neistat, 24, of Florissant, Missouri, pleaded guilty in October to one count of receipt of child pornography. He admitted possessing images and videos containing child sexual abuse material on multiple cellular phones.
The investigation began on Sept. 8, 2022, when St. Louis County Police Department detectives received an exigent Cyber Tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) indicating that the user of a Skout social media account had uploaded multiple images depicting the sexual abuse of a minor. Detectives traced the account to Neistat’s home. Neistat initially denied having a cellular phone. Detectives learned that he did, and seized the phone.
Neistat had 123 images and 4 videos of child pornography on one phone, as well as 187 images and 18 videos of “age difficult” pornography and 634 CGI/animated images depicting children in sexual acts, his plea agreement says. He also had videos of himself touching a 5-year-old. On a second phone, investigators found 12 images containing CSAM as well as sexually explicit conversations and explicit photos that Neistat had received from a 12-year-old girl and an apparent 14-year-old girl.The FBI and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Florida Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Conspiring to Launder Money and Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for drug possession and distribution charges.
Wuesley Pelaez Vela, 34, of Tallahassee, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to nine years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In May 2025, Pelaez Vela pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2022 along with five alleged co-conspirators.
In 2019, an investigation began into a Colombia-based money laundering organization that was laundering drug proceeds on behalf of multiple drug trafficking organizations. Between 2020 and 2022, Pelaez Vela coordinated with an undercover agent to conduct multiple pick-ups of drug proceeds to be paid out to drug suppliers in Mexico for the purpose of laundering the cash. In total, Pelaez Vela organized 13 money pickups totaling $1,127,573 in drug proceeds.
Additionally, in October 2021, Pelaez Vela instructed an undercover agent to purchase fentanyl, provided the undercover agent with photos of the pills and a code phrase to order the pills containing fentanyl. Two packages sent as part of this transaction, which contained over 600 grams of fentanyl, were subsequently seized.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Florida Man Sentenced for Misrepresenting Indian Produced GoodsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jose Farinango Muenala, 47, Casselberry, Florida, pleaded guilty on January 28, 2026, to misrepresenting Indian produced goods. Following the guilty plea, Farinango Muenala was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 3 years of probation and a $25,000 fine.
In January 2023, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board received complaints that a man with the business name Southwest Expressions was going to art shows and misrepresenting that the jewelry he was selling was handmade by Pueblo Indians. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service subsequently launched an investigation and identified the man as Farinango Muenala.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that since 2012, Farinango Muenala had attended dozens of art shows as a vendor, including the 2023 Loon Day Festival in Mercer, Wisconsin. At these shows, Farinango Muenala misrepresented himself as a Pueblo or a Native American from New Mexico. He also misrepresented that the jewelry he sold was handmade by himself or other Pueblo Indians, when in fact, the jewelry was mass produced and imported from the Philippines. Between 2012 and 2023, Farinango Muenala’s business Southwest Expressions made 40,905 individual sales, and grossed over $2,686,000.
At sentencing, Judge Conley emphasized that for years, Farinango Muenala profited by regularly and intentionally misrepresenting the jewelry that he sold. Judge Conley also acknowledged the significance of the statute Farinango Muenala violated, noting it was meant to protect Native Americans.
“The Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Department of the Interior, administers and enforces the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA), a truth in marketing law,” said the Board’s Director Meridith Stanton. “The IACA is intended to rid the Indian arts and crafts marketplace of counterfeits to protect the economic livelihoods and cultural heritage of Indian artists, craftspeople, and their Tribes, as well as the buying public. Authentic Indian art and craftwork is an important tool for passing down cultural traditions, traditional knowledge, and artistic skills from one generation to the next. The defendant in this case falsely claimed to be a third-generation jewelry maker from the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico while he sold imported Philippines jewelry as authentic Indian made across several states. These sales of fake Indian art tear at the very fabric of Indian culture and undercut the marketability of the creative work of federally recognized Tribes.”
U.S. Attorney Elgersma and Director Stanton praised the collaboration between IACA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and thanked all those who helped bring Farinango Muenala’s conduct to light. Both stressed that his prosecution sends a strong message that violators of the IACA will be held accountable.
The charges against Farinango Muenala were the result of an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior Indian Arts and Crafts Board. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus prosecuted this case.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Anti-Kickback StatuteRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute.
Deane Gilmore, 35, of Brandon, Fla., pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks before U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy, who scheduled sentencing for May 12, 2026. Gilmore was charged in December 2025.From March 2020 through approximately April 2022, Gilmore owned and managed two durable medical equipment companies, Jupiter Medical Associates Inc. and Granite Medical Associates Inc. Gilmore, through these companies, illegally paid telemarketers or call centers who obtained medical information from Medicare beneficiaries to prepare orders for durable medical equipment—such as back, knee, wrist, or ankle braces. The documentation made it appear that medical practitioners were legitimately prescribing the DME to these beneficiaries, when, in fact, these orders were frequently medically unnecessary and based on false documentation. By paying these telemarketers on a per-order basis, Gilmore violated the Anti-Kickback Statute.
Over the course of his scheme, Gilmore submitted or caused to be submitted a total of approximately $6.5 million in kickback-tainted claims to Medicare. Medicare ultimately paid out approximately $2.3 million for these kickback-tainted claims.
The charge of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. 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; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Looney of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case.
Five Foreign Nationals Sentenced in January for Illegally Reentering the United States After DeportationRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that five foreign nationals convicted separately of illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations were sentenced this month.
Roberto Garcia-Antonio, aka Angel Rondon and Roberto Sandoval-Antonio, 49, a Dominican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Timothy J. Savage to 18 months in prison for illegal reentry. Upon completing his prison sentence, he will be removed from the United States once again.
Garcia was previously removed from the country five times, and this is his fifth illegal reentry conviction. He was previously prosecuted twice in this District (May 2011 and March 2015) and twice in the Southern District of Texas (January 2013 and November 2016).
In January 2025, law enforcement encountered Garcia while executing a state search warrant at a home in Philadelphia and he was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Garcia was charged by indictment with illegal reentry last May and pleaded guilty in October.
Ricardo Henriquez Carmona, aka Dario Henriquez, 55, a Dominican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge to 14 months in prison and one year of supervised release for illegal reentry. Upon completing his prison sentence, he will be removed from the United States again.
Henriquez Carmona had previously been removed from the U.S. in the summer of 1997, after pleading guilty to a narcotics offense in the Superior Court of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The defendant subsequently reentered the U.S. illegally and had a string of encounters with law enforcement, accruing convictions, under aliases, for selling drugs, stealing property, resisting arrest, trespassing, and committing aggravated assault.
Henriquez Carmona was arrested on a criminal complaint in June of last year, after ICE learned that he’d again entered the country illegally. He was charged by indictment with illegal reentry in July and pleaded guilty in October.
Magdaleno Ochoa-Avalos, 42, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mia Roberts Perez to 12 months and one day in prison for illegal reentry. Upon completing his prison sentence, he will be removed from the United States for the sixth time.
Ochoa-Avalos had previously been removed from the U.S. in May 2008, after pleading guilty in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas to homicide by vehicle and serving his resulting prison sentence. He was removed three times in August 2008, after encounters with the U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona, and again in August 2020, following his illegal reentry conviction in the District of South Carolina.
In early 2025, ICE received information that Ochoa-Avalos was again in the U.S. illegally. After conducting surveillance to ascertain the defendant’s identity and location, he was arrested in June on a criminal complaint, charged by indictment with illegal reentry in July, and pleaded guilty in September.
Luis Urrutia-Noyola, 33, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gerald A. McHugh to time served, approximately four months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again.
Urrutia-Noyola had previously been removed from the U.S. in April 2018 after an encounter with the U.S. Border Patrol in California.
In March of last year, ICE became aware that the defendant had been arrested by the Oxford (Pa.) Police Department for striking and threatening his domestic partner, and Urrutia-Noyola was then convicted and sentenced in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas. After ICE arrested him in August on a criminal complaint, he was charged by indictment with illegal reentry in September and pleaded guilty in October.
Diego Jacome-Esquibel, 51, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer to time served, approximately three and a half months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again.
Jacome-Esquibel had previously been removed from the U.S. in March 2012 and April 2012, after encounters with the Border Patrol in Texas and Arizona.
Last year, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) learned that the defendant had once again illegally reentered the country. Jacome-Esquibel was arrested on a criminal complaint in October, charged by indictment with illegal reentry in November, and pleaded guilty this month.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The cases were investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and HSI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kwambina Coker, Eileen Castilla Geiger, S. Chandler Harris, Justin Ashenfelter, and Jessica Rice.
Final Charged Defendant in GirlsDoPorn Sex Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced; Adult Film Actor Sentenced to Four Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO –Douglas Wiederhold, a male performer in the massive GirlsDoPorn sex-trafficking conspiracy led by Michael Pratt, was sentenced in federal court today to four years in prison. Wiederhold was paid to perform in 71 adult sex videos that exploited victims.
Wiederhold is the last of seven charged defendants to be sentenced for their roles in the multimillion-dollar criminal empire that lured young women into making sex videos through lies, coercion, and manipulation, and then broadcasting their abuse to millions online.
“Each defendant’s actions unleashed profound harm on hundreds of victims, and today the final conspirator was held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “These strong sentences reflect the bravery of the victims in coming forward and speaking of their abuse. Without them, justice would have been impossible. The Department of Justice thanks these remarkable women.”
“Wiederhold’s sentencing today is another victory for the hundreds of victims subjected by force, fraud, or coercion to engage in commercial sex acts so Michael Pratt and his co-conspirators could make millions off their pain,” said TJ Holland, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “FBI San Diego and our law enforcement partners relentlessly investigated this case and everyone who played a part in the conspiracy to ensure justice was appropriately served. Each sentence handed down in the GirlsDoPorn case is a direct result of victim cooperation and investigative persistence.”
Pratt was the owner and operator of the pornography website girlsdoporn.com. Girlsdoporn.com featured sex videos of young adult women appearing in their first pornographic video. Girlsdoporn.com charged visitors a subscription fee to access the website’s content. Wiederhold was part of the conspiracy from the start, starting in at least January 2011 through at least March 2012. The young adult women were paid by Pratt to perform sex acts with Wiederhold. Pratt was the camera operator; Pratt also directed the video shoots. Wiederhold was a salaried employee who sometimes traveled with Pratt to pick the young women up at the airport and drive them to the location of the video shoots.
Wiederhold knew Pratt recruited women from all over the United States to appear in these videos. If the women lived far from San Diego, Pratt would book travel and pay for these women to fly to San Diego for their video shoot. Pratt would also pay for the hotels or short-term rentals in San Diego where the video shoots would occur.
At Pratt’s direction, Wiederhold lied to the women, assuring them that the videos would not be posted on the internet. Pratt instructed Wiederhold to tell the women that the videos were only going onto a DVD to a collector in a foreign country or posted to VHS for a small number of viewers in Australia. Wiederhold knew that Pratt made his money by posting the videos onto girlsdoporn.com, where the videos were publicly available on the internet to anyone willing to pay a fee. Wiederhold also knew that Pratt was posting snippets of the videos to Pornhub and other porn websites to drive traffic to girlsdoporn.com.
Even after learning that the sex videos were being posted on the internet, Wiederhold falsely assured at least two women that the videos would not be posted publicly. Further, Wiederhold stood by while Pratt provided false assurances to the women that their videos would not be posted on the internet. Wiederhold would act in the pornographic videos with the women, after the false assurances were made. Women told the agents that they trusted Wiederhold, because he treated them as a friend and helped them feel comfortable.
At today’s hearing, six of the defendant’s victims urged the court to hand down the maximum sentence. One woman explained that “by putting me online and exposing me to the world without my consent, [Wiederhold] didn’t just humiliate me, he branded me …. I spent years unable to look my own family in the eyes.”
Another woman told the court, “The person I was before this happened no longer exists. I am a shell of who I used to be.”
A third addressed the defendant directly, “throughout my experience with you, deception was constant. You lied about who you were, even using a false name to conceal your identity. You misrepresented your intentions and the reality of what I was being drawn into. Nothing about my interactions with you was honest. Every part of it was built on deception … After you got what you wanted from me, you left me alone, scared, humiliated, and overwhelmed by what had just happened.”
U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino told the defendant that even though he left the conspiracy over 10 years ago, “what happened in this case had long lasting harm. Some of the damage [to the women] will be lifelong.”
The defendant was ordered to self-surrender on March 27, 2026, at noon. Judge Sammartino set a restitution hearing for March 6, 2026, at 2 p.m.
The GirlsDoPorn investigation and prosecution spanned years, involving FBI agents, FBI analysts, the U.S. Marshal Service, victim advocates, and prosecutors who worked tirelessly to secure justice for the victims. Multiple co-conspirators have been convicted in connection with the scheme.
DEFENDANT Case Number 23cr1202-JLS
Douglas Wiederhold Age: 42 Sentenced to four years on January 30, 2026
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy (Sex Trafficking)– Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years and $250,000 fine
DEFENDANTS Case Number 19cr4488-JLS
Michael Pratt Age: 42 Sentenced to 27 years on September 8, 2025
Matthew Wolfe Age: 43 Sentenced to 14 years on March 20, 2024
Ruben Andre Garcia Age: 36 Sentenced to 20 years on June 4, 2021
Theodore Gyi Age: 47 Sentenced to four years on November 9, 2022
Valorie Moser Age: 43 Sentenced to two years on December 12, 2025
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Sex Trafficking Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1594
Maximum penalty: Life in prison and $250,000 fine
Sex Trafficking – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1591
Mandatory Minimum: Fifteen years in prison
Maximum penalty: Life in prison and $250,000 fine
Conspiracy (Sex Trafficking) – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years and $250,000 fine
DEFENDANT Case Number 23cr0111-JLS
Alexander Foster Sentenced to one year on April 28, 2023
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
Conspiracy (Stalking) – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
FBI – Southern District of California
San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force
U.S. Marshals Service
Fairfield Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Attempted Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Trevor Clayton Morgan, 34, of Fairfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 25 years of supervised release, for sexual exploitation of a minor and attempted distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in April 2023, Morgan persuaded a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a video recording. In November 2023, Morgan attempted to distribute the video to another person on the Telegram app. Morgan also knowingly possessed hundreds of files containing CSAM. Morgan pleaded guilty on July 18, 2025.
The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force / Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Delaney 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.
Federal Charges Filed Against Registered Sex Offender for Attempting to Entice a Minor for Sex in PensacolaRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – David A. Girard, 70, of Robertsdale, Alabama, has been indicted in federal court on charges of Attempted Enticement of a Minor and Traveling in Interstate Commerce to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
The indictment also charges enhanced penalty provisions because Girard is a registered sexual offender based upon prior sex offense convictions in 2009. If convicted, Girard faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’, and up to life, imprisonment.
Girard is scheduled for trial before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida, on March 2, 2026.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, US Customs and Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Highway Patrol, and the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Christopher C. Patterson.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
El Salvadorian Citizen Sentenced for Resisting Federal Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal judge sentenced an El Salvadorian citizen after he pled guilty to resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with federal law enforcement officers.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Ajmel A. Quereshi sentenced Cristian Rivas-Bonilla, 27, to time served, amounting to approximately 51 days Rivas-Bonilla has been detained pending court proceedings, for an incident stemming from a final order of removal from an immigration judge.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea and sentencing to the criminal offense with Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland.
On November 4, 2025, HSI Baltimore Agents traveled to a Camp Springs, Maryland, address to search for Rivas-Bonilla. After observing Rivas-Bonilla getting into a car at a residence, agents activated the emergency lights on their unmarked vehicles and attempted to conduct a vehicle stop to arrest Rivas-Bonilla. Two agents’ vehicles were behind Rivas-Bonilla and the other agent’s vehicle directly blocked his path of travel. Agents attempted to confirm Rivas-Bonilla’s identity before arresting him to transport him to the Baltimore Field Office for processing.
Agents exited their vehicles and commanded Rivas-Bonilla to stop his car. The agents were clearly identifiable as law-enforcement officers as they wore tactical vests with police decals. Rivas-Bonilla reversed his vehicle and drove onto the sidewalk as he attempted to evade HSI agents. Agents then activated their emergency sirens and pursued him.
Rivas-Bonilla continued to disregard agents’ emergency lights and sirens, causing a chase that reached speeds of approximately 70 miles per hour. One agent drove their vehicle directly in front of him, another agent drove their vehicle on the side of him, and the other agent drove their vehicle directly behind him in attempt to bring Rivas-Bonilla’s vehicle to a stop.
But Rivas-Bonillaquickly swerved his vehicle to the right to avoid the agents’ attempt to slow him down. Rivas-Bonilla continued driving at high speeds as agents continued their efforts to bring his vehicle to a stop. Eventually, Rivas-Bonilla’s vehicle and two of the agents’ vehicles collided, allowing law enforcement to capture and arrest him.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI for its work in this investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Hanlon and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who prosecuted this case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Eight Defendants Sentenced for $1 Million Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eight defendants have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
William Lee Bailey, 38, Eric S. Poston, 48, Brandon M. Beadel, 40, Alyssa Enlow, 31, and Donald R. Potts, 65, all of Independence, Mo., Dennis L. Morris, 51 of Raymore, Mo.; and Savannah Smith, 35, and Travis Bailey, 35, both of Blue Springs, Mo., have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark.
Each defendant previously admitted to taking part in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from on or about Aug. 1, 2019, to March 26, 2021. According to court documents, the conspiracy involved the distribution of roughly 105 kilograms of methamphetamine worth over $1,000,000. A search warrant executed at a residence in Independence, Mo., used by the conspiracy revealed a large amount of methamphetamine as well as a surveillance video system that had been recording portions of the residence’s interior. A search warrant executed for the video system and its videos revealed the inner workings of the conspiracy—the conspirators involved, packaging and weighing methamphetamine, conducting drug deals, counting cash, and possessing firearms to further this conspiracy.
As to each defendant, the Court imposed the below-listed sentences:
- William Lee Bailey, who was the leader and organizer of the conspiracy, was sentenced to a 168-month term of imprisonment for the drug conspiracy count, and an additional 60 months for his plea to an additional count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense for a total of 228 months, and ordered to serve four years of supervised release.
- Poston was sentenced to a 120-month term of imprisonment for the drug conspiracy count, and an additional 60 months for his plea to an additional count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense for a total of 180 months, and ordered to serve four years of supervised release.
- Beadel was sentenced to a 120-month term of imprisonment for the drug conspiracy count and ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
- Travis Bailey was sentenced to a 96-month term of imprisonment for the drug conspiracy count and ordered to serve four years of supervised release.
- Morris was sentenced to a 78-month term of imprisonment for the drug conspiracy count and ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
- Potts was sentenced to a 72-month term of imprisonment for the drug conspiracy count and ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
- Smith and Enlow were both sentenced to terms of probation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Foley. It was investigated by the Independence, Missouri Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Eau Claire Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Nathan Hendrickson, 37, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced on January 27, 2026, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 10 years in prison for possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. Hendrickson pleaded guilty to this charge on October 30, 2025.
In September 2024 and January 2025, officers with the West Central Drug Task Force received information that Hendrickson was selling pounds of methamphetamine. Officers conducted controlled buys of methamphetamine from Hendrickson on January 16, January 24, and February 12. When officers searched Hendrickson’s apartment on February 12, they found approximately 678 grams of methamphetamine, a scale, $2,987 cash, and drug paraphernalia.
At sentencing, Judge Conley expressed concern that Hendrickson’s “criminal conduct has been escalating.” In deciding to impose a 10-year sentence, Judge Conley weighed the fact that Hendrickson had previously served only short state sentences against his now “substantial methamphetamine distribution.”
The charge against Hendrickson was the result of an investigation conducted by the Chippewa County, Dunn County, Eau Claire County, and Buffalo County Sheriffs’ Departments, the Eau Claire Police Department, the West Central Drug Task Force, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Double-dealing duo sentenced for mortgage and investment fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two former financial services specialists were sentenced for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud affecting financial institutions relating to their unlawful use of client information to obtain loans.
According to court documents, Roberta Leigh Dawson, aka Bird, 63, formerly of Alexandria and current resident of Norlina, North Carolina, was a licensed loan officer with a local mortgage brokerage, and Edward Fitzgerald, 59, of Fairfax, purported to be a financial advisor with an expertise in real estate transactions and investments. Fitzgerald’s clients provided him with access to their money, financial information, and means of identification.
Fitzgerald passed his clients’ information to Dawson to obtain fraudulent real estate loans. In some instances, Fitzgerald and Dawson sold their victims’ homes without their knowledge, including to straw buyers. They would then strip out the equity and use it to pay their own expenses, among other things. They also used their victims’ personal information without their knowledge to obtain loans in their names and submitted to financial institutions loan applications that were replete with misstatements.
Dawson withdrew hundreds of thousands of dollars of victim cash from accounts she controlled after fraudulently diverting the funds into those accounts. Dawson routinely paid Fitzgerald’s credit card, which he used for extravagant travel, luxury items, and daily expenses, with more than $1 million in funds obtained from the fraud scheme.
Dawson pled guilty on Sept. 24, 2025, and was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison. Fitzgerald pled guilty on Sept. 16, 2025, and was sentenced on Jan. 20 to five years in prison.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell L. Carlberg and Annie Zanobini and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Hood for the Eastern District of Virginia and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Pedersen, from Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, prosecuted the case.
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. 1:25-cr-145.
District of Arizona Charges 200 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Jan. 24 through Jan. 30, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 200 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 109 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 72 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 14 cases against 18 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border vigilance, and federal prosecutors also charged one defendant for assaulting a Border Patrol agent.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), 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).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Gustavo Duarte-Corona. Duarte-Corona was charged by complaint with Re-entry of Removed Alien, Jan. 29, 2026. The defendant was previously removed from the United States on March 28, 1997, after being convicted of Delivery of a Controlled Substance I, a felony, in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon, Multnomah County. In that case, Duarte-Corona was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment followed by 36 months of supervised release. 26-03031MJ, Phoenix.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-013_January 30 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
District Man Sentenced to 26 Years for the 2020 Daytime Murder in the Benco Shopping Center in SoutheastRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Antoine Turner, 32, of Washington, DC, was sentenced today to 312 months (26 years) in prison for the November 29, 2020, murder of Demeitri Anderson in the BENCO Shopping Plaza in Washington DC, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Turner pleaded guilty to second degree murder on September 5, 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. His guilty plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for an agreed-upon 240–312-month prison sentence, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The Honorable Michael Ryan accepted the plea agreement and sentenced the defendant to 312 months.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 12:30 p.m., on November 29, 2020, the defendant, Antoine Turner, drove a rented red Nissan Versa to the 4500 block of B Street SE, Washington, DC, where he parked the car. The defendant then walked around the block from B Street SE to 46th Street SE, then took a left on East Capitol Street SE, and entered the rear alley behind the BENCO Shopping Plaza located at 4528 Benning Rd SE. He then walked to the front of Ken’s Beauty Supply located in the BENCO Shopping Plaza where at approximately 12:38 p.m., the defendant approached the victim, Demeitri Anderson, from behind and shot him repeatedly in the back of the head and body, killing him.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Kelly Blakeney and Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Coronado, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
2020CF1009131
District Man Pleads Guilty to Domestic Violence Assault and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Adam Muhammad, 40, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty yesterday for assaulting his ex-romantic partner with a knife and unlawfully possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Muhammad pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon (knife) and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction), in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on January 29, 2026. Sentencing is scheduled for April 10, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence, on September 16, 2025, Muhammad went to the home of the victim, his ex-romantic partner, on 7th Street Northwest. The two got into a verbal argument and eventually the defendant grabbed the victim. Fearing for her life, the victim grabbed a kitchen knife. When Muhammad attempted to take the knife from the victim, she slipped and fell on the floor. The defendant secured the knife and got on top of the victim, while she was laying the floor, pinning her in a fetal position and rendering her unable to move. He then dug a finger into her right collar bone with one hand while holding the knife blade to the victim’s neck with the other hand and stated words to the effect of “b***h, I’ll kill you, tell your baby dad you want to die.”
In a separate incident only a week later, the defendant was found at an abandoned apartment complex with a loaded pistol on his person. Due to a prior felony conviction, the defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms of any sort. When officers attempted to detain Muhammad, they felt a rigid metallic object protruding from the defendant’s rear. Officers performed a protective pat down which revealed a firearm. The recovered firearm was a black and silver Smith and Wesson 915 9mm handgun and had eight rounds in a 10-round capacity magazine.
Muhammad was arrested on September 23, 2025, and has been in custody ever since.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The assault case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elias Feldman and the unlawful possession case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Franks.
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District Court Judges Appoint Zachary Keller as U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE– On January 27, 2026, Zachary A. Keller was re-sworn as the United States Attorney of the Western District of Louisiana (WDLA) by Chief Judge Terry A. Doughty after the district court judges for WDLA voted for him to continue in the United States Attorney role that he assumed in September 2025.
“Since beginning my service in September, I’ve woken up every morning with the mindset that serving Louisiana as United States Attorney is the most important and impactful public service I’ll ever perform,” said U.S. Attorney Keller. “I thank the WDLA district court judges for honoring me with the ability to continue serving my home community and helping to make it safe as U.S. Attorney.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Mr. Keller as interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana on September 29, 2025. Pursuant to the Vacancy Reform Act, the Attorney General may appoint a U.S. Attorney to serve on an interim basis for up to 120 days. After the allotted 120 days, the district court appoints a U.S. Attorney to serve until the confirmation of a presidentially appointed successor. As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Keller oversees the investigation and litigation of all criminal and civil cases brought on behalf of the United States in the Western District of Louisiana. The Western District encompasses 42 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes and approximately two-thirds of the state’s landmass.
A West Monroe native, Mr. Keller graduated from George Welch Elementary, West Monroe Middle School, and West Monroe High School before attending Louisiana State University and Yale Law School. After law school, Mr. Keller began his career at Jones Day’s Dallas office before beginning his work in public service in 2016. Prior to becoming U.S. Attorney, Mr. Keller served as a Deputy Chief and Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator in the Major Crimes section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, where he also served in the Civil, Appellate, and Criminal divisions and prosecuted crimes that ranged from manslaughter and carjacking to money laundering and child exploitation.
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CONTACT:
Public Affairs
Western District of Louisiana
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Department of Justice Publishes 3.5 Million Responsive Pages in Compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency ActRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today published over 3 million additional pages responsive to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law by President Trump on November 19, 2025.
More than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images are included in today’s additional publication. Combined with prior releases, this makes the total production nearly 3.5 million pages released in compliance with the Act.
These files were collected from five primary sources including the Florida and New York cases against Epstein, the New York case against Maxwell, the New York cases investigating Epstein’s death, the Florida case investigating a former butler of Epstein, Multiple FBI investigations, and the Office of Inspector General investigation into Epstein’s death.
The Department erred on the side of over-collecting materials, and any materials not produced fall within one of the following categories:
- Duplicate documents between SDNY and SDFL investigations.
- Withheld under privilege - deliberative process privilege, attorney client privilege.
- Withheld based upon exceptions under the act (depictions of violence);
- Items that are not part of the case file for Epstein or Maxwell and were completely unrelated to these cases.
More than 500 attorneys and reviewers from the Department contributed to this effort. In addition, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (USAO-SDNY) employed an additional review protocol to ensure compliance with a Court order requiring United States Attorney Jay Clayton to certify that no victim identifying information would be produced unredacted as part of the public production.
Through the process, the Department provided clear instructions to reviewers that the redactions were to be limited to the protection of victims and their families. Some pornographic images, whether commercial or not, were redacted, given the Department treated all women in those images as victims. Notable individuals and politicians were not redacted in the release of any files.
This production may include fake or falsely submitted images, documents or videos, as everything that was sent to the FBI by the public was included in the production that is responsive to the Act. Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.
To access the full letter the Justice Department sent to Congress today, visit:
https://www.justice.gov/letter-to-congress.pdf
To access all files produced, visit: https://www.justice.gov/epstein
D.C. Man Sentenced to 41 Years in Prison for Brutal Murder and Assault in Capitol HillRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Julius Worthy, 42, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today, stemming from the homicide of Orlando Galloway and the attack of Shaquia Lewis on April 2, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Worthy was found guilty on November 21, 2025, by a Superior Court jury for second-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and related offenses. The Honorable Jason Park ordered him to serve the prison term of 41 years and five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on April 2, 2023, Worthy lived with Orlando Galloway in a one-bedroom apartment in the Capitol Hill area. The evening of the homicide, Worthy returned home and began arguing with Galloway over $20. As Galloway pleaded with Worthy that he would pay him the money, Worthy pulled out a firearm and shot eight times into the apartment, six of which struck Galloway. Worthy then grabbed a kitchen knife from the dishrack and stabbed Galloway five times in the neck. Worthy beat Galloway in the face repeatedly with the firearm, causing a piece of the frame to break off. Worthy then turned to Lewis and stabbed her multiple times while strangling her, causing her to lose consciousness.
Worthy remained in the apartment for over an hour with Galloway’s body and Lewis, calling multiple people on his phone to ask for help “cleaning up this mess,” adding that he was “killing two people.” When Lewis tried to escape through the front door, Worthy attacked her again, stabbing her with a pair of scissors. A neighbor across the street heard Lewis screaming, saw Worthy attacking Lewis, and called 911. Officers arrived shortly thereafter, and Worthy fled out the back door. During the investigation, law enforcement discovered that Worthy texted multiple individuals in the hours after the homicide, including stating, “I killed two people.”
Law enforcement arrested Worthy the following day, April 3, 2023, and he remained in custody since.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
The Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Lawrence and Molly Smith prosecuted the case.
2023CF1002010
Chicago Couple Among Nine Individuals Charged in Federal Drug InvestigationRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal drug investigation has resulted in criminal charges against nine individuals for allegedly trafficking cocaine in the Chicago area.
The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Chicago Police Department, utilized covert surveillance operations, undercover narcotics purchases, and wiretapped communications to shut down a drug trafficking organization allegedly led by a Chicago couple—JOEL ANDRADE and MARIA BRENDA MORA-HERNANDEZ. A criminal complaint filed this week in federal court in Chicago accuses Joel Andrade and Mora-Hernandez of conspiring to possess at least five kilograms of cocaine with the intent to distribute. The pair also allegedly possessed two semiautomatic handguns in furtherance of their drug trafficking crimes. The seven other defendants allegedly distributed cocaine last year in Chicago or the suburbs of Villa Park, Ill., Addison, Ill., and Rosemont, Ill.
Law enforcement on Thursday arrested seven of the defendants and executed court-authorized searches of multiple locations in the city and suburbs. Those defendants have begun making their initial appearances in federal court in Chicago. The two other defendants are in state custody in Cook County and will make their initial federal court appearances at a later time.
The charges and arrests were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, and Nicholas J. Roti, Executive Director of the Chicago High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Substantial assistance was provided by the Illinois National Guard’s Counter-Drug Task Force, Carpentersville, Ill. Police Department, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Aurora, Ill. Police Department, Naperville, Ill. Police Department, Lake County, Ill. Sheriff’s Office’s Special Investigations Group, and Berkeley, Ill. Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Chang and Megan Donohue.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not allow our communities to be exploited by drug traffickers peddling poison,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “We are proud to partner with FBI, CPD, HIDTA, and our many other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to hold traffickers accountable and keep dangerous drugs and illegal guns off our streets.”
“The FBI will continue to aggressively combat criminal organizations that degrade our communities by engaging in the trafficking of narcotics,” said FBI SAC DePodesta. “The success of this operation underscores the valuable partnerships the FBI shares with the Chicago Police Department and all members of our Safe Streets Task Force who work together to ensure the safety of our communities.”
The complaint charges Joel Andrade, 34, of Chicago, and Mora-Hernandez, 32, of Chicago, with drug conspiracy, drug distribution, and firearm offenses. The other defendants charged with federal drug offenses are RICHARD RUBIO, 33, of Chicago Ridge, Ill., ALEXIS ANDRADE, 30, of Chicago, JEREMY RUSH, 34, of Downers Grove, Ill., DEVONTE JONES, 30, of Chicago, JOSE NAVARRETE, 23, of Chicago, JEREMIE REYES-GONZALEZ, 21, of Cicero, Ill., and ALEXIS GUTIERREZ, 43, of Riverside, Ill. Rubio and Alexis Andrade are also charged with possessing handguns in furtherance of their drug trafficking crimes.
The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
andrade_et_al_complaint.pdfCherokee County Resident Sentenced for Sexual Abuse and Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jimmy Charles Wright, age 48, of Park Hill, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 137 months in prison for one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country, and to forty-eight months for two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country. The Court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
On July 24, 2025, Wright pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, beginning on February 27, 2024, and continuing until March 11, 2024, Wright knowingly engaged in sexual contact and sex acts with a minor child who had attained the age of 12 but was under the age of 16, and was at least four years younger than Wright.
The crimes occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Robert J. Shelby, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Wright 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 Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Canadian National Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting over 100 Children OnlineRead the Press Release
A Canadian national pleaded guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after admitting he sexually exploited over 100 children by creating an online persona and targeting them on social media.
Ramanan Pathmanathan, 40, of Toronto, Canada, pleaded guilty to the production of child pornography and to coercion and enticement of a minor. Pathmanathan was arrested on Dec. 3, 2025, after being temporarily surrendered to the United States, where he has remained incarcerated pending trial.
“Today’s guilty plea marks a critical step toward justice for over 100 targeted victims in the United States who this predator harmed with his diabolical actions,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “For years, while hiding in another country behind a fabricated online persona, he used manipulation, threats, and fear to coerce unsuspecting juveniles into producing and engaging in sexually explicit acts, robbing them of their innocence. We will hold accountable anyone who preys on our children, including those who do it from behind a computer screen to ensure that victims are protected and treated with the dignity they deserve.”
As part of this plea agreement, Pathmanathan admitted that for seven years, up until the day of his arrest in Canada, Pathmanathan sexually exploited over 100 minor females. Pathmanathan posed as an American teenage boy while communicating with the minor victims over popular social media platforms. The victims ranged in ages from 11 to 17-years-old and were located all over the United States. While video chatting with the minor victims, Pathmanathan persuaded and coerced the children to engage in sexually explicit acts and, without their knowledge or consent, Pathmanathan screen recorded the minors while engaged in such behavior — collecting the videos of his abuse. When the children refused to engage in further sexually explicit conduct, Pathmanathan then further exploited them by threatening to distribute the recorded videos to their families and friends.
On Oct. 27, 2022, Pathmanathan pleaded guilty to similar offenses in Canada, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison under Canadian law.
For these charges, Pathmanathan faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, with a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison, in addition to fines and a period of supervised release. He will also pay restitution consisting of no less than $3,000 per victim. Pathmanathan is scheduled to be sentenced on May 27.
The FBI Houston Field office investigated the case. The Justice Department is grateful to the Toronto Police Service for their invaluable assistance. The Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division secured the temporary surrender of Pathmanathan from Canada.
Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Shinskie for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Canadian Citizen Pleads Guilty in D.C. in Sextortion Scheme that Targeted 145 Children in the U.S.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ramanan Pathmanathan, 40, of Toronto, Canada, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with a prolific sextortion scheme that targeted more than 100 young children across the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
Pathmanathan pleaded before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg to one count of production of child pornography and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. Chief Judge Boasberg scheduled sentencing for May 27, 2026.
“Today my prosecutors took a particularly heinous child predator offline,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. “Pathmanathan targeted over a hundred children across our country, exposing them to pornography and then forcing them to commit horrendous acts for his own pleasure. Now, the only thing he will be exposed to is the inside of a prison cell. ”
“Today’s guilty plea marks a critical step toward justice for over 100 targeted victims in the United States who this predator harmed with his diabolical actions,” said Assistant Attorney General Duva. “For years, while hiding in another country behind a fabricated online persona, he used manipulation, threats, and fear to coerce unsuspecting juveniles into producing and engaging in sexually explicit acts, robbing them of their innocence. We will hold accountable anyone who preys on our children, including those who do it from behind a computer screen to ensure that victims are protected and treated with the dignity they deserve.”
According to court documents, Pathmanathan used multiple social media accounts – primarily Instagram and Facebook Messenger – to establish contact with at least 145 young girls and boys. Between at least March 2014 up until the day of his arrest on March 10, 2021, Pathmanathan posed as a teenage boy from New Jersey.
Pathmanathan demanded the minor victims engage in sexually explicit conduct while they participated in video chats with him. He directed them to expose their genitals, to penetrate their vaginas, and to engage in sexual acts with dogs, siblings, and other relatives. In almost all the video chats with his minor victims, Pathmanathan sent the children images of adults engaged in sexual acts to show them how to do what he was requesting.
Pathmanathan recorded his victims’ sexually explicit conduct and saved the files on his desktop computer. Some of the victims were as young as six-years-old. When the minor victims would decline to continue to engage in sexually explicit conduct or blocked Pathmanathan’s social media accounts, he threatened to send images to the children’s friends or family.
On Oct. 27, 2022, Pathmanathan pleaded guilty to similar offenses in Canada, and was later sentenced to 12 years in prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI Houston Field Office. The Department of Justice is grateful to the Toronto Police Service for their invaluable assistance. The Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division secured the temporary surrender of Pathmanathan from Canada.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Shinskie and Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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California Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Multi-State Identity Theft and Bank Fraud Ring ChargesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Muhammed Drammeh, 30, of Huntington Beach, California, was sentenced on Jan. 27, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Drammeh previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud.
The defendant and his co-conspirators engaged in a bank fraud and identity theft scheme that targeted individuals and banks in Arizona, Colorado, and California. The co-conspirators unlawfully and without authorization used victims’ personal identifying information and fraudulent identifications to open phony business accounts linked to the victims’ legitimate bank accounts. The two then transferred the victims’ funds from the victims’ legitimate bank accounts to the phony business bank accounts created and controlled by the co-conspirators. Once the victims’ funds were transferred to the phony business accounts, the co-conspirators withdrew the fraudulently obtained proceeds in cash at financial institutions and casinos.
Drammeh recruited other co-conspirators to impersonate victims using stolen identities and provided them fake identifications to further the scheme. Drammeh supervised at least one or more co-conspirators when they opened fraudulent accounts in victims’ names and withdrew the funds from banks and casinos.
The FBI, Tucson office, conducted the investigation in this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Unit, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-00927-AMM-MSA
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-012_DRAMMEH
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Baltimore County Softball Coach Indicted on Child Sex CrimesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a Perry Hall, Maryland, softball coach in connection with child sexual abuse charges.
Michael Joseph Pusateri, 59, of Nottingham, Maryland, is charged with producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), coercion and enticement, receipt of CSAM, and possession of CSAM.
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; Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger; and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).
According to the indictment, between April 2025 and August 2025, Pusateri sent sexually explicit text messages to a minor victim, and later engaged in a physical sexual relationship with the child. Pusateri allegedly asked the minor victim to meet him at local-business parking lots to engage in sex acts. He groomed the minor victim through text messages and coerced and enticed the child into sending him sexual images. Pusateri also sent the minor victim several pictures of his genitals.
When law enforcement seized his phone, BCPD uncovered over 400 phone calls between Pusateri and minor victim from March 21, 2025, through July 25.
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, Pusateri faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, with a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for CSAM production; 10 years to life for coercion and enticement; and up to 10 years for CSAM possession.
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, the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, and BCPD 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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Atlanta Return Preparers Agree to Permanent Injunction and to Pay Back $600,000 in Ill-Gotten GainsRead the Press Release
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia issued a permanent injunction yesterday against Atlanta tax return preparers Mabika Ilunga, Simon Ilunga Sr., and Simon Ilunga Jr., both individually and doing business as Metro Insurance and Tax Service (together, the Defendants). The injunction bars the Defendants from preparing tax returns, working for, or having any ownership stake in any tax preparation business, assisting others (including family members) prepare tax returns or set up business as a preparer, and transferring or assigning customer lists to any other person or entity. The Defendants agreed to the terms of the injunction and to pay back to the United States $600,000 in ill-gotten gains they received from their return preparation business.
According to the complaint, the Defendants prepared and filed tax returns that falsely understated their customers’ federal income tax liabilities by fabricating, among other things:
- Eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
- Businesses and related business expenses and losses;
- Education and qualified electric vehicle credits;
- Unreimbursed employee business expenses; and
- Dependents and filing status.
As a result of the court’s order, the Defendants must post a copy of the injunction at all locations where they conduct business, and post a link to the injunction on their business’s website.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Wu of the Civil Division’s Tax Litigation Branch made the announcement. Tax Litigation Branch attorney Daniel Causey handled this matter.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information.
In the past decade, the Department of Justice has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Civil Division, Tax Litigation Branch with details.
29 January 2026
Zuni Man Sentenced for Stabbing Unarmed VictimRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man has been sentenced to 37 months in prison after pleading guilty to stabbing an unarmed victim with a sharp metal object, causing severe internal injuries that required life-saving medical treatment.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on June 16, 2025, Adrian Cheama, 37, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, stabbed an unarmed man in the abdomen with a sharp metal object without apparent provocation, then disposed of the weapon, preventing law enforcement from recovering it. The victim was airlifted to a hospital, where he received life-saving treatment for the stab wound and resulting severe internal injuries. At the time of his arrest, Cheama denied responsibility for the stabbing.
Cheama subsequently pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. He was ordered to pay $36,567 in restitution. Upon his release from prison, Cheama will be subject to two years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
Yadkinville Woman Sentenced in Connection with Multi-Million Dollar Medicaid Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Greensboro, N.C. – A Yadkinville woman was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment, 13 months of home detention, and two years of supervised release in connection with a scheme to submit fraudulent claims for incontinence products to Medicaid, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
Kathy Briggs, 65, pled guilty to one count of health care fraud on October 8, 2025. The court also ordered Briggs to pay restitution totaling $2,483,855.72.
According to court documents, Briggs co-owned Neveah & Company d/b/a Restorative Medical located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Restorative Medical had contracts with approximately 50 assisted living facilities across the state to supply incontinence supplies, such as adult diapers, and other products for the residents in those facilities. Between around 2018 and January 2024, Restorative Medical, at Briggs’s direction, consistently and fraudulently submitted claims to Medicaid for the maximum number of incontinence products per patient that Medicaid would reimburse.
When employees of Restorative Medical went to assisted living facilities to deliver products, they would count supplies and restock inventory. For example, if there were already 100 diapers on the shelf, Restorative Medical would deliver 100 more diapers to reach 200 -- the maximum quantity Medicaid would reimburse per beneficiary each month. However, at Briggs’s direction, Restorative Medical would consistently submit claims to Medicaid for 200 diapers (or the maximum allowable amount), without regard to how many diapers Restorative Medical actually delivered to the facility. Over the course of the scheme, Medicaid reimbursed Restorative Medical approximately $2.4 million to which it was not entitled.
The Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Investigations Division, the United States Department of Defense – Office of Inspector General, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are investigating the case, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Waid and Special Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Spillman.
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Western District of Virginia Recognizes National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Today the Western District of Virginia observes National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and joins the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) in reaffirming the administration’s commitment to combating all forms of human trafficking and protecting victims and survivors. Human Trafficking Prevention Month presents an opportunity for DHS and DOJ, through Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) to intensify operational efforts, raise public awareness, and strengthen partnerships across federal, state, and local agencies to disrupt trafficking networks, protect vulnerable individuals, and ensure traffickers are brought to justice.
“This Department of Justice is working tirelessly alongside our partners to dismantle human trafficking networks, help survivors, and protect vulnerable populations from being exploited,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Under this administration we have seen an increase in human trafficking prosecutions, and during Human Trafficking Prevention Month we reaffirm our commitment to prosecuting traffickers and encourage Americans to report instances of human trafficking in their communities.”
“Through the Homeland Security Task Force, President Trump is taking the fight directly to human trafficking networks and disrupting their modern-day slave trade while seizing their assets and arresting their kingpins and foot soldiers. The American people should not have to live in fear of cartels, gang bangers, and foreign terrorists preying upon the most vulnerable among us,” the United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. “The Homeland Security Task Force is the largest coordinated campaign against transnational criminal organizations in U.S. history, and I’m proud to co-lead it with Attorney General Bondi.”
“During Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the FBI reiterates our work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and national victim-based advocacy groups in joint task forces to protect our communities across the country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The horrifying reach of human trafficking spreads far and wide. Homeland Security Task Forces are fighting back to disrupt these perilous networks and put a stop to that reach. The FBI will continue our investigations and bring justice to those exploited by human traffickers.
“The Western District of Virginia will continue to work with our partners at the FBI, DHS, and other federal and state agencies to combat human trafficking, protect victims, and bring to justice those who line their pockets by exploiting and dehumanizing others,” Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “Human trafficking is modern day slavery. It has no place in a civilized society, and we are dedicated to its eradication in the Western District of Virginia.”
In January 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. Section 6 of this order directed the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to jointly establish HSTFs in every state nationwide. The HSTF objective is to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) throughout the United States; dismantle cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks; end the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking, with a particular focus on such offenses involving children; and ensure the use of all available law enforcement tools to faithfully execute the immigration laws of the United States.
In January 2026, DHS and DOJ are surging resources to fight and raise awareness about human trafficking, including:
• Identifying ongoing investigations and prioritizing featured operations across 45 federal locations and 10 state locations with an emphasis on border states.
• Coordinating with FBI Human Trafficking Squads and multi-agency Human Trafficking Task Forces to conduct victim recovery.
• Partnering with AMTRAK and FAMS to increase law enforcement resources and distribute posters with QR codes for reporting human trafficking in all station bathrooms and trains.
• Running advertisements related to $250 million recovery from Backpage to distribute to victims and additional victim restitution efforts by DOL-OIG.
• Organizing Human Trafficking seminars and outreach events with DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking at high schools and colleges to highlight the role of HSTFs in addressing human trafficking.
On August 25, 2025, HSTF officially launched its effort to protect the Homeland with a September Surge encompassing 400 operations nationwide. In just 43 days, HSTF nationwide operations resulted in 3,266 arrests and seizures including:
• 1,041 Sinaloa members,
• 856 Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (“CJNG”) members,
• 641 MS-13 members,
• 456 Tren de Aragua members,
• 1,067 weapons
• More than $3,250,000 in currency
• Approximately 91 metric tons of narcotics
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Making a Bomb Threat on a PlaneRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Taj Malik Taylor (27, Madison Heights, VA) has pleaded guilty to one count of false information and making threats. Taylor faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the plea agreement, on July 6, 2025, Taylor was a passenger on an aircraft en route from the Saint Pete-Clearwater International Airport in Florida to the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport in Virginia. The plane was in the air and had just left Saint Pete-Clearwater International Airport when Taylor stated out loud that his laptop was a bomb. Several passengers heard Taylor make this statement. Taylor made the statement knowing that the information was false and with reckless disregard for the safety of human life. The flight crew rerouted the flight back to Saint Pete-Clearwater Airport because of Taylor’s statement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.
Union County Former Teacher Sentenced to 78 Months for Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County man was sentenced to 78 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Jack Wilder, 27, of Somerville, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jamel K. Semper in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Judge Semper imposed the sentence on January 27, 2026.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In July 2024, when Wilder was a teacher at a school in Plainfield, New Jersey, law enforcement searched Wilder’s cell phone and found child pornography. Then, in May 2025, when law enforcement arrested Wilder, they found additional child pornography that Wilder received on a second cell phone.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited the work of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, with the investigation leading up to this sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Criminal Division in Newark.
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 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.
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Defense counsel: Michael Baldassare, Esq.
Jeff Hawriluk, Esq.