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29 January 2026
Two Mexican Nationals with Prior Felony Convictions and Multiple Deportations Charged for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Two Mexican nationals unlawfully residing in Las Vegas made their initial court appearances today to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.
Victor Alfonso Cabada-Landeros, 33, and Ezequiel Lopez-Fuentes, 42, are both charged with one-count of deported alien found in the United States. Preliminary hearings for both defendants are scheduled for February 12, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Nancy J Koppe.
According to allegations contained in the criminal complaints and statements made during court proceedings, Cabada-Landeros and Lopez-Fuentes are both citizens and nationals of Mexico and were both previously deported and removed from the United States and reentered the United States illegally. On January 21, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Fugitive Operations Team arrested both Cabada-Landeros and Lopez-Fuentes in targeted operations.
Cabada-Landeros had previously been deported by ICE on or about February 18, 2015, and again on or about November 9, 2019. Cabada-Landeros has prior felony convictions for Conspiracy to Violate Uniform Controlled Substances Act and for Illegal Reentry after Deportation, the same offense he is currently charged with. Both convictions are out of Clark County, Nevada.
Lopez-Fuentes had previously been deported by ICE on four prior occasions with the last deportation being on or about or about June 18, 2023. Lopez-Fuentes has prior felony convictions for Unlawful Delivery of Heroin, out of Portland, Oregon, and for Trafficking in Controlled Substance out of Clark County, Nevada.
If convicted, both Cabada-Landeros and Lopez-Fuentes each face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Brian Henke made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Two Kansans indicted for making threats against federal officials in separate, unrelated incidentsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – In separate, unrelated cases, a federal grand jury in Wichita returned indictments charging two Kansas men with threatening violence against federal officials.
According to court documents, Adam Lee Osborn, 60, of Wichita was indicted on one count of interstate communications with a threat to injure and one count of influencing, impeding, and retaliating against a federal official by threatening.
On January 23, 2026, Osborn allegedly indicated via social media that he intended to murder Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In a separate case, Joaquin Hernandez, 23, of Wichita was indicted on one count of interstate communications with threat to injure and one count of retaliating against a federal official by threatening.
On January 22, 2026, Hernandez is accused of posting a video on social media threatening to assault and murder federal law enforcement agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carrying out their duties in Wichita.
“Threats of political violence will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “In a democracy, we settle our differences at the ballot box after robust public debate. For our system of government to work, it’s vital that certain lines are not crossed when it comes to self-expression. Threats of political violence destabilize the very core of our system of governance.”
The Wichita Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating both cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Two Drug Traffickers Charged After Ramming DEA Vehicles and Leading a High Speed Chase in Fresno CountyRead the Press Release
Two Los Angeles County residents were charged Monday for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy and an assault on federal law enforcement officers, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
Kevin Guzman and Julian Alcantara-Aguirre, both 23, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Alcantara-Aguirre was also charged with assault on a federal officer.
According to court documents, on Jan. 22, 2026, Guzman and Alcantara-Aguirre traveled from Los Angeles County to Fresno to carry out a planned sale of 5 kilograms of fentanyl. When they spotted law enforcement officers in the area, Guzman and Alcantara-Aguirre fled in their black Toyota Matrix.
As Alcantara‑Aguirre attempted to escape, he rammed the Toyota Matrix into multiple government vehicles occupied by DEA agents. Guzman and Alcantara‑Aguirre then led agents on a high‑speed pursuit along State Routes 99 and 180 before coming to a stop and fleeing on foot. Both men were apprehended shortly after a coordinated law enforcement response. During the pursuit, officers recovered approximately 5 kilograms of fentanyl that had been thrown from the Toyota Matrix.
“Fentanyl is a poison in this District and throughout the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “In coordination with DEA and our local and state law enforcement partners, this Office will vigorously prosecute those who traffic in that poison. And we will not tolerate violent assaults on federal officers who steadfastly enforce our drug laws.”
“The men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration are dedicated to saving lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris of the DEA San Francisco Field Division. “As part of DEA’s Fentanyl Free America Campaign, this operation targeted large scale fentanyl dealers, peddling poison in our communities. There is no doubt this seizure saved lives. We are thankful for our law enforcement partners that worked with us on this operation.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Fresno Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chan Hee Chu is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, the defendants face a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. If convicted of assault on a federal officer, Alcantara-Aguirre faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Troy man accused of threatening to kill ICE agents in MinneapolisRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Troy man is facing a federal charge for threatening to kill federal agents working for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis.
A federal complaint charged Jeffrey A. Mullinix, 67, with one count of interstate communication with a threat to injure.
“Violence and threats against law enforcement officers can never be tolerated, and those responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “At the same time, I call on everyone to lower the temperature and seek calm. Our country faces real challenges, but threats and violence only make things worse for our communities, our officers, and the rule of law.”
According to the complaint, Mullinix is accused of posting a threatening comment on a YouTube video on Jan. 21. In the comment, Mullinix allegedly stated he was on his way to Minneapolis with weapons, had prior military experience and would knock at least 50 of the law enforcement agents out. An anonymous tipster notified the FBI of Mullinix’s comment.
"Threats of violence against law enforcement are taken seriously. The statements made by Mr. Mullinix were not off handed, but were direct and specific," said Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Springfield Field Office, Karen Marinos. "FBI Springfield thanks our law enforcement partners for the assistance they provided in this matter and for treating it with the seriousness it deserved."
On Jan. 22, law enforcement interviewed Mullinix at his residence and seized two rifles.
A complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI Springfield Field Office is leading the investigation.
Troy Rivetti Appointed to Serve as United States Attorney for the Western District of PennsylvaniaRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Troy Rivetti was appointed by Attorney General Pamela Bondi on January 28, 2026, to serve as United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and was sworn into the role yesterday afternoon by the Honorable J. Nicholas Ranjan, United States District Court Judge.
Mr. Rivetti has led the office since the resignation of United States Attorney Eric Olshan in January 2025, with Rivetti having served as Acting United States Attorney until November 2025 and then continuing to lead the office as First Assistant United States Attorney, the role Rivetti held prior to becoming Acting United States Attorney.
Mr. Rivetti’s career in the Department of Justice has spanned nearly 30 years and has included a series of leadership positions in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In addition to previously holding the positions of Acting United States Attorney (February 2023 to June 2023) and First Assistant United States Attorney (November 2021 to January 2025), Rivetti served as Chief of the office’s Criminal Division from 2019 to 2021. He joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1997.
Throughout his career as a federal prosecutor, Mr. Rivetti’s primary area of concentration has involved the investigation and prosecution of violent crime, including large-scale drug trafficking organizations and firearms offenses. Of particular note, Rivetti co-led the multi-year investigation and prosecution of United States v. Robert Bowers, the perpetrator of the worst antisemitic mass shooting in U.S. history. He served as first chair for the trial team throughout the three-month capital jury selection, trial, and sentencing.
Mr. Rivetti obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Dickinson College and his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University. Following graduation from law school, Rivetti was employed for five years as a litigation associate at a large Pittsburgh law firm. He then served as a law clerk for two years for the Honorable D. Brooks Smith.
Title Company Owner Sentenced for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Jonathan Yasko (46, Winter Springs) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed to 27 months in federal prison for wire fraud. Yasko pleaded guilty on May 22, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Yasko owned or controlled various title companies that conducted real estate settlement services and issued title insurance policies on behalf of title insurance underwriters. Each of Yasko’s title companies was required to deposit the funds it received from the lenders, buyers, and homeowners into an escrow account to segregate these monies from its own funds and were also legally required to disburse the lender’s funds in the manner specified in the instructions sent by the financial institutions. Yasko’s title companies also had a fiduciary duty to the financial institutions and were required to act in the best interests of the party providing the funds, rather than using these funds for its own self-interest.
From January 2021 through August 2023, Yasko engaged in a scheme to defraud financial institutions through the use of interstate wires. As part of his scheme, Yasko promised to keep the financial institution’s funds segregated in escrow accounts prior to closing in according with Florida law; promised to disburse the financial institution’s funds that were sent via interstate wire transfers affecting interstate commerce in accordance with the financial institution’s closing instructions; initiated fraudulent interstate wire transfers of the lender funds from the segregated escrow accounts to other escrow accounts that had insufficient funds to conduct separate closings; and initiated fraudulent interstate wire transfers of lender funds from the segregated escrow accounts to Yasko’s title company operating accounts for illicit purposes and embezzled mortgage lenders funds, which prevented the real estate settlements from taking place. As a result, the title insurance underwriter paid out settlements to the victim financial institutions. Numerous botched real estate closings involved mortgage loans purchased or owned by Freddie Mac.
In exchange for his role in the scheme to defraud, Yasko also received ill-gotten title insurance premiums. Yasko has agreed to forfeit $201,004.57, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
Technician indicted for stealing controlled substances from pharmacyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas woman with illegally taking controlled substances from her employer’s inventory.
According to court documents, Janice Mae Brown, 39, of Russell was indicted on one count of acquiring a controlled substance by deception.
Beginning at a date unknown and continuing through March 2025, Brown is accused of using her position as a pharmacy technician to remove amphetamine (Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin) from a pharmacy without proper authorization.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Miguel De La Cruz, 22, a Guatemalan national residing illegally in Arkansas City was indicted on one count of resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with a federal officer. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.
Jose Garcia-Villa, 43, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States was indicted on one count of illegal reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Tallahassee Felon Indicted for Unlawful Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Joseph Columbus Williams, 64, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Williams appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for March 16, 2026, at 8:15 am before District Court Judge Robert L. Hinkle in Tallahassee, Florida.
Williams faces 15 years’, and up to life, imprisonment on each count.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
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 is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
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.
Sun City Center Man Pleads Guilty to Two Counts of Falsely Impersonating A Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Marcus Jose Luis Brand (20, Sun City Center) has pleaded guilty to two counts of false impersonation of an officer. Brand faces a maximum penalty of six years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on October 3, 2024, Brand falsely claimed to be a U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent and conducted canvas interviews of several individuals, at their homes, in a neighborhood in the Middle District of Florida. Brand was wearing a badge on his waist band and told the victims that he was a U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent. Brand then proceeded to ask the victims questions, stating he was investigating a dispute between some of the neighbors.
Brand has never been a U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent and has never had authority to conduct investigations. Several of his interactions with the victims were captured on home surveillance cameras.
Further, on October 18, 2024, Brand, attended a football game at Lennard High School wearing a badge and handcuffs and, again, falsely claimed to be a U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.
Startup CEO Charged with FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and Inspector in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Ketty Larco-Ward, announced today the filing of a Superseding Indictment charging GÖKÇE GÜVEN with securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The charges arise from an alleged scheme by the defendant to defraud investors in her technology startup Kalder Inc. (“Kalder”) through material misrepresentations regarding Kalder’s financials, brand partners, and paying customers. GÜVEN, a citizen of Turkey, also used lies about Kalder, as well as forged documents, to obtain an O-1A visa, reserved for individuals of “extraordinary ability,” that would allow her to live and work in the U.S. GÜVEN was previously arrested on November 27, 2025. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.
“As alleged, Gökçe Güven built her seed round on fake revenue, inflated brand partnerships, and fabricated documents, and then used the same lies to secure a visa reserved for extraordinary ability,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Beware of fraud masquerading as entrepreneurship. This Office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigorously pursue market participants who use fraud and deception to victimize investors.”
“Gökçe Güven allegedly exaggerated her company’s fiscal condition and partnerships to swindle more than seven million dollars from prospective investors before using these misrepresentations to unlawfully obtain a highly acclaimed visa to the United States,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Güven allegedly curated a façade of her business ingenuity to unlawfully reap financial and personal benefits. The FBI will continue to expose any manipulative tactics employed to advertise misleading investment opportunities at the cost of their related stakeholders.”
“This indictment displays the lengths that individuals will go through to defraud investors and the American public, and how they are ultimately caught to pay for their crimes,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. “Investors placed their trust in this emerging fintech founder and CEO, only to be misled and scammed, as alleged. We commend the work and partnership of the FBI and the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force to put end to self-serving executives and their fraudulent schemes.”
As alleged in the Superseding Indictment and other public filings in this case:[1]
GÜVEN was the founder and CEO of Kalder, a New York-based technology startup focused on business loyalty and rewards programs. GÜVEN promoted Kalder as a “fintech-marketing platform” that brands could use to create and monetize customized reward programs. In April 2024, GÜVEN began raising Kalder’s “seed round,” soliciting investments from dozens of venture capitalists. GÜVEN provided prospective investors with false statements, misleading claims, and fabricated documents regarding Kalder’s revenue and brand partners. GÜVEN transmitted to potential investors a pitch deck that misrepresented, among other things, that Kalder had 26 brands “using Kalder” and 53 brands in “live freemium” (that is, using basic Kalder services free of charge). As to some brands, Kalder had only entered into pilot programs to provide services for a limited time period and typically at a heavily discounted price. Other brands had no agreement with Kalder whatsoever—not even for free services. Kalder’s pitch deck also falsely reported that Kalder’s recurring revenue had steadily grown month over month since February 2023 and that by March 2024, Kalder had reached $1.2 million in annual recurring revenue. GÜVEN concealed the true financial condition of the company from multiple investors by maintaining two sets of books—one internal set containing Kalder’s accurate monthly and annual financial information that was prepared by Kalder’s outside accounting firm, and a second set with false and inflated numbers that was transmitted to investors and prospective investors. As a result, GÜVEN raised approximately $7 million from more than a dozen investors.
GÜVEN, a citizen of Turkey, also made false statements and fabricated documents as part of a visa application. Following the expiration of her student visa, GÜVEN caused Kalder to sponsor her for an O-1A visa, which is typically issued to individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics. GÜVEN’s application repeated the same sorts of misrepresentations that GÜVEN had provided to Kalder’s investors. GÜVEN also supplied letters of support and reference purportedly signed by business executives but that, in fact, GÜVEN had digitally signed herself without the executives’ knowledge or consent. GÜVEN was ultimately issued an O-1A visa in the fall of 2025.
* * *
GÜVEN, 26, of New York, New York, and Turkey, is charged with securities fraud and wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; visa fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI and USPIS. Mr. Clayton also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Nichols and Alexandra N. Rothman are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Stamford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SAMUEL ELIE, 49, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 108 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for distributing narcotics.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in November 2024, Stamford Police learned that Elie was selling fentanyl, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine from his house and his vehicles. Investigators made three controlled purchases of fentanyl from Elie in December 2024 and January 2025. Elie was arrested on related state charges on January 22, 2025. On that date, a search of his residence revealed approximately 152 grams of fentanyl, 215 grams of crack cocaine, 91 grams of powder cocaine, eight grams of methamphetamine, a gun magazine, and 50 rounds of assorted ammunition.
Elie’s criminal history includes felony convictions for firearm, drug, robbery, and other offenses.
Elie has been detained since his arrest. On September 29, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Stamford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary G. Vitale.
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.
Southampton Investment Advisor Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Jeffrey Slothower was sentenced by United States District Judge Gary R. Brown to 72 months in prison for wire fraud, investment adviser fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme to misappropriate more than $1 million from clients. In addition to the terms of imprisonment, Judge Brown ordered Slothower to pay $1,160,936 in restitution and in forfeiture.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the sentence.
“Jeffrey Slothower used his position as an investment advisor to steal over a million dollars from an unsuspecting couple,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s sentence sends a message to all those that would use their positions as financial professionals to line their own pockets – our Office will prosecute you to the full extent of the law.”
“Jeffrey Slothower crafted fabrications of profitable returns to conceal his true intention of reaching into his clients’ wallets and personally pocketing their investments,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Slothower stole more than one million dollars from his investors to fund extravagant purchases and repay his own credit card bills. The FBI will continue to unravel any web of lies used to unlawfully solicit investments at the cost of trusting clients.”
As proven at trial, Slothower orchestrated a scheme to misappropriate more than $1 million from current and prospective clients. Specifically, while operating Battery Private, a New York investment advisory firm, Slothower solicited business from Victim-1 and Victim-2, a couple from California whose money Slothower had managed at another financial services firm where he was previously employed. Slothower promised the victims he could beat any rate of return they were receiving and do so without market risk. In 2017, he offered to invest Victim-1’s money into what Slothower described as bonds backed by homeowner’s association fees (the “HOA Bonds”), which would pay an eight percent return.
Based on Slothower’s representations, in January 2017, Victim-1 sent more than $500,000 to Slothower at Battery Private to be invested in the purported HOA Bonds. Instead of investing in HOA Bonds or holding the funds as promised, however, Slothower funneled the money into his personal bank accounts, and then used those funds to purchase a $125,000 Mercedes Benz SUV, and membership dues at Long Island National Golf Club, a private East End country club. To further the fraudulent scheme, Slothower made payments to Victim-1 that were falsely represented as quarterly distributions from Victim-1’s “investment.”
Later, Slothower solicited Victim-1 to invest additional money, including funds controlled by Victim-2, who was then a Battery Private client. Enticed by the supposedly steady rate of return, Victim-2 agreed to invest in the same purported HOA Bonds, and in December 2017, Victim-2 sent more than $500,000 to Slothower at Battery Private. However, like Victim-1, Victim-2’s money was not invested in HOA Bonds. Instead, Slothower used that money to pay tens of thousands of dollars in personal credit card debt traced to an approximately $6,500 Chanel purse, an approximately $13,000 Rolex watch, and more than $11,000 in Ralph Lauren clothing, among other things. To further the fraudulent scheme, Slothower made payments to Victim-2 that were falsely represented as quarterly distributions from Victim-2’s investment. Slothower’s scheme continued through June 2018, when he defrauded Victim-1 out of another approximately $84,000. Slothower used Victim-1’s money to make purported quarterly payments to Victim-1 and Victim-2 that were falsely represented as their investment returns and to pay membership dues at the private golf club.
During the same period that Slothower defrauded Victim-1 and Victim-2, he also engaged in mortgage fraud. While attempting to refinance a mortgage on a residence he owned, Slothower misrepresented to the mortgage lender, both orally and through the submission of false invoices, that the victims’ funds came from Slothower’s sale of a wine collection, a stamp collection, and a fine art collection. At his trial, Slothower lied under oath when he denied classifying the victims’ funds as the proceeds of an asset sale.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division and the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Toporovsky and Benjamin Weintraub are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Janelle Robinson.
The Defendant:
JEFFREY SLOTHOWER
Age: 47
Southampton, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-602 (GRB)
Sixteen Defendants Charged with Violently Assaulting Federal Officers and PropertyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Sixteen individuals who violently assaulted federal officers and federal property over the past several weeks have been charged in criminal complaints, announced United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
Rosen was joined in the announcement by HSI Acting Executive Associate Director, Homeland Security Investigations John A. Condon.
Among those charged were:
Gillian Etherington, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who is alleged to have rammed her car into a United States Border Patrol vehicle and drove away. Border Patrol Agents followed Etherington who drove into oncoming traffic and struck an unmarked law enforcement vehicle near a high school. Etherington refused to comply with Agents’ commands to exit her car. As Agents attempted to remove her from the car, Etherington put the car in gear. Agents were ultimately able to pull Etherington from the car, but she resisted arrest and yelled: “Free Palestine!” Etherington also tried to grab one of the Border Patrol Agent’s firearm, which fell to the ground and out of the Agent’s reach.
Paul Johnson, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who is alleged to have been following Customs and Border Protection Officers in his van. Johnson exited his van and approached the CBP Officers’ vehicle with a baseball bat in his hand. After Officers told Johnson to stop approaching and get back, Johnson returned to his van, left the baseball bat, but grabbed a canister of pressurized oleoresin capsicum (“pepper spray”), and sprayed the CBP Officer’s vehicle. When Officers attempted to arrest Johnson – who had entered his running van – he resisted arrest, attempted to put the van in gear, and sprayed the faces of multiple officers with pepper spray.
Matrim James Charlebois, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who is alleged to have stood in front of a law enforcement vehicle and obstructed its path. Charlebois then used two hands to swing a metal cane at federal law enforcement officer, narrowly missing the officer’s head. Charlebois then struck a federal law enforcement vehicle multiple times with the metal cane.
Ilan Wilson-Soler, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who is alleged to have approached federal law enforcement officers with a large fire extinguisher, pointed it at the officers, sprayed them, and then ran away. While Wilson-Soler was running away, he collided with another federal law enforcement officer and hit her in the knee with the fire extinguisher.
Abdikadir Noor, of St. Cloud, Minnesota, who is alleged to have thrown a brick at Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers. When Officers attempted to arrest Noor, he fled and, once caught, attempted to avoid being handcuffed by grappling with the Officers.
Margaret Sager, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who is alleged to have jumped on the back of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officer and put her arm around his neck in what appeared to be a strangle hold. At the time of Sager’s assault on the Officer, the Officer had arrested an illegal alien and was escorting the illegal alien to a vehicle for transportation.
Also charged were Kirubele Adbebe of Rosemont, Minnesota; Nasra Ahmed of Woodberry, Minnesota; Helicity Borowska of Mahtomedi, Minnesota; Joshua Doyle of Robbinsdale, Minnesota; Nitzana Flores of South Haven, Minnesota; Christina Rank of St. Paul, Minnesota; Madeline Tschida of Becker, Minnesota; Alice Valentine of St. Cloud, Minnesota; William Vermie of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Quentin Williams of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.
United States Attorney Rosen stated, “We do not tolerate assaults on federal officers and those who commit that crime will be held accountable.”
“People need to understand their actions have consequences and that obstruction, assault and impeding is not protected under the disguise of protesting,” said HSI Acting Executive Associate Director, Homeland Security Investigations John A. Condon. “We will continue to work with the Department of Justice to ensure anyone that oversteps that line of peaceful protester to illegal agitator will be apprehended and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent. As a felony trial cannot be held on a complaint, a decision to seek an indictment will be made in the near future.
These cases are being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
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.
Shiprock Man Charged Federally After Shooting into ResidenceRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man is facing federal charges in connection with a shooting that sent multiple rounds into an occupied residence.
According to court documents, on January 21, 2026, Navajo Police Department dispatch received a call from a reporting party who stated that Taylon Keeswood, 20, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was shooting at a house in Shiprock, New Mexico. Responding officers located and detained Keeswood near the house shortly after the call. Investigators responded to the shooting scene, where they recovered shell casings and confirmed that a residence occupied by an adult and three children had been struck numerous times by gunfire. No one inside the home was injured.
Keeswood later admitted to investigators that he fired an AK-style rifle from his hip, emptying a 30-round magazine at the residence, which he believed was the home of an individual with whom he had prior disputes, before fleeing the area and hiding the firearm. Law enforcement later recovered the firearm at the location Keeswood identified after hiding it while evading police.
Keeswood is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Keeswood faces a minimum of ten years in prison.
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 Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Keeswood).pdfAn indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sharon Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Cocaine and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking and firearm crimes, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Corey Adkins, 28, entered the guilty plea before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer to (1) possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, and (2) possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for April 23, 2026. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $2,250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Sharon Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Adkins.
Seattle man convicted of carjackings and gun crimes following four-day jury trialRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 25-year-old Seattle man was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Seattle for multiple counts of carjacking and using a firearm in a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Maar Teng Rambang was convicted of three counts of carjacking and three counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence for the November 7, 2022, King County-wide crime spree. The jury deliberated about an hour following a four-day jury trial. U.S. District Judge John C. Chun will schedule sentencing at a future date.
According to records filed in the case, the carjacking spree stretched from Kent, to Bellevue, to Redmond, to Seattle and ultimately back to Renton. Just before noon on November 7, 2022, Rambang confronted a woman sitting in her car outside the Kent East Hill Post Office. Rambang ordered the woman out of her car at gunpoint. Rambang drove the stolen car to the Bellevue Square Mall garage and fired his gun as he threatened another woman and demanded her vehicle. He drove that stolen BMW to Redmond and attempted to rob Amazon employees working at a delivery locker at a Whole Foods Market. Rambang then drove the BMW to the Eastlake neighborhood of Seattle where he shot a man in the leg and stole his Jeep SUV.
Officers tracked the Jeep to Kent and attempted to stop and arrest Rambang, but he fled at speeds of 90-100 miles per hour in areas of heavy traffic. Rambang drove in center turn lanes, through gas station parking lots and ran red lights. Ultimately, law enforcement in Renton was able to block the car and arrest Rambang.
In closing arguments Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg said, “The victims were everyday people trying to do everyday things…. The defendant’s crime spree turned these everyday things into nightmares for the victims.”
Carjacking is punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Using a firearm in connection with a crime of violence is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison.
The case was investigated by the Kent, Bellevue, Redmond, and Seattle Police Departments with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco & Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Greenberg and Rachel Yemini.
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Being Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Cornelius Houston, 35, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 15, 2025, Houston was found in possession of a loaded Glock handgun. Houston is prohibited from possessing ammunition or firearms based on his prior felony convictions for robbery and transportation, sale, or distribution of a controlled substance.
The Sacramento Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Ng is prosecuting the case.
Houston is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on May 14, 2026. Houston faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
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).
Rochester man pleads guilty to attempting to have sex with 11- and 13-year old girlsRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Tony Rodriguez, 40, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca to attempted enticement of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that between February 26 and March 12, 2025, Rodriguez engaged in graphic sexual conversations online with a person he believed to be an 11-year-old girl. Rodriguez was actually communicating with a member of the community group “Predator Poachers.” In addition to online conversations, Rodriguez also arranged a meeting with the 11-year-old girl in person, to engage in sexual activity. He arranged for the 11-year-old to meet him at the Fairport Public Library on March 12, 2025. However, when Rodriguez arrived at the library, he was confronted by the community group member. He left the location prior to the arrival of law enforcement.
On April 15, 2025, law enforcement responded to a residence in the Town of Perinton and apprehended Rodriguez for attempting to meet a 13-year-old female to engage in sexual contact. In reality, the 13-year-old was a member of an unrelated community group called “Child Predator Hunter.” Rodriguez was then taken into custody for this incident and arrested for the March 12, 2025 incident at the Fairport Library.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the Fairport Police Department, under the direction of Acting Police Chief Matt Weber, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2026, at 10 a.m. before Judge Vacca.
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Queens Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Queens, N.Y. man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for a scheme to steal over $3 million in COVID relief tax credits using the stolen identity of a corporate executive in New Jersey.
Linval Jackson, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In October 2025, Jackson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud; one count of bank fraud; and one count of aggravated identity theft. Jackson was arrested and charged in July 2024.
Jackson and his co-conspirator Isaiah Aaron Tenryk used a fraudulent driver’s license, as well as the name and Social Security number of a corporate executive in New Jersey, to open a bank account in Boston. Tenryk then deposited an approximately $3 million Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) check payable to the executive’s company into the fraudulent account. ERTC is a refundable tax credit for certain eligible businesses that had employees and were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the check was deposited, Jackson attempted to link the fraudulent account to other bank accounts he controlled to transfer the stolen money.
Tenryk pleaded guilty to bank fraud and identity theft in September 2024 and was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2024.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna Nuzum of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Poplar man sentenced to prison for assault on the Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Poplar man who assaulted a female on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 23 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Lawrence George Fast Horse, 35, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of domestic assault by a habitual offender.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on August 2, 2024, Lawrence George Fast Horse stabbed Jane Doe in Poplar. Responding officers observed a stab wound on Jane Doe’s upper back. An officer searched Fast Horse at the scene and located a knife with brass knuckles attached to it in his right-side shorts pocket.
A witness told law enforcement Fast Horse and Jane Doe were arguing. She saw Fast Horse push Jane Doe from behind and then noticed him attempt to conceal a blade behind his back.
Jane Doe was treated for three stab wounds and was admitted to the hospital for overnight observation.
Fast Horse has been convicted of several prior domestic assaults, including on June 20, 2008, May 23, 2009, January 27, 2013, October 21, 2019, and October 26, 2020.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation.
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Poplar man pleads guilty to murder and gun charges on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS - A Poplar man accused of murder and using a firearm in the commission of the murder admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Michael J. Ackerman, 74, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence. Ackerman faces a maximum term of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for June 3, 2026. Ackerman was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in the early morning hours of September 14, 2025, law enforcement officers in Billings responded to a call and were advised Ackerman had admitted to killing three people – Jane Doe 1, John Doe, and Jane Doe 2. Deputies initiated contact with Ackerman inside the house in Billings.
After the deputies read his Miranda rights, Ackerman agreed to speak with law enforcement. He said on Thursday, September 11, 2025, he and the rest of the people in the house were using methamphetamine. Ackerman believed Jane Doe 1, John Doe, and Jane Doe 2 were “setting him up.” Ackerman said he was in the bedroom with Jane Doe 1, and Jane Doe 1 had a pistol in her hand. Ackerman picked up his Smith and Wesson 9 mm pistol and shot Jane Doe 1 twice in the head. The defendant heard John Doe and Jane Doe 2 moving in the next room. Michael walked into the room where John Doe and Jane Doe 2 were sleeping and shot them both. Ackerman told officers they would find the deceased inside his house in Poplar.
Fort Peck Law and Justice Department officers went to the house in Poplar and received no response. They were granted a telephonic search warrant from the Fort Peck Tribal Court and went inside the house at around 5:30am. Inside they found the deceased individuals mentioned by Ackerman – Jane Doe 1, John Doe, and Jane Doe 2. All three of the bodies had gunshot wounds and four 9 mm casings were close to the bodies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice, and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Perpetrator of Nationwide Sports and Pokémon Trading Card Fraud ConvictedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that a jury found ANTHONY CURCIO guilty yesterday of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud for engaging in a scheme to defraud customers by selling them sports and Pokémon trading cards with fake grades purportedly issued by Professional Sports Authenticator (“PSA”). CURCIO was found guilty following a two-and-a-half-week trial before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams.
“Millions of Americans participate in our collectibles markets, and they should be free from fraud and manipulations,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Anthony Curcio now faces years in prison, and his conviction is a cautionary tale for those who would abuse the collectibles markets. Our Office is dedicated to ensuring that markets of all kinds, including collectibles markets, are safe from fraudsters. Anthony Curcio tried to cover his tracks and hide what he had done, but thanks to our law enforcement partners and the many victims who came forward, he has now been convicted of serious federal crimes.”
According to the Indictment, public court filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
From at least 2022 to May 2024, CURCIO and IOSIF BONDARCHUK sold and attempted to sell sports and Pokémon trading cards to many victims across the country with authenticity and condition grades purportedly issued by PSA, but which had been forged by CURCIO. CURCIO directed the scheme and used BONDARCHUK as a front man to interact with victims and list cards for sale on online marketplaces and auction sites. CURCIO and BONDARCHUK sold and attempted to sell trading cards with counterfeit grades for thousands of dollars, and sometimes up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, each, when the cards were actually worth only a small fraction of those sums. In total, CURCIO and BONDARCHUK attempted to deprive victims of over $2 million through their sales and attempted sales by misrepresenting the grade of numerous trading cards.
Sports and Pokémon trading cards can have considerable resale value depending on, among other things, their condition and authenticity. PSA is a leader in the card collectibles authentication industry. For a fee, PSA verifies a card’s authenticity and assesses its condition, assigning a numerical grade from one to 10, with one being the lowest grade and 10 being the highest. After grading a card, PSA seals the card in a distinctive, tamper-resistant plastic case that encloses the card to preserve its condition and indicates its grade on a label inside the case. PSA also assigns a unique certification number—or serial number—to each card it grades, which collectors can then look up in PSA’s public database to find out information about the card and confirm that PSA had in fact graded that card. A PSA grade can have a significant impact on a card’s market value, at times increasing the value of the card merely as a result of having been authenticated and graded. And cards with higher grades can sell for considerably more than cards with lower grades, sometimes by multiples.
CURCIO’s scheme focused on selling vintage rookie sports cards—particularly Michael Jordan rookie cards—and Pokémon cards that would sell for thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars if they had received a PSA 9 or 10 grade. CURCIO sold ungraded or lower-graded cards for more than they were worth by cleaning the rating and serial numbers off of real PSA labels and then printing fake 9 or 10 grades and new serial numbers on the PSA labels.
CURCIO and BONDARCHUK sold the trading cards with fake PSA grades on different online marketplaces and auction sites, such as eBay, as well as in person at card shops, card shows, and in-person trades with victims. In addition to using BONDARCHUK as a front, CURCIO used other fake identities to hide his role from victims, PSA, and law enforcement. At times, CURCIO was confronted by buyers when they realized the rare, highly graded cards they had paid thousands of dollars for were fraudulent; CURCIO refunded the buyers, took back the cards, and then sold them again to new victims. CURCIO even tried to pass off one Michael Jordan rookie card three times, each time with a different forged grade.
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CURCIO, 45, of Redmond, Washington, was convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. BONDARCHUK, 38, of Lake Stevens, Washington, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David R. Felton, Kingdar Prussien, and Cecilia Vogel are in charge of the prosecution.
Pennsylvania Man Admits to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – Yesterday, a Pennsylvania man admitted possessing images of child sexual abuse, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
Edwin Isaacson IV, 53, of Matamoras, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty yesterday before Chief Judge Renée Marie Bumb to an Information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, on April 23, 2025, Isaacson was found at Newark Liberty International Airport after arriving on an inbound international flight in possession of at least 28 videos of prepubescent minors engaged in sexual conduct.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June 9, 2026.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division.
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: David Jay Glassman, Esq., Marlton, New Jersey
isaacson.information.pdfPensacola Felon Sentenced for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Earl Vincent Hudgins III, 32, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to three years in federal prison followed by a three-year term of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the outstanding work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, another dangerous felon was stopped before he could continue terrorizing our community with violence, and with this successful prosecution by my office he will be kept off our streets for several years. My office will continue fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi when they launched Operation Take Back America to protect our communities from dangerous felons like this defendant.”
Court documents reflect that on February 16, 2025, the defendant’s vehicle was stopped for a traffic infraction. A subsequent search uncovered an AR-style firearm loaded with 15 rounds of .300-caliber ammunition, which the defendant was prohibited from possessing as a convicted felon. Later, law enforcement identified multiple posts on the defendant’s social media showing him in possession of the same firearm located during the traffic stop. The defendant also posted a video during the traffic stop captioned, “Bout to go to jail.”
This case was a joint investigation by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Ozark Timeshare Salesman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempted Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Ozark, Mo., timeshare salesman was sentenced in federal court today for attempting to evade taxation.
Ryan J. McMillin, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 18 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. McMillin was ordered to pay $460,283.00 in restitution and an additional $149,396.68 in interest.
McMillin, who pleaded guilty on June 18, 2025, admitted that he did not report income he received while employed as a timeshare salesman with four different companies from 2018 to 2023. McMillin submitted eight different forms to his employers falsely claiming exempt status during those years. Because McMillin claimed exempt status on his W-4s his employers did not withhold taxes from McMillin’s paychecks. McMillin then failed to make an income tax return or pay the $581,981.00 in income taxes he owed to the IRS for those six calendar years.
“This time of year, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) is especially focused on investigating tax fraud. This sentence is an important victory for every taxpayer who plays by the rules, and it sends a message to those who attempt to shirk their responsibilities,” said Special Agent in Charge William Steenson, IRS-Criminal Investigation, St. Louis Field Office. “Thanks to our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, those who defraud the U.S. government through tax evasion will be held accountable.”
“Don’t become a convicted felon because you think you can get away with cheating the government on paying your fair share of taxes,” said R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Orlando Man Indicted for Bank Fraud, False Statements, and ObstructionRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – Donald Heflin Mitchell (49, Orlando), a/k/a Arissess Maven Anglo-Busari Jr., has been charged by indictment with six counts of bank fraud, two counts of false statements on loan applications, and one count of obstruction of justice. If convicted, Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each count of bank fraud and making a false statement. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment for the obstruction offense. The indictment also notifies Mitchell that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $74,320, the proceeds of the alleged bank fraud. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, in October 2025, Mitchell went to two different car dealers and applied for credit for the purpose of purchasing vehicles. On one application, Mitchell claimed to have been an investment banker for a prominent institution making $1.5 million annually and owning a home outright. Four days later, Mitchell submitted another application in which he claimed to have been a programmer for the previous 10 years and made $6,000 per month. According to the Bureau of Prisons and court records, Mitchell was released from a previous 15-year federal prison sentence for bank fraud on August 18, 2025.
The indictment alleges that, later in October 2025, Mitchell met a person with diminished mental capacity and proceeded to financially exploit and defraud the victim by posing as the son of the victim’s deceased husband and obtaining funds from the victim’s bank accounts, including a $52,000 cashier’s check that Mitchell had issued to himself. Mitchell also presented a fraudulent power of attorney to the victim’s bank and attempted to gain control of the victim’s accounts.
The indictment further alleges that, on November 6, 2025, Mitchell attempted to obstruct justice by presenting fraudulent documents in federal court purporting to show that he was the son of the deceased husband of the victim with diminished mental capacity.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Orlando Police Department, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
Orchestrator of Multi-Million Dollar COVID-19 Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 97 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Manfred A. Pentzke Lemus, was sentenced on January 28, 2026, by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón to over eight years in prison for orchestrating a multi-million dollar fraudulent scheme to obtain COVID-19 relief funds issued under the authority of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The Honorable Aida M. Delgado-Colón also imposed forfeiture of $488,674.28 and restitution totaling $2,185,519.85.
Pentzke Lemus pleaded guilty on September 24, 2025, to Count one of the indictment, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1349) and to count 21, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)).
According to court documents, Manfred A. Pentzke Lemus, aka “Man”, “Contable”, “El Gestor,” age 40, from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, organized and led a scheme to defraud the United States Small Business Administration and Oriental Bank by exploiting the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program. Pentzke and his co-conspirators, and the people they recruited submitted hundreds of fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications using false financial data and fabricated documents, including falsified tax forms. Pentzke coordinated the preparation of these applications, often inserting fictitious payroll and income figures, and monitored their approval and disbursement. As a result of the scheme, 223 fraudulent PPP loans were processed, resulting in the disbursement of $5,915,290.33. The SBA also disbursed $3,105,300 in EIDL funds as a result of the scheme.
Recruits paid kickbacks to Pentzke and the scheme’s organizers. Pentzke, or companies that he controlled, received 100 of those kickbacks, totaling $486,277.70, which were disguised as legitimate business transactions to conceal their true purpose and facilitate loan forgiveness. The conspiracy operated through layers of recruitment, falsified documentation, and structured kickback payments, resulting in the fraudulent disbursement of millions in federal relief funds.
“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of exploiting emergency relief programs for personal gain.” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “These funds were intended to support businesses and workers during a national crisis, an unprecedented emergency, not to enrich individuals through fraud; and those who engage in fraud will be held accountable. I commend and thank the agents and prosecutors for their outstanding work on the investigation and prosecution of this case.”
Two of Pentzke’s co-defendants have been sentenced, three are pending sentencing.
The United States Secret Service, Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Treasury Department, Puerto Rico Bureau of Special Investigations, Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and Guaynabo Municipal Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Olinghouse prosecuted the case.
The CARES Act authorized federal assistance through the issuance of SBA loans to small businesses and non-profit entities that experienced revenue loss due to the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. The EIDL program was one such loan assistance program for small businesses. To procure the loan, applicants had to fill out an online application detailing operational information for the 12‑month period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the number of employees in the business, the gross business revenues realized, and the cost of goods sold. Another form of assistance provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of United States taxpayer funds in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, such as interest on mortgages, rent and utilities, through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
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Odessa Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm Used in Shooting in KCRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Odessa, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing a firearm used in a shooting in Kansas City, Mo.
Gary D. Holcomb II, 38, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm that he admitted he used in a shooting in Kansas City, Missouri.
According to the written plea agreement, Holcomb admitted that during the early morning hours on Sept. 30, 2025, he was in an alley behind a residence in Kansas City, Missouri. Holcomb admitted that he possessed a semi-automatic AR style rifle with a large capacity magazine and shot at another individual in the alleyway, before fleeing the area in an SUV. Holcomb further admitted he had multiple felony convictions, to include a prior federal felony conviction for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Under federal statutes, Holcomb is subject to a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess Michaelsen. It was investigated by Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
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.
Nowata Man Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Two Teenage GirlsRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Nowata man was sentenced today after being found guilty by a jury for sexually abusing two teenage girls, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John D. Russell ordered Kaleb Scott Smith, 34, to serve 228 months imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Smith will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In November 2025, jurors convicted Smith of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country and two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country. Court records show that Smith sexually abused two teenage girls, who were only
13 and 14 years old.In September 2024, the 14-year-old minor victim disclosed being sexually abused by Smith to a parent. The minor victim’s parents testified that they contacted law enforcement. During that conversation, they showed officers a photo of Smith with their daughter and handed over the cellphone to be searched. The photo presented to the jury showed Smith cuddling with the
14-year-old under a blanket. Smith’s arm is seen wrapped around the child, and his hand rests on her upper thigh.When the minor victim testified, she stayed overnight with Smith’s 14-year-old daughter while Smith was celebrating his birthday in July 2024. The minor victim said that Smith flipped the waistband of her clothing and touched her butt. The next morning, Smith showed the 14-year-old a photo of himself naked in front of a mirror.
Witness testimony from Smith’s teenage daughter and the minor victim described a second incident. They stated that Smith rented a hotel room at a casino with two beds. While in the room, both witnesses described lying on a bed watching social media videos, and Smith lay with them. Both witnesses said that Smith was cuddling with the minor victim under a blanket. The minor victim described that Smith began rubbing his crotch on her back. She moved to the second bed, and Smith followed her. He continued to rub his crotch against her butt.
During a third incident, Smith’s daughter, the minor victim, and their 14-year-old friend stayed the night at his house in September 2024. All three girls testified about the evening. Smith was with the minor victim in his bedroom with the door closed. The friend heard giggling and opened the bedroom door. She saw Smith on top of the minor victim in bed, felt uncomfortable, and closed the door. Later that night, the minor victim testified that Smith asked her to come back to his bedroom. After going back to the bedroom, evidence presented to the jury and trial testimony showed that Smith sexually abused the minor. A few days after the abuse, the minor victim told her friend what happened. A DNA expert confirmed that Smith’s bodily fluids and the minor victim’s DNA were found together on his bed.
When law enforcement interviewed the friend about the incident in September, she further disclosed that Smith had been inappropriate with her on several occasions. When she was 13 years old, Smith would make comments about her body and slap her butt. After turning 14, Smith made comments about her while she was in a towel and touched her breast.
Smith is a member of the Osage Nation and was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshal Service at trial. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Bartlesville Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Hockenbury and Matthew Cyran 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.
Norfolk Man Arrested for Sexually Exploiting MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Norfolk man has been arrested and charged with allegedly sexually exploiting a two-year-old minor victim from Massachusetts.
Ethan Irving, 36, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of sexual exploitation of children. Irving was arrested this morning in Norfolk and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at 3:15 p.m. today.
In June 2025, Irving was identified as an online user who uploaded three files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to Kik Messenger. A July 2025 forensic analysis of two cell phones sized from Irving’s residence located multiple media files depicting CSAM. As a result of the findings, Irving was arrested and charged in Wrentham District Court in July 2025. He subsequently pleaded guilty to Dissemination of Obscene Matter and Possession of Child Pornography on Dec. 3, 2025, for which he was sentenced to two years of probation with conditions that prohibit his contact with children.
According to the charging documents, on Dec. 15, 2025, while reviewing evidence related to Irving’s state prosecution, additional CSAM was allegedly located on Irving’s devices that had not previously been seen by investigators. Specifically, the images allegedly appeared to be a continuous series, sequential in time, depicting Irving sexually abusing a two-year-old female toddler who was known to him. It is alleged that the images appeared to have been taken inside a bedroom at Irving’s residence, with the bedding depicted in the images matching sheets observed and photographed by law enforcement during a search of the home in July 2025.
The charge of sexual exploitation of minors (and attempt and conspiracy) provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Michael Jenkins, Chief of East Bridgewater Police Department; and James Floyd, Chief of the Plainville Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Norfolk Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Nashua Woman Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing a Firearm Later Recovered at a Crime SceneRead the Press Release
Nashua Woman Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing a Firearm Later Recovered at a Crime Scene
CONCORD – A Nashua woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to making a false statement to acquire a firearm for another person, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Tanya Hunter, 40, pleaded guilty to making a false statement in connection with acquiring a firearm. According to the charging documents and statements made in court, on December 20, 2023, Hunter purchased the gun from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Hudson, New Hampshire, for a Massachusetts man. Hunter lied on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) form for the purchase when she said she was the actual buyer or transferee of the firearm. The firearm was later recovered from a crime scene in Massachusetts.
The charges carry a possible sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Court scheduled sentencing in this matter for May 11, 2026.
The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Howard is prosecuting the case.
Minnesota Man Charged with Forcibly Assaulting Representative Ilhan Omar while She Engaged in Performance of her Official DutiesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Anthony James Kazmierczak, age 56, made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today, charged in a criminal complaint with forcibly assaulting and interfering with United States Representative Ilhan Omar while she conducted an official town hall meeting in Minneapolis on January 27, 2026. According to documents filed in federal court, Kazmierczak was seated at a Minneapolis town hall officiated by Rep. Omar, when he stood up, and quickly approached Rep. Omar as she was speaking. Kazmierczak allegedly held a syringe in his hand, which he used to spray Rep. Omar with an initially unknown liquid substance, later identified as apple cider vinegar, which landed on Rep. Omar’s clothing and skin. Kazmierczak gestured at Rep. Omar and shouted at her before being brought to the floor by two security officers.
“Assaultive behavior and acts of intimidation directed at officers and employees of the United States will not be tolerated,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “Persons who engage in this criminal conduct can expect a swift response from law enforcement and federal prosecutors.”
“An assault on a member of Congress is an assault on the democratic values that underpin this nation,” said Interim Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec of FBI Minneapolis. “The men and women of the FBI will work tirelessly to defend the safety of public officials as they serve the people of this great country. FBI Minneapolis stands alongside our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and ensure accountability for anyone who thinks they can assault, intimidate, or interfere with those serving our nation."
Defendant Kazmierczak was ordered held in federal custody, pending a detention hearing and preliminary hearing, both scheduled for February 3, 2026.
A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent. As a felony trial cannot be held on a complaint, a decision to seek an indictment will be made in the near future.
Midland Felon Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
MIDLAND, Texas – A Midland man was sentenced in federal court to 87 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Manuel Trevino Padilla, 43, was previously convicted of trafficking methamphetamine. In August 2025, while Padilla was on federal supervised release, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers executed a state narcotics search warrant at Padilla’s home. Padilla attempted to flee out of the back of the residence but was detained. The search resulted in the discovery of two loaded firearms: a semi-automatic handgun and a revolver.
Padilla was arrested on Aug. 19, 2025, and charged in a one-count indictment on Aug. 27. He pleaded guilty to the indictment on Oct. 16. U.S. District Court Judge David Counts sentenced Padilla in Midland on Jan. 20.
Justin R. Simmons, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, made the announcement.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigative Division, and the Midland County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Haywood prosecuted the case.
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Mexican Nationals Sentenced to Federal Prison for Smuggling Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – Two Mexican nationals were sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to multiple years in prison for conducting an illegal alien smuggling operation that resulted in death, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, on Jan. 16, 2025, Benjamin Guatzozon-Gonzalez, 24, and Alfredo Silva De La Cruz, 42, both of Ciudad Juarez, were located by U.S. Border Patrol agents north of the Rio Grande River. Guatzozon-Gonzalez and De La Cruz and at least one other individual had scaled the border fence approximately 12 miles west of the Tornillo Port of Entry. Guatzozon-Gonzalez told the USBP agents that he and De La Cruz left the third subject behind after the subject collapsed from an alleged heart attack. Assisting agents located the third subject, who remained unresponsive despite rescue efforts. The individual was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Further investigation revealed that Guatzozon-Gonzalez was working with the La Empresa cartel and had agreed to serve as a foot guide for the alien smuggling scheme. Agents also learned Guatzozon-Gonzalez smuggled around 20 illegal aliens total on approximately 16 other occasions over about a one-month period.
De La Cruz stated he also served as a foot guide and smuggled around 50 illegal aliens on approximately 27 occasions over a period of one and a half years.
On Jan. 22, U.S. District Judge David Briones sentenced Guatzozon-Gonzalez to 36 months in federal prison, and De La Cruz to 45 months in federal prison.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mathew Engelbaum prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Mexican National Sentenced for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian Wimes to 12 months in federal custody for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.
Lisandro Garcia-Ramirez, 23, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. Garcia-Ramirez was arrested on Feb. 20, 2025, traveling on I-70 in Saline County, Mo. Garcia-Ramirez admitted to transporting individuals he knew were present in the United States illegally.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations.
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.
Mexican Citizen Pleads Guilty to Fourth Illegal Re-Entry ChargeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Mexican citizen pled guilty in federal court, today, to illegally re-entering the United States, and received a nine-month sentence.
On January 18, 2025, Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) officers arrested Marvin Escobar-Artega, 34, in connection with unrelated charges. Law enforcement then discovered Escobar-Artega was an illegal alien previously removed from the U.S.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea and sentence with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.
Escobar-Artega knowingly and voluntarily re-entered the United States for the fourth time, this time on an unknown date and at an unknown location. Law enforcement caught Escobar-Artega illegally entering the country on three previous occasions, all within less than a two-week span. He was last deported on April 22, 2020.
According to the plea agreement, on February 28, 2020, Escobar-Artega first unlawfully entered the U.S. at the southern border, near Donna, Texas, without permission or inspection. On the same day, a U.S. immigration judge issued a Notice and Order of Expedited Removal. Then on March 1, Escobar-Artega was removed from the U.S. and deported to Mexico.
Four days later, on March 5, Escobar-Artega illegally re-entered the U.S. for the second time, this time near Progreso, Texas. Law enforcement apprehended and deported Escobar-Artega to Mexico the following day on March 6. Then on March 10, Escobar-Artega illegally re-entered the U.S. for the third time, this time near Hidalgo, Texas, resulting in authorities deporting him to Mexico for the third time, on April 22.
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 ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kertisha Dixon and Carolyn Mills who prosecuted the federal 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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Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Jaime Rosario Ang (53, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Ang pleaded guilty on October 6, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Ang sold methamphetamine totaling over 1.2 kilograms to an undercover detective on multiple occasions between 2022 and 2023. During a separate interaction, Ang agreed to purchase a rifle from the undercover detective, who subsequently revealed himself as law enforcement. Federal agents then located and seized 517 additional grams of methamphetamine, 52 grams of fentanyl, a loaded handgun, and two additional loaded magazines from Ang’s residence.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
McCurtain County Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dale Warren Gribnitz, age 67, of Valliant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 5 years of probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Valliant Police Department, the Choctaw County Sheriff's Office, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On April 8, 2025, Gribnitz pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on October 20, 2024, Gribnitz knowingly possessed a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The Honorable 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Marshalltown Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed nearly three kilograms of methamphetamine was sentenced January 28, 2026, to more than twelve years in federal prison.
Marcos Servin, age 23, from Marshalltown, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 3, 2025, guilty plea to possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that law enforcement officers stopped Servin as he was driving on October 23, 2024. During the traffic stop, a narcotic detection K9 positively indicated the presence of an odor of a controlled substance within Servin’s car. Officers searched Servin’s car and located over 900 grams of ice methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers later searched a Des Moines home that Servin had left earlier that day. Officers located over 1,900 grams of ice methamphetamine inside the home.
Servin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Servin was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Servin is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force, consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-97.
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Marietta scam artist sentenced to nearly 15 years in federal prison for $13 million PPP fraud and tax schemeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Carl Delano Torjagbo, a/k/a Karl Lucius Delano has been sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison and ordered to forfeit millions of dollars in cash and property he obtained from a fraudulent $9.6 million Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan and filing fraudulent tax returns that generated a $3.4 million IRS refund.
“This defendant shamelessly defrauded the government out of $13 million in taxpayer money to fund his lavish lifestyle,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Through aggressive prosecution, my office will continue to ensure that anyone who abuses government relief programs and robs government coffers pays dearly for their crimes.”
“Carl Torjagbo’s fraudulent actions represent one of the largest single instances of PPP loan fraud,” said Peter Ellis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “By fabricating a sham business and lying to steal millions, he blatantly exploited taxpayer dollars meant to help those in need. The FBI will relentlessly pursue criminals like Torjagbo who think they can profit at the public’s expense.”
“Torjagbo’s sentence sends a clear message to criminals that committing tax fraud and defrauding federal programs for personal gain ends with them being held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation remains committed to protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring that fraudsters face the full consequences of their actions.”
“This sentencing demonstrates the commitment of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to investigate and bring to justice those who victimize the American taxpayer,” said Joel Weaver, TIGTA Special Agent-in-Charge. “Fraudulently applying for loans through a federal program meant to assist Americans in need will be met with aggressive investigation and prosecution. I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their commitment to this goal.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and information presented at trial and sentencing: On February 13, 2021, Torjagbo submitted individual tax returns to the IRS using different social security numbers and dates of birth. The tax returns falsely stated that Torjagbo paid more than $3 million in tax withholdings and reported bogus losses for Kremkov Industries, Torjagbo’s purported gold mining business in Ghana. The false representations resulted in a U.S. Treasury check being issued to Torjagbo in the amount of $3,366,240.76.
Just days later, on February 16, 2021, Torjagbo signed a PPP loan application requesting a loan in the amount of $9,554,425. In doing so, Torjagbo falsely certified that Kremkov Industries was in operation on February 15, 2020, had 493 employees who principally resided in the U.S., and had an average monthly payroll of nearly $4 million. To support the application, he submitted phony tax documents and payroll records that identified nearly a dozen celebrities and fictional characters as Kremkov employees, including Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Charlie Brown, Nancy Drew, John Snow, and Emilia Clarke. As a result of Torjagbo’s false and fraudulent representations, a bank transferred $9,554,425 in PPP loan proceeds to Torjagbo’s custody. Torjagbo used those funds to pay personal debts and expenses, purchase a Marietta mansion, and buy luxury items.
On July 25, 2025, a jury convicted Torjagbo of one count of bank fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of money laundering.
On January 27, 2026, U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown sentenced Carl Delano Torjagbo, a/k/a Karl Lucius Delano, 50, of Marietta, Georgia, to 14 years, seven months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Brown also ordered Torjagbo to pay at least $3,366,240.76 of restitution and to forfeit property and proceeds obtained as a result of the frauds, including:
- a personal money judgment in the amount of $4,615,080.75;
- more than $1.75 million seized from Torjagbo’s bank accounts;
- a Marietta residence purchased for approximately $1.7 million;
- a 2022 BMW M850xi, a 2014 Lamborghini Aventador, and a 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar purchased for more than $500,000 collectively; and
- land in Cartersville and Acworth, Georgia purchased for more than $241,000.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General provided considerable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly K. Connors and Nicholas L. Evert prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Las Cruces Woman Charged with Assaulting a Deputy U.S. MarshalRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces woman has been charged by criminal complaint with assaulting a Deputy United States Marshal during an attempted arrest.
According to court documents, on November 6, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Service Southwest Investigative Fugitive Team was attempting to execute a federal arrest warrant at a residence in Las Cruces, New Mexico. When law enforcement prepared to enter the home, the owner, Joann Rickman, 55, became combative.
A Deputy U.S. Marshal restrained Rickman and placed her in handcuffs. She continued resisting, kicking, spitting, and attempting to bite the officer. Once the situation was under control and the investigation at the scene concluded, Rickman was returned to a standing position and her handcuffs were removed. Emergency Medical Services offered medical attention, which she declined.
Later that afternoon, the U.S. Marshal sought medical attention for a thumb sprain and potential exposure to communicable disease.
Rickman is charged with assault of an officer of the United States resulting in physical contact. If convicted of the current charges, Rickman faces eight years in prison.
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 Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Las Cruces Police Department and New Mexico Air National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan H. Gennari and Mark Saltman are prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Rickman).pdfAn indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lake County Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Fernando Munguia, Jr. (24, Leesburg) has pleaded guilty to nine counts of making a materially false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm and nine counts of causing a federal firearm licensee (FFL) to maintain false information in its official records. Munguia faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each false statement count and up to five years’ imprisonment for each count of causing an FFL to maintain false information in its official records. As part of his plea, Munguia has agreed to forfeit the nine firearms related to these offenses. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court records, between January 1 and December 31, 2023, Munguia illegally straw-purchased multiple firearms. During the purchases, Munguia indicated on the mandatory background paperwork that he was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearms. Those statements were false since Munguia was being paid to purchase the firearms on behalf of someone else. Nine of the firearms purchased by Munguia—along with other guns—subsequently were intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on May 27, 2023, when another individual attempted to transport them from Eagle Pass, Texas across the United States’ border and into Mexico. Authorities intercepted Munguia’s firearms less than a month after he had purchased them.
The firearms and ammunition seized at the U.S. border on May 27, 2023.
A subsequent records check by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives showed that between January and November 2023, Munguia had purchased 44 firearms for a total of $23,334.25—an amount representing approximately two-thirds of his reported annual income. The records also showed that his purchases frequently involved multiple, identical firearms of the same model and caliber.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Custom and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Knoxville Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On January 29, 2026, Nathan Lee Westbrook, 27, of Knoxville, TN, was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his imprisonment, Westbrook will be on supervised release for 24 years and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Westbrook agreed to plead guilty to an information charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(2).
According to filed court documents, on February 21, 2025, investigators with the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations – Internet Crimes Against Children (HSI-ICAC) Task Force received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a user on Kik uploaded and distributed six video files containing child pornography. The IP address associated with the Kik user was investigated and found to be used by Nathan Lee Westbrook. After executing a search warrant for Westbrook’s computer equipment, HSI-ICAC investigators found 12 images containing child pornography and six videos depicting criminal sexual acts with a minor. The investigation revealed Westbrook distributed the six child pornography videos in a private chatroom over the internet.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by HSI-ICAC and Knoxville Police Department. This investigation was led by HSI-ICAC Task Force Officer Tom Evans.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click the tab "resources.”
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KC Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegal firearms and distribution of marijuana.
Nathan Caldwell, Jr., 34, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 12 years in federal prison without parole. Caldwell, Jr. was sentenced as a career offender due to his prior felony convictions.
His father and co-defendant, Nathan Caldwell, Sr., a/k/a “Prince Bossalinie”, 54, was sentenced on Aug. 7, 2025, to 21 years and 8 months in federal prison without parole.
On Sept. 4, 2025, Caldwell, Jr. pleaded guilty to engaging in firearm sales without a license, three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms, and three counts of distribution of marijuana.
Between Dec. 20, 2023, and April 17, 2024, a Confidential Informant purchased 19 firearms, one bulletproof vest, approximately 606.29 grams of methamphetamine, 3.4 grams of powder cocaine, 3.3 grams of crack cocaine, and 9.4 grams of marijuana from Caldwell, Sr. Between Dec. 20, 2023, and April 20, 2024, the Confidential Informant purchased three firearms and approximately 460 grams of marijuana from Caldwell, Jr. Each of the transactions occurred at Caldwell Sr.’s residence. On May 8, 2024, Caldwell, Sr. sold the Confidential Informant a Glock, Model 19x, 9mm pistol equipped with a machine gun conversion device, commonly known as a “switch”, on the slide of the pistol. The Confidential Informant also purchased three extra firearm magazines from Caldwell, Sr. The Confidential Informant left the residence, and investigators executed a search warrant on the residence. During the execution of the search warrant, investigators recovered the firearm and magazines the Confidential Informant purchased, along with approximately 14.2 grams of crack cocaine and 15.3 grams of cocaine from Caldwell Sr.’s dining room table. Investigators also recovered approximately 4 grams of cocaine from Caldwell, Jr.’s vehicle.
Caldwell, Jr. has prior felony convictions for assault in the first degree, aggravated assault – use of a deadly weapon, and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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.
Justice Department Secures Settlement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Missouri Housing Authority and Its Former Executive DirectorRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that the Housing Authority of the City of Bloomfield, Missouri, and its former executive director, Eddie Joe Hankins, have agreed to pay $35,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that Hankins sexually harassed a female housing applicant in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
The Justice Department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in September 2025, alleges that in 2021, Hankins subjected a female housing applicant to unwelcome sexual comments and touching without her consent, and offered to place her on the wait list for housing in exchange for sex. The lawsuit also alleges that the Housing Authority is vicariously liable for Hankins’ unlawful conduct.
“No one should have to endure harassment and discrimination, especially when seeking housing,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will hold housing providers accountable when they target and exploit vulnerable tenants.”
“This settlement contains very important protections for both the woman who alleged that she was asked for sex in exchange for a place to live and current or prospective housing authority tenants in the city of Bloomfield,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus for the Eastern District of Missouri. “Housing discrimination will not be tolerated in Missouri.”
“The Trump Administration will not permit housing providers to prey on vulnerable women and engage in immoral and illegal sexual harassment in violation of the Fair Housing Act,” said Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig W. Trainor of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “The Department is dedicated to vigorous fair housing enforcement and ensuring the right of everyone to feel safe and secure in their homes. This settlement reflects that commitment.”
Under the settlement agreement, the Defendants must pay $35,000 to the housing applicant. The settlement agreement permanently bars Hankins from managing residential rental properties and requires employees of the Housing Authority to complete Fair Housing Act training.
The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination.
If you are a victim of sexual harassment by another landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 52 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered more than $17 million for victims of such harassment.
Justice Department Requires Columbus McKinnon to Divest Assets to Proceed with Acquisition of Kito CrosbyRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division announced today that it will require Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO) to divest its power chain hoist and chains businesses and related assets to resolve antitrust concerns arising from its proposed $2.7 billion acquisition of Kito Crosby Limited (Kito Crosby) from funds managed by global investment firm KKR.
The Antitrust Division today filed a civil antitrust lawsuit 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 Division’s competitive concerns.
“Today’s settlement is a structural solution to an acquisition that would have harmed competition for important equipment that facilitates the safe and efficient movement of heavy loads in a wide range of industries across the American economy,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The settlement, which includes two manufacturing facilities, will ensure that American customers and industries will continue to benefit from competition between the leading providers of this important equipment.”
As alleged in the complaint, CMCO and Kito Crosby are two of the leading manufacturers in the markets for electric chain hoists and overhead lifting chain in the United States. Electric chain hoists, a type of power chain hoist, use a chain driven by an electric motor to lift, lower, and position heavy materials. Electric chain hoists are designed to be durable and can be used independently or integrated into a small overhead crane. Industries across the economy – including automotive, aerospace, energy, construction, and logistics – rely on electric chain hoists daily to increase efficiency and reduce strain on operators. Overhead lifting chain is exclusively made from forged alloy steel and meets ASTM standards for chain strong enough to ensure safe lifting operations. CMCO and Kito Crosby compete head-to-head to develop, manufacture, distribute, and sell electric chain hoists and overhead lifting chain. Without the proposed divestiture, CMCO’s acquisition of Kito Crosby would likely result in higher prices, lower quality, and reduced innovation to the detriment of customers.
The proposed settlement requires CMCO to divest its power chain hoist business, including electric chain hoists, and its chain business, including overhead lifting chain, to Pacific Avenue Capital Partners LLC, an American company with significant experience in industrial manufacturing. Pacific Avenue Capital Partners is expected to hire certain key CMCO employees that today support the divested businesses.
CMCO is an American multinational company, with its headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2024, CMCO had revenues of approximately $1 billion.
Kito Crosby is a U.K. multinational company with its headquarters in Arlington, Texas. In 2024, Kito Crosby reported $1.1 billion in revenue.
KKR is an American multinational company with its headquarters in New York, New York.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Soyoung Choe, Acting Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, DC 20530 or via email at [email protected]. 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; the Complaint here; and the Competitive Impact Statement here.
Indian National Indicted for Smuggling Illegal Aliens Across Canadian Border into United StatesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of New York returned an indictment on Jan. 28, 2026, charging an Indian national for his role in a scheme to smuggle Indian nationals from Canada across the northern border into the United States.
According to court documents, Shivam Lnu, 22, directed smuggling operations from January 2025 through June 2025, coordinating the illegal transport of aliens across the U.S.-Canada border into Clinton County, New York. On Jan. 26, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents attempted to stop two vehicles traveling in tandem near the U.S-Canada border. Both vehicles accelerated to avoid agents, triggering a pursuit. One vehicle went off the road and became immobilized, while the other was later stopped in Mooers, New York. The vehicles contained a total of 12 undocumented aliens. WhatsApp messages between one of the drivers and a number connected to Shivam allegedly revealed coordination of smuggling illegal aliens into the U.S. from Canada on numerous occasions in and prior to January 2025, including exchanging proof of life photographs and directions to safe houses in upstate New York.
Shivam is charged with one count of conspiracy to illegally bring aliens to the United States and four counts of illegally bringing aliens to the United States for the purpose of private financial gain. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. If convicted of all four counts of illegally bringing aliens to the United States, Shivam faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of fifteen years. Shivam was initially charged by criminal complaint on June 13, 2025, with one count of conspiracy to transport aliens.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/ HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 435 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 385 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The HSI Rouses Point and U.S. Border Patrol Burke Station are investigating the case, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.
Trial Attorney Chelsea Schinnour of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt of the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illinois Woman Sentenced to over 25 Years in Prison for Her Role in Iowa Drug RingRead the Press Release
Nichole Marie Schmidt, age 43, from Galesburg, Illinois, was sentenced today to over 25 years in federal prison.
Schmidt received the prison term after a June 3, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and 50 grams of pure methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice.”
Evidence at the sentencing showed that between February 2024 and September 2024, Schmidt received pound quantities of methamphetamine from her source in Chicago, Illinois. Schmidt then distributed the methamphetamine to others in Iowa, knowing they would redistribute the drugs throughout the state.
In September 2024, Schmidt met her ex-husband in Davenport, Iowa,
where Schmidt rented a car. Schmidt’s ex-husband drove the rental car to Chicago, where he picked up drugs and a gun for Schmidt and a co-conspirator. Schmidt’s ex-husband then returned to Davenport, where he gave the drugs and gun to Schmidt and the co-conspirator. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers stopped the car Schmidt was driving. Her co-conspirator was in the passenger seat. During a search of the car, officers found approximately 12 pounds of pure methamphetamine, oxycodone, LSD, MDMA, cocaine, marijuana, and a loaded gun. Schmidt admitted that she intended to distribute the drugs to people throughout Iowa. In total, the court found Schmidt’s role in the conspiracy involved over 9,000,000 kilograms of converted drug weight, which included over 450 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, an amount the judge described as “astronomical.”
Schmidt has two prior felony drug convictions, including a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.
Schmidt was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Schmidt was sentenced to 304 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery, and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-1021.
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Illinois Woman Sentenced to over 25 Years in Prison for Her Role in Iowa Drug RingRead the Press Release
Nichole Marie Schmidt, age 43, from Galesburg, Illinois, was sentenced today to over 25 years in federal prison.
Schmidt received the prison term after a June 3, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and 50 grams of pure methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice.”
Evidence at the sentencing showed that between February 2024 and September 2024, Schmidt received pound quantities of methamphetamine from her source in Chicago, Illinois. Schmidt then distributed the methamphetamine to others in Iowa, knowing they would redistribute the drugs throughout the state.
In September 2024, Schmidt met her ex-husband in Davenport, Iowa,
where Schmidt rented a car. Schmidt’s ex-husband drove the rental car to Chicago, where he picked up drugs and a gun for Schmidt and a co-conspirator. Schmidt’s ex-husband then returned to Davenport, where he gave the drugs and gun to Schmidt and the co-conspirator. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers stopped the car Schmidt was driving. Her co-conspirator was in the passenger seat. During a search of the car, officers found approximately 12 pounds of pure methamphetamine, oxycodone, LSD, MDMA, cocaine, marijuana, and a loaded gun. Schmidt admitted that she intended to distribute the drugs to people throughout Iowa. In total, the court found Schmidt’s role in the conspiracy involved over 9,000,000 kilograms of converted drug weight, which included over 450 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, an amount the judge described as “astronomical.”
Schmidt has two prior felony drug convictions, including a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.
Schmidt was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Schmidt was sentenced to 304 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery, and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-1021.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Illinois Church Official Arrested, Accused of Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A church official from Illinois was arrested on a child pornography charge Wednesday and appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Thursday.
Michael William Mohr, 54, of Springfield, was charged by complaint Wednesday in St. Louis with one count of producing child pornography. He will be held in jail until trial after waiving his right to a detention hearing.
The affidavit in support of the complaint alleges that a court-approved search of Mohr’s home in Springfield found storage devices that contained videos of three juveniles in the bathroom. A search of a residence used by Mohr in Vandalia uncovered a hidden camera disguised as a wall clock and one disguised as a Bluetooth speaker, the affidavit says. The investigation began after one of the juveniles told the Vandalia Police Department that he discovered a camera disguised as an electronic device charger in a hotel bathroom. The discovery happened the morning after the juvenile awoke to discover Mohr standing above him and masturbating, believing the victim was asleep, the affidavit says. The juvenile was in shock and acted like he was still asleep, the affidavit says.
Mohr is the president of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
A charge set forth in a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and does not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI. Submit information via tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
FBI St. Louis and St. Louis County Police investigated the case with assistance from FBI Springfield (Illinois) and the Vandalia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.