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Friday 5 December 2025
15 Alleged Members of Drug Trafficking Organization IndictedRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Fifteen alleged members of a drug trafficking organization responsible for a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute large quantities of marijuana and for a conspiracy to commit money laundering in West Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, and California have been charged in a 2-count federal indictment. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the unsealed indictment today.
On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 14 of the defendants were taken into custody by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. One remains a fugitive.
The following defendants have been indicted for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana:
- Myron Armstrong, aka “BG”, 49 - Memphis, Tennessee
- Chad Hendricks, 34 - Milburn, Oklahoma
- Ping Huang, aka “Jason”, 44 - People’s Republic of China
- Carlos Atkins, aka “Papa Smurf”, aka “Lo”, 52 - Memphis, Tennessee
- Kevin Brandon, aka “Bam”, 40 - Millington, Tennessee
- Brandon Burkett, 41 - Magnolia, Texas
- Ricio Conner, 50 - Jackson, Tennessee
- Willie Love, aka “June Bug”, 51 - Memphis, Tennessee
- Prenston Moore, aka “Twin”, 44 - Memphis, Tennessee
- Thomas Smith, aka “TC”, 47 - Memphis, Tennessee
- Cris Thetford, 44 - Durant, Oklahoma
- Raevyn Tuggle, 28 - Memphis, Tennessee
- Terrance Wash, aka “Car Wash”, aka “Rick Ross”, 45 - Memphis, Tennessee
- Anthony Williams, aka “Ant”, 41 - Allen, Texas
According to the indictment, beginning at a time unknown but from at least on or about June 1, 2024, to November 18, 2025, the defendants intentionally conspired with each other to unlawfully possess with the intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana.
Additionally, Myron Armstrong, Chad Hendricks, Ping Huang, Carlos Atkins, Brandon Burkett, Thomas Smith, Raevyn Tuggle, and Anthony Williams were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering in Count 2 of the indictment.
During the course of the investigative operation named “Been Getting Bags,” and subsequent arrests on December 3, 2025, law enforcement officers seized approximately 207 pounds of marijuana, 2 ounces of crack cocaine, approximately 1,850 cultivated marijuana plants in Oklahoma and Tennessee, 2 kilo presses, approximately $550,000 in U.S. currency, approximately 50 firearms, 1 marijuana grow lab in Oklahoma, 1 marijuana grow lab in Memphis, and jewelry and luxury vehicles valued at over one million dollars. Additional federal charges related to these seizures are possible.
All fifteen defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years in federal prison and fines of up to $10 million or both for the controlled substance conspiracy charge.
The penalty for money laundering conspiracy is not more than 20 years in federal prison, and fines of not more than $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Criminal enterprises that distribute harmful drugs into West Tennessee can no longer hide. We are taking the fight to the drug trafficking organizations to dismantle their distribution networks, enforce the rule of law, and remove them from our streets. I commend the outstanding investigative efforts led by DEA and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in this important and impactful case."
“This investigation, which originated from a narcotics complaint in the Western District of Tennessee, ultimately uncovered a large, multi-state marijuana cultivation and trafficking network with tentacles reaching into communities across our country,” said Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Field Division. “The quantity of drugs seized is significant and the firepower we recovered highlight a simple truth: drug trafficking organizations are violent by design, regardless of the drug involved. The DEA and our law enforcement partners are committed to following every lead, wherever it may take us, to shut down any criminal enterprise that threatens public safety, and we won’t rest until all those involved are brought to justice.”
“Cases like this highlight the value of partnerships”, said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS-CI plays a crucial role in combating financial crimes while collaborating with financial institutions and federal agency partners within the Homeland Security Task Force, particularly those focused on money laundering, drugs, and transnational crime. IRS-CI special agents are skilled financial investigators who can unravel complex financial transactions and money laundering schemes where criminals try to hide illicit activities. We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of crimes by following the money and protecting our community by disrupting drug trafficking organizations.”
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO); Memphis Police Department (MPD); and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Also assisting in the operation were the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP). Collierville Police Department (CPD); Germantown Police Department (GPD); Jackson Tennessee Police Department (JPD) Gang Unit; United States Marshal Service (USMS); DEA offices in Oxford, Mississippi, Los Angeles, California, Galveston, Texas, and Dallas, Texas; Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics; Texas Department of Safety; and Desoto County, Mississippi S.W.A.T assisted with arrests, searches and other processes.
Assistant United States Attorney Greg Allen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
11 Charged in Multi-state Fentanyl, Meth, and Cocaine Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced the unsealing of a federal indictment Dec. 3 charging 11 people allegedly involved in connection with a drug trafficking organization operating in Cuyahoga County.
According to the indictment, from about August 2023 to April 2024, members of the conspiracy are accused of supplying and/or distributing controlled substances that included fentanyl, oxycodone, and alprazolam pills, as well as methamphetamine and cocaine.
Conspiracy members operated throughout Greater Cleveland, with a significant amount of illegal activity taking place at an apartment complex in Euclid. Money and illegal drugs were collected from various individuals and then transported to and from Michigan and Pennsylvania.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Joseph O. Dixon of the DEA Detroit Field Division.
All defendants are from Cleveland unless otherwise noted:
- Dionte Dykes, aka Dots, 31, is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
- Distribution of Fentanyl.
- Distribution of Cocaine.
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Prior convictions include Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs in 2012, and Delivery/Manufacture of Narcotic or Cocaine in 2018.
- Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
- Javian Hearns, aka Skeens, 34, is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Distribution of Fentanyl.
- Clarence Jackson, aka Cino, 33, is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Distribution of Methamphetamine.
- Distribution of Fentanyl.
- Trevaughn Bassett, 26, is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Distribution of Fentanyl.
- Michael Chambers, aka Do-Do, 26, is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Distribution of Methamphetamine.
- Akia Bailey, aka Ky Free, 32, is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Distribution of Fentanyl and Oxycodone.
- Raveona Carter, 30, of Detroit, is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
- Keith Dykes, aka Beefy, 29, is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Distribution of Cocaine.
- Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
- Robert Avery, aka Black, 31, is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Distribution of Cocaine.
- Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
- Liam Walsh, 36, is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
- Amber Slone, 32, is charged with:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.
- Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigations leading to the indictments were conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), along with the Euclid Police Department, the Independence Police Department, the Mayfield Heights Department, and SPAN Narcotics.
Assistant United States Attorney Margaret A. Sweeney is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
The assistance of the U.S. Marshals is also acknowledged for providing related support for this crime reduction initiative.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
- Dionte Dykes, aka Dots, 31, is charged with:
Thursday 4 December 2025
‘Insider’ who facilitated $345,000 bank fraud scheme sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle –A Tacoma woman who used her brief employment with the victim credit union to steal account information of customers so that conspirators could take over the accounts and steal the funds, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 30 m0nths in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. Aneicia Ford, 32, began stealing account information from some 23 victims within weeks of the start of her employment. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead said, “What you did was serious… Your employer trusted you with access to customers’ more personal information…. Real people suffered real harm from the actions that you took.”
According to records filed in the case, between May and August 2022, Aneicia Ford worked out of her Tacoma home as a contact center employee who helped customers with account issues. In that role, she had access to personally identifying information about customers of the credit union. Although Ford’s role in the conspiracy was relatively simple, she nonetheless independently analyzed the victims’ accounts to ensure a specific account would be a fruitful and viable target for the conspirators. Only Ford had access to information such as the amount of funds available, or the age or profession of an individual victim. The first account takeover in the scheme occurred just days after Ford completed her training to be a customer service representative for the credit union.
The personally identifying information Ford stole was distributed by 23-year-old codefendant Dangelo Roberts, who with other conspirators used it to access and steal from customer accounts.
Using the stolen account information, Roberts provided other conspirators with false IDs and used them to get debit cards and to make withdrawals from the victims’ accounts, often at the credit union’s branches. After obtaining increases to the ATM withdrawal limits, the conspirators obtained as much as $25,000 in cash. The conspirators would also spend victims’ funds by ordering cashier’s checks or purchasing postal money orders that they made payable to other conspirators or their associates. They used their illegal access to transfer money between accounts and check balances on accounts.
In all, the scheme stole approximately $345,014 from accounts at the victim credit union. The victim credit union suffered that loss, making all the account holders whole.
Ford pleaded guilty on May 20, 2025. Dangelo Roberts was sentenced last month to three years in prison for his role in the scheme.
In asking for a 30-month prison sentence for Ford, prosecutors wrote to the court, “Ford knowingly joined in the conspiracy shortly after starting a new job— following training instructing her not to do precisely what she did—and she contributed to the conspiracy for months. The credit union’s electronic logs demonstrate that Ford accessed the victims’ accounts on multiple occasions throughout the course of her employment (and not, for instance, all 23 accounts at once). The account takeovers in this case could not have occurred without the personally identifying information she stole.”
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG) and the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly.
Virginia Laboratory to Pay $758,000 to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks to Doctors and MarketersRead the Press Release
Note: View settlement here.
Clinical laboratory NEXT Bio-Research Services LLC, doing business as NEXT Molecular Analytics (NEXT), of Chester, Virginia, has agreed to pay at least $758,000 to the United States to resolve False Claims Act allegations involving illegal kickbacks to doctors and marketers. NEXT has agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice’s investigations of, and litigation against, other participants in the alleged schemes.
“This settlement shows DOJ’s commitment to rooting out illegal kickback schemes that have no place in our federal health care programs,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department is committed to pursuing these important investigations and health care fraud enforcement across the board.”
“Physicians should make decisions based the best interests of their patients, not their own personal financial interests,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California. “This settlement demonstrates my office’s commitment to taking all appropriate action to prevent improper inducements that can corrupt the integrity of physician-patient relationships.”
“Violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute are not victimless crimes — they compromise the integrity of medical decision-making and betray the trust patients place in their providers,” stated Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “When health care decisions are shaped by hidden financial motives, patients may be misled, unnecessary services may be rendered, and taxpayer-funded programs may be manipulated for personal gain. HHS-OIG is resolutely committed to holding participants in federal health care programs fully accountable to the law.”
The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally funded health care programs. It is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients.
Under the settlement with the United States, NEXT has agreed to pay $758,000, plus additional amounts if certain financial contingencies occur. The settlement resolves allegations that NEXT knowingly and willfully paid kickbacks to induce laboratory testing referrals. NEXT allegedly paid doctors in Texas and Arkansas thousands of dollars in kickbacks, which were disguised as consulting fees and medical director fees but actually were offered to induce the doctor to order NEXT laboratory tests. NEXT also allegedly paid commissions based on the volume and value of referrals to certain independent contractor marketers to arrange for and recommend that doctors order NEXT laboratory tests. The settlement resolves allegations that NEXT billed Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE for the laboratory tests despite knowing of these kickbacks.
The settlement resolves certain allegations in a lawsuit originally filed by Sunil Wadhwa and Ken Newton under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government and receive a share of any recovery. Relators will receive $113,700 of the proceeds from the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Wadhwa and Newton v. Admera Health LLC, et al. (E.D. Cal.).
The settlement announced today was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of New Jersey and the Eastern District of California, with assistance from HHS-OIG. It was handled by Trial Attorneys Christopher Terranova and Elizabeth J. Kappakas in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kruti Dharia for the District of New Jersey, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine J. Swann for the Eastern District of California. The United States previously settled related allegations with NEXT’s National Sales Director and NEXT’s independent contractor marketers OC Genetic Consultants Inc. and Ralston Health Group Inc.
The government’s pursuit of these matters illustrates its emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
NEXT Settlement Agreement.pdfVirginia Woman Pleads Guilty to Introducing Methamphetamine into Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Ashley Mullins, 40, of Appalachia, Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court to introducing methamphetamine into the Tallahassee Federal Correctional Institution (FCI). The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The introduction of contraband into a federal prison poses a safety threat to correctional officers and the inmates housed at the facility. I applaud the excellent work of the federal officers in this case who intercepted these deadly drugs the defendant was attempting to smuggle into prison, as well as the successful prosecution by my office to ensure the smuggler is held accountable for her crime.”
According to court records, the defendant was detected by a Bureau of Prisons officer walking with an object bulging in her pocket. The officer directed the defendant to empty her pockets and discovered several contraband items, including a crystal substance and a crystal powder substance in a bag. Later forensic testing confirmed the substances were methamphetamine.
Mullins faces up to twenty-years’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release when she is sentenced.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Services Unit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric Welch.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit theU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Urbandale Man Charged with Making False Statements on Loan Applications and in Bankruptcy ProceedingsRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – On November 13, 2025, a federal grand jury in Des Moines returned a three-count indictment with offenses relating to false statements on two loan applications and during bankruptcy proceedings.
As alleged in the Indictment, Henry J. Schappert, 57, applied for and obtained over $415,000 of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in 2020 and 2021 ostensibly on behalf of his company, Allied Exteriors. The Indictment alleges that Schappert made several false statements on applications or amended applications for the loans which included inflated number of employees, revenue, cost of goods sold, and employee wages.
The Indictment further alleges that Schappert, in 2021, after receiving the EIDL and PPP loan proceeds, formed Pots and Shots, LLC, a bar and plant store in West Des Moines, Iowa. Schappert subsequently transferred over $129,000 from Allied Exteriors’ accounts to this new venture.
The Indictment also alleges that Schappert filed for bankruptcy in the Southern District of Iowa in 2024, in which he made several false declarations on his bankruptcy petition and schedules.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee.
Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Lubben is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney's Office Hosts Annual Meeting of the Western District's Health Care Fraud Working GroupRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced today the annual meeting of the Western District’s Health Care Fraud Working Group, a partnership of federal and state agencies focused on combating health care fraud and protecting taxpayer dollars in the Western District of North Carolina.
The Health Care Fraud Working Group’s mission is to collaborate to effectively uncover health care fraud schemes and hold accountable those who are responsible for the fraud. The Working Group is comprised of investigators, analysts, auditors, and attorneys from federal and state agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the North Carolina Attorney General’s Medicaid Investigations Division, and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Medicaid Recipient Fraud Unit.
At today’s meeting, U.S. Attorney Ferguson recognized the contributions of partner agencies in the Western District’s successful pursuit of criminal charges and civil claims against perpetrators of health care fraud in the district.
“Of the $5 trillion per year spent on healthcare in the United States, 45% is through government programs. That massive figure makes it hard to detect complex healthcare fraud; it simply cannot be done without strong partnerships and collaboration,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “But it is critical work—not just because we must protect taxpayer money, but because healthcare fraud increases medical costs and insurance premiums for everyone.”
If you suspect Medicare or Medicaid fraud, please report it by phone at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477), or online at https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/
To report Medicaid fraud in North Carolina, call the North Carolina Medicaid Investigations Division at 919-881-2320 or fill out an online complaint form.
To report TRICARE fraud, contact the appropriate contractor identified at https://tricare.mil/PatientResources/ContactUs/ReportFraudAbuse
Fraud against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system can be reported at www.vaoig.gov/hotline.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones Meets with Monroe County Leadership to Strengthen Public Safety and Environmental Protection PartnershipsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – United States Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones met this week with Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay, State Attorney Dennis Ward, and Monroe County Mayor Michelle Lincoln to discuss ongoing efforts to protect public safety and preserve the natural resources of the Florida Keys.
The meeting focused on the strong collaboration between federal, state, and local partners in areas including violent crime, narcotics trafficking, environmental enforcement, and maritime interdiction. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones reaffirmed the continued commitment of federal resources, personnel, and joint operations to support Monroe County’s priorities.
During the visit, Mayor Michelle Lincoln honored U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones by naming him an Honorary Conch, a distinction reserved for those who have earned the trust of the Keys community but were not born in the Keys. The recognition reflects the long-standing partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Monroe County in protecting residents, visitors, and the fragile ecosystem that defines the island chain.
“Monroe County is a model of how public safety, environmental stewardship, and community partnership can work together,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones. “Sheriff Ramsay, State Attorney Ward, and Mayor Lincoln are doing exceptional work for the people of the Keys. I am deeply grateful to be named an Honorary Conch, and our Office will continue to bring federal resources, coordination, and resolve to protect residents and to safeguard the extraordinary natural environment that makes Monroe County unlike anywhere else.”
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones emphasized that the Southern District of Florida will continue working closely with Monroe County leadership to strengthen enforcement efforts, support community safety initiatives, and preserve the protected ecosystems of the Keys.
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Two Marion County Men Sentenced to Ten Years for Distribution of Fentanyl and HeroinRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Gerald Douglas Dandridge, Jr. (25, Ocala) to 10 years in federal prison for six counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin. Scott Weaver (38, Anthony), Dandridge’s co-defendant, also was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison of his role in five of the six counts. Both men entered guilty pleas in early 2025.
According to court documents, on five occasions between May and December 2023, Dandridge and Weaver worked together to sell fentanyl and heroin to a confidential informant who was cooperating with law enforcement. Dandridge also separately sold fentanyl to the confidential informant in February and March of 2024. Dandridge and Weaver both have been previously convicted of offenses involving the possession with intent to distribute or sale of controlled substances.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
Two Marion County Men Indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Reshawn Graham (36, Ocala) and Tyrone Pierson (29, Ocala) with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. If convicted, each faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to court documents, on October 7, 2025, an undercover law enforcement officer negotiated the purchase of a pound of methamphetamine with Graham. Later that day, Pierson met with the undercover officer and told her the source of supply was delayed. The next day, Graham again reached out to the undercover officer and stated that Pierson now had the methamphetamine. Afterward, Graham and Pierson were arrested by law enforcement at a predetermined meeting location. Pierson was wearing a bag that contained approximately 438 grams of methamphetamine.
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 Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
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).
Two Individuals Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted two individuals on child exploitation charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
The following defendants were indicted:
- A nine-count indictment charges Victor Adear Vanderslice, 44, of Columbiana, Alabama, with transportation of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, attempted transfer of obscene material to minors, and penalties for registered sex offenders. The incidents occurred between October 3, 2024, and December 19, 2024, in Shelby County, Alabama.
- A one-count indictment charges Victor Arturo Angeles-Garcia, 36, Huntsville, Alabama, with possession of child pornography. The incident occurred in June 2025 in Jefferson County, Alabama.
If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. Reports can be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
These cases were investigated by federal law enforcement partners from FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant US Attorney Dan McBrayer is prosecuting the case against Defendant Vanderslice. Assistant US Attorney W. Lee Gilmer is prosecuting the case against Defendant Angeles-Garcia.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Fayette County Men Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, Jawuan Akil Watts, 31, of Oak Hill, was sentenced to eight years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and Lesley Scott Watkins, 50, of Oak Hill, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, each for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 4, 2024, Watts and other individuals broke into a Fayette County pawn shop on three occasions while the business was closed and stole 33 firearms, ammunition, coins, and a gaming console. Watts traded, sold, or gave many of the firearms to others in the Oak Hill community including individuals with felony convictions. Watkins obtained several of the stolen firearms. On July 6, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Watkins’ residence after he sold two of the stolen firearms to a confidential informant. Officers found three firearms during the search, including two that were stolen from the pawn shop. Sixteen of the stolen firearms have not been recovered.
As part of their guilty pleas, Watts admitted that he possessed a Heritage Manufacturing model Rough Rider .22-caliber revolver and a Colt model Peacemaker .22-caliber revolver in Fayette County on July 6, 2024, and Watkins admitted that he possessed an HS Product model XD-S .45-caliber pistol and a Sig Sauer model P220 45-caliber pistol in Fayette County on July 5, 2024.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Watts knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for burglary in Raleigh County Circuit Court on July 11, 2014. Watkins knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for delivery of a controlled substance in Fayette County Circuit Court on September 24, 2008.
Watts has a criminal history that also includes two additional felony convictions and four misdemeanor convictions for property and drug possession offenses.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oak Hill Police Department.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorneys D. Keith Randolph and Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the cases.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:25-cr-92 (Watkins) and 2:25-cr-93 (Watts).
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Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Dealing Anti-Materiel RiflesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Filiberto Walle, 24, of Edinburgh, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license, and one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
According to the plea agreement, between approximately August 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023, Walle made a business of obtaining .50 BMG caliber rifles from legitimate federal firearms licensees in Colorado, which Walle then dealt unlawfully in the State of Texas and elsewhere. These rifles are also known as anti-materiel rifles which are designed for use against military equipment, structures, and other hardware targets. Walle conspired with others to conceal the fact that he was the actual purchaser of the firearms. For example, Walle arranged for third parties to complete what’s known as a straw transfer, where those parties completed the required background checks to gain physical possession of the firearms and then provide them to Walle.
The ATF’s investigation also led to federal convictions against others who committed their own firearms crimes when facilitating Walle’s illegal firearms dealing:
Mohamed Savane: 23-cr-468-RMR (convicted of Conspiracy to Engage in the Business of Dealing Firearms Without a License);
Malcolm Johnson: 23-cr-468-RMR (convicted of Making a False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm);
Adrian Cervantes: 24-cr-270-CNS (convicted of Making a False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm);
Torien Pryor-Parson: 24-cr-353-REB (convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Making a False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm and Retaliation Against a Witness or Informant).
United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the hearing. Sentencing will be held on January 30, 2026.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 24-cr-00270-CNS
St. Pete Man Sentenced to 27 Years for Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Attempted Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced David Araujo (57, St. Petersburg) to 27 years and 3 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Araujo entered a guilty plea on July 23, 2025.
According to the plea agreement and court records, in July 2024 during an operation hosted by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, an undercover officer from the Ocala Police Department posed online as a 14-year-old prostitute (UC). Araujo messaged the UC and, after learning the UC’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the UC. During the conversation, Araujo also described to the UC a prior relationship he had had with another minor. Araujo was arrested by law enforcement when he drove from St. Petersburg to Marion County to meet with the UC to engage in sexual activity. A search of Araujo’s cellphone revealed he had produced CSAM with the previous minor victim on September 25, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
St. Louis Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Multiple RobberiesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced a man who robbed a bank and a mobile phone store and who was foiled in another robbery to 12 years in prison.
Kentrell Jones, 42, robbed a bank in Jennings, Missouri on Jan. 20, 2022, by handling a note to a teller and implying that he had a gun. On Feb. 14, 2022, Jones tried to rob a mobile phone store on South Grand Boulevard in St. Louis by demanding money from an employee at gunpoint. The employee foiled the robbery by fleeing into a bathroom and locking the door. Jones then went to a mobile phone store on Kingshighway Boulevard in St. Louis and robbed the store of cell phones and cash while armed.
Jones pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in August to robbery, attempted robbery, bank robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The FBI, St. Louis County Police Department and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Finlen and Nino Przulj prosecuted the case.
St. Louis Man Found Guilty of Selling Fatal Dose of FentanylRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Thursday found a St. Louis man guilty of selling the fentanyl that killed an 18-year-old woman in 2023.
Jurors convicted Bobby Lee Jones, 27, of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Jones’ started Monday.
The 18-year-old victim initially reached out to Jones on the morning of Jan. 15, 2023, asking in a text message for marijuana, evidence and testimony during the trial showed. After a series of messages, he offered to also sell her the pain pill Percocet, and they met shortly after 7 p.m. to exchange cash for the drugs, the messages show. But the pills were fake and contained a fatal dose of fentanyl, evidence showed. Around midnight, when her boyfriend tried to reach her, she was not answering calls or texts. He found her the next day.
Jones’ sentencing has yet to be scheduled. The fentanyl charge carries a penalty of at least 20 years in prison.
Jones’ trial on unrelated carjacking and firearm charges is scheduled for January 5, 2026. Charges set forth in that indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Szczucinski and Nicholas Lake are prosecuting the case.
St. Albans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jonathan Kennedy, 45, of St. Albans, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between May and August 2025, Kennedy participated in a conspiracy that distributed methamphetamine in St. Albans and elsewhere. As part of his guilty plea, Kennedy admitted that a co-conspirator in California shipped several pounds of methamphetamine to locations in Kanawha County during the time period. Kennedy further admitted that he took possession of the methamphetamine and re-distributed it after arranging for another co-conspirator to pick up the shipments at the delivery locations.
Kennedy also admitted that he provided half-pound quantities of methamphetamine to a co-conspirator in St. Albans on May 30, 2025, and June 24, 2025, each time after the co-conspirator contacted him seeking methamphetamine for re-distribution to a customer. On June 25, 2025, Kennedy distributed approximately 690 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in St. Albans.
On August 22, 2025, law enforcement officers intercepted a package en route to a Dunbar address and found it contained approximately 38 pounds of methamphetamine. Officers replaced most of the methamphetamine with a non-narcotic substance before the package was delivered to the Dunbar address. Kennedy admitted that he arranged for a co-conspirator to pick up the package and deliver it to a St. Albans address where Kennedy later took possession of it. Officers approached and arrested Kennedy shortly after he picked up the package.
At the time of this offense, Kennedy was serving a term of supervised release as a result of his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm on October 4, 2022.
Kennedy is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-166.
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South Texas Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl, MethRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Cotulla man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 121 months in prison for transporting fentanyl and methamphetamine from Eagle Pass to San Antonio.
According to court documents, in October 2021, Jesus Roberto Tellez, 42, was seen picking up a backpack containing narcotics from an Eagle Pass residence. Eagle Pass Police Department officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle occupied by Tellez and further investigation revealed that the backpack contained a total of nine bundles with 4.3 kilograms of methamphetamine and 498.4 grams of fentanyl pills. Tellez admitted to twice previously trafficking narcotics from Eagle Pass to San Antonio in the preceding four months.
Tellez was indicted Dec. 1, 2021, and pleaded guilty on Aug. 20, 2025. He was sentenced on Dec. 3 by U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Eagle Pass Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Spears prosecuted the case.
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Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on December 1, 2025.
Willard Menard, 61, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison to be served consecutively to a state prison sentence of two years, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Menard was indicted Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on September 2, 2025.
Menard was previously convicted of a federal sex offense. Because of his prior conviction, he was required to register as a sex offender. Menard was aware of his obligation to register and to keep his registration current with officials within the county in which he resided. From early January through April 2025, Menard knowingly failed to register and update his registration.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Jeremy Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Menard was immediately returned to state custody to continue serving a state sentence. Following that term of imprisonment, he will be remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
This case was brought as a 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 the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on December 1, 2025.
Michael Spath, II, 35, was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, fine, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Spath was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 27, 2025.
On September 4, 2024, Sioux Falls Police responded to a report of an incident at Spath’s residence in Sioux Falls. While investigating the incident, police found two firearms under a nightstand next to Spath’s bed. Spath is prohibited from possessing firearms due to having multiple prior felony convictions.
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). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Sioux Falls Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Spath was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux City Man Guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
A man who possessed with the intent to distribute fentanyl pled guilty on December 4, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.
Alfredo Soberanes, age 31, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
At the plea hearing, pursuant to a plea agreement, Soberanes admitted that around midnight on August 31, 2023, in Sioux City, Iowa, law enforcement attempted a traffic stop on his vehicle. Soberanes first stopped his vehicle, however, when law enforcement began to approach, he drove away. Law enforcement did not pursue the vehicle but went to the address in Sioux City associated with the vehicle registration. Another person answered the door, and stated they knew Soberanes, but that he was not at the residence. Law enforcement was given permission to search the residence. Soberanes was ultimately located hiding in the basement, and he was arrested. Found in Soberanes’ possession at arrest was, amongst other illicit items, a digital scale, a firearm, and over 2,500 pills containing fentanyl.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Soberanes remains in the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Soberanes faces a minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, and four years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-04046. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Shiprock Man Charged for Violent AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man has been charged after an alleged assault left a victim seriously injured.
According to court documents. on November 18, 2025, Darrell Joe Ben, Jr., 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly assaulted the victim following a day of drinking. Multiple witnesses contacted emergency services. When officers arrived, they observed the victim with serious injuries consistent with assault and immediately detained Ben at the scene.
The victim was transported to a local hospital and received treatment for serious injuries before being transferred for further care. During a subsequent interview, Ben acknowledged drinking heavily but did not provide a clear account of how the victim’s injuries occurred.
Ben is charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. Ben faces 10 years in prison if convicted of the current charges.
Acting 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Serial Kidnapper and Rapist Charged FederallyRead the Press Release
Abdimahat Bille Mohamed, 28, was charged by complaint with Kidnapping a Minor and Kidnapping, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. As detailed in the complaint, Mohamed kidnapped and raped a 15-year-old girl in 2017 and an adult woman in 2025. In between, he raped at least three other women.
“This Somali national in Minnesota is charged with raping a minor and multiple adult women before being detained — only to be quickly released by a local court, after which he committed yet another rape. This horrific case illustrates how left-wing soft-on-crime policies and vetting failures put innocent people at dire risk. If Minnesota will not protect its own people, the Department of Justice will do it for them,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
“The allegations are sickening — multiple kidnappings and rapes, including against minors — and they happened in a state that has chosen ideology over public safety. Minnesota’s radical soft-on-crime policies created an environment where predators believe they can act without consequence. President Trump was elected to restore law and order, and under Attorney General Bondi, this Department is making sure violent criminals like this will face real justice and spend the rest of their natural lives in federal prison,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
“Given the history of the state prosecution of Abdimahat Bille Mohamed, my office will aggressively prosecute this serial rapist,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
On December 3, 2025, federal law enforcement received information concerning violent kidnappings and rapes committed by Mohamed in Minnesota. Law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office immediately investigated and found that, as set forth in the Complaint, there is probable cause to believe that Mohamed committed a string of disturbing sexual assaults—several of them gang rapes—of at least five victims between 2017 and 2025, many following the same pattern. Mohamed faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment and up to a sentence of life for his crimes.
On December 12, 2017, Mohamed and two others kidnapped and raped a 15-year-old girl (Minor Victim 1). Minor Victim 1 met Mohamed online, on the social media platform Snapchat. Mohamed agreed to give Minor Victim 1 a ride and picked her up in St. Paul. Instead of driving her to her requested location, Mohamed drove Minor Victim 1 to Minneapolis against her will. Mohamed parked his car in Minneapolis. Suddenly, two more men got in the car. One of them was holding a short-barreled silver revolver. The man pointed the gun at Minor Victim 1’s head and said, “give my brother some head or I’ll blow your head off.” Minor Victim 1 was forced to perform oral sex on one of the two men. Minor Victim 1 was then sexually assaulted by Mohamed. Minor Victim 1 was forced—at gunpoint and in fear for her life—to perform oral sex on Mohamed. He then raped her vaginally. After the group sexually assaulted the girl, they let her out of the car. Minor Victim 1 ran, hid, and called the police. The police took Minor Victim 1 to the hospital, and she consented to a sexual assault exam. On September 17, 2024, after Mohamed’s DNA was taken in connection with another sexual assault, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) laboratory matched Mohamed’s DNA to the swabs taken from Minor Victim 1’s body, excluding more than 99.99% of the general population.
On February 7, 2018, Mohamed and two others raped an adult woman (Victim 2). In the early morning hours of that day, Roseville police received a call from a Lyft driver, reporting that he had a woman in his car who had been sexually assaulted by three men. Police responded to the scene and interviewed Victim 2. She explained that a man she knew from Instagram picked her up in his car. He and two other men held her against her will in the car. The men raped Victim 2. After they were done sexually assaulting her, the men released Victim 2, telling her the cops were coming. Victim 2 ran to a Motel 6 to charge her phone and called a Lyft to pick her up. When Victim 2 told her Lyft driver what happened, he called 911. Police took Victim 2 to the hospital, where she consented to a sexual assault exam. Police located condoms in a car that had been on the scene. The BCA connected Mohamed’s known DNA sample to the DNA from a recovered condom.
On May 8, 2018, Mohamed and another man kidnapped and raped an adult woman (Victim 3). Victim 3 knew Mohamed from Snapchat but had never met him in person before. Mohamed drove to Victim 3’s house in St. Paul and Victim 3 sat with him in his car. Victim 3 asked Mohamed for a pack of cigarettes. Instead, Mohamed began to drive away. Victim 3 protested, explaining she couldn’t leave her apartment, as her son was inside. But Mohamed continued to drive and locked the car doors so that Victim 3 could not escape. Mohamed drove Victim 3 to Minneapolis. He pulled the car into an alley, where Mohamed raped Victim 3. After the rape, a second man got into the backseat. He was holding a black semi-automatic handgun. He pointed the handgun at Victim 3’s head and said, “If you don’t give me head you’re not going to live.” Victim 3 then performed oral sex on the second man, under threat of her life. After they were done, Mohamed and the other man pushed Victim 3 out of the car. Victim 3 ran until she arrived at a gas station. She asked for directions to the light rail, which she took back to St. Paul. She then contacted the St. Paul Police, who took Victim 3 to the hospital, where she consented to a sexual assault exam. In September 2024 the BCA laboratory matched Mohamed’s DNA to the swabs taken from Victim 3, excluding more than 99.99% of the general population.
On May 30, 2024, Mohamed raped an adult woman (Victim 4). Victim 4 knew Mohamed from Snapchat. Mohamed picked up Victim 4 and her sister in his car and, instead of taking them for something to eat, drove the two women to his apartment in Minneapolis. Mohamed carried Victim 4 to his bedroom and threw her on the bed and closed the door. Mohamed tried to force Victim 4 to give him oral sex. When she refused, Mohamed raped her. Mohamed told Victim 4 that if she didn’t have sex with him, he would get a gun from his car and shoot her or her sister. Victim 4’s sister heard screaming and her sister saying stop. Victim 4’s sister opened the door and saw Mohamed on top of her sister. Mohamed threatened to kill Victim 4’s sister and told her to leave. Victim 4’s sister fled the building and called the police. When the police arrived, they found Victim 4 and Mohamed in his apartment. Victim 4 was crying and stumbling. When Victim 4 was away from Mohamed, she explained he raped her. Police took Victim 4 to the hospital, where she consented to a sexual assault exam. Police arrested Mohamed and took him to the hospital for a sexual assault exam. Mohamad became hostile—he kicked squad doors and windows, spat on officers, and eventually became assaultive with hospital security guards and nurses. He was kicked out of the medical center before the sexual assault exam could be completed. In September 2024, pursuant to a search warrant, law enforcement collected a DNA swab from Mohamed.
In September 2025, Mohamed committed another kidnapping and rape. On September 15, 2025, Mohamed picked up an adult woman (Victim 5) in Mankato, Minnesota. Victim 5 met Mohamed that night and Mohamed was supposed to take Victim 5 to get food and then bring her back home. Instead, after Victim 5 was in Mohamed’s car, he kidnapped her. After Victim 5 asked Mohamed to bring her home, Mohamed kept driving and said, “you are not going home.” Mohamed drove Victim 5 approximately 70 miles to a hotel in Bloomington, where he kept her for nearly a week. When Victim 5 tried to leave on the first day, Mohamed grabbed her by the hair, slapped her face, and told her she could not leave. Mohamed raped Victim 5 twice. Mohamed choked Victim 5 while he raped her. Victim 5 was able to text her sister, that “I think I’m getting kidnapped” and needed help, but Mohamed took her phone away. Victim 5’s sister contacted the police, who worked to find Victim 5. On September 21, 2025, Victim 5 jumped out of Mohamed’s car and told a nearby man, “Can you help me? I am being kidnapped.” The man called 911 and police responded to the scene. Police took Victim 5 to the hospital, where she consented to a sexual assault exam. The DNA profile obtained from Victim 5 matched to Mohamed’s known sample.
This case results from an investigation conducted by the FBI, in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the Bloomington Police Department, the St. Louis Park Police Department, the Anoka County Sherrif’s Office, and the St. Paul Police Department.
The FBI is investigating Mohamed for the offenses detailed in the complaint and for additional sexual offenses. If you believe you, your child, or someone you know may be a victim of Abdimahat Bille Mohamed, please call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda A. Williams is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Serial Bank Robber Pleads Guilty to Robbing Weymouth Bank at GunpointRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Quincy man pleaded guilty today in connection with the December 2024 armed robbery of a Santander Bank in Weymouth.
Glenn Legere, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for March 10, 2026. Legere was arrested and charged in June 2025.
At approximately 4:52 p.m. on Dec. 17, 2024, law enforcement was dispatched to a Santander bank branch in Weymouth for a reported bank robbery. There, a bank teller told law enforcement that as employees were preparing to close the bank, a man wearing a sweatshirt, baseball hat, face covering and gloves entered the bank through the main entrance. The suspect approached a teller’s window, removed a black firearm from the front pocket of his sweatshirt, opened a black cloth bag and demanded all the money. As the bank teller handed the suspect money from the cash box, the suspect yelled words to the effect of “I need money,” “I want the money” and “I don’t play.” At various times, the suspect pointed the firearm directly at the teller. The suspect also ran towards other teller windows, gesturing towards the cash box areas and demanding more money, but the teller explained that there was no more money and displayed an empty cash drawer. The suspect then left the bank with approximately $947 in stolen cash.
A subsequent review of surveillance video footage from nearby locations determined that the suspect drove to and from the robbery location in a silver or grey Jeep Grand Cherokee. A vehicle matching the description was captured on cameras in Quincy immediately before and after the robbery. The vehicle was registered to Legere.
Legere has multiple prior convictions for committing armed and unarmed robberies, including a 2011 conviction of armed robbery in Norfolk Superior Court for which he was sentenced to three to five years in state prison, as well as a 2010 conviction for armed and unarmed robbery of banks in Braintree, Hanover, Duxbury and Plymouth for which he was sentenced to three years in state prison.At the time of Legere’s arrest, a firearm and some of the clothing believed to be used by Legere during the robbery were recovered.
The charge of armed bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Weymouth Police Chief Richard M. Fuller made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police, the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the Wellesley Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
San Diego Man Pleads Guilty to Using Explosives to Burglarize ATMRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Son Nguyen of San Diego pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he used an explosive to destroy a First Citizens Bank ATM in Rancho Bernardo in the summer of 2024.
According to his plea agreement, Nguyen admitted that on June 28, 2024, he drove up to an ATM outside the First Citizens Bank branch and inserted a metal-shaped rod into the cash dispenser slot of the machine. He then removed the rod and inserted another device which had wires attached to it. The defendant pulled the wires that were attached to the device that was wedged into the ATM and its electrical components caught fire. The ATM was destroyed.
Smoke emitted from the ATM for more than 30 minutes. At approximately 3:23 a.m., the San Diego Police Department received a call to investigate a burglary alarm at the bank. Upon arrival, officers observed the ATM with smoke coming out of it and electrical components on fire. Electrical wires protruded from the machine with a metal rod bent into a U-shape attached. Additionally, blue material with a white and black valve was found in front of the ATM.
Nguyen had left the area. But investigators were able to track him through the bank’s surveillance footage, which showed the license plate number on the vehicle Nguyen used.
According to a federal complaint, on August 23, 2024, federal search warrants authorizing searches of Nguyen’s residence and car were executed. Investigators found a U-shaped rod, a metal plate welded onto a pole, a balaclava, and a beanie. Investigators also found gas, black powder, potassium nitrate sulfur, explosive pre-cursor chemicals, a paper that explains how to make black powder and a firearm in Nguyen’s residence. Investigators found a black hose, neck gaiter and California license plate bearing number 24876J1 in his car. All of this equipment, license plate and clothing is consistent with what was used during the ATM bombing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Sherwood and Shital Thakkar.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24cr1933-RBM
Son Thanh Nguyen Age: 46 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Malicious Use of Fire and Explosive Materials to Damage Property– Title 18, U.S.C., Section 844(i)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau Investigation
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Romanian Man Admits Sleight-of-Hand Crimes that Netted Nearly $200,000 in 22 StatesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A Romanian national on Thursday admitted running “sleight-of-hand” schemes that cost a nationwide retailer almost $200,000.
Bobi Covaciu, 39, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of wire fraud. He admitted tricking cashiers at Target stores in at least 22 states from February 2022 to September 2024 into believing that he had paid the full amount of cash for a purchase. Covaciu counted out cash matching the purchase price and then took back the cash from cashiers and secretly pocketed bills, shortchanging the retailer by hundreds of dollars or more per transaction. Covaciu would then return the merchandise at a different store for a full cash refund. In one transaction in St. Louis, Covaciu pocketed about $2,300 in a transaction and then returned merchandise in an Illinois store and two stores in Wisconsin over the next two days, his plea says. In at least 90 fraudulent transactions during this period, Covaciu stole about $196,220 in money and property.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 9, 2026. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. He will also be ordered to repay the money.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf is prosecuting the case.
Rochester Man Sentenced to 54 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Travis Frazier, 28 years old, of Rochester, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Frazier was sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Frazier accidentally shot a loaded gun while holding his infant child, who was struck by bullet fragments. Frazier had a prior felony conviction and a prior misdemeanor conviction for domestic battery, either of which prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Rochester Police Department and the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
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.
Riverview Man Receives Life Sentence for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Nicholas Van Duy (38, Riverview) to life in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl, the use of which resulted in death. Van Duy pleaded guilty on March 10, 2025.
According to court documents, on May 31, 2022, Van Duy supplied fentanyl to Jaime Sue Van Hooser. Van Hooser, in turn, sold the fentanyl to a man who ingested the fentanyl, overdosed, and died. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to the victim’s residence and determined that the death appeared to be an overdose. Additional investigation resulted in the identification of Van Hooser as the person who had supplied the fentanyl to the victim, and Van Duy as Van Hooser’s supplier. After a detective arranged to purchased fentanyl from Van Duy at his residence, investigators obtained a search warrant. A search of the home revealed fentanyl, a large amount of cash, and numerous firearms. Van Duy admitted to investigators that he had sold fentanyl to Van Hooser. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that intoxication by fentanyl was the cause of the victim’s death.
Van Duy, who had a prior conviction for trafficking in illegal drugs, was subject to a mandatory life sentence. In a previous proceeding, U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell sentenced Jaime Sue Van Hooser to 20 years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.
Ringleaders of National COVID-19 Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 204 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Edward Sheldon Whitaker to 120 months in prison and, his wife, Schunda Coleman, to 84 months in prison for their roles in organizing a nationwide COVID-19 fraud scheme. The Court ordered both defendants to pay more than $10 million in restitution after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering for their role in facilitating dozens of North Carolina residents to obtain fraudulent Paycheck Protection Act (“PPP”) COVID-19 loans. Additionally, the Court ordered forfeiture money judgments against Whitaker and Coleman in the amount of $3,872,548.24, as well as the forfeiture of the marital residence in Edinburg, Texas, and other accounts and property.
“Defrauding our nation during an emergency is disgraceful. Today’s sentences send a loud and clear message,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “While hardworking Americans pulled together during the pandemic, these defendants chose to line their own pockets. This office will continue delivering tough, no-nonsense justice to anyone who steals from taxpayers – we will not let fraudsters get rich off the backs of honest citizens.”
“The defendants created a scheme with the sole intent of enriching themselves during a national crisis,” said Special Agent-In-Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “They orchestrated a recruitment program to generate millions of dollars in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans meant for those in need during the COVID-19 Pandemic. IRS-CI will continue its collaborative investigative efforts alongside our law enforcement partners to find those stealing from the federal government and subsequently the taxpayers.”
Whitaker and Coleman, a married couple from Edinburg, Texas, ran a scheme to abet individuals submitting fraudulent PPP loan applications nationwide. According to the court documents, the pair created fake supporting documents and false company payroll records, which they provided to co-conspirator applicants for a fee. They also coached “clients” on how to falsify the number of employees and gross wages of a phony business to make it appear eligible for a PPP loan. Whitaker instructed individuals how to make it appear as though PPP loan proceeds were being paid out as wages, when in reality, the defendants transferred the money back to themselves.
Whitaker and Coleman facilitated more than $15 million in fake PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) disbursements nationwide. To further promote the scheme, they paid middlemen to recruit additional co-conspirators willing to file fraudulent loan applications.
To date, more than thirty defendants who conspired with Whitaker and Coleman have received federal prison sentences.
In March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who suffered negative economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act and additional appropriations authorized up to $649 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses through the PPP. Financial institutions issued the PPP loans, which were guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Beraka prosecuted the cases. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation investigated the cases.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-00257-D.
Richmond felon sentenced to over four years in prison for possessing a firearm less than a month after being released from prisonRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to four years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Aug. 10, 2024, law enforcement observed Desmond Mikal Hawkins, 31, walking in the Shockoe Bottom neighborhood in Richmond and noticed what they believed to be a concealed firearm. The officers approached Hawkins and asked him if he had a concealed carry permit, and Hawkins falsely claimed that he did but that he did not have it with him. Officers detained Hawkins and recovered a loaded handgun from underneath his shirt in his waistband.
Hawkins is a previously convicted felon, most recently in 2023 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hawkins had been released from prison less than a month before the current offense and was on federal supervised release at the time. As a previously convicted felon, Hawkins cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen H. Theisen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-5.
Repeat Offender Sentenced to More Than 3 Years for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and Violating Terms of Federal SupervisionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Kordarow Moore, 36, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, was sentenced on December 1, 2025, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 30 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, and an additional 9 months in federal prison for violating the terms of his federal supervision for a previous federal drug trafficking conviction. Moore pleaded guilty to the felon in possession charge on September 12, 2025.
On September 22, 2024, a law enforcement officer stopped Moore’s car for speeding on Interstate 94 in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Moore was driving 101 miles per hour, which is more than 30 miles per hour over the legal limit. Moore was later arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Officers searched the car following Moore’s arrest and found a loaded AK-47 style rifle under the front passenger seat. The firearm had an extended magazine that contained approximately 40 rounds of ammunition with one round in the chamber.
At sentencing, Judge Conley stated that the type of firearm possessed by Moore posed a deadly threat to others and went far beyond a need for personal protection. Further, Judge Conley emphasized that it was inexplicable that Moore would possess a firearm, let alone this type of firearm, while under the Court’s supervision for another federal offense and while intoxicated.
The charge against Moore was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin State Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF and task force officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Reinhard and Kathryn Ginsberg Ostrow prosecuted this case.
Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. 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).
Recidivist Firearm Offender Sentenced to Nine and a Half Years in Prison for Possession of Firearm and Ammunition and Violation of Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to nine and a half years of incarceration on his conviction of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, as well as violation of his federal supervised release, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Gerald Underwood, 44, who was found guilty of the firearm charge on June 10, 2025, following a jury trial. Judge Horan imposed a sentence of eight years on the charge of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and an additional sentence of 18 months (to run consecutive to the eight-year sentence) for Underwood’s violation of federal supervised release.
According to information presented to the Court, on November 9, 2022, Underwood possessed a firearm and ammunition at a gas station in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh. At the time, Underwood was on federal supervised release for a prior conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Underwood has a number of state felony convictions as well as two prior federal convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Horan noted that Underwood has a history of violent behavior and had not learned from the prior sentences, and stated that she was imposing a sentence above the advisory sentencing range because of the need to protect the public from Underwood.
Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Underwood.
Previously Removed Honduran National Guilty of Attempting to Meet A 14-Girl-Old Girl for Sexual Activity and Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Obdy Mencia Guerrero (42, Honduras) guilty of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Following the guilty verdict in September 2025, Mencia Guerrero separately entered a guilty plea to the felony offense of illegal reentry into the United States. Mencia Guerrero faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for the attempted enticement offense and a maximum of 2 years’ imprisonment for the illegal reentry offense. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 15, 2026.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mencia Guerrero was previously removed from the United States on four prior occasions between 2003 and 2014. On July 27, 2024, Mencia Guerrero began communicating online with someone whom he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The “girl” was a deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office working in an undercover capacity. After learning of her age, Mencia Guerrero traveled to a location in Marion County to pick up the “girl” to engage in sexual activity. When he arrived at the meeting location, Mencia Guerrero was arrested by law enforcement. Mencia Guerrero’s fingerprints confirmed he was the individual previously removed from the United States on four prior occasions. Mencia Guerrero had never applied for or received permission to apply for readmission to the United States.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is also 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.
Postal Deliveryman and Two Others Charged with Drug Trafficking Through the U.S. Mail and BriberyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On November 20, 2025, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging three individuals with bribery and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) led the investigation in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“Drug trafficking destroys families and communities,” said United States Attorney Muldrow. “These defendants were using the United States Postal Service to facilitate their drug trafficking activities which foster violence and addiction. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its partners will aggressively prosecute drug traffickers and corrupt government officials and seek justice for our communities.”
“The Special Agents of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General will continue to maintain the integrity of the U.S. Postal Service and its personnel,” said Special Agent in Charge Modafferi of U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “The conduct alleged is disgraceful, and our office will continue to tirelessly investigate Postal Service employees and their co-conspirators who violate the public’s trust. This case serves as an excellent example of the successful collaboration between the USPS OIG, our law enforcement partners, and the District of Puerto Rico U.S Attorney’s Office to pursue the prosecution of all those involved in criminal activity relating to the Postal Service.”
“Individuals who conspire to distribute controlled substances, attempt to compromise public officials, and violate the integrity of the U.S. mail, will be held accountable. Our office, alongside our law-enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who endanger public trust and public safety,” said Joe Rodríguez, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office.
The indictment alleges that from January 2022 until April of 2024 the defendants conspired to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Defendant Héctor Melvin Candelaria-Carrero, a.k.a. “Candy/Cartero”, served as a USPS City Carrier in Isabela, Puerto Rico. While engaged in his official duties, Candelaria-Carrero diverted, delayed and stole USPS parcels and provided the diverted and stolen mail to defendants Carlos Nadín Nieves-Pastrana, a.k.a. “Nandy” and José Manuel Muñoz-Torres, a.k.a. “Kuki/Cuqui”, in exchange for bribe payments.
At times, Candelaria-Carrero took photos of specific parcels with his personal phone. Using the assigned USPS scanner device, he scanned the photos taken on his personal phone at the correct delivery address. Rather than deliver the parcels at the delivery addresses, Candelaria-Carrero diverted the parcels to other locations and hid the locations of the diverted and stolen mail from the USPS. Defendant Candelaria-Carrero used his private cellular number, WhatsApp messages and phone calls to communicate with Nieves-Pastrana and Muñoz-Torres and to exchange bribe payments and the diverted or stolen parcels, including parcels containing controlled substances.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania Y. Salas De-Jesús is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, and up to life in prison.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Polk County Man Charged with Attempted Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Bradly Dwayne Wimberly (32, Bradley) with attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). If convicted, Wimberly faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison.
According to the indictment and evidence presented in court, between February 15, 2024, and July 10, 2025, Wimberly, believing he was communicating with a 13 to 14-year-old girl, asked the minor on multiple occasions to produce sexually explicit images of herself and send them to him. In actuality, Wimberly was communicating with an undercover Homeland Security Investigations special agent. Wimberly is currently detained pending the resolution of the case.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Picnic Day Shooter in Davis Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Joseph Allen Davis, 19, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, police officers began investigating Joseph Allen Davis after determining that he was a shooter at the April 12, 2025, shooting at Rainbow City Park in Davis, where three people were injured by gunfire. Law enforcement officers conducted a search of Joseph Allen Davis’s apartment and seized a short-barrel AR-15-style pistol that was loaded with 23 rounds of ammunition. Davis is prohibited from possessing any firearms and ammunition because he was previously convicted of a felony gun possession offense.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Davis Police Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee is prosecuting the case.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on March 26, 2026. Davis 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 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 U.S. Department of Justice 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.
Peñasco Man Sentenced for 2022 Fatal StabbingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Peñasco man was sentenced to more than 21 years in prison for the stabbing death of another man.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on December 25, 2022, Byron Sanchez, 49, an enrolled member of the Picuris Pueblo, was involved in an altercation with John Doe at his residence in Peñasco, New Mexico, within the exterior boundaries of the Picuris Pueblo. During the altercation, which occurred while both individuals were under the influence of alcohol, Sanchez fatally stabbed John Doe and placed his body in a bedroom. Law enforcement officials discovered John Doe’s body at the residence on January 11, 2023.
Sanchez subsequently pled guilty to second degree murder. Upon his release from prison, Sanchez will be subject to five years of supervised release.
Acting 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 Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and District 7 of the New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney R. Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of Indigenous victims and their families.
Palatka Man Charged for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Jordon Roger Anchando (46, Palatka) with bank robbery. If convicted, Anchando faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Anchando was arrested on November 18, 2025. He is currently detained pending the resolution of the case.
According to the indictment, on June 2, 2025, Anchando took money from a bank using force, violence, and intimidation. The bank’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
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 Belleview Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
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).
Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to More than 17 Years in Prison for Major Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Antonio Lamar Jeffries, 36, of St. Albans, was sentenced today to 17 years and six months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Jeffries admitted to a key role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between November 2022 and March 22, 2023, Jeffries conspired with others to distribute quantities of methamphetamine. Jeffries admitted that he arranged for a co-conspirator to drive to Bluefield, West Virginia, on February 4, 2023, to obtain methamphetamine from his supplier. Jeffries used a cell phone to arrange the meeting, provided the co-conspirator with money to deliver as payment for the methamphetamine, and instructed her to meet his supplier at the Mercer Mall in Bluefield. The co-conspirator exchanged the money for the methamphetamine as instructed. Law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of her vehicle as she drove back to Charleston and seized approximately 3.1 kilograms of methamphetamine from her vehicle. Jeffries admitted that he intended to distribute some of the seized methamphetamine to others and allow the co-conspirator to keep the rest.
“This defendant chose to profit from destroying lives. Today, that ends,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Thanks to the relentless work of law enforcement, 70 pounds of lethal drugs will never reach our families. And let me be clear: this is only the beginning. We will keep pushing forward, we will dismantle these networks, and we will seek the harshest sentences the law allows for those who target our community.”
Jeffries has a criminal history that includes two prior convictions for drug offenses. At the time of the current offense, Jeffries was serving a term of supervised release as a result of his conviction for possession with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on July 11, 2011. On August 20, 2025, Jeffries was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for violating the terms of supervised release, with the sentence to run consecutively to the sentence imposed for the current offense for a total term of incarceration of 20 years.
Jeffries is among 31 defendants convicted of federal crimes as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement seized well over 400 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 40 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl, 19 firearms and $935,000 in cash.
Capito commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-31.
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Omaha Man Sentenced to More than 58 Years for Fentanyl and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley Woods announced that Jeron Morris, 33, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 3, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Morris to concurrent sentences of 360 months’ imprisonment for the conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute, and 180 months’ imprisonment for felon in possession of a firearm. Morris received additional consecutive sentences of 300 months’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and 46 months for violating his supervised release related to a previous federal conviction. The combined sentences total 706 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Morris’s release from prison, he will begin an 8-year term of supervised release.
In August, Morris pleaded guilty to the fentanyl and felon in possession charges and proceeded to trial for the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. After a two-day trial, a jury returned a guilty verdict.
The evidence at trial established that a Federal Bureau of Investigation task force identified a house in Omaha that was suspected of being a stash location for drugs, including fentanyl pills. During the investigation, Morris was identified as living in the house. On May 17, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at the residence. In an upstairs bedroom, they found two loaded Canik 9mm handguns and more than $1,000 in cash on a bed. The items had been dumped out of a drawer of a bedside chest of drawers. In a closet of that bedroom, detectives recovered a heat-sealed package of approximately 993 fentanyl pills. Morris was arrested during a traffic stop nearby and found to have a baggie containing another 87 fentanyl pills. During a post-Miranda interview, Morris admitted the drugs and guns were his, describing the guns by caliber, color, and attachments.
Morris faced enhanced statutory penalties because of prior federal convictions for Bank Robbery and Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. Morris was released from federal prison within months of the search warrant. Morris began visiting the stash house while finishing serving his prison sentence at an area halfway house. Morris also had a prior conviction for Assault Using a Dangerous Weapon in Iowa state court, which enhanced his sentencing guidelines when coupled with the prior federal convictions.
Co-defendant Kadonta Muldrew, 31, of Omaha was sentenced on November 19, 2025, to 235 months’ imprisonment and eight years of supervised release.
As part of the investigation, more than $135,000 in cash was seized. That money will be forfeited to the United States as proceeds of drug dealing.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department with assistance from the Council Bluffs (Iowa) Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, Papillion Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Iowa State Patrol. A sergeant from the Lincoln Police Department testified at trial as an expert in drug trafficking. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Clayton Reynolds, 39, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 25, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Reynolds to 214 months’ imprisonment on the drug trafficking charge and 60 months on the firearm charge, to run consecutive to each other. There is no parole in the federal system. After Reynolds’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Reynolds also admitted to the forfeiture of firearms and United States Currency that had been seized.
In April 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Greater Omaha Safe Streets Task Force began investigating Reynolds for his involvement in distributing fentanyl in the Omaha area. Over the course of three months, Reynolds sold fentanyl to a confidential informant on six separate occasions. On one occasion, Reynolds also sold a firearm.
On July 22, 2024, a search warrant was executed on Reynolds’s residence and a storage unit he used. In his residence, law enforcement found two pounds of pure methamphetamine, 296 grams of fentanyl, amphetamine, oxycodone, marijuana, crack, ecstasy, cocaine, and Xanax. They also found $18,062 in drug proceeds and a shotgun. At the storage unit, an additional $14,000 in drug proceeds and a handgun were seized.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and Omaha Police Department.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Lionel Cawthon, 45, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 3, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Cawthon to 262 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Cawthon is released from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
During 2023 and 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bellevue Police Department investigated Cawthon for distributing fentanyl in the Omaha area. FBI utilized a confidential informant to purchase 600 M30 fentanyl pills from Cawthon. On February 16, 2024, FBI and Bellevue Police Department executed search warrants at two residences in Omaha. Law enforcement seized approximately 7,000 M30 fentanyl pills.
Cawthon has two prior felony drug convictions, making him a career offender under the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
Co-defendants Gregory Stevenson and Shawn Reese are both pending trial in February 2026.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bellevue Police Department.
Ocala Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florda – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Christina Gates Thagard (40, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to bank robbery. Thagard faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 20, 2026.
According to court documents, on May 3, 2025, Thagard entered a bank in Marion County wearing a hat, hoodie, sunglasses, a surgical mask, and one latex glove. Thagard told the teller, “This is a robbery!” She instructed the teller to put the money in the bag and stated she had a gun and would use it if necessary. Thagard also handed the teller a note that read: “This is a robbery I have a gun and will shoot if any alarms or dye packs are inclosed [sic] fill this bag with all at least 50 k big bills only wait 2 mins to call police.” The teller then placed all the cash from her drawer ($5,075) and a tracking device into Thagard’s purse.
Thagard at the teller line during the robbery.
Based on the tracking device information, officers from the Ocala Police Department (OPD) quickly located Thagard and her vehicle. Inside the vehicle, recovered the cash from the bank, the tracking device, and the items Thagard had been wearing during the robbery. A forensic analysis later confirmed Thagard’s fingerprint on the demand note as well as on a door inside the bank.
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
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).
Ocala Man Indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Endy Gonzalez (20, Ocala) with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. If convicted, Gonzalez faces a minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison.
According to court documents, on March 18, 2025, an undercover law enforcement officer negotiated a transaction with Gonzalez for 1,000 fentanyl pills. When Gonzalez arrived at the predetermined meeting location, he was detained. A search of the vehicle that Gonzalez arrived in revealed approximately 999 fentanyl pills hidden under a seat. Testing by the DEA confirmed the pills contained fentanyl with a net weight of 109 grams.
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 Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
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).
Ocala Man Indicted for Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to A MinorRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Benjamin Hoover (44, Ocala) with attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. If convicted, Hoover faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Hoover is currently detained pending the resolution of the case.
According to the indictment and evidence presented in court, on July 23, 2025, Hoover transferred a sexually explicit image of himself to someone whom he believed was a 15-year-old girl. In actuality, the minor was an undercover detective with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
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 Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Ohio Man Charged with Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Ronald Pate Newman, 26, of Youngstown, Ohio, has been indicted in federal court for three counts of production of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Newman appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida. Trial is scheduled for January 14, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief District Court Judge Allen Winsor.
If convicted, Newman, faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years’, and up to 30 years’, imprisonment for each count.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Nine Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Charged with Federal Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging nine defendants with a drug trafficking conspiracy, distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, bromazolam, and firearms offenses. A summary of the counts and associated minimum and maximum penalties follows:
Name
AGE, CITY
CHARGES
MAXIMUM PENALTIES
Christian Roux-Rey31, KissimmeeDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl
Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense
15 years, up to life, in federal prisonJeremiah Maldonado31, OrlandoDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl causing death
20 years, up to life, in federal prisonBenjamin Rivard31, ClermontDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl causing death
Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense
Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
25 years, up to life, in federal prisonElena Falzone23, OrlandoDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl and bromazolam
5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prisonZaviar Kidd27, OrlandoDrug trafficking conspiracy
Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine
5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prisonPaul Jacas31, OrlandoDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
10 years, up to 40 years, in federal prisonOlivia Goen23, OrlandoDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl
Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prisonCarlos Carrasquillo-Rodriguez20, OrlandoDrug trafficking conspiracy
Distribution of fentanyl
20 years in federal prisonRebecca Murray31, DeltonaDrug trafficking conspiracy
10 years, up to life, in federal prisonThe indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms used during the commission of the offenses.
According to the 27-count indictment, between approximately August 2022 and May 2024, these individuals conspired to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances, including fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Roux-Rey, Falzone, Jacas, and Goen are all charged with distributing controlled substances. Maldonado is charged with distributing fentanyl which resulted in the death of C.P. Rivard is charged with distributing fentanyl which resulted in the death of S.F. Falzone is also charged with distributing bromazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance analog.
Roux-Rey, Rivard, Kidd, Jacas, Carrasquillo-Rodriguez, and Goen are each charged with possessing controlled substances intended for distribution.
Roux-Rey, Rivard, and Jacas, are each charged with possession a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
Rivard and Jacas are both charged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
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 Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Cloud Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel S. Lyons.
Nigerian Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for COVID-19 Related FraudRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Nosa Edokpaigbe, a Nigerian national, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, ordered to pay $1,408,897.16 in restitution, and a forfeiture money judgement totaling $681,694 after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud and agreeing to the entry of a stipulated judicial removal order. After serving his sentence, Edokpaigbe will be removed to Nigeria.
According to the plea agreement, from around July 2020 and until around May 2021, Edokpaigbe prepared and submitted hundreds of fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications on behalf of fictitious business entities using personal identifying information belonging to other real individuals. To conceal his involvement in the fraud, Edokpaigbe signed loan agreements in other names, created fabricated documents for the fictitious entities, used a wireless hotspot to conceal his online activity, and used AI-generated images and images of mannequins to bypass the lenders’ identity verification procedures. The hotspot was seized from the defendant’s residence at the time of his arrest in October 2023. He also submitted one fraudulent EIDL in his own name and filed hundreds of fraudulent tax returns using personal identifying information belonging to other real individuals. As a result of the scheme, $1,389,713 was paid out in EIDL and PPP loans, the majority of which was deposited into bank accounts opened using false identities.
“While others were struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nosa Edokpaigbe saw the national emergency as an opportunity to fleece American taxpayers out of almost $1.4 million,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “His shameless exploitation of relief programs which were supposed to be a lifeline for people in need has earned him several years in federal prison and a one-way trip back to Nigeria.”
“Nosa Edokpaigbe took advantage of what he saw as easy money through programs that were created to keep businesses and workers afloat during the pandemic, misdirecting that assistance to line his own pockets,” said Marv Massey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Denver. “His greed affects every American taxpayer, and the FBI will continue to aggressively pursue opportunists who think they can defraud the federal government.”
United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Denver Field Office and the Cybercrime Investigations Division of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Cassidy and Anna Edgar handled the prosecution.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Case Number: 23-cr-442-RMR
Mass Producer of Fentanyl Pills Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Cuyahoga County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking operation that mass produced thousands of illegal pills which were then distributed throughout Ohio.
Thomas Taylor, 43, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 210 months (17.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty in July to the following charges as outlined in the second superseding indictment:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
- Distribution of a Controlled Substance.
- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
- Maintaining Drug Premises.
- Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; prior convictions include Felon in Possession of a Firearm in 2019; and Drug Trafficking in 2013 and 2007.
Taylor was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $10,000 in fines. Judge Nugent imposed the sentence Dec. 3.
According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Taylor led a major drug trafficking operation in northern Ohio. He recruited numerous individuals to help run his manufacturing operation to make fentanyl pills using ingredients he sourced from contacts in Mexico. Taylor maintained pill pressing equipment at several residences throughout the Greater Cleveland area that could make hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills each day. During the investigation, agents seized several firearms and ammunition, large sums of cash, and drug paraphernalia such as scales and plastic bags. In total, more than 3 kilograms of fentanyl, 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, and ½ kilogram of cocaine was also seized.
Co-defendant Noreece Young, 53, also of Cleveland, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is currently serving a 180-month (15 year) prison sentence.
This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Southeast Area Law Enforcement Narcotics Task Force.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian for the Northern District of Ohio.
Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Several Recent Prosecutions in Connection with DOJ Take Back America InitiativeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland recently secured several criminal complaints, indictments, and sentencings in connection with the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America.
A nationwide initiative, Operation Take Back America marshals the full resources of the DOJ 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. Below are recent examples of prosecutions the office secured in connection with this initiative.
On December 15, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland unsealed an indictment, charging Bayron Leopoldo Perez Batres, 63, a Guatemalan national, with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. According to the indictment, Perez Batres, who resided in Beltsville, Maryland, unlawfully reentered the United States after he was removed on three separate occasions – in January 1996, September 2009, and May 2010.
On December 2, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland filed a criminal complaint, against Anderson Martinez-Montenegro, 28, and Elmer Ortiz-Berduo, 37, both citizens of Guatemala and unlawfully present in the United States. They are charged with resisting arrest and assaulting federal officers.
On November 24, 2025, U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson sentenced Jairo Eliu Aguilar-Lopez, 54, of El Salvador, to 15 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for illegally reentering the United States after he was deported on two separate occasions.
On November 14, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland filed a criminal complaint against Cristian Rivas-Bonilla, 26, of El Salvador, charging him with resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with federal law enforcement officers. Rivas-Bonilla was subject to removal from the United States in connection with a final order of removal to El Salvador from an immigration judge.
On October 30, 2025, U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Sarah Maud Jess, 62, a Jamaican national living in Capitol Heights, Maryland, to five years in federal prison for two counts, distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl and re-entry of an alien removed after conviction for an aggravated felony.
On October 16, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Luis Melendez Serrano, 19; Kevin Melendez Serrano, 23; Alex Pena Martinez, 19; and William Rivera Nolasco, 19, charging them with conspiring to traffic firearms. According to the indictment, Luis Melendez Serrano and Martinez are illegal aliens who unlawfully possessed a firearm. Additionally, Luis Melendez Serrano, Martinez, and Nolasco are charged with possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On October 2, 2025, U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Francisco Reymundo-Reymundo, 30, a citizen of Guatemala, to eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally reentering the United States. This marks Reymundo-Reymundo’s third illegal reentry conviction. According to Court filings, the U.S. previously deported Reymundo-Reymundo four other times.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the Maryland Office’s Assistant U.S. Attorneys and support staff for their work in these investigations.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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