Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Wednesday 3 December 2025
Trucking Company Operator Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A trucking company operator from Stark County who hid income from the U.S. government in attempts to not pay taxes has been sentenced to federal prison.
Alice F. Martin, 66, of Louisville, Ohio, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, after pleading guilty in August to Attempt to Evade and Defeat Income Tax, and Attempt to Evade and Defeat Payment of Tax. She was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and to pay $1,971,660.86 in restitution. Judge Nugent imposed the sentence Dec. 2.
According to court documents, Martin attempted to evade the payment of taxes, penalties, and interest tied to a trucking company that she owned and operated under the name of Martin Logistics. The tax evasion scheme consisted of a plan to phase out the company after it became burdened with tax debt as a strategy to avoid paying taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
However, Martin intended to continue operating her trucking business through a new company, TSA Transportation. Income that TSA Transportation received was then deposited into a bank account for another business entity that Martin owned and controlled, A.F. Martin. In addition, she placed Martin Logistic’s assets, such as trucks and trailers, under the name of yet another company she established, Martin Global. IRS investigators found that from around 2013 to 2018, Martin directed approximately $18 million in gross receipts from TSA Transportation to be deposited into the bank account of a different company, A.F. Martin. The investigation concluded that she did not report $3.6 million in taxable income and failed to pay approximately $1.2 million in federal taxes due between 2013 and 2018.
IRS Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) conducted the investigation leading to the indictment.
The prosecution in this case was led by Assistant United States Attorney Edward Brydle for the Northern District of Ohio.
IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a 90% federal conviction rate. The agency has 19 field offices located across the U.S. and 14 attaché posts abroad.
Three companies settle allegations they applied for and received pandemic related loans that were illegalRead the Press Release
Seattle – Three different companies settled allegations they applied for and accepted millions of dollars in pandemic loans for which they were not qualified, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. The companies have agreed to pay back a total of more than $5.4 million in restitution and penalties. The settlements are not an admission of guilt.
The first settlement payment is from Lotte Duty Free Guam LLC. A division of Lotte Hotel Holdings USA LLC. According to the settlement agreement, Lotte Duty Free Guam LLC received two Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. In its application for the loans, Lotte -which operates a duty-free store at the Guam airport, claimed to have fewer than 500 employees making them eligible for the loans. However, the Guam store is part of a much larger company which has too many employees to qualify for the loans. Lotte will pay $3,437,549 to resolve the matter.
An Everett, Washington company that is a subsidiary of multinational aerospace conglomerate UMBRAGROUP S.p.A will pay $1,424,996 to resolve allegations it had too many employees to qualify for the SBA PPP loan it received.
Finally, Podworks Corporation will pay the government $632,958 for an SBA PPP loan the company received. In April 2025, a relator filed suit in U.S. District Court in Seattle alleging that Podworks did not qualify for the PPP loan because some of its business involves the sale of cannabis which is illegal under federal law. The settlement resolves the allegation.
These civil settlements include the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery.
These resolutions were negotiated by Assistant United States Attorneys Matt Waldrop and Kayla Stahman.
Three Men Sentenced for Involvement in ATM Jackpotting SchemeRead the Press Release
Three men from South America were sentenced for their involvement in an ATM jackpotting scheme in Iowa.
Jhonger Suarez, age 23, from Venezuela, was sentenced on November 3, 2025, after a September 4, 2025, guilty plea to one count of aiding and abetting bank larceny. Ysmael Martinez Jimenez, age 38, from Venezuela, was sentenced on November 13, 2025, after a September 24, 2025, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit bank larceny and one count of bank larceny. Cristian Guillermo Canas Gomez, age 22, from Columbia, was sentenced on December 1, 2025, after an October 1, 2025, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit bank larceny and one count of bank larceny.
At his plea hearing, Suarez admitted to assisting a bank larceny from a bank in Dubuque, Iowa, on May 25, 2025. At Martinez Jimenez’s and Canas Gomez’s respective plea hearings, they both admitted that they had conspired to commit the bank larceny. Martinez Jimenez and Canas Gomez both admitted that they carried out a jackpotting scheme on an ATM at a bank in Dubuque. A jackpotting scheme is a type of cyberattack where vulnerabilities of an ATM’s software are exploited, causing an ATM to dispense cash without debiting an account. Martinez Jimenez and Canas Gomez obtained approximately $33,600 from the jackpotting scheme on the ATM in Dubuque. Suarez was acting as a lookout in the area while they were conducting the jackpotting scheme.
Suarez, Martinez Jimenez, and Canas Gomez were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Suarez was sentenced to 125 days’ imprisonment. Martinez Jimenez and Canas Gomez were each sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. They were ordered to make $33,600 in restitution. All three men must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after their prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Suarez has been turned over to immigration officials. Martinez Jimenez and Canas Gomez are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be turned over to immigration officials.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Dubuque Police Department, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Marshals Service, and Enforcement and Removal Operations of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-1028.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Texas man pleads guilty to trafficking bald and golden eaglesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA - A Texas man accused of trafficking eagles admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, John Patrick Butler, 71, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, two counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles, and one count of purchasing eagles and eagle parts that had been killed illegally, in violation of the Lacey Act. Butler faces up to 5 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. U.S. District Court Judge Dana L. Christensen will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for April 7, 2026. Butler was released with conditions pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement uncovered messages from co-defendant Travis John Branson and others describing the illegal taking of eagles by stating, “[O]ut [here] committing felonies,” and telling buyers he was “on a killing spree” to obtain eagle tail feathers for future sales.
Co-defendant Simon Paul, Branson, and others, hunted and killed eagles on the Flathead Indian Reservation and elsewhere. In total, approximately 3,600 birds were killed, including eagles. They then illegally sold the eagles on the black market for significant sums of cash across the United States and elsewhere.
The killing of eagles is fueled by individuals willing to purchase the eagles on the black market. Butler was one of those purchasers and he requested the killing of specific types of eagles. For example, Butler inquired of Branson, “Did u ever see any crispy ones yet?” Butler would then purchase eagles from co-defendants by transferring money to through PayPal and other forms of online payment. In return, the co-defendants sent the eagles, including their parts, through the mail from Montana to Humble, Texas, where Butler resides. Postal records and text messages confirm Butler received the eagles, hawks, and their parts.
From November 2020 until March 2021, Butler purchased eagles shot in Montana and elsewhere, including:
- On December 14, 2020, Butler paid Branson $450 through PayPal for two tail feather sets—a golden eagle tail set and a bald eagle tail set.
- On December 17, 2020, Branson sent a text message to Butler with a photo of a golden eagle tail set. On the same date, Butler paid Branson $300 through a PayPal purchase for the golden eagle tail set.
- On December 28, 2020, Butler sent Branson $750 for the purchase of two golden eagle tails. Branson mailed the package filled with the two golden eagle tails through the United States Postal Service and Butler confirmed he received the package on January 4, 2021.
- On January 7, 2021, Butler purchased two golden eagle tail sets from Branson. On the same date, Butler sent Branson $900.
- On March 1, 2021, Butler purchased two golden eagle sets from Branson after Branson sent pictures of the tail sets to Butler.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Tanner and Ryan Weldon prosecuted the case. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the investigation.
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act was enacted in 1940 to protect the bald eagle, recognizing that the bald eagle is not merely a bird of biological interest, but this country’s national symbol, which reflects America’s ideals of freedom. In 1962, Congress extended the Act to also protect golden eagles.
XXX
Texas Man Charged with Conspiracy to Obtain Controlled Substances by FraudRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Louisiana returned an indictment today charging a Texas man with a scheme to obtain controlled substances from multiple pharmacies using fraudulent prescriptions and then sell those drugs on the street.
According to court documents, Darrion Denard Brooks, 28, of Houston, and co-conspirators, used fictitious identification information to obtain fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances on behalf of patients who either did not exist or for whom medical providers did not authorize the prescriptions. As alleged in the indictment, from November 2023 through March 2025, Brooks and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained controlled substances from pharmacies in the Baton Rouge area and elsewhere using prescriptions obtained using the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration numbers and other identifying information of at least five medical professionals without their authority. It is alleged that through this scheme, Brooks and his co-conspirators obtained at least 11 fraudulent prescriptions for codeine and other controlled substances from at least eight different pharmacies in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.
Brooks is charged with one count of conspiracy to acquire and obtain controlled substances by fraud and to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, and four counts of obtaining possession of controlled substances by fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison per count. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall for the Middle District of Louisiana; Assistant Administrator Cheri Oz of the DEA Diversion Control Division; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
DEA and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Zakeria A. Haidary of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen L. Craig for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tallahassee Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Entice or Persuade a Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Joseph Edward Hudson, 38, of Tallahassee, pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to entice or persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our community is fortunate to have such outstanding local and federal law enforcement officers who are committed to safeguarding our children against sexual predators like this defendant. Keeping our kids safe from sexual exploitation and victimization is one of the top priorities of my office, and my team of aggressive prosecutors will use the full force of the law to hold sex offenders, like this defendant, accountable for their disgusting crimes.”
Court documents reflect that between April 10, 2025, and April 12, 2025, detectives of the Tallahassee Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, participated in a joint undercover operation in Tallahassee focused on identifying individuals using the Internet to exploit children in a sexual manner. During the operation, investigators identified the defendant, an adult male who was soliciting minors for sex through a social media platform. The defendant believed he was going to be engaging in sexual activity with a minor when he drove to a meeting location where he was met by law enforcement and immediately arrested.
Hudson faces a minimum mandatory of 10 years’ imprisonment, a maximum of life imprisonment, followed by five years to life of supervision upon release.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2026, at 11:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice 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.
Southern New Mexico Medical Spa Operator Settles Allegations of Controlled-Substance Recordkeeping ViolationsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – The United States has reached a civil settlement with Luis Carlos Cordova, operator of Limitless Aesthetics and Healthcare in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to resolve allegations that he failed to meet federal controlled-substance recordkeeping requirements under the Controlled Substances Act.
According to the settlement agreement, Cordova committed multiple recordkeeping violations over a two-year period. For the clinic’s 2021 biennial inventory, he allegedly failed to record the required count or volume of the controlled substances on hand and could not account for 240 missing dosages of controlled substances. For the 2022 biennial inventory, he again failed to document the required count, volume, and finished form of controlled substances and failed to account for an additional four missing dosage units.
Per the settlement agreement, Cordova also allegedly failed to record the actual dates of receipt for controlled-substance shipments delivered on four occasions between 2020 and 2021, and that he failed to document the bottle size for 269 dispensing-log entries between September 30, 2020, and May 15, 2022. Federal law requires practitioners to maintain complete, accurate, and current records for all controlled substances they receive, store, and dispense so that inventories can be fully tracked and audited.
“Accurate recordkeeping is the backbone of the Controlled Substances Act and the clearest way to prevent diversion,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “This office and our DEA partners will keep enforcing those requirements without exception so New Mexicans stay protected from the risks of missing or unaccounted-for controlled substances.”
“The men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration will continue to utilize every tool at its disposal to hold those who betray the American trust,” said Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s El Paso Division. “When a DEA registration is issued, practitioners are held to the highest standard; they are expected to properly handle and document the handling of controlled substances.”
Under the settlement, Cordova will pay $70,000 to resolve the alleged civil violations. The agreement includes no admission of liability but resolves the United States’ civil monetary claims arising from this conduct.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, made the announcement today.
The Drug Enforcement Administration supported the Government’s investigation. The governments investigations were led by Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Cunniff and Auditors Julie Chappell and Phillip Stella.
View the Settlement Agreement (Cordova).pdfSouth Texas man receives 10 years for cocaine traffickingRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 40-year-old Rio Grande City man has been sentenced for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Adolfo Alvarez III pleaded guilty Aug. 28.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos has now sentenced Alvarez to 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.
On June 28, law enforcement learned of a green tractor-trailer possibly involved in narcotics trafficking. Later that day, Alvarez approached the Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias driving a vehicle matching that description. Upon questioning, Alvarez stated he was “hauling produce.”
At secondary inspection, an x-ray revealed irregularities. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and discovered approximately 40 bundles of cocaine weighing 49.5 kilograms. The packages, wrapped in black tape, were hidden beneath the bottom mattress in the sleeper area.
Alvarez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation along with Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bird prosecuted the case.
Smith County woman sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Tyler woman has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Laura Ann Messay, 38, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on December 1, 2025.
According to information presented in court, beginning in 2019, Messay conspired with others to distribute and possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas.
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.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Rattan.
###
Sioux City Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of MethRead the Press Release
Timothy Koons, 66, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term December 4, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City. Koons pled guilty April 10, 2025, to distribution of methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that on two separate occasions in March 2024, Koons was involved in the distribution of seven ounces of pure methamphetamine to others, including an individual cooperating with law enforcement. In 2000, Koons was federally convicted of felony possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and in 2010, Koons was again federally convicted for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Koons was sentenced to 132 months’ imprisonment and must serve a four-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Koons remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4034. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that RUDOLPH GIRDHARI, 36, of Norwalk, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to possession of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2012, Girdhari was convicted in state court of possession of child pornography in the second degree, and was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment, execution suspended after two years, and 20 years of probation. In 2022 and 2023, an FBI investigation of individuals trading child sex abuse images and videos on Wickr, an encrypted communication service, determined that an email address connected to Girdhari was being used to access two child pornography trading networks on Wickr.
On May 2, 2024, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Girdhari’s residence and seized numerous electronic devices including phones, tablets, computers, hard drives, and thumb drives. Analysis of the seized devices revealed more than 2,000 images and videos of child sex abuse.
Girdhari has been detained since May 16, 2024, when he was arrested for violating his state probation.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 27, 2026, at which time Girdhari faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The penalties in this matter are enhanced based on Girdhari’s prior conviction for possession of child pornography.
This matter is being investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Office of Adult Probation and the Norwalk Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
San Antonio Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl with a FirearmRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A previously convicted felon was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 25 years in prison for possessing nearly 10,000 fentanyl pills intended for distribution along with a firearm.
According to court documents, Tyrell Ezekiel Darden, 25, of San Antonio, had two active felony arrest warrants from other matters. When law enforcement executed those warrants in July 2023, Darden was found attempting to flush dozens of blue pills down a toilet. In addition to the flushed pills, law enforcement officers found Darden in possession of more than 9,800 fentanyl pills that were shaped to look like Oxycodone pills and containing the “M30” stamp commonly associated with Oxycodone pills. Officers also discovered multiple firearms in the residence, including several that had been stolen, as well as $4,703 in U.S. currency and other high value items such as jewelry.
Darden was indicted on Nov. 1, 2023, for one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. He was arrested on Nov. 9, 2023, and pleaded guilty to both charges on June 18, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Alamo Heights Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Fedock prosecuted the case.
###
Raleigh Man Sentenced for Selling Dangerous Counterfeit Car AirbagsRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – On September 30, a federal judge sentenced a Raleigh man to one year and a day for importing and selling thousands of counterfeit car airbags into the Raleigh area over the past two years. The defendant, Mateen Mohammad Alinaghian, 31, sold the counterfeit airbags locally and to online buyers through Facebook Marketplace. The court also ordered Alinaghian to pay restitution in the amount of $83,405.95 to the victims who unknowingly purchased a counterfeit airbag, and to the car manufacturers, and forfeit $154,693.16.
“Selling fake airbags recklessly puts our citizens in danger,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This sentence makes clear that we do not tolerate criminals who endanger drivers on our roads. We will keep working with our partners to take these threats off the streets and out of our cars.”
“Unregulated and untested counterfeit airbags threaten the safety of the traveling public and place unsuspecting consumers at significant risk,” said Greg Thompson, Special Agent-in-Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Mid-Atlantic Region. “This sentencing underscores DOT-OIG’s commitment to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to keep these dangerous products out of the nation’s vehicles and off our roads”
“This case spotlights the serious consumer health and safety dangers posed by many counterfeit products like fake vehicle airbags and exemplifies the importance of interagency cooperation in protecting public safety and bringing counterfeiters to justice,” said Secretary of State Elaine Marshall.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Alinaghian, imported approximately 2,500 counterfeit air bags into Raleigh between May 2022 and April 2024. Alinaghian imported airbags with counterfeit markings of Honda, Chevrolet, General Motors, and Toyota, from a supplier in the United Kingdom. Alinaghian then sold the counterfeit airbags to unsuspecting customers using the Facebook Marketplace seller profile of “Matt AutoParts” or “Medo Smith” to advertise and sell the counterfeit airbags.
According to testing done by Honda, General Motors, and Toyota, the steering wheel airbags obtained and sold by Alinaghian were not manufactured by the car companies and often included materials of lesser quality. In testing, the counterfeit airbags often malfunctioned, either not fully inflating or worse, inflating late – posing a potentially serious risk of injury to the vehicle driver.
The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led the investigation, along with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General. The investigation included a search of Alinaghian’s house, which resulted in the seizure of approximately 20 counterfeit airbags, and multiple seizures by Customs and Border Control of in-bound packages from the United Kingdom containing counterfeit airbags en route to Alinaghian.
After identifying that Alinaghian was importing the counterfeit airbags from a source in the United Kingdom, HSI contacted law enforcement abroad. As a result, the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PICU) executed a search warrant on September 19, 2024, PICU officers searched two residential and one business address and seized a total of 500 counterfeit airbags and an estimated £140,000 in cash. Three men were arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to distribute counterfeit goods. The UK investigation is still ongoing.
Although not specifically linked to this case, according to a consumer alert published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), three people in the U.S. were killed and two people suffered injuries from September 2023 to July 2024 as a result of their vehicles being fitted with substandard replacement airbags.
Individuals who suspect they purchased a counterfeit airbag should consult their brand’s dealership or a reputable mechanic to determine if the parts need to be replaced, and report it to their local Homeland Security Investigations office or submit an online complaint to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Haughton prosecuted the case. The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led the investigation, along with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the N.C. Secretary of State Trademark Enforcement Division or Anti-Counterfeit Task Force.
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. 5:25-cr-00013-FL.
Previously convicted Annandale man sentenced to 10 years in prison for latest drug trafficking and firearms crimesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Annandale man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, in 2017, David Monroy, 28, was convicted on three counts of possession with intent to distribute Xanax and felony possession with intent to distribute marijuana and in 2020 he was convicted of two counts of distribution of Etizolam, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm while in possession of drugs.
On June 2, Monroy provided money to a straw-purchaser to buy a firearm and compensated the buyer with drugs. As a previously convicted felon, Monroy could not purchase the firearm for himself and cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
On June 3, Fairfax County Police Department officers stopped Monroy’s vehicle and seized 15.78 grams of cocaine, 39 tablets containing oxycodone, and 41 tablets containing clonazepam as well as the handgun purchased the previous day, which was equipped with an extended magazine. Officers later searched Monroy’s residence where they seized 0.73 grams of methamphetamine, 12.55 grams of cocaine, and 2,490 fentanyl tablets. Officers also recovered a loaded handgun with an obliterated serial number and extended magazine.
Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division; and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.
Assistance was provided by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc J. Birnbaum 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. 1:25-cr-245.
Possession of Narcotics and Machine Gun Net D.C. Man 71-Month Prison TermRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Naseer Green, 19, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 71 months in prison for possession of narcotics with intent to distribute and possession of a fully loaded Glock handgun that had been outfitted with a conversion device to fire as a machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Green pleaded guilty on Sept. 4, 2025, to a two-count Superseding Information, charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and oxycodone and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the 71-month prison sentence, Judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered Green to serve three years of supervised release.
Joining in the announcement were ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
According to court documents, on March 16, 2025, at approximately 2 a.m., MPD officers patrolling the in the Logan Circle neighborhood approached a sedan parked near a fire hydrant in a no-parking zone. Four men were inside the vehicle. Officers spotted a handgun between the legs of one of the rear passengers.
After additional units responded to the scene, MPD searched the vehicle’s occupants incident to arrest, and three of the four occupants had firearms, including Green who had a Glock Model 19 9mm tucked into his waistband. Green’s Glock was outfitted with an extended magazine with a 24-round capacity and was fully loaded. Additionally the pistol was modified with a machine gun conversion device, known as a “switch,” which allowed the gun to operate as a fully automatic firearm. Officers also recovered from Green about 24 white tablets in a pill bottle; 134 blue pills in a clear bag; four grams of a white powdery substance in clear bag; and $357 in cash. The pills later tested positive for fentanyl and oxycodone. The gun was determined to have been reported stolen out of Maryland.
Two of Green’s co-defendants – Wesley Hilliard and Sequan Collier – are awaiting trial.
This case was investigated by the MPD and the ATF. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate M. Naseef and Matthew W. Kinskey.
25cr81
Pittsburgh Felon Indicted for Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal firearms law, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Ladayja Floyd, 22, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about October 9, 2025, Floyd had a firearm and ammunition in her possession after having been convicted of two prior felonies, including on state firearm and drug charges. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Kill Election OfficialRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to threatening to kill a Pennsylvania poll watcher working in the Western District of Pennsylvania, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced.
John Courtney Pollard, 63, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon to a one-count Indictment charging Pollard with making interstate threats.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on September 6, 2024, Pollard sent Victim 1, a Regional Election Integrity Director, four iMessages over the course of about ten minutes. Victim 1 had previously posted online, in Victim 1’s capacity as an employee of a state political party, that Victim 1 was recruiting volunteers to help “observe at the polls on Election Day” and included Victim 1’s phone number. Pollard texted Victim 1 that he was “interested in being a poll watcher” and included Victim 1’s first name. Pollard then texted Victim 1 three threats:
• “I will KILL YOU IF YOU DON’T ANSWER ME!”
• “Your days are numbered, B****!”
• “GONNA F***ING FIND YOU AND SKIN YOU ALIVE AND USE YOUR SKIN FOR F***ING TOILET PAPER, YOU F***ING KKK**T!”“Election workers, including volunteers and poll watchers, must be able to do their jobs without fear of threats and intimidation,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti. “Unfortunately, online threats are increasing, as individuals appear to believe that they can hide behind their keyboards. We are committed to using all of our law enforcement tools to investigate and prosecute these offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Ensuring free and fair elections is a cornerstone of our system of government,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “Threatening those tasked with protecting the integrity of elections will not be tolerated. Threats such as these carry very real consequences. The FBI and our partners will hold accountable anyone who thinks they can weaponize fear to influence our election process.”
Judge Bissoon scheduled Pollard’s sentencing for March 31, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States, with valuable assistance from the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN). PIN oversees the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes affecting government integrity, including bribery of public officials, election crimes, and other related offenses. PIN handles cases independently but also often works in partnership with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices on investigating and prosecuting these crimes.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Pollard.
Pawtucket Man Pleads Guilty to Possession and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – On December 1, 2025, a Pawtucket man pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island for knowingly accessing, possessing, and distributing child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Gary Ethier, 60, pleaded guilty to charges of distribution and possession of child pornography. He will be sentenced on March 5, 2026. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, in November 2024, members of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Crimes Center received information that Ethier was discussing the sexual exploitation of minor children with another individual online and sent the individual multiple images of child pornography. On December 2, 2024, the defendant’s home was searched by members of HSI and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. As a result of the search, law enforcement located over 600 images depicting child pornography on Ethier’s electronic devices.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter Roklan.
The matter was investigated by HSI and the ICAC Task Force.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
To report suspected online child sexual exploitation and/or abuse, call the Know2Project Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline® at https://report.cybertip.org/
Operation Sweet Silence Defendant Guilty of Drug Trafficking in Columbus, GeorgiaRead the Press Release
A repeat offender who prosecutors say was attempting to take over the illicit drug market in Columbus, Georgia, by obtaining methamphetamine, cocaine, and high grade marijuana from California was found guilty by a jury yesterday of drug trafficking resulting from Operation Sweet Silence, a multi-agency law enforcement effort in the community conducted as part of Operation Take Back America, the Department of Justice’s nationwide effort cracking down on criminal organizations and cartels.
Marquez Holloway, aka “Glizzy,” 32, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and more than 50 kilograms of marijuana following a two-day trial. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2026.
“The jury convicted the defendant of working across state lines to traffic dangerous drugs — methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana — into his community,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti. “These poisonous drugs drive violence and addiction. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute drug traffickers to restore a sense of safety to neighborhoods throughout the country.”
“Illegal drugs pouring into our communities from dangerous cartels pose a serious threat to the safety of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “Here in the Middle District of Georgia, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal organizations and hold their associates accountable.”
“Illicit drugs devastate our communities, resulting in significant suffering by those addicted and their families,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “We will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to prevent this poison from finding its way onto our streets.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is deploying all resources available to combat criminal organizations that are destroying our communities with drugs, guns and violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Rob Murphy of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This repeat offender’s actions show a deliberate attempt to seize control of an illicit drug market and expand the harm these substances inflict on our communities. DEA will not allow individuals like this to profit from addiction and violence. We will continue working with our partners to disrupt their operations and bring them to justice.”
“This is a huge victory for the citizens we serve,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “There is strength in collaboration when we combine our resources to go after criminal enterprises involving street gangs, drug dealers and convicted felons. We will continue this fight for safer streets and a safer community.”
According to court documents and statements referenced at trial, federal and local law enforcement conducted Operation Sweet Silence from Aug. 2022 until May 2024, an extensive investigation into the illegal activities of the Zohannon criminal street gang involving armed drug trafficking. During this extensive investigation, agents discovered that Holloway, who is not a member of the Zohannon organization, was working with others to take control of the illegal drug market in Columbus by supplying exceptionally high-grade marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine from California.
Between September and December 2023, Holloway obtained at least 110 pounds of marijuana to sell in Columbus. Evidence revealed Holloway was sold a kilogram of cocaine and attempted to obtain methamphetamine for distribution in the community during this time. Holloway is a repeat offender, with a prior state conviction in Georgia for drug trafficking.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case was investigated by the FBI, the DEA, and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office with critical assistance from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office; the Russell County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office; the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office; the Sacramento County, California, Sheriff’s Office; and the Muscogee County District Attorney’s Office.
Trial Attorney Matthew P. Mattis of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Hansis for the Middle District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.
Operation Sweet Silence Defendant Guilty of Drug Trafficking in ColumbusRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A repeat offender who prosecutors say was attempting to take over the illicit drug market in Columbus by obtaining methamphetamine, cocaine and high-grade marijuana from California was found guilty by a jury this week of drug trafficking resulting from Operation Sweet Silence, a multi-agency law enforcement effort in the community conducted as part of Operation Take Back America, the Department of Justice’s nationwide effort cracking down on criminal organizations and cartels.
Marquez Holloway, aka “Glizzy,” 32, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and more than 50 kilograms of marijuana following a two-day trial that began on Dec. 1, before U.S. District Judge Clay Land. The defendant faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Illegal drugs pouring into our communities from dangerous cartels pose a serious threat to the safety of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Here in the Middle District of Georgia, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal organizations and hold their associates accountable.”
“The jury convicted the defendant of working across state lines to traffic dangerous drugs — methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana — into his community,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General, Matthew R. Galeotti. “These poisonous drugs drive violence and addiction. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute drug traffickers to restore a sense of safety to neighborhoods throughout the country.”
“Illicit drugs devastate our communities, resulting in significant suffering by those addicted and their families,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “We will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to prevent this poison from finding its way onto our streets.”
“The DEA is deploying all resources available to combat criminal organizations that are destroying our communities with drugs, guns and violence,” said Rob Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This repeat offender’s actions show a deliberate attempt to seize control of an illicit drug market and expand the harm these substances inflict on our communities. DEA will not allow individuals like this to profit from addiction and violence. We will continue working with our partners to disrupt their operations and bring them to justice.”
“This is a huge victory for the citizens we serve,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “There is strength in collaboration when we combine our resources to go after criminal enterprises involving street gangs, drug dealers and convicted felons. We will continue this fight for safer streets and a safer community.”
According to court documents and statements referenced at trial, federal and local law enforcement conducted Operation Sweet Silence from Aug. 2022 until May 2024, an extensive investigation into the illegal activities of the Zohannon criminal street gang involving armed drug trafficking. During this extensive investigation, agents discovered that Holloway, who is not a member of the Zohannon organization, was working with others to take control of the illegal drug market in Columbus by supplying exceptionally high-grade marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine from California.
Between September and December 2023, Holloway obtained at least 110 pounds of marijuana to sell in Columbus. Evidence revealed Holloway was sold a kilogram of cocaine and attempted to obtain methamphetamine for distribution in the community during this time. Holloway is a repeat offender, with a prior state conviction in Georgia for drug trafficking.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office with critical assistance from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office; the Russell County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office; the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office; the Sacramento County, California, Sheriff’s Office; and the Muscogee County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Hansis of the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Matthew P. Mattis of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case for the Government.
Oklahoma City woman sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –An Oklahoma City woman has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Maria Garcia, 59, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on December 1, 2025.
According to information presented in court, from April 2021 to November 2022, Garcia was involved in a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing kilogram quantities of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. These drugs were smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border where they were then stored at various locations in Texas before being distributed elsewhere throughout the United States. Garcia would coordinate with others in Mexico to receive kilograms of methamphetamine from the drug trafficking organization in Oklahoma.
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.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne.
###
Ohio Man Convicted of $1.2M in Pandemic Benefits Fraud Sentenced to 11 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Portage County man who orchestrated a financial conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has been sentenced to prison.
Mustafa Ayoub Diab, 42, of Ravenna, Ohio, was sentenced to 132 months (11 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr., after a federal jury found him guilty in March on 12 counts of theft of government funds, 12 counts of bank fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, 6 counts of aggravated identity theft, and 1 count each of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and to launder monetary instruments. Diab was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment and to pay $1,213,860 in restitution. Judge Oliver imposed the sentence Dec. 1.
According to court documents, Diab owned and operated a tax return preparation business in Akron, Ohio, along with co-conspirator, Elizabeth Lorraine Robinson, 34, also of Ravenna. From around June 2020 to August 2021, Diab submitted fraudulent applications for pandemic unemployment benefits and small business assistance for many of his business clients. Without their knowledge, he lied about their employment and their status as small business owners on applications to qualify for pandemic funds and benefits such as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program and the Paycheck Protection Program.
When the pandemic relief funds were deposited into bank accounts that he opened and controlled for his clients without their knowledge, he immediately withdrew the funds in cash for his personal use. Diab bought real estate, cars and took international trips. Among the evidence presented at the nearly week-long trial, were fraudulent applications that he submitted using the names of nearly 80 victims. These applications caused the federal government to pay out more than $1.2 million in pandemic benefits that were deposited into the various bank accounts that Diab controlled.
Co-defendant Robinson previously pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to nine months in prison and ordered to serve three years of supervised release thereafter. She was also ordered to pay $183,450 in restitution both joint and severally with Diab.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI Akron Field Office.
The prosecution in this case was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Vanessa V. Healy and Brenna L. Fasko.
Nihilistic Violent Extremist ArrestedRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Washington State man has been arrested and charged with allegedly threatening to murder a Massachusetts minor, distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and distributing videos of animals being crushed.
Joseph Pacheco, 23, of Everett, Wash., was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for knowingly distributing child pornography to a minor; five counts of transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce; and possession and distribution of animal crushing videos. The defendant was arrested this morning and will appear in the Western District of Washington this afternoon. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
It is alleged that Pacheco’s communications with a minor victim in Massachusetts and the contents of his social media accounts espoused goals shared by Nihilistic Violent Extremists (NVEs). According to the indictment, NVEs engage in criminal conduct to further the goal of bringing about society’s collapse by sowing chaos and social instability. NVEs frequently use social media to connect with individuals, particularly minors, to desensitize them to violence by breaking down societal norms regarding the commission of violent acts, normalizing the possession and distribution of CSAM as well as gore material and otherwise corrupting and grooming the individuals towards committing future acts of violence.
It is alleged that Pacheco knowingly distributed CSAM to a minor victim, distributed animal crushing videos and, on five occasions, threatened to murder a minor victim:
Approximate Date
Description of Threat
June 1, 2025I will kill you if you ever leave me. I cannot live without you. You’re mine forever.June 6, 2025I have your address and I’ll commit a murder suicide.July 11, 2025Just self-harm or hit yourself to make yourself useful. I’ll f*****g rape and kill you. I know where you live.July 12, 2025After you were messaging her without telling me
Don’t do it again
Cause omg. If I caught you one more time
I’ll swear I’ll f*****g kill you.
July 13, 2025If you don’t add me back
I promise you
I’ll f*****g kill you
Kill your whole family.
The charge of knowingly distributing child pornography to a minor provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of sending threatening communications in interstate commerce provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of animal crushing videos provides for a sentence of up to seven years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Chief Paul B. Saucier of the Worcester Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Nigerian Men and Sudanese Woman Sentenced to over 20 Years in Romance Scam Resulting in Elderly Victim's DeathRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE Tenn. – On December 2, 2025, Salma Abdalkareem, 29 of Piscataway, New Jersey, Chinagorom Onwumere, 36, of Piscataway, New Jersey, and Stephen O. Anagor, 37, of Lakewood, Washington, were sentenced by the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville for their roles in a romance scam that targeted victims around the country and resulted in the death of an elderly victim. Judge Corker sentenced Abdalkareem to 51 months, Onwumere to 84 months, and Anagor to 108 months. Following their imprisonment, Onwumere and Anagor will be on supervised release for five years, Abdalkareem will be on supervised release for three years, and all will be required to repay the victims $388,500 in restitution.
As part of written plea agreements filed with the court, Abdalkareem pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957(a). Onwumere pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, one count of aiding and abetting aggravated stalking resulting in death in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(2)(B), one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957(a). Abdalkareem pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957(a). Anagor pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, one count of aiding and abetting aggravated stalking resulting in death in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(2)(B), and one count of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A.
According to filed court documents, Anagor and Onwumere (both from Nigeria) met during military training in South Carolina in June 2023. Anagor recruited Onwumere and Onwumere’s wife, Abdalkareem (a citizen of Sudan), to assist a relative in Nigeria in carrying out romance scams perpetrated on victims around the United States. Under the scam, the relative in Nigeria would impersonate famous celebrities and con victims, usually elderly adults targeted online, into believing they were in a romantic relationship with famous celebrities. Members of the conspiracy would then engage in various devices to obtain money from the victims, such as the need for help with taxes on luxury vehicles, background investigation fees needed for employment, membership fees that would permit unique access to the celebrities, etc.
On multiple occasions, victims were told that the scammers were with federal law enforcement and had to pay fees and fines to halt investigations initiated by the celebrities or their management. As part of this law enforcement scam, the conspirators would impersonate high ranking officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice, including the former Director of the FBI and the former Attorney General of the United States.
Once a victim agreed to provide funds, members of the conspiracy in Nigeria would then direct them to provide money to other members of the conspiracy in the United States, such as Anagor, Abdalkareem, and Onwumere. They would deposit checks, keep a share of the proceeds, and then transfer funds to others in Nigeria or the United States.
One of the victims was a retired teacher from Jonesborough, Tennessee. He believed he was speaking with a well-known celebrity, and they had begun a romantic relationship. Eventually, members of the conspiracy posed as the former Director of the FBI and former Attorney General of the United States and advised the victim that the celebrity’s management had filed a complaint, and he was under investigation. Through a series of harassing emails, the scammers advised that he had to pay exorbitant fees and fines to make the investigation go away and seal it from the public. Following these instructions, the victim then sent five checks totaling $86,900 to Onwumere and Abdalkareem. These funds represented the victim’s entire life savings (and included the proceeds of a loan the victim took out on his truck to have enough for the final payment). After sending his life savings, the scammers then advised the victim that he was responsible for medical bills because the stress he had caused the actress had resulted in her hospitalization.
In his last know text messages, the victim—believing he was speaking with the celebrity—advised that he had no more money and was going to end his life. On October 23, 2023, the victim committed suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.
The same scheme targeted multiple victims around the United States and used the identities of at least four celebrities, the former Director of the FBI, and the former Attorney General of the United States.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee , Colin Jackson, HSI (Homeland Security Investigations), and, Special Agent in Charge Paul DelleDonne, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Cyber Field Office made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation led by HSI, Army CID, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Mac D. Heavener III represented the United States.
###
Nicaraguan National Pleads Guilty to Forcibly Resisting Federal Agents in Extended Struggle During Immigration ArrestRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Denis Napoleon Corea-Miranda (22, Nicaragua) has pleaded guilty to forcibly resisting, opposing, or impeding federal officers. Corea-Miranda faces a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to court records, on August 26, 2025, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) attempted to arrest Corea-Miranda in connection with a final order of removal from the United States. While being questioned by agents, Corea-Miranda attempted to flee which led to an extended struggle between agents and Corea-Miranda. During the struggle, Corea-Miranda ended up on top of the agents and held them to the ground. An ICE agent suffered a dislocated shoulder during the attempt to arrest Corea-Miranda. Corea-Miranda ultimately fled on foot before later being arrested by deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO), and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
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.
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Woman Seated Next to Him on 2024 Los Angeles to Philadelphia FlightRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Vernon Baker, 41, of Linden, New Jersey, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Anita B. Brody to one count of abusive sexual contact on an aircraft.
The defendant was charged with that offense by indictment in January of this year.
As detailed in court filings, on October 30, 2024, aboard a commercial flight from Los Angeles to Philadelphia, Baker made sexual advances toward the female passenger sitting next to him. After the victim refused his advances, Baker took out his penis and forcibly tried to get the victim to touch him. He then grabbed her breast over her clothing and untied her pants. Traumatized and shaken, the victim rushed to the back of the cabin, where she reported this assault to flight attendants.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3 and faces a maximum possible term of three years’ imprisonment, one year of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh Davison and Special Assistant United States Attorney Meagan Gordon.
Nigerian National Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Admitted to the United States Under a Non-Immigrant VisaRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall announced that Godson Oghenebrume, age 22, a Nigerian National residing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick to possession of a firearm by an alien admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant visa.
Oghenebrume’s conviction is punishable by up to fifteen years imprisonment. He also faces a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release. He may also be subject to removal or deportation from the United States upon completing his sentence.
According to admissions made during his plea, on February 7, 2025, Oghenebrume possessed a Glock model 43X, 9mm pistol, while he was admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant F-1 student visa.
Based on the complaint that proceeded the indictment, on the night of February 7, 2025, Oghenebrume was in his apartment when an ex-girlfriend, who is also the mother of his infant child, arrived at the apartment with the baby. Oghenebrume, who had been in the apartment with another young woman, went outside and an argument ensued between him and the mother of his child. During this argument, and while the baby was present, Oghenebrume discharged the firearm.
Oghenebrume went back into his apartment. However, sometime thereafter Oghenebrume’s ex-girlfriend opened his apartment door, observed Oghenebrume and the other young woman in the living room, and she and Oghenebrume began to argue. That argument spilled out of the apartment, and Oghenebrume discharged the firearm more times as the mother of his child fled. Multiple bullet strikes were observed in the walls of the apartment complex.
Oghenebrume then smashed her phone and took the baby, who had been present throughout the incident. Oghenebrume’s ex-girlfriend then approached the other woman, who was attempting to leave, and asked her for help getting the baby. She agreed to help and was able to get the child from Oghenebrume.
When East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the apartment complex, Oghenebrume walked away from them, ignoring their commands, and discarded the Glock model 43X, 9mm pistol into some shrubs. Oghenebrume was detained soon thereafter. Deputies spoke to Oghenebrume’s neighbor, who confirmed hearing shots, and stated his ears had been ringing.
In a post Miranda interview, EBRSO detectives asked Oghenebrume why he had shot the firearm in the apartment complex. He claimed that he had wanted his ex-girlfriend to go home and that he had shot the gun to scare her away.
This matter was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy S. Johnson and Lyman E. Thornton III.
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.
Mother Involved in Marijuana Drug Conspiracy Sentenced to Five Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A woman involved in a drug conspiracy in Waterloo, Iowa, was sentenced on December 2, 2025, to five years in federal prison.
Nicole Ann Fordyce, age 50, who lived in Waterloo, Iowa, at the time of her involvement in distributing marijuana, received the prison term after an April 16, 2025, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
From August 2022 through January 2024, Fordyce was involved in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of marijuana intended for further distribution in Waterloo. Fordyce received marijuana in the mail from her son, Jonathan Reins, who was living in California. Fordyce gave the marijuana to other people involved in distributing it throughout Waterloo. During this time, Fordyce also deposited approximately $191,896 in drug proceeds into a bank account used by the people involved in distributing the marijuana.
Fordyce was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Fordyce was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Fordyce is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force
Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Denver Iowa Police Department, Fullerton California Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR- 02050-002.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Mexican national sentenced to over twelve years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Mexican national illegally living in Garland has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Salud Alejandro Ruiz Mendoza, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on December 1, 2025.
According to information presented in court, Mendoza, along with his co-defendants, was responsible for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute approximately 37 kilograms of methamphetamine in the North Texas area that had been imported from Mexico. As a result of this investigation, several firearms and approximately 91 pounds of marijuana were also seized.
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.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Brooks.
###
Mexican National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national has been sentenced for illegally reentering the United States.
Andres G. Angel-Martinez, 25, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously removed alien and was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Dec. 3, 2025. Angel-Martinez has been in custody since March 2025. He is being held on an active immigration detainer and will soon be deported to Mexico.
According to information presented in court, on April 15, 2025, Angel-Martinez was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Cass County, Missouri Jail after being previously removed from the United States on November 11, 2019.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by ICE, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Maryville Man Pleads Guilty to Damaging and Attempting to Destroy an Interstate Gas Pipeline FacilityRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On December 3, 2025, Christopher Kyle Duke, 36, of Maryville, Tennessee, entered a guilty plea before United States District Judge Thomas A. Varlan to one count of damaging and attempting to destroy an interstate gas pipeline facility. Sentencing has been set for April 15, 2026, at 2pm, before Judge Varlan in the United States District Court in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Duke faces a term of up to 20 years in Federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release of up to three years.
As part of the written plea agreement, Duke waived an indictment by a federal Grand Jury and agreed to plead guilty to the aforementioned charge. According to filed court documents, Enbridge is an international natural gas supplier that services approximately 25% of the natural gas consumed across the United States. East Tennessee Natural Gas LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge and operates a metering and regulating station in Maryville, TN. This station delivers natural gas to commercial and residential consumers in Blount County. On May 9, 2025, Duke scaled the chain-link and barbed-wire fence surrounding the station and recklessly damaged equipment used to monitor, meter, and regulate the transmission of natural gas, causing thousands of dollars in damage and loss.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Maryville Police Department and the FBI.
Assistant United States Attorney David P. Lewen, Jr. represented the United States.
###
Man Who Targeted Metro Air Support Helicopter with Laser Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a man who temporarily blinded Metro Air Support pilots with a laser pointer last year to 21 months in prison.
Evidence and testimony at the July trial of Joshua J. Johnson showed that shortly before 9:45 p.m. on August 9, 2024, Johnson used a blue Class IV laser to target a marked Metro Air Support helicopter that was flying over the Benton Park neighborhood in St. Louis in support of other officers. A St. Louis County Police Department pilot and a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department pilot were temporarily blinded when the blue light flooded the cockpit. As the laser light started to wane, officers tracked the beam to a vehicle below them and tracked the vehicle as it drove down the street. The driver aimed the laser at the helicopter again. The officers continued to track the vehicle and provided updates to officers on the ground, who stopped the vehicle and arrested the sole occupant – Johnson. After initially denying that he pointed the laser, he later told officers that he was responsible. He also admitted that fact in calls from jail.
Jurors the trial of Johnson, now 44, of Warrenton, Missouri, convicted him of one felony count of knowingly aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.
“This is dangerous conduct,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Mohsen Pasha said at Wednesday’s sentencing hearing. The strongest consumer model lasers can permanently blind air crews. In addition to criminal penalties, anyone who points a laser at an aircraft can also be subject to civil penalties of up to $11,000 imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
"Pointing a laser at an aircraft can have catastrophic consequences, including the potential for fatal accidents if pilots are temporarily blinded. This is not a harmless prank," said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. "The act is not difficult to trace, and in this case, it took mere minutes for the jury to convict Joshua J. Johnson."
The case was investigated by the FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Metro Air Support Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohsen Pasha and Derek Wiseman prosecuted the case.
Madison Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Unlawfully Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jontrae Larsen, 24, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 5 years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon. Larsen pleaded guilty to this charge on September 11, 2025.
On January 6, 2024, witnesses to a vehicle crash observed Larsen flee from one of the vehicles involved in the collision. Law enforcement eventually found Larsen and a Glock 17, Gen 5 handgun equipped with an extended magazine and loaded with 27 rounds of ammunition, including one round in the chamber. The firearm was also equipped with a machinegun conversion device. Larsen’s DNA was recovered on multiple parts of the firearm, and law enforcement also found evidence of Larsen’s gun possession on his phone.
A machinegun conversion device is an illegal after-market device that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully functioning machinegun. A handgun with a machinegun conversion device is extremely dangerous, even for experienced firearms users, because it is difficult to control and is capable of firing 50 rounds in four seconds with a single pull of the trigger.
Larsen has a prior state conviction for first degree recklessly endangering safety. As a convicted felon, Larsen is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson expressed disappointment that Larsen returned to criminal behavior so soon after he was released from state prison, and he attributed Larsen’s return to crime to negative social influences and a lack of maturity. Judge Peterson found Larsen’s possession of a machinegun particularly concerning due to Larsen’s history of impulsive decisions, terrible judgment, and substance abuse. Judge Peterson said a substantial sentence was also warranted given the automatic firing capacity of the firearm.
The charge against Larsen was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department 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. Attorney Steven Ayala 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).
Kansas City Woman Pleads Guilty to Preparing and Filing False Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to preparing and filing false income tax returns for others.
Tanisha Spencer, 35, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill Morris to aiding in the preparation of a false tax return.
According to court documents, Spencer prepared income tax returns for pay for persons who contacted her via Facebook. She prepared the income tax returns at 4300 Bellefontaine, Kansas City, Missouri, and the returns were electronically filed with the Internal Revenue Service in Kansas City, Missouri. The Federal income tax returns prepared by Spencer included fraudulent Sick Leave and Family Leave credits, illegitimate fuel tax credits, and fraudulently inflated federal tax withholdings. By including these and other fraudulent items on the client’s tax returns, Spencer was able to manufacture substantial refunds to her clients that they would not have been entitled to if the returns had been accurately prepared. Spencer electronically filed returns and charged her clients a return preparation fee of between $500 and $14,840 per return. The 156 returns that Spencer prepared claimed $4,047,531 in refunds, of which the IRS paid out $689,872.
Under federal statutes, Spencer is subject to a sentence of up to 3 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Kansas City Man Pleads Guilty to COVID FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man pled guilty today to wire fraud in a scheme to fraudulently obtain a $312,500 Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan, guaranteed by the United States Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
Jarrell Curne, 36, was the owner of a Missouri limited liability company called Hustle Ova Everything Entertainment (Hustle). On May 13, 2020, Curne submitted a $312,500 PPP loan application to U.S. Bank on behalf of Hustle. In the loan application, Curne falsely stated that, in 2019, Hustle had an annual payroll of $1.5 million and 100 employees. In reality, Hustle had no eligible employees or payroll whatsoever.
Based on the fraudulent representations Curne made in the Hustle PPP loan application, on May 15, 2020, U.S. Bank transferred $312,500 to a bank account controlled by Curne in the name of Hustle. In furtherance of his wire-fraud scheme and in an effort for the Small Business Administration to forgive the Hustle PPP loan, Curne falsely certified that the loan proceeds were used for permissible business purposes under the PPP. In reality, the funds were used by Curne for personal expenses.
Under federal statutes, Curne is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on a set of advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul S. Becker and James Kirkpatrick. It was investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
Jury finds Lame Deer man guilty of assaulting federal officers on the Northern Cheyenne Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man who assaulted federal officers on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation was found guilty by a federal jury yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Following a one-and-a-half-day trial, Caleb Raymond Carter, 39, was found guilty of two counts of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, and one count of use of a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence. Carter faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release for the assaults and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, consecutive to the sentence imposed for the assaults, a $250,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release for the firearm charge.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set for a later date. Carter will remain detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial John Does 1 and 2 are federal law enforcement officers employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. On the date of the alleged offense, both were in uniform and were working their scheduled shifts on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.
On May 2, 2025, John Doe 1 responded to a 911 call in Lame Deer. The caller, Jane Doe, advised Carter was drunk and was yelling at her mother, causing her to fear for her mother’s safety. By the time Doe 1 responded, the disturbance had subsided. Doe 1 contacted Jane Doe and her brother and confirmed they were safe. He instructed Jane Doe to call 911 again if there were any other issues. He cleared the residence.
Later the same day, Jane Doe called 911 again to report Carter had woken up and was “yelling around.” Again, Jane Doe expressed concern for her family’s physical safety. She also advised Carter may be armed with a firearm. John Does 1 and 2 responded to the residence in separate, marked patrol vehicles. Both officers activated their emergency lights and parked at the northeast corner of the property.
They approached a camper trailer on the property that Carter had been using as a bedroom but no one responded to their knock on the door or their announcement that they were BIA police.
John Doe 1 proceeded to the nearby residence and was greeted at the door by Jane Doe’s brother. As he was speaking with the brother, Doe 1 heard a loud bang that he immediately recognized as a gunshot. Both Doe 1 and Doe 2 drew their duty weapons and retreated from the door. They advised dispatch that shots had been fired and commanded the occupants of the camper to exit. Eventually, Carter and his wife emerged from the trailer with their hands raised and both were taken into custody.
Law enforcement searched and photographed the camper trailer, noting a hole in the door consistent with a gun shot. They seized a 20-gauge shotgun in an overheard cabinet across from the door of the camper and observed a spent shell casing stuck inside the chamber. They also located and seized a box of 20-gauge ammunition from a kitchen cabinet.
During an interview with law enforcement, Carter claimed he had had “issues” with law enforcement entering onto the property in the past, and had posted a “No Trespassing” sign on the gate in an effort to deter them from doing so. He admitted he watched John Doe 1 access the property the first time and said he locked a gate after the officer left.
Carter also said he had been sitting inside for approximately five minutes when the officers arrived for the second time. He claimed he saw the camper “light up,” and then heard a knock at his door, followed by the sound of someone trying to open it. By that point, “it was too late:” Carter had retrieved his shotgun and pointed it at the door. He said the gun accidentally discharged when he pointed it at the door.
An FBI analyst examined the firearm and determined it functioned normally and would not have discharged when handled in the manner described by Carter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Yerger prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the BIA.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
XXX
Jury convicts illegal alien who distributed cocaine and machine guns from homeRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 32-year-old Mexican national who unlawfully resided in Laredo has been convicted of unlawful possession of a machine gun and drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for approximately two hours and 30 minutes before returning the guilty verdicts on all 12 counts as charged against Carlos Alberto Garcia-Guajardo following a less than three-day trial.
The jury heard that Garcia-Guajardo and Fernando Patino Jr., also an illegal alien, sold firearms and cocaine out of a residential home in Laredo. The firearms included several machine guns.
Testimony revealed details of the undercover operation which began with the sale of a pistol. At that time, Garcia-Guajardo had indicated he and Patino could also offer drugs for sale.
On Jan. 2, Patino and Garcia-Guajardo sold the first of two machine guns - a model 22 Glock equipped with a conversion device. In the following weeks, they arranged additional sales involving cocaine and other firearms. In total, Patino and Garcia-Guajardo sold 10 firearms.
The jury heard the pair used the sale of cocaine and firearms to negotiate future deals. Testimony revealed that during one transaction, they told a buyer that “because you are paying full price on the snow, we will cut you a deal on the Glock.”
Evidence also showed Garcia-Guajardo and Patino not only sold firearms but fired them indiscriminately in their neighborhood and conducted extensive drug trafficking.
On Jan. 31, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the 3000 block of Monterrey Street in Laredo. At that time, they found Garcia-Guajardo along with Jose Guadalupe Hernandez-Garza, a 26-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, as well as scales, cash in various denominations, multiple firearms and crack cocaine stored near items belonging to young children.
Garcia-Guajardo had been ordered removed from the United States on two occasions, most recently in July 2024. As an illegal alien, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.
Visting U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle presided over trial and has set sentencing for March 5.
Garcia-Guajardo faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years and up to life in federal prison. He could also be ordered to pay a $250,000 maximum fine.
Patino, 33, pleaded guilty prior to trial and is pending sentencing.
Both Patino and Garcia-Guajardo have been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Hernandez-Garza admitted to being an alien illegally in possession of a firearm and ammunition and has been ordered to prison.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Laredo Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Anti-Gang Unit – Laredo Center and Border Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Tory R. Sailer and Brandon Scott Bowling are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Johnstown Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing and Distributing Fentanyl and CrackRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Che Rose, 39, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan on December 2, 2025.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around April 2024 through in and around June 2024, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Rose conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of mixtures and substances containing fentanyl and cocaine base in the form commonly known as “crack.”
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for April 1, 2026. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Laurel Highlands Resident Agency’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Cambria County Drug Task Force conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Rose.
Jefferson County Woman Charged with ArsonRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted a Jefferson County woman for setting fire to an apartment unit, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Shun’derrika Kimberly Peoples, 20, of Birmingham, Alabama, with arson. The incident occurred at The Union at Cooper Hill apartment complex on August 25, 2025.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney W. Lee Gilmer is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
Jasper man sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Jasper man has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
David Anthony Piepenburg, 46, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on December 1, 2025.
According to information presented in court, beginning in 2019, Piepenburg conspired with others to distribute and possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas.
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.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Rattan.
###
Iowa Man to Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy and Illegal GunRead the Press Release
On December 1, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City, Ryan Miller, 40, most recently residing in Pilot Mound, Iowa, was sentenced. On June 27, 2025, Miller pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Miller was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in 2017, this conviction prohibits him from possessing a firearm.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that from January 2024 through April 27, 2024, Miller and others conspired to distribute at least ½ pound of methamphetamine and more than 1700 fentanyl pills. On April 21, 2024, Miller and two others were headed to Colorado to pick up more methamphetamine and to sell fentanyl pills. They attempted to elude law enforcement in a high-speed vehicle chase during which Miller threw two pop cans containing fentanyl pills from the vehicle. In an attempt to distract the police, Miller’s two co-defendants made “false” 911 calls. Later on the same date, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Miller’s residence and seized a small amount of methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, and a loaded .22 caliber Beretta handgun.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Miller was sentenced to 112 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of five years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Miller remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Ida and Sac County Sheriff’s Offices, the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4042. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Indiana Man Charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana following a High-Speed PursuitRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Hammond, In., man has been charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana in Daviess County, Missouri.
Nickolas J Burch, 36, was charged and had his initial appearance yesterday in a two-count criminal complaint. Burch was charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
According to court documents, on Nov. 15, 2025, a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper was conducting routine patrol on I-35 northbound in Daviess County. He observed a black sport utility vehicle (SUV) overtaking his vehicle from the rear at 103 miles per hour. After the MSHP Trooper attempted to stop the SUV, it attempted to flee at a high rate of speed, ultimately reaching 128 miles per hour before crashing into a field.
Immediately after the crash the driver, later identified as Burch, exited the vehicle and fled on foot, carrying a red duffle bag over his shoulder. After a foot pursuit and resistance by Burch, law enforcement was ultimately able to take Burch into custody.
A red duffle bag was recovered from the field, which was dropped by Burch during the pursuit. and searched. Law enforcement located $205,950 in United States Currency.
A second duffel bag was in the second row of the SUV which contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine and 18 pounds of marijuana.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Smith. was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Daviess County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Illegal alien and Atlanta man face federal charges after massive seizures of methamphetamine concealed in fruit shipmentsRead the Press Release
Atlanta – Gerardo Solorio-Alvarado, an illegal alien from Mexico who previously served time in federal prison, and Nelson Enrique Sorto face federal drug charges related to a recent seizure of a combined 1,585 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in blackberry shipments at locations in Southeast Atlanta and Gainesville, Georgia.
“These repeat offenders, including an illegal alien, allegedly attempted to conceal and traffic an enormous quantity of deadly methamphetamine in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We are thankful for the quick action of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who apprehended these individuals and stopped nearly 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine from hitting the streets.”
“The FBI will never waver in our commitment to disrupt traffickers and prevent their dangerous drugs from reaching our streets, no matter where they try to hide them," said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “Thanks to the quick response and dedicated efforts of our law enforcement partners, these repeat offenders will be held responsible for their crimes.”
“This indictment serves as a clear message that drug trafficking has no place in our communities. It shows what can be accomplished when law enforcement works together with determination and purpose. We remain committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to pursue and disrupt the plans of those who threaten our communities through drug trafficking,” said Chris Hosey, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
“These arrests and the confiscation of this massive amount of methamphetamine represent a major disruption to the criminals who traffic this dangerous poison in our communities,” said Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch. “Hall County Sheriff’s Office investigators worked tirelessly in this case to hold accountable those who threaten the well-being of people in our county and communities across Georgia. I’m incredibly proud of the teamwork displayed by our investigators and our state and federal partners.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On November 20, 2025, law enforcement surveilled a cold storage warehouse in Fulton County, Georgia, and observed three refrigerated box trucks parked outside. Agents followed one of the trucks as it traveled in tandem with an SUV, driven by Sorto, to a residence in southeast Atlanta. Sorto then opened the rear door of the truck and examined the storage area and its contents. Shortly after midnight, Sorto departed in the SUV with two passengers. Georgia State Patrol troopers initiated a traffic stop on the SUV and located two firearms and several containers of blackberries in the vehicle. During a subsequent search of the box truck parked outside the Atlanta residence, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents assisted by the FBI recovered approximately 924 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in pallets of blackberries.
At the same time, another team of federal agents and sheriff’s deputies followed a second box truck from the cold storage facility to a gas station in Gainesville. Solorio-Alvarado arrived, picked up the box truck driver, and departed the gas station. After a K9 alerted to the odor of narcotics, agents searched the abandoned box truck and recovered approximately 661 pounds of methamphetamine hidden amongst pallets of blackberries. Solorio-Alvarado was later arrested at his Gainesville residence as he attempted to flee from the back of the home. Inside the home, deputies found keys to the abandoned truck.
The investigation revealed that Solorio-Alvarado, an illegal alien from Mexico, has a prior federal conviction for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Solorio-Alvarado served 17 years of imprisonment for those offenses. Law enforcement also learned that Sorto is currently on probation for a 2024 conviction for possession of methamphetamine in Hall County, Georgia.
Gerardo Solorio-Alvarado, 44, of Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 2, 2025, on charges of conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Nelson Enrique Sorto, 36, of Atlanta, Ga., was charged in a criminal complaint on December 1, 2025, with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment and criminal complaint only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The cases are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the Georgia State Patrol, and the Hall County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Keen and Dwayne Brown, Jr. are prosecuting the cases.
The 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
These prosecutions are also 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 Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Attempting to Entice a MinorRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Mauricio Morales-Gonzalez, 24, of Mexico, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity after previously pleading guilty in federal court. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, this criminal alien was stopped as he attempted to sexually exploit and victimize a minor child. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these disgusting sex offenders to ensure the most vulnerable members of our community are kept safe.”
Court documents reflect that between April 10, 2025, and April 12, 2025, detectives of the Tallahassee Police Department and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, participated in a joint undercover operation in Leon County focused on identifying individuals using the Internet to exploit children in a sexual manner. During the operation, investigators identified Morales-Gonzalez, an adult male who was soliciting minors for sex through an online website. Morales-Gonzalez, who is in the country illegally, believed he was going to be engaging in sexual activity with a minor when he drove to a meeting location where he was met by law enforcement and immediately arrested.
“This sentence sends a clear message that anyone who attempts to entice a minor into sexual activity will face serious consequences,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas G. Ingegno. “This criminal alien sought to exploit a child, and thanks to the swift, coordinated work of law enforcement, that danger was stopped. Protecting minors from predatory conduct remains one of our highest priorities, and this outcome reflects our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our children.”
Morales-Gonzalez’s imprisonment will be followed by a five-year term of supervised release, meaning if he violates any of the conditions of his supervision, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
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.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Hunt County woman sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Quinlan woman has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Rosalind Horton, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on December 1, 2025.
According to information presented in court, beginning in 2020, Horton conspired with others to distribute and possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas.
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.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Rattan.
###
Honolulu Man Who Trafficked Illegally-Caught Hawaiian Tropical Fish Sentenced to Probation and Home DetentionRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Shane Takasane, 43, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A. S. Park to three years of probation for selling illegally-caught Hawaiian yellow tang and kole tang, in violation of the Lacey Act. Takasane pled guilty to those charges on August 6, 2025. Takasane’s conditions of probation included 45 days of home confinement, 50 hours of community service to an organization focused on improving the marine environment, and the payment of $10,100 in restitution to the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources.
As part of his guilty plea, Takasane admitted that in June through August 2023, Takasane arranged with divers to obtain Hawaiian yellow tang and kole tang, which the defendant sold to a buyer on the U.S. Mainland without the required commercial fish license. Takasane also admitted as part of his plea agreement that on multiple occasions between July 2023 and June 2024, he imported snakehead fish, which are considered injurious to domestic wildlife, and Asian arowanas, which are protected by the Endangered Species Act, in violation of federal law.
“The protection of Hawaii’s wildlife is a critical component in preserving the unique and beautiful marine environment that draws so many to our islands,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We will continue to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, FBI, and other agencies to aggressively investigate, arrest, and convict those who seek to profit by violating the laws and regulations that safeguard Hawaii’s precious ocean wildlife.”
“The illegal trade of native Hawaiian marine species threatens fragile coral reef ecosystems, while the smuggling of injurious species poses serious risks to our nation’s wildlife and habitats,” said Douglas Ault, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “We thank the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI for their strong partnership in enforcing the laws that protect our nation’s most vulnerable wildlife and ecosystems.”
The investigation was conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted the case.
Herkimer County Felon Sentenced to 88 Months for Possessing and Intending to Distribute Cocaine and Possession of a Firearm by a FelonRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Michael Austin, age 47, of Frankfort, New York, was sentenced today to 88 months’ imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing two firearms as a felon. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea, Austin admitted that between April 2024 and August 2024, he sold approximately 13 ounces of cocaine to one customer over the course of 7 transactions, and on August 15, 2024, he possessed an additional 78 grams of cocaine at his residence, which he intended to distribute to others. Austin further admitted that on July 26, 2024, he illicitly sold two handguns to that same customer despite having been convicted in federal court of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base in 2010. He was sentenced to 67 months’ imprisonment for that offense.
Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated: “Michael Austin didn’t learn his lesson after already spending years in federal prison. He continued to endanger the residents of Herkimer County by illegally peddling drugs and firearms. Today’s sentence sends the message to him and other would-be traffickers of drugs and firearms that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will relentlessly pursue dangerous criminals to keep our communities safe.”
Special Agent in Charge DiGirolamo said: “Illegal firearms in the hands of convicted felons, combined with drug trafficking, create a cycle of danger that threatens every layer of our community. ATF and our law enforcement partners remain committed to stopping that cycle of violence. This sentencing reflects the power of collaboration—ATF NY Syracuse Field Office, DEA, New York State Police, the U.S. Attorney’s Office NDNY and the New Hartford Police Department working together to safeguard our communities.”
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also imposed a 6-year term of post-release supervision.
ATF investigated the case, with assistance from DEA, NYSP Special Investigations Unit-Marcy, and the New Hartford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
###
Hammond Man Sentenced to 96 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Fernando Porras Jr., 64 years old, of Hammond, Indiana was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine and cocaine, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Porras Jr. was sentenced to 96 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on January 22, 2024, Porras Jr. sold methamphetamine and cocaine at a gas station in Gary, Indiana. He also sold methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine on several occasions in Dolton, Illinois, and Gary, from May 2023 and March 2024. Porras Jr. has a prior conviction for dealing in LSD.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lake County Combined Task Force - Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Toth.
Guatemalan National Sentenced for Resisting Federal Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Guatemalan national living in Rhode Island was sentenced today in federal court in Rhode Island for resisting federal law enforcement officers as they attempted to execute an immigration arrest warrant, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Cristian Aroldo Pineda Diaz, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to time served. Pineda Diaz pleaded guilty on November 10, 2025, to resisting a lawful arrest by federal officers.
According to court documents, on July 15, 2025, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers and other supporting federal agents observed Pineda Diaz in the vicinity of College Street and Benefit Street in downtown Providence and attempted to execute the arrest warrant. Pineda Diaz refused verbal commands, attempted to flee, collided with a federal agent, and resisted efforts to gain control of his limbs, stiffening his body and concealing his arms under his body.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys G. Michael Seaman and Julie M. White.
The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Georgia Businessman Sentenced in International Bribery and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Georgia businessman was sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison for his role in a nearly five-year long scheme to bribe Honduran government officials and to launder money to secure business for a Georgia-based manufacturer of law enforcement uniforms and accessories. He was also ordered to forfeit over $2 million.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Carl Alan Zaglin, 70, of Marietta, Georgia, agreed to pay bribes to Honduran officials in order to obtain and retain business with Comité Técnico del Fideicomiso para la Administración del Fondo de Protección y Seguridad Poblacional (TASA), a Honduran governmental entity that procured goods for the Honduran National Police.
“Bribery is theft from the public,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This defendant tried to buy influence, rig contracts, and corrupt a foreign government for his own gain. Today’s sentence makes clear that when you bribe public officials, anywhere in the world, you answer for it in an American courtroom.”
The trial evidence showed that, between March 2015 and November 2019, Zaglin, the owner and CEO of Atlanco LLC (Atlanco), orchestrated the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to Honduran officials — including former TASA Executive Director Francisco Roberto Cosenza Centeno and former TASA Titular Director Juan Ramon Molina — in order to secure contracts with TASA worth more than $10 million. The bribes were paid through Aldo Nestor Marchena, a third-party intermediary then residing in Boca Raton, Florida, who received $2.5 million in payments of sham invoices authorized by Zaglin. In exchange for the bribes, Cosenza and other Honduran government officials assisted Zaglin, Marchena, and others in obtaining contracts for the sale of uniforms and other goods for the Honduran National Police and securing payment on the contracts.
Zaglin was convicted after trial in September 2025. Marchena, Cosenza, and Molina all previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Marchena was sentenced to 84 months in prison for his role in the scheme in November 2025. Cosenza and Molina are awaiting sentencing.
The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in Belize, Colombia, and Spain provided assistance with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Peter L. Cooch and Clayton P. Solomon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA and FEPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
###