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21 January 2026
Jacksonville Businessman Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A Jacksonville businessman pleaded guilty yesterday to evading millions of dollars in federal income taxes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Phillip Mak, a sales representative, earned more than $10 million during 2008 through 2020. Mak owed more than $3.7 million in federal taxes on that income but did not pay them when required to do so. The IRS sent Mak notices about paying his taxes and filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien against his property. Nevertheless, by the end of 2021, Mak still had not paid any federal income tax for the last 13 years.
Mak also took steps that moved his assets out of the reach of the IRS. Between 2019 and 2021, Mak, instead of paying his taxes, transferred $1 million to his domestic partner. He also transferred ownership of his personal residence to a trust created and controlled by his domestic partner. Finally, he created a corporate entity and deposited his personal income into the corporate entity’s bank account. Mak admitted that he committed at least one of these acts with an intent to evade payment of his taxes and knew that his conduct was against the law.
Mak faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The court has not yet scheduled a sentencing date.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Isaiah Boyd and Michael Jones of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cannizzaro for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
Ithaca Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Zachary Jackson, age 38, of Ithaca, New York, was sentenced on Friday, January 16, 2026, to 15 years (180 months) in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Farhana Islam, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), New York Enforcement Division, made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Jackson admitted that on November 19, 2024, he possessed a kilogram of cocaine and a Glock handgun which he used to protect himself while distributing controlled substances in the Ithaca and Auburn, New York areas. Jackson could not legally possess a firearm because he had been previously convicted of assault with intent to cause serious physical injury with a weapon, a felony offense for which he served over 10 years in prison.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Drug dealers, especially ones with violent criminal histories like this defendant, should know that law enforcement in the Northern District of New York will find them and put them behind bars. Thanks to the investigative efforts of local agencies and the DEA, our communities are now safe from this dealer, his drugs, and his gun.”
“Once again, DEA’s New York Enforcement Division and our partners removed a repeat drug trafficker who relied on violence to fuel his criminal enterprise,” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “The sentencing of Zachary Jackson sends a clear message to those who look to poison our communities; that the DEA will target you and bring you to justice! We are committed to preserving public safety and remain focused on keeping our neighborhoods safe.”
United States Chief District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed an 8-year term of supervised release to begin after Jackson is released from prison.
DEA investigated the case with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); New York State Police; the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force (FLDTF); the Auburn Police Department; the Ithaca Police Department; and the Onondaga, Cayuga, and Tompkins County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis prosecuted the case.
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.
High-ranking members of two Mexican cartels appear in the Southern District of Texas on drug trafficking indictmentsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Two members of prolific transnational criminal organizations have appeared in Houston federal court for significant drug trafficking offenses and/or allegedly running a continuing criminal enterprise, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Mexican national Juan Pedro Saldivar-Farias aka “Z-27,” 42, and Ricardo Cortez-Mateos aka “Billeton,” 41, were transferred to U.S. authorities Jan. 20. Saldivar-Farias is set for a detention hearing Friday Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. Cortez-Mateos made his appearance and will be transferred to Brownsville for his arraignment. Both remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.
The alleged cartel members were indicted in separate cases in 2021.
Saldivar-Farias was allegedly a Los Zetas plaza boss and then regional commander of the northern region of Mexico, while Cortez-Mateos was a high- ranking member of the Cartel del Gulfo (CDG), according to the charges.
Court documents allege the Zetas were a drug trafficking and money laundering organization which imported and distributed marijuana and cocaine from Mexico into the United States and controlled miles of Mexican territory along the border of Mexico and the United States, including the cities of Zapata as well as Nueva Cuidad Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Saldivar-Farias case allegedly oversaw all narcotics moving through the area. Throughout the conspiracy, Saldivar-Farias and other Zetas members and associates, secured, maintained and regulated the transportation routes used to import marijuana from Mexico to the United States across Falcon Lake, according to the allegations. Saldivar-Farias allegedly charged and collected a “piso” or “tax” for permission to store and transport marijuana and other controlled substances through the transportation routes and areas he controlled. The indictment alleges individuals who did not pay the “piso” or “tax” faced a potential consequence and potentially would be threatened, beaten, kidnapped, tortured or murdered.
According to the charges, Saldivar-Farias caused the delivery of more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and five kilograms of cocaine for importation into the United States during the nine-year conspiracy.
Cortez-Mateos was involved in significant drug trafficking between 2015 through 2021, according to his indictment. Those charge also allege CDG is a violent transnational organization based in northeast Mexico involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, human smuggling and other illicit activities. CDG employs violence, including assassinations of civilians and government officials to intimidate the public and control territory.
Saldivar-Farias is charged with conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana and cocaine from Mexico into the United States and importation and distribution of cocaine and marijuana. He faces up to life in prison as does Cortez-Mateos if he is convicted of conspiracy to possesses with intent to distribute and conspiracy to unlawfully import more than 50 grams of meth, more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 400 grams of fentanyl.
The FBI and Border Patrol conducted the investigation into Saldivar-Farias with the assistance of Drug Enforcement Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety, while DEA and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations handled the investigation into Cortez-Mateos. The Department of State, Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and Government of Mexico provided invaluable assistance resulting in their transfers into U.S. custody.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal J. Alaniz are prosecuting the case against Saldivar-Farias while AUSA Lance Watt is handling the Cortez-Mateos matter. Both cases are now part of the Homeland Security Task Force 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 U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes these organizations commit, 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 cases are also a 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.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Franklin Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A Franklin man was sentenced on January 20, 2026, for multiple child exploitation offenses.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin W. Jackson of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Sheriff Jere Hopson of the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
Joseph Roush, 27, was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison, followed by a term of lifetime supervised release, for one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of sexual exploitation of a child. The Court ordered Roush to pay $69,000 in restitution, $3,000 to each of the identified victims.
Over the course of several years, Roush possessed and distributed tens of thousands of images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. Investigators located approximately 20,000 images and videos across his numerous devices. Roush participated in the hands-on sexual exploitation of children in other countries via an online streaming platform and used a child entrusted to his care to produce images containing child sexual abuse material.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “While our prosecutors sadly see the worst in humanity, Roush stands out as particularly sadistic. Roush systematically abused and forever altered the lives of innocent children throughout the world. The destruction that Roush left in his wake cannot be overstated. His 60-year sentence is essentially a life sentence. My hope is he spends every last day of his life incarcerated and reflecting upon his despicable acts. And to every other pedophile out there, I hope that you look at Roush and immediately stop your immoral and horrific conduct because we will find you and you will spend the rest of your life in prison next to Roush.”
“I was impressed with the spirit of cooperation between our Detective and the Federal Agents he worked with. The joint effort led to making our community a safer place,” stated Sheriff Jere Hopson.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by HSI and the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Former airman pleads guilty to sex crimes against childrenRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A former airman stationed at Scott Air Force Base appeared in district court to plead guilty to federal charges for sexually exploiting minors and distributing images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
Michael E. McCay, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of distribution of child pornography.
“Sex crimes against children are a profound betrayal of everything decent because they exploit the innocent, shatter trust, and inflict lasting harm. This former airman has deeply dishonored himself and the military he served,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Our military institutions and servicemembers command the highest respect, and we are proud of our strong partnership with Scott Air Force Base. Together we remain committed to protecting our country and holding this offender fully accountable under the law.”
According to court documents, law enforcement executed a search warrant on McCay’s residence on Scott Air Force Base related to receipt and distribution of child pornography in February 2023. Agents reviewed McCay’s cell phone and identified more than 4,000 known images and videos of CSAM and more than 18,000 unidentified images.
Agents also found communications with purported minors on McCay’s cell phone. He admitted to requesting sexually explicit images of the minors, sending threatening messages and distributing the received CSAM.
“The exploitation of children has a lasting and profound effect on everyone involved, from the victims to the investigators,” said Special Agent Elijah Bell with the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. “Through the collaboration between our agents, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our international and local law enforcement partners, we were able to swiftly pursue justice.”
In January 2024, a second search warrant was executed on McCay’s new cell phone. Agents again located thousands of images and videos of CSAM and additional communications with minors.
Law enforcement identified at least two minor victims, a 12-year-old and an 11-year-old, that McCay was sexually exploiting through online applications, including Roblox, Kik, Snapchat and Likee.
Convictions for sexual exploitation of a minor are punishable by a minimum of 15 years up to 30 years’ imprisonment and distribution of child pornography is punishable by a minimum of 5 years up to 20 years. McCay’s sentencing is scheduled for April 7 at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis.
The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns is prosecuting the case.
Former Zynex, Inc. Executives Charged with Health Care and Securities Fraud and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Rhode Island has returned an indictment, unsealed today, charging the former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Zynex, Inc., a medical device company, with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, securities fraud, and mail fraud, among other violations.
Thomas Sandgaard, 67, a resident of Castle Rock, Colorado and a dual citizen of the United States and Denmark, and Anna Lucsok, 39, a resident of Denver, Colorado and a dual citizen of the United States and the Ukraine, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, mail fraud, and securities fraud; nine counts of health care fraud, two counts of mail fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
The indictment alleges that from at least 2017 through late 2025, Sandgaard and Lucsok orchestrated a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars from government and private health care payors and patients, and to defraud investors in Zynex by concealing that the company’s billings and revenues were driven by fraud.
In total, Sandgaard and Lucsok caused Zynex to collect more than $873 million for its products, including more than $600 million for supplies. The vast majority of the supplies’ billings were unnecessary and improperly billed. The indictment alleges that supplies were shipped in excessive volumes, sometimes as large as 32, 64, or 128 electrode pairs per patient each month. Sandgaard and Lucsok used these fraudulent billings, and the revenues derived from them, to fraudulently inflate the company’s financial reporting and drive up the stock price of Zynex.
“This case represents a troubling abuse of patients seeking care, as well as the federal healthcare benefit system,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. As alleged, the defendants’ conduct undermined programs intended to serve patients in need. Our office remains committed to protecting the integrity of these programs and holding accountable those who seek to exploit patients, payors, and investors.”
Sandgaard and Lucsok caused Zynex to submit millions of dollars in fraudulent billings for medical devices and supplies that were not medically necessary, not covered by these insurance programs and not agreed to by the patients. They continued these practices despite being notified many times that their billing practices were fraudulent, and even when patients told Zynex to stop sending those supplies because they already had too many. They also continued these practices despite objections from their own employees, and patient complaints to Zynex and the Better Business Bureau such as:
- 1/11/2022: [T]hey kept mailing me supplies and I kept getting denials. I called today and was informed that I owe a tremendous amount of money…. I live on $1100.00 dollars a month and cannot [sic] afford much period. …. She informed me that there still would be a rental fee and supply fees. I told her that I could not even afford food at this point.
- 1/24/2023: I received the product and then continued to receive [sic] batteries and electrodes. AFTER NINE MONTHS I received a bill with 27 charges for supplies. This was the first bill I ever received, they just kept racking up the charges and they waited nine months to send the bill. The minute I received it, I called the company, and they were unable to connect me with the billing department, we set-up a call back – still waiting. I feel like this company is a total SCAM.
When financial reporters raised questions about Zynex’s business practices, including shipping unnecessary electrodes, among other things, Sandgaard hired an individual to attempt to disrupt the reporters’ personal lives. These efforts included signing reporters up for therapy sessions and listing conditions such as erectile disfunction. They also sent used female underwear to a reporter’s spouse at the reporter’s home with a thank you card addressed to the spouse, detailing the reporter’s alleged “illicit behavior” – all apparently with the intent to convince the spouse that her husband was being unfaithful.
The United States has sought to restrain assets of Sandgaard or related entities, including a Porsche, a BMW, a Mercedes-Benz, real properties in Colorado and Florida, multiple bank accounts, and a Gulfstream G-IV aircraft. The government has also sought to restrain the assets of Lucsok including real property, a Porsche, a Volkswagen SUV, and various bank accounts.
A federal criminal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
The case is being prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom and Assistant United States Attorneys Peter I. Roklan and Milind M. Shah.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Colorado Field Division with the assistance of the Boston Field Division; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General; Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General; the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General; the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.
Assistance was also provided by the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Insurance Crime Bureau – Northeast Region.
- 1/11/2022: [T]hey kept mailing me supplies and I kept getting denials. I called today and was informed that I owe a tremendous amount of money…. I live on $1100.00 dollars a month and cannot [sic] afford much period. …. She informed me that there still would be a rental fee and supply fees. I told her that I could not even afford food at this point.
Former Suburban Chicago Police Officer Convicted of Federal Corruption ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former suburban Chicago police officer has been convicted of federal corruption charges for conspiring to steal cash and drugs from occupants of vehicles during traffic stops.
ANTOINE LARRY was serving as a patrol officer for the Phoenix, Ill. Police Department when he conspired with another officer to corruptly solicit cash and drugs from the occupants of vehicles during traffic stops in exchange for reducing, dropping, or declining to press charges or allowing the vehicles to avoid impoundment. The officers falsified police reports to conceal their corruption. The criminal conspiracy began in at least 2020 and continued until 2022.
After a two-week trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, a jury on Friday convicted Larry, 49, of Bolingbrook, Ill., on all four counts against him, including charges of conspiracy, extortion, and attempted extortion. The extortion and attempted extortion charges are punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while the conspiracy charge is punishable by up to five years. U.S. District Judge John F. Kness set sentencing for April 22, 2026.
The other officer—JARRETT SNOWDEN, of Lansing, Ill.—pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge prior to trial and admitted his role in the scheme. Snowden is awaiting sentencing.
The convictions were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Morgan, Ramon Villalpando, and Prashant Kolluri.
Former Georgia State Representative Pleads Guilty to Pandemic Unemployment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Karen L. Bennett, who resigned from her position as an elected member of the Georgia House of Representatives on January 1, 2026, has pleaded guilty to making false statements to fraudulently obtain thousands of dollars of emergency pandemic unemployment assistance payments.
“Bennett was elected to represent her fellow citizens and took a solemn oath to promote the best interests and prosperity of the State of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Instead, she violated that oath and, during an unprecedented emergency, lied to line her own pockets with taxpayer money intended to help community members in need.”
“Public trust is fundamental to our system of government, and elected officials are expected to uphold the law—not exploit it,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and hold accountable anyone who abuses emergency relief programs, especially those who knowingly divert critical assistance away from individuals and families who truly need it during times of crisis.”
“Karen Bennett, while serving her constituents as an elected member of the Georgia House of Representatives, unlawfully enriched herself with taxpayer funds from an unemployment program intended to assist American workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “We will continue our efforts to investigate and bring to justice all who defraud taxpayers by exploiting Department of Labor programs.”
“Karen Bennett lied to obtain personal benefits and as an elected official should rightfully be considered the lowest of the low,” said Nigel Lange, Inspector General, State of Georgia Office of Inspector General. “Her sentencing should serve as a warning for others who have taken an oath of office that there is zero tolerance for this type of crime in Georgia.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2020, in response to the forced closures of businesses and unprecedented economic hardship resulting from the COVID-19 emergency, the U.S. Congress created special unemployment compensation programs to provide cash assistance to individuals who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Applicants for the programs had to provide their recent work histories and confirm, among other things, that COVID-19 was the reason they were unemployed. Applicants also had to provide a certification for every week for which they wished to claim benefits, attesting to whether they were actively seeking work for the week and the reason they were unemployed.
Bennett, while serving as the Georgia House Representative for District 94 in 2020, applied for and submitted weekly certifications to claim pandemic unemployment assistance benefits for weeks in March through August 2020. In those forms, she claimed that her only earnings were $300 per week from the Georgia General Assembly, that her other employer – Metro Therapy Providers, Inc. – would not let her return to her office because of COVID-19 protocols, and that she was actively looking for other work.
However, in reality, Bennett was concealing that she was also receiving a steady paycheck of $905 every week from her employment at a church. Additionally, she was the sole owner of Metro Therapy Providers, Inc., and her work for that company consisted of administrative functions she performed from her home even prior to the pandemic. The business continued to function and generate revenues for her, she continued her work to support it from her home office, and she was not looking for any other employment.
As a result of the false statements in her application and weekly certifications, Bennett collected $13,940 of pandemic unemployment benefits to which she was not entitled.
Karen Bennett, 70, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, pleaded guilty to making false statements to obtain funds administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Sentencing is scheduled for April 15, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross.
This case is being investigated by the Georgia Office of the State Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Firefighter Sentenced to over 12 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Children and Interstate Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A man from St. Helens, Oregon, was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for ordering live-streamed child sexual abuse and traveling to the Philippines to engage in illicit sexual activity while working as a firefighter for the Lake Oswego Fire Department.
Kenneth Green, 57, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $50,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
According to court documents, from 2017 through 2019, Green paid for and received livestreamed shows featuring the sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the Philippines. During the shows, Green gave child sex traffickers in the Philippines specific instructions on how to abuse the children and received child sexual abuse material from the traffickers. Devices seized from Green’s residence pursuant to a search warrant revealed additional chats with child sex traffickers.
In 2019, Green spent months communicating with a trafficker in anticipation of traveling to the Philippines to abuse children. He discussed details related to travel, accommodations, and the sexual abuse of children ages 9 to 17 years old. In November 2019, Green traveled to the Philippines with the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors. Upon arriving, defendant claimed to get sick and could not meet with the trafficker.
On February 7, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging Green with sexual exploitation of children, receiving child pornography, interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity, and attempted foreign sex tourism.
On October 24, 2025, Green pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children and interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eliza Carmen Rodriguez and Charlotte Kelley prosecuted the case.
This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
If you or someone you know are victims of human trafficking or have information about a potential human trafficking situation, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also submit a tip on the NHTRC website.
Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to Orchestrating Massive $380 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Todd Burkhalter, the founder and chief executive officer of the Georgia-based financial advisory group Drive Planning LLC, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud for masterminding a years-long Ponzi scheme that allowed him to live a lavish lifestyle while causing thousands of investors to lose hundreds of millions of dollars.
“Todd Burkhalter perpetrated what is likely the largest Ponzi scheme in Georgia history,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Unbelievably, Burkhalter shamelessly continued to scam his victims even while under federal investigation. Today’s guilty plea is just the first step in holding Burkhalter accountable for the considerable harm he caused.”
“Todd Burkhalter built a massive Ponzi scheme on lies, exploiting trust to steal hundreds of millions of dollars from more than 2,000 victims while funding an extravagant lifestyle,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue those who weaponize fraud and deception against investors, and we are committed to holding them fully accountable and seeking justice for every victim harmed.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: between September 2020 and June 2024, Drive Planning, at Burkhalter’s direction, marketed several investment opportunities, including the “Real Estate Acceleration Loan” opportunity (“REAL”) and the “Cash Out Real Estate Fund” (“CORE Fund”). Drive Planning claimed that investing in REAL and the CORE Fund was “easy and simple,” telling prospective investors that they did not need to be accredited investors to participate and encouraging them to invest money from retirement accounts, savings, and lines of credit.
REAL was Drive Planning’s primary investment vehicle, which Burkhalter fraudulently marketed as a bridge loan opportunity that would guarantee investors a 10% return every three months. Drive Planning claimed that it offered short-term loans—the bridge loans—to real estate developers who needed immediate cash flow to complete existing projects or fund new ones. Burkhalter and Drive Planning deceived investors into believing their investments were safe by claiming that they were fully collateralized by real estate. To perpetuate these lies, Burkhalter directed Drive Planning to prepare fraudulent “collateral sheets” identifying properties—some of which did not even exist—with fictitious valuations that purportedly served as collateral for investments.
Burkhalter and Drive Planning also falsely represented the extent of its relationship with real estate developers. In particular, Drive Planning highlighted its supposed relationship with a well-known real estate developer in Atlanta, Georgia (“Real Estate Developer-1”). In promissory notes with investors, Drive Planning falsely claimed investments were secured by real property within Real Estate Developer-1’s portfolio of properties. Eventually, Real Estate Developer-1 became aware that Drive Planning and Burkhalter were fraudulently using its name to promote the REAL investment. Real Estate Developer-1 sued Drive Planning and Burkhalter seeking to enjoin them from further using Real Estate Developer-1’s name.
For the CORE Fund, Drive Planning falsely claimed that it provided “100% Passive Income from Tax Liens.” Drive Planning guaranteed investors a return of 10% every six months or a 22% return per year for up to three years. Drive Planning further misrepresented that investors’ contributions to the CORE Fund were pooled together, government-protected, and fully collateralized. Additionally, Burkhalter and others at Drive Planning failed to disclose that Drive Planning did not invest any funds in the CORE Fund after approximately December 9, 2022. In total, Drive Planning received at least $4.1 million from individuals who sought to invest in the CORE Fund.
Burkhalter operated REAL as a Ponzi-scheme from its inception. In September 2020, after Drive Planning received its first $50,000 investment in REAL, Burkhalter used at least $21,000 to repay an earlier Drive Planning investor. None of the REAL funds were used for their supposed intended purpose—to finance bridge loans or enter joint ventures with real estate developers. Instead, within the first couple of months of marketing REAL, Burkhalter used at least $80,000 in investor money to pay his ex-wife’s attorneys and expenses related to recreational vehicles.
Throughout the scheme, investors’ monies were used to pay off other Drive Planning investors, make commission payments to Drive Planning’s agents, and pay for personal expenditures. For example, Burkhalter spent approximately:
- $2 million to purchase a yacht;
- $2.1 million as part of a purchase of a luxury condo in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico;
- $800,000 on multiple luxury vehicles, including a 2020 Prevost Marathon motorcoach and two 2024 Land Rovers;
- Millions of dollars on luxury travel, including chartering private jets; and
- $320,000 on clothing, jewelry, and beauty treatments.
Even after the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) began investigating Drive Planning in approximately March 2024, Burkhalter and others continued to solicit tens of millions of dollars in investments for REAL and the CORE Fund. Over the course of the scheme, Burkhalter defrauded more than 2,000 investors out of approximately $380 million.
In August 2024, the SEC obtained a temporary restraining order against Drive Planning and filed civil enforcement actions in federal court against Drive Planning and others related to the above-described scheme. Court-appointed receiver Kenneth D. Murena is responsible for attempting to recover funds and sell assets to repay Drive Planning’s many victims.
Sentencing for Todd Burkhalter, 54, of St. Petersburg, Florida, will be scheduled at a later date before U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the government has conditionally promised to recommend that the Court sentence Burkhalter to 17 and a half years of imprisonment. The Court is not bound by the government’s recommendation, and, in determining the actual sentence, it will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, among other factors.
David Bradford, the former chief operating officer of Drive Planning, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on December 16, 2025, based on his involvement in the CORE Fund scheme. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Johnson.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with substantial assistance from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex R. Sistla is prosecuting the case.
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.
Federal Prison Nurse Sentenced for False Statements Relating to Her Relationship with an InmateRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL – Jessica Lynn Larson, age 38, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court to six months imprisonment followed by a year of supervised release for one count of false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
While working as a nurse at FMC Rochester, Larson had a compromising sexual relationship with an inmate. Larson and the inmate exchanged sexually explicit love letters in which they professed their love for one another and discussed various sexual acts. In April 2024, Larson and the inmate had a sexual encounter. Sexual relationships between staff and inmates are prohibited due to the power imbalance between them.
Shortly after, other nurses at FMC Rochester reported the inappropriate relationship. When confronted about the relationship, Larson falsely accused the inmate of sexually assaulting her, forcing her to engage in a “fantasy” relationship, and threatening to hurt her children if she refused or reported the conduct. Bureau of Prisons staff members later found the love letters they exchanged proving Larson was lying.
Moreover, several months later after being placed on administrative leave, Larson drove to Ohio from which she sent another love letter to the inmate who had been moved to another prison location.
“The DOJ-OIG’s commitment to rooting out inappropriate relationships within correctional facilities is paramount. Such misconduct frequently facilitates contraband smuggling and bribery, directly compromising the safety of both staff and inmates,” said OIG Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Nutt.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanne Semivan prosecuted the case.
Fayette County woman sentenced to prison for committing identity theft, money launderingRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Fayette County woman to 30 months’ imprisonment for working as a “money mule” within a foreign-based scam conspiracy to defraud victims out of tens of thousands of dollars and use their stolen identities.
Elizabeth Conrad, 55, of Ramsey, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, one count of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, one count of access device fraud, one count of money laundering – concealing nature of fraudulent proceeds and one count of aggravated identity theft. She was ordered to pay $78,480.26 in restitution to the victims.
“Foreign-based fraud conspiracies rely on money mules residing within the U.S. to receive their illicit proceeds and distance themselves from prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Elizabeth Conrad knowingly supported the fraud conspiracy, ignored multiple warnings from law enforcement and laundered proceeds from victims.”
According to court documents, Conrad served as a “money mule” for foreign scammers in a conspiracy to defraud U.S. victims from 2019 through 2022. Money mules are people who, at someone else’s direction, receive and move money or valuables obtained from victims of fraud. Money mules add layers of distance between crime victims and criminals, which makes it harder for law enforcement to accurately trace stolen funds.
Conrad accepted packages at her home sent through the mail from victims containing cash, checks, gift cards and electronics. Knowing the goods were fraudulently acquired, Conrad would then repackage the items and send them off to co-conspirators. On two occasions, Conrad received deposits from fraudulently acquired PPP loans into her bank account. Conrad also attempted to deposit checks and wired funds in cryptocurrency to her co-conspirators.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims including those most vulnerable,” said Acting Inspector in Charge, Mary Johnson, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Domicile Office.
Conrad’s convictions for access device fraud, identity theft and money laundering stem from her and conspirators using victims’ names to acquire debit cards. Conrad received the debit cards in other people’s names at her home in Ramsey and used them to make withdrawals in the Ramsey and Vandalia area. Conrad and conspirators used at least 69 fraudulent debit cards to rack up over $30,000 in charges.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service St. Louis Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross prosecuted the case.
Fatal bus shooting investigation results in federal weapons chargesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – An 18-year-old Houston resident has been charged with illegally possessing a machine gun and unlawful receipt of a firearm and ammunition following the recent fatal shooting on a local Metro bus, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Patrick Santana Scott remains in custody on related charges and is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court at a later date.
According to the criminal complaint filed Jan. 16, a Houston Metro bus was in service and carrying passengers Jan. 7. The charges allege Scott was seated near the rear of the vehicle with a backpack when it stopped at an intersection. At that time, another individual allegedly entered, walked toward the back of the bus and fired a weapon in Scott’s direction. Scott then retrieved a firearm from his backpack and pointed it towards the shooter, according to court documents.
The gunfire allegedly resulted in the death of a female passenger seated in front of Scott, who succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head. The charges allege a juvenile male passenger was also treated for a gunshot wound.
Court documents indicate that one of the shell casings from the scene was from a 9mm Glock handgun recovered the following day and linked to Scott. The weapon allegedly had a machine gun conversion device - commonly known as a “switch” - designed to convert it from semi-automatic to a fully automatic firearm.
The charges further allege Scott was under indictment in Harris County for aggravated robbery at the time of the shooting. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.
“SDTX has zero tolerance for those violent criminals who would turn our public transit into battlefields,” said Ganjei. “Scott is alleged to have violated his bond conditions by possessing a firearm—a decision that directly contributed to the death of innocent young woman and the wounding of a teen bystander. The facts, as alleged, paint the picture of somebody with no respect either for the law or for the life and health of his fellow citizens. With these federal charges, the Southern District aims to change his way of thinking.”
“While out on bond for aggravated robbery charges in Harris County, Patrick Scott was the last person who should have allegedly been in possession of a machine gun conversion device,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “A young woman was killed and a teenager endures a long recovery because of the disregard Scott and a teen rival held for innocent lives on that bus that afternoon. FBI Houston applauds the United States Attorney’s Office for holding alleged repeat violent offenders accountable at the federal level. We hope these charges make others consider the life-and-death consequences of their irresponsible actions.”
If convicted, Scott faces up to 10 years in federal prison for possession of a machine gun and up to five years for receipt of a firearm and ammunition while under indictment. Both charges also carry the possibility of a $250,000 maximum fine.
FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron Black is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Fallcatcher Principal Who Defrauded Investors Out of Approximately $5 Million Sentenced to Five and a Half Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Henry Ford, also known as Cleothus “Lefty” Jackson, 51, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, was sentenced today to 66 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $2,095,480 in restitution by United States District Judge Joel H. Slomsky, for defrauding investors out of approximately $5 million.
Ford was charged by indictment in March 2023 and pleaded guilty in May of last year to one count of securities fraud and seven counts of wire fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ford founded and operated a business named Fallcatcher, the stated goal of which was to develop and market an electronic system designed to track use of medication by addiction recovery patients to prevent relapse.
In May 2018, Ford was seeking additional investors in Fallcatcher, which had been running out of funding. At this time, Ford used an acquaintance in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania who had access to a network of investors to raise funds from these investors. Ford provided his acquaintance false and misleading information about the Fallcatcher investment proposal, so that the acquaintance would agree to send the information to his investor network.
Additionally, Ford made presentations in person to potential investors, who were part of this acquaintance’s network, at locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. During these presentations, Ford made false and misleading statements regarding the proposed investment opportunity and showed investors a fraudulent letter of interest, which falsely stated that a major insurance company had agreed to conduct a pilot program using Fallcatcher’s system. Ford caused his acquaintance to distribute further false and misleading statements after these presentations.
As a result of these deceptive fundraising efforts, Ford caused approximately 60 investors to invest about $5 million in total in Fallcatcher.
In 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) began to investigate Ford’s acquaintance, which resulted in a request for documents from Fallcatcher. During the SEC investigation, in the fall of 2018 and the first half of 2019, Ford took various actions to conceal his fraud upon the investors in Fallcatcher. For example, Ford, through his counsel, produced to the SEC an email purporting to show that the fraudulent letter of interest described above was legitimate. In fact, the email produced to the SEC, like the letter of interest, was also shown to be false and fabricated.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Murray and Francis A. Weber. The SEC’s New York Regional Office investigated and litigated the civil securities fraud charges, which formed the basis of a portion of the criminal prosecution.
Former Postal Worker and Accomplice Federally Indicted for Mail Theft, Bank Fraud & Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jaheed Anthony Lloyd Williams, 25, and Taija Avion Smith, 26, both of Tallahassee, Florida, have been indicted in federal court. Williams has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail theft, unlawful possession of a mail key, theft of mail, bank fraud conspiracy, 15 counts of bank fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. Smith has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail theft, theft of a mail key, bank fraud conspiracy, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Williams and Smith appeared in federal court for their arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for February 24, 2026, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida.
Williams and Smith face the following penalties, if convicted:
- Conspiracy to Commit Mail Theft: maximum of five years’ imprisonment, followed by a maximum of three years’ supervised release.
- Unlawful Possession or Theft of a Mail Key: maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, followed by a maximum of three years supervised release.
- Theft of Mail: maximum of five years’ imprisonment, followed by a maximum of three years supervised release.
- Bank Fraud Conspiracy: maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment, followed by a five years’ supervised release.
- Bank Fraud: maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment, followed by a five years’ supervised release.
- Aggravated Identity Theft: mandatory consecutive term of two years’ imprisonment, followed by one-year supervised release.
This case was jointly investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Defendant Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Kidnapping and Sexually Abusing a MinorRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Ahmed Alaahri was sentenced by United States District Judge Eric Komitee to 11 years in prison for kidnapping and sexually abusing a 17-year-old victim (John Doe). In March 2023, Alaahri and co-defendant Bilal Nagi, along with a co-conspirator (CC-1), lured John Doe into their car and filmed themselves restraining him after pulling off his clothing and brutally assaulting him. In February 2025, Alaahri and Nagi pleaded guilty to kidnapping. In August 2025, Nagi was sentenced to 17 ½ years in prison. Alaahri and Nagi are citizens of Yemen and both face deportation from the U.S. after the completion of their sentences.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Terence G. Reilly, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentences.
“The defendants’ lengthy prison sentences are well-deserved given their depraved and violent conduct,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The sentences also make clear that crimes which brutalize, degrade, and exploit others, especially minors, will not be tolerated.”
“Ahmed Alaahri and Bilal Nagi kidnapped and sexually abused a minor victim in the backseat of their car using a weapon and threats to induce compliance. These defendants exploited a teenager’s terror by disseminating the recorded attack for further victimization and humiliation. May today’s sentencing serve as a reminder of the FBI’s promise to leverage its law enforcement partnerships against any individuals targeting minors,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Reilly.
According to court filings, on March 11, 2023, Alaahri, Nagi, and CC-1 kidnapped John Doe and sexually abused him. Nagi had contacted John Doe, a 17-year-old with whom he was acquainted, and arranged to pick him up at his home in Brooklyn, New York. Nagi arrived at John Doe’s home in a car with Alaahri in the front passenger seat and CC-1 in the backseat. When John Doe entered the car, Alaahri and CC-1 began punching him in the face while Nagi drove to Floyd Bennett Field located on federal park land in southeast Brooklyn.
Once at Floyd Bennett Field, the defendants continued to assault and humiliate John Doe. Eventually, John Doe’s pants were removed and Nagi began video recording John Doe with a cellphone. During the assault, Alaahri restrained John Doe in the backseat of the car. Alaahri then held a knife up to John Doe while Nagi further threatened John Doe, saying “you’re going to let me do whatever I want, or we’ll kill you.” John Doe was also told that there was a gun in the car. John Doe was ultimately released, but the defendants stole his cellphone and money. John Doe immediately called 911 to report the attack. Officers from the NYPD responded to his home and commenced an investigation.
Following the kidnapping and assault, Nagi disseminated a portion of the video on the Internet and through Instagram showing John Doe being restrained in the back seat of the car. In the video, John Doe is seen being restrained by Alaahri with his pants pulled down, exposing his genitals. After the defendants were arrested for a gunpoint robbery in the Bronx, law enforcement discovered portions of the kidnapping video on their cellphones. In a text message exchange found on one of the cellphones, Nagi discussed planning the kidnapping with CC-1.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes and National Security and Cybercrime Sections. Assistant United States Attorney Gilbert Rein is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
AHMED ALAAHRI
Age: 23
Brooklyn, New YorkCo-Defendant Who Was Previously Sentenced:
BILAL NAGI
Age: 31
Bronx, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-524 (EK)
D.C. Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unemployment Insurance Benefits Scheme During COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Isiah Lewis, 35, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, to 53 months of imprisonment for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a conspiracy and scheme to defraud the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL) and California Employment Development Department (CA-EDD).
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office.
According to the guilty plea, from at least June 2020 through March 2021, Lewis conspired with Michael Cooley, Jr., 26, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, and Alonzo Brown, 28, of Richmond, Virginia, to devise and execute a scheme to defraud victim individuals and multiple state workforce agencies, including in Maryland and California, of more than $800,000 in unemployment insurance benefits, and successfully obtained more than $300,000. Griggsby previously sentenced Cooley and Brown to 87 months and 45 months, respectively.
Through the sophisticated scheme, co-conspirators used the personal identifiable information of more than 60 individuals, such as name, date of birth, and social security number, to file online UI applications in Maryland and California, using anonymous email addresses to obscure their identities and avoid detection.
At sentencing, Judge Griggsby ordered Lewis to pay restitution of $310,428.08 to the crime victims in the case and to forfeit money, property, and/or assets derived from the scheme.
This case is part of the District of Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force, a Strike Force that is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information about the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended DOL-OIG and IRS-CI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bijon A. Mostoufi and Jared M. Beim, who prosecuted the federal case, along with Joanna B.N. Huber, who supported the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Convicted felon sentenced to 13 years in prison for being caught with a firearm six months after release from murder sentenceRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Glen Allen man was sentenced today to 13 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Dec. 2, 2024, Henrico Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Charles Bryan Alexander, 50, was a passenger. Alexander was the subject of outstanding arrest warrants. During the stop, Alexander was in possession of a loaded handgun with a 17-round magazine and a round in the chamber.
On July 29, 2011, Alexander was convicted in the Circuit Court of Henrico of first-degree murder, attempted robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery, for which he was sentenced to 60 years with 45 years suspended. As a previously convicted felon, Alexander cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. Alexander was released from prison only six months before he was found in possession of a firearm.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and the Henrico County Police Division investigated this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gilliland, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Janet Jin Ah Lee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-39.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has been sentenced for illegal possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
Chief U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Cordarius Dejuan Martin Terrell, also known as “Cordarius Dejuan Terrell,” 32, to 180 months in prison. In May 2025, Terrell pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, on May 13, 2024, officers with the Birmingham Police Department Crime Reduction Task Force were attempting to locate and arrest Terrell in connection with multiple active felony warrants. Later that day, officers arrested Terrell at a gas station on Graymont Avenue West in Birmingham. Upon his arrest, Terrell was in possession of a .40 Caliber Smith & Wesson pistol.
Terrell is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions that span from 2018 to 2023 for burglary, theft, and escape offenses.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department Crime Reduction Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney W. Lee Gilmer prosecuted the case.
Clairton Resident Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Sex Offense LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal sex offense laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Joseph Primiero, 27, pleaded guilty to Counts One and Five of the Indictment before United States District Court Judge Mark R. Hornak.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on or about January 24, 2022, Primiero produced images, and a video of a minor child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Then on or about June 27, 2022, Primiero once again produced an image and videos of another minor child engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for June 3, 2026. The law provides for a maximum sentence of not less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Primiero.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.Convicted Human Trafficker Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Edwin Joel Martinez-Cruz, also known as “Edwin Joel Ibarras-Ardon” and “Edwin Ibarra,” 38, of Nicaragua, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This criminal illegal alien is precisely who Operation Take Back America is intended to protect our communities – and our country – from: a convicted human trafficker who has shown no regard for human life or our laws. Thanks to the commitment of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to unleash the full power of the Department of Justice, the citizens of the Northern District of Florida can rest assured that my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to deliver just punishments and swift deportations to criminal alien offenders like this defendant.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant, a citizen of Nicaragua, departed the United States in 2022 after an Immigration Judge entered an Order of Removal. He illegally returned to the United States less than a year later and was convicted for human trafficking of a child.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Brooke DiSalvo prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Brevard County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Quentes Durrelle Simpson (33, Melbourne) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger to 30 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Simpson to forfeiture firearms and ammunition, which were used in the offense, and $600 which constituted proceeds from his drug distribution. Simpson was found guilty by a jury on October 23, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Palm Bay Police Department used a confidential source to conduct two controlled purchases of drugs from Simpson at his home, totaling over 220 grams of pure methamphetamine and about 7 grams of fentanyl. A search warrant was then executed at Simpson’s residence, resulting in the recovery of more than 700 grams of pure methamphetamine, over 46 grams of fentanyl, over 40 grams of cocaine, drug processing materials, two loaded firearms, a loaded drum magazine, and more than $36,000 in cash.
At that time of the search, Simpson had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including carrying a concealed firearm, resisting an officer with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As a previously convicted felon, Simpson is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Palm Bay Police Department, the Melbourne Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Harrington.
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.
Boston Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking a ChildRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was convicted on Jan. 16, 2026 following a 4-day trial in federal court in Boston for sex trafficking and transporting a minor to Rhode Island to engage in prostitution.
Tramonte Jamier Queen, 26, was convicted of one count of sex trafficking of a child and one count of transportation of minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. In November 2023, Queen was indicted by a federal grand jury.
“Tramonte Queen preyed on a young, impressionable girl, selling her body for his own benefit. His actions were abhorrent, and we will continue to hold traffickers accountable for exploiting children,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to recover missing and exploited children and ensure that traffickers are brought to justice and punished.”
“Tramonte Jamier Queen callously groomed and manipulated a 16-year-old girl with total disregard for her well-being and sex trafficked her out of his mother’s basement and across state lines,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “This case highlights our Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force’s unflinching commitment to pursuing justice for all victims of sex trafficking while sending a message to all offenders –we will find you, bring you to justice, and ensure you are ultimately punished.”
Beginning in January 2022, Queen recruited a 16-year-old girl to engage in prostitution. He directed the victim to take photos of herself, including photos depicting the victim posing provocatively. Queen used these photos to attract sex buyers by posting them in online commercial sex advertisements. Shortly thereafter, Queen directed the victim to earn money for him by having sex with sex buyers. Queen communicated with the sex buyers and arranged for the victim to perform sex acts in the basement of his mother’s Dorchester home. Later, Queen continued trafficking the victim from hotels in Rhode Island. On Feb. 5, 2022, Queen was arrested as he was driving with the 16-year-old victim.
The sex trafficking of a child and transportation charges each carry a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five 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.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact [email protected].
U.S. Attorney Foley; FBI SAC Docks; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Fogerty of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit and Jessica L. Soto of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Big Island Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Eddie P. Poai, 50, of Hilo, Hawaii, pled guilty yesterday in federal court to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes. Paoi pled guilty the day before he was set to begin his federal jury trial. Sentencing is set for April 20, 2026, before United States District Judge Shanlyn A. S. Park.
Poai, who has prior felony convictions, was charged in connection with three incidents on Hawaii Island stretching from February 2021 to October 2022, according to court records. On February 11, 2021, Poai possessed over 90 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded Hi-Point .45 caliber pistol with an extended magazine. Officers with the Hawaii Police Department (“Hawaii PD”) found the methamphetamine and loaded pistol in Poai’s truck after he departed the scene of a traffic stop. On June 9, 2022, Hawaii PD Officers searched for Poai on a property in the Maku’u area, after seeing him flee from that property during prior attempted contacts. Officers found over 600 grams of methamphetamine on the property, along with fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, several thousand dollars, and numerous weapons, including a loaded Springfield .45 caliber pistol and an AR-15-style rifle. Finally, on October 25, 2022, Hawaii PD Officers searched for Poai on a property near Hawaiian Acres. Officers chased Poai on foot, ultimately arresting him and finding a loaded 9mm Taurus pistol and more than 11 grams of methamphetamine in Poai’s backpack. Poai, also had several thousand dollars in his pocket.
Poai faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life—with a combined mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 20 years—as well as a term of supervised release of up to life, and a fine of up to $10,000,000.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hawaii Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeannette Graviss and Jonathan Slack are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Armed Carjacker Sentenced to over Eleven Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Armoni Tyree Moody (24, Davenport) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle to 11 years and 9 months in federal prison for carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the carjacking, and possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. Moody was found guilty by a federal jury on October 22, 2025. The court also ordered Moody to forfeit the firearm and assorted rounds of ammunition used in the commission of the offense. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court records, Moody arranged to meet the victim of the carjacking over social media to purchase marijuana. Moody entered the passenger seat of the victim’s car, brandished a loaded handgun, and pressed it against the victim’s head. Moody then forced the victim to hand over the victim’s two cellphones and told the victim to get out of the car or that he would shoot him, before driving away with the victim’s car.
The following day, a search warrant was obtained for Moody’s residence. The victim’s belongings and the loaded firearm were recovered from Moody’s bedroom, and the victim’s car was found nearby. Upon further investigation, detectives recovered text messages from Moody’s cellphone where he discussed his intent to commit the robbery and videos of Moody in possession of the same firearm on his social media account.
Prior to the offense, Moody was convicted of robbery with a weapon for which he was still serving a term of probation at the time of the carjacking.
This case was investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
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.
Aiken County Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cynthia Delores Holland, 62, of Aiken, has been sentenced to one year and one month in federal prison for theft of government funds from the Social Security Administration.
At trial, the Government proved that Holland improperly obtained her mother’s retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) after her mother’s death in 2013. Those benefits continued to be paid by mistake into a joint account held by Holland and her mother. Rather than notify the SSA of the error, Holland moved the money into her personal account and spent it on personal expenses. Her theft took place until December 2022, when the error was discovered by the SSA, and the benefits were terminated. During that near-decade long span, Holland received over $168,000.
The discrepancy was identified in 2021 by the SSA during its Death Match Project. As part of the project, the SSA requested death verifications from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control going back to 2005, then compared those records with the list of SSA retirement beneficiaries. Holland’s mother’s name was on the list, which initiated the investigation.
United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Holland to 13 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The Court also ordered Holland to repay to the Social Security Administration any remaining portion of the converted money not previously recouped.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday, Scott Matthews and Kerry McTigue prosecuted the case.
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Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Firearms Offenses
Randall Thomas Bailey, 65. Of Cody, Wyoming, was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a person subject to a court order and possession of an unregistered firearm. According to court documents, in November 2024, the Cody Police Department contacted the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Cheyenne office after suspected pipe bombs were discovered while officers were executing a state search warrant at Bailey’s residence. Bailey had been arrested days earlier, and officers withdrew from the home upon locating the devices, requesting assistance from ATF and the Natrona County Bomb Squad. In total, law enforcement found 28 illegally possessed firearms including a machinegun, a silencer, and two functional pipe bombs. The Cody Police Department, Park County Sheriff’s Office, Natrona County Sheriff’s Office, and ATF investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on January 15 in Casper. Case No. 25-00115.
Drug Trafficking
Saul Andrew Garcia, 26, of Irwin, Idaho, was sentenced to120 month’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and three counts of distribution of cocaine. According to court documents, in November 2023 the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Southwest Enforcement Team began an investigation into several individuals in the Jackson Hole area. Throughout the investigation, agents learned that Garcia and others were responsible for trafficking multiple pounds of cocaine from Phoenix, Arizona to Lincoln and Teton Counties in Wyoming and Bonneville and Teton Counties in Idaho. DCI and the DEA investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Jan. 15 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00082
Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Ivan Jorge Lucero-Lazalde, 40, of Juarez, Mexico, was sentenced to time served (61 days) plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the U.S. According to court documents, on Feb. 17, 2024, ICE located the defendant at the Albany County Jail. Lucero-Lazalde bonded out before ICE could take him into custody. He was subsequently arrested on Nov. 9, 2025. Based on the defendant’s fingerprints, ICE determined he had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in 2006. ICE investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 8 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00169Orlin Yobani Mejia-Cabellero, 35, of Departamento de Copan, Honduras, was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Deportation proceedings will take place upon his release from prison. According to court documents, on Aug. 2, ICE located the defendant at the Natrona County Jail. Based on the defendant’s fingerprints, ICE determined he had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed multiple times, including in 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2018. ICE investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 8 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00174
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Operation Take Back America
Operation Take Back America is 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. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Victim Witness Program
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime
Abby’s Bakery owners sentenced for harboring illegal aliensRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Two owners of Abby’s Bakery, located in Los Fresnos, have been sentenced following the discovery of illegal aliens at their business, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before finding Leonardo Baez-Lara, 56, and Alicia Avila-Guel, 46, guilty on two counts of harboring aliens and conspiracy to do so after a three-day trial Aug. 13, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now imposed a four-month term of imprisonment for both and further ordered them to serve two years of supervised release and pay a fine of $21,300 each. At the hearing, the court heard the pair harbored six or more illegal aliens at their place of business. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Rodriguez noted they engaged in serious criminal conduct, contrary to the behavior of a law-abiding citizen. The two could also lose their status to reside in the United States.
“For years, these defendants knowingly employed and harbored illegal aliens, disregarding federal law for their own financial gain,” said Ganjei. “Today’s sentences serve as a warning to any business owner who believes they can distort fair competition by utilizing a workforce of illegal aliens. It’s not worth running afoul of the law just to make a quick buck.”
“The couple’s deliberate disregard for the law and the safety of their workers cannot go unpunished,” said acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco of HSI San Antonio. “Those who exploit vulnerable individuals and undermine our immigration system will face firm and decisive consequences.”
The married couple, both legal permanent residents, owned and operated Abby’s Bakery and Dulce’s Café since 2012. Authorities discovered they employed and housed workers who were in the country illegally or on B1/B2 visas without authorization to work.
The jury heard the couple housed employees in a small office at the shopping plaza near the restaurant. The room, originally built as an insurance office and later used for storage, had mattresses on the floor and unsafe conditions, including exposed wiring, only one entrance and no fire extinguisher. Between five and six workers lived there at times, including the head baker who stayed more than two years.
Testimony revealed workers were paid in cash, lacked paperwork and at times went months without hot water. One man testified he entered the United States illegally and was immediately hired after a brief interview. Another said Baez-Lara arranged his return after he was removed during the COVID-19 pandemic so he could continue working.
The defense argued the owners only offered shelter to the aliens and that testimony did not reveal harboring took place. The jury did not believe those claims and found them guilty as charged.
ICE-HSI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Baltazar Salazar and Luis Salazar prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
37 Mexican Nationals Wanted for Serious Crimes Transferred to the United States from Mexico, Including Leaders of Foreign Terrorist OrganizationsRead the Press Release
The United States announced today that yesterday evening it took into custody 37 fugitives from Mexico facing a range of federal criminal charges around the country, including charges relating to narcoterrorism, providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, firearms trafficking, human smuggling, money laundering, and various drug trafficking offenses, including conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.
Among the fugitives taken into U.S. custody are prolific human smugglers, violent arms traffickers, and alleged members of dangerous drug cartels, including those designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Cártel del Noreste (CDN, formerly Los Zetas), and Cártel de Golfo (CDG) as well as additional drug trafficking organizations, such as the Gulf Cartel, La Linea, and the former Beltrán-Leyva Organization.
“This is another landmark achievement in the Trump Administration’s mission to destroy the cartels. These 37 cartel members – including terrorists from the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, and others – will now pay for their crimes against the American people on American soil,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We are grateful for this collaboration with our international partners and will deliver swift, comprehensive justice for members of Foreign Terrorist Organizations who have spent years preying on the American people.”
“The FBI has proven that we will hold dangerous criminals accountable for their egregious violent acts, no matter where they try to hide,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Today’s announcement of the return of dozens of fugitives from Mexico to face charges is yet another example of the FBI’s relentless work and partnerships here in the U.S. and in Mexico. We will continue to work to put a stop to these drug cartels, arms traffickers, and terrorists from bringing crime, drugs, and firearms to our city streets and neighborhoods.”
“The significance of this transfer cannot be overstated. Thirty-seven fugitives were brought from Mexico to the United States to face justice for alleged crimes that have spread violence, threatened public safety, and devastated families. Among them are individuals tied to the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, both designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” said Administrator Terrance Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “We thank the Government of Mexico for standing with us. DEA will keep driving forward with our U.S. and international partners to dismantle these terrorist cartels, cut off the fentanyl supply, and save American lives.”
“Leadership like President Trump’s and Attorney General Bondi’s to work diligently to bring all of these wanted criminals back to the United States reinforces their commitment to getting justice for their victims,” said Director Gadyaces S. Serralta of the United States Marshals Service (USMS). “This sends a very clear message; justice does not stop at borders.”
“ATF is on the front lines of the fight against violent crime,” said Deputy Director Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “Our agents are hunting down gangs, cartels, and transnational organizations that traffic illegal firearms and turn our streets into war zones. We will dismantle these networks at every level, cut off their access to weapons, and hold every criminal accountable. Those who profit from violence will be found, stopped, and brought to justice.”
Yesterday’s transfer marks only the third time that Mexico has used its National Security Law to expel fugitives to the United States. It is also the largest such transfer of fugitives to occur — the first transfer, on Feb. 27, 2025, involved 29 fugitives, and the second, on Aug.12, 2025, involved 26 fugitives.
Mexican National Fugitives Transferred to U.S. Custody Mexican National Fugitives Transferred to U.S. Custody Mexican National Fugitives Transferred to U.S. CustodyIncluded in yesterday’s transfer are the following fugitives:
- Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez. Navarro-Sanchez is the first Mexican national to be charged with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization based on her involvement with the CJNG, including providing the cartel with grenades and engaging in alien smuggling, firearms trafficking, bulk cash smuggling, and narcotics trafficking on its behalf. CJNG, which controls a significant portion of the narcotics trafficking trade, also engages in money laundering, bribery, extortion of migrants, and other criminal activities, including acts of violence and intimidation.
Eduardo Rigoberto Velasco Calderon and Eliomar Segura Torres. Velasco Calderon and Segura Torres are alleged to be members of Mexico-based money laundering organizations responsible for collecting bulk cash drug proceeds in the United States and transferring the funds to Mexico through cryptocurrency transfers. These organizations help launder funds for Mexico-based drug trafficking organizations, including the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion and the Sinaloa Cartel. Velasco Calderon and Segura Torres received financial compensation for the money laundered in the form of a commission, or percentage of the money laundered, each time that proceeds of drug sales were returned to the drug trafficking organization.
Heriberto Hernández Rodriguez. Hernández Rodriguez is accused of having been a member of Cártel del Noreste responsible for drug trafficking, kidnappings and assassinations, and procuring weapons for the cartel. Between 2006 and his arrest in November 2022, Hernández Rodriguez is alleged to have commanded hundreds of sicarios and ordered the deaths of multiple people. Hernández Rodriguez is also alleged to have overseen security for the cartel’s stash houses in Mexico, which served as staging points for thousands of kilograms of marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine to be transported into the United States for distribution.
Pedro Inzunza Noriega. In May 2025, Pedro Inzunza Noriega, also known as Sagitario and his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, were the first Sinaloa Cartel leaders in the nation to be charged with narcoterrorism and material support of terrorism, along with drug trafficking and money laundering charges. The Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO) is a powerful and violent faction of the Sinaloa Cartel that is believed to be the world’s largest known fentanyl production network. Five other BLO leaders are charged with drug trafficking and money laundering. Pedro Inzunza Noriega worked closely with his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, to produce and aggressively traffic fentanyl to the United States. The father and son led one of the largest and most sophisticated fentanyl production networks in the world. Over the past several years, they have trafficked tens of thousands of kilograms of fentanyl into the United States. On Dec. 3, 2024, Mexican law enforcement raided multiple locations in Sinaloa that are controlled and managed by the father and son and seized 1,500 kilograms (more than 1.65 tons) of fentanyl – the largest known seizure of fentanyl in world history. On Nov. 30, 2025, the son, Inzunza Coronel, was killed during a capture operation in Mexico. On Dec. 31, 2025, Pedro Inzunza Noriega, aka Sagitario was captured by the Mexican military.
Juan Pablo Bastidas Erenas also known as Payo. Juan Pablo Bastidas Erenas aka Payo is a high-ranking lieutenant of the Beltran Leyva faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and the long-time right-hand man of Consolidated Priority Organization Target Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe, also known as “El Musico”. Bastidas has operated with impunity for over 20 years and has imported and distributed thousands of tons of cocaine from Colombia to the United States, via Mexico. In addition to cocaine trafficking, Bastidas has imported and distributed large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine from Mexico to the United States. Bastidas is also responsible for laundering millions of dollars from drug proceeds, weapons trafficking, and has engaged in kidnapping, torture, and murder. Bastidas was captured on May 28, 2025, by the Mexican military.
Juan Carlos Alonso Reyes. Regional Priority Organization Target Juan Carlos Alonso Reyes was the leader of “The Office,” a transnational criminal organization which operated physical locations in Tijuana where Alonso Reyes and his co-conspirators sold mainly fentanyl and methamphetamine. The Office’s physical locations worked as a type of illicit 24/7 drug convenience store for mostly American buyers. It operated so openly and notoriously that at one time you could search The Office on Google Maps, and the physical location would appear in Tijuana. Alonso Reyes coordinated drug sales and distribution from The Office to hundreds of internal body carriers who then smuggled the drugs into the United States via the district’s Ports of Entry. On Jan. 23, 2024, the Mexican Attorney General’s Office (FGR) physically seized and closed the Office’s latest location in Tijuana.
Julio Cesar Mancera Dozal. Julio Cesar Mancera Dozal was the leader of a drug smuggling organization that is part of the Sinaloa Cartel that imported and distributed hundreds of pounds of cocaine into the United States from Mexico. His organization was headquartered in Tijuana, Mexico, and imported drugs into San Diego, California, through vehicles with sophisticated non-factory compartments, with further distribution into the Central District of California (Los Angeles, Orange County, and Riverside). Once crossed, additional co-conspirators also under the leadership and coordination of Mancera removed, stored, and transported the drugs further into the United States.
Juan Pedro Saldivar-Farias, also known as “Z-27,” is charged in the Southern District of Texas with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, as well as associated drug trafficking offenses. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. According to the indictment, Saldivar-Farias served as a Zeta Regional Commander and Plaza Boss located in the Falcon Lake area of South Texas. Along with his brother, Jose Manuel Saldivar-Farias, also known as “Z-31” or “El Borrado,” Saldivar-Farias oversaw all narcotics moving in and around the Falcon Lake area. Agents estimate that several multi-ton quantities of marijuana were crossed into the United States through this area every week. During their time as Plaza bosses, multi-ton quantities of cocaine were also imported into the United States on a monthly basis. The Saldivar-Farias brothers were the source of marijuana and cocaine for the NETO Drug Trafficking Organization. Any other dope or contraband moving through the area from non-Zetas had to be approved by one of the brothers, or was subject to a “piso,” or tax, paid for landing in or crossing through the area. A separate piso was charged for crossing the contraband into the United States. Individuals who did not secure permission or pay the piso would be held hostage, beaten, tortured, killed, or some combination of all four. Saldivar-Farias’s brother, Z-31, was caught by immigration authorities in 2015, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in 2017, and is currently serving a thirty-year sentence.
Ricardo Cortez-Mateos, also known as “Billeton,” is a former high-ranking member of the Cartel del Golfo, and is charged in the Southern District of Texas with significant drug trafficking offenses for his role in importing large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. Cortez-Mateos, 41, of Mexico, was originally indicted by a grand jury in Brownsville on Nov. 10, 2021, with nine counts, including conspiracy to possesses with intent to distribute and conspiracy to unlawfully import more than 50 grams of meth, more than five kilograms of cocaine, and more than 400 grams of fentanyl. Cortez-Mateos faces a maximum penalty of up to life in prison if convicted.
Below is a complete list of fugitives,[1] as well as the districts in which they are charged:
Fugitive
Jurisdiction
Statutory Maximum
Ricardo Cortez MateosSouthern District of TexasUp to life imprisonmentFidel Felix OchoaSouthern District of FloridaUp to life imprisonmentOscar Hernandez FloresWestern District of OklahomaUp to life imprisonmentLuis Alonso Navarro QuezadaDistrict of ColoradoUp to life imprisonmentDavid Eliezer Seas CentenoDistrict of New MexicoUp to life imprisonmentJuan Pedro Saldivar FariasSouthern District of TexasUp to life imprisonmentCarlos Alberto Guerrero MercardoEastern District of New YorkUp to life imprisonmentJair Francisco Patron TobiasEastern District of New YorkUp to life imprisonmentGuillermo Isaias Perez ParraEastern District of New YorkUp to life imprisonmentManuel Ignacio CorreaEastern District of Kentucky20 years’ imprisonmentYahir Alejandro Lujan RojoWestern District of PennsylvaniaUp to life imprisonmentLucas Anthony MendozaSouthern District of IndianaUp to life imprisonmentEliomar Segura TorresEastern District of Kentucky20 years’ imprisonmentEduardo Rigoberto Velasco CalderonEastern District of Kentucky20 years’ imprisonmentFrancisco Arredondo ColmeneroWestern District of TexasUp to life imprisonmentGustavo Castro MedinaWestern District of TexasUp to life imprisonmentLuis Carlos Davalos LopezWestern District of Texas25 years’ imprisonmentSEALEDWestern District of Texas25 years’ imprisonmentHeriberto Hernandez RodriguezWestern District of TexasUp to life imprisonmentDaniel Manera MaciasWestern District of TexasUp to life imprisonmentMaria del Rosario Navarro SanchezWestern District of TexasUp to life imprisonmentHumberto Rivera RiveraWestern District of TexasUp to life imprisonmentRicardo Gonzalez Sauceda Western District of TexasUp to life imprisonmentJuan Carlos Alonso Reyes Southern District of CaliforniaUp to life imprisonmentJuan Pablo Bastidas ErenasSouthern District of CaliforniaUp to life imprisonmentPedro Inzunza NoriegaSouthern District of CaliforniaUp to life imprisonmentSEALEDDistrict of Arizona20 years’ imprisonmentJulio Cesar Mancera DozalSouthern District of CaliforniaUp to life imprisonmentRodrigo Perez MesquiteDistrict of Arizona20 years’ imprisonmentJose Luis Sanchez ValenciaWestern District of WashingtonUp to life imprisonmentJorge Damian Roman FigueroaDistrict of ArizonaUp to life imprisonmentArmando Gomez NunezDistrict of ColumbiaUp to life imprisonmentSEALEDDistrict of ColumbiaUp to life imprisonmentJose Pineda PerezMiddle District of GeorgiaUp to life imprisonmentJose Gerardo Alvarez VasquezSouthern District of New YorkUp to life imprisonmentJose TorresSouthern District of New YorkUp to life imprisonmentDaniel Alfredo Blanco-JooDistrict of New MexicoUp to life imprisonmentAttorney General Pamela Bondi thanked the law enforcement officers of the DEA, FBI, ATF, USMS, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for their valuable contributions to these investigations.
Attorney General Bondi also thanked the Justice Department Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs for coordinating the transfers, as well as the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and the Money Laundering, Narcotics, and Forfeiture Section, and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Arizona, the Southern District of California, the District of Columbia, the District of Colorado, the Southern District of Florida, the Eastern District of Kentucky, the Middle District of Georgia, the Southern District of Indiana, the District of New Mexico, the Eastern District of New York, the Southern District of New York, the Western District of Oklahoma, the Western District of Pennsylvania, the Southern District of Texas, the Western District of Texas, and the Western District of Washington for handling the prosecution of the cases.
These transfers are 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
[1] This chart contains the maximum penalty for the single most serious crime for which the defendant is currently charged. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
19-Year-Old Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, Including Videos He Recorded While Sexually Abusing Two Young ChildrenRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Isaiah Smith, 19, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Mary Kay Costello on possession of child pornography.
As detailed in the indictment and admitted to by the defendant, Smith maintained a collection of child pornography images and videos of prepubescent minors, including videos that the defendant recorded as he sexually abused two different child victims: a six-year-old girl, and a nonverbal three-year-old boy, on multiple occasions. The child sexual abuse material was discovered after a friend of the defendant walked in on Smith orally raping one of the child victims.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on May 6 and faces a maximum possible term of 20 years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of five years up to lifetime supervised release, mandatory financial penalties, and mandatory registration as a sex offender under SORNA and Megan’s Law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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 projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella.
20 January 2026
Western District of Texas Prosecutors File 229 New Immigration Cases in One WeekRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – United States Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced that federal prosecutors in the district filed 229 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from Jan. 9 to Jan. 15. Additionally, the district received 125 new habeas petitions bringing a total of 817 civil immigration cases received since Jan. 20, 2025. Charges were brought against illegal aliens with past convictions for violent crimes and DWIs, as well as alleged human smugglers and aliens with multiple prior removals.
Among the cases, Ricardo Mujica-Calderon, a Mexican national, had illegally re-entered the United States, and sold a kilogram of methamphetamine to a confidential source. When agents executed a search warrant at Mujica’s house, he slammed the door shut and fled before being arrested in a neighbor's yard. Agents found approximately 13 kilograms of methamphetamine in Mujica’s home. Agents also found an AR-15, two "ghost guns", and three other pistols, all of which were loaded. While being transferred to jail, Mujica fought the officer in an attempt to escape. The officer pulled over, requested assistance from local authorities, and was able to secure him preventing the escape. Mujica’s criminal record includes a conviction for assault of a family member by choking/strangulation; a conviction for driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 years of age; and two convictions for illegal re-entry into the United States.
On Jan. 13, ICE officers were conducting operations in San Antonio and approached a vehicle registered to Robyn Argote-Brooks. The driver, Argote, a Cuban national, had entered the US in Laredo where Customs and Border Protection issued Argote a Notice to Appear and paroled him into the U.S. on Oct. 11, 2024. His parole had been terminated on April 18, 2025. When officers decided to apprehend Argote, Argote rolled up his window and refused to come out. Argote turned on the ignition and drove his car in reverse causing the officers to jump out of the way of the moving vehicle. Argote then drove forward crashing into another government vehicle and injuring the officer who was driving that vehicle. In so doing, Argote caused $4,847.19 in damage. Argote was placed under arrest and transferred for processing.
On Jan. 9, in Frio County, Rodrigo Jose Cedeno-Espinos, a citizen of Venezuela who illegally entered the U.S. on or about Oct. 1, 2023, attempted to escape the Dilley Immigration Processing Center by scaling the perimeter fence after having been detained for immigration proceedings. The Dilley Police Department was notified and Cedeno was in custody within an hour.
A Hollywood Park Police Officer conducting a traffic stop for a traffic violation on Jan. 10, encountered four suspected foreign nationals. After requesting assistance from ICE/ERO, database checks identified Jesus Antonio Flores-Pineda, a citizen of El Salvador who had been previously removed from the U.S. to El Salvador on Dec. 23, 2022. Flores had been convicted in Nevada for Statutory Sexual Seduction and sentenced to a maximum of 48 months and a minimum of 16 months confinement. Flores has not been granted permission to reapply for admission to the United States after his removal.
Lenin Israel Guifarro-Almendarez, an alien to the United States, was found in a storm ditch approximately 0.18 miles west of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry in El Paso, on Jan. 16. The arresting agent determined that Guifarro is a native and citizen of Honduras without immigration documents allowing him to be or remain in the United States legally. Guifarro had previously been removed from the U.S. to Honduras on Dec. 2, 2024, through Alexandria, Louisiana.
On Jan. 6, at the James R. Dominguez checkpoint on Highway 90 near Uvalde, a canine alerted Customs and Border Protection personnel to a black sedan. Passenger Maximiliano Arellano became combative, refused commands, and struck a Border Patrol agent in the chest, then resisted on the ground. Arellano is charged with one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer.
Border Patrol Agents in Eagle Pass arrested Nelson Alexander Velasquez-Velasquez on Jan. 12. Velasquez was determined to be in the U.S. illegally after having previously deported on November 18, 2016, through Del Rio.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Violent Felons in Indianapolis Receive Federal Sentences for Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Four violent felons have been removed from the streets of Indianapolis having been sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing firearms. Each case stemmed from separate investigations and was prosecuted independently.
DefendantCharge(s)SentencePrior Felony ConvictionsRoscoe Nuckols, 39Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon15 years, 5 monthsFelony burglary (x3)Andres Espinosa, 37Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon5 years, 11 monthsConspiracy to commit robbery; Unlawful possession of a syringe; Unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felonStephen Davis, 41Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon3 yearsSexual misconduct with a minor; Failure to register as a sex offender; Possession of methamphetamineJarvis Watson Jr., 57Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon5 yearsConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substanceAs part of these investigations, the following firearms were seized and forfeited to law enforcement:
- FN 9 mm handgun
- RF-15 rifle
- Ruger 5.7 handgun
- Ruger Security 9 handgun
- Glock 44 .22 caliber firearm with extended magazine
- Smith & Wesson handgun
- Smith and Wesson 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol
Roscoe Nuckols:
On October 5, 2023, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to 37th Street and Washington Boulevard after several 911 callers reported a man in jean shorts and a red shirt lying unconscious in the road. When the first officer arrived, they found the man, identified as Roscoe Nuckols, on the ground with a 9mm handgun tucked into his shorts. Further investigation indicated that Nuckols, a career criminal, was suspected to be under the influence of an illegal substance while unlawfully carrying the handgun.
Andres Espinosa:
On August 5, 2024, Marion County Community Corrections and IMPD officers conducted a home‑detention compliance check on Andres Espinosa. When they arrived, Espinosa opened the door while hiding a loaded handgun behind his back, then briefly shut the door to stash it under the couch. During the full check of the home, officers found a rifle under the same couch, along with ammunition, holsters, and multiple handgun and rifle magazines in his nightstand. They also found two additional handguns in the house.
Stephen Davis:
Around 1:00 a.m. on January 28, 2024, Fishers police officers pulled over Stephen Davis after noticing his Jeep had dark tinted windows and no license plate light. Davis told officers he did not have a valid driver’s license or insurance. He appeared jittery, was wearing a firearm sling, and admitted to having knives on him. After searching the Jeep, police found a loaded .22‑caliber Glock handgun under the front passenger seat. While being transported to jail, Davis also tried to hide a small baggie, later found to contain amphetamines, between the seat cushions of the police car.
Jarvis Watson Jr.:
On December 31, 2022, Carmel police officers approached Jarvis Watson Jr. after finding his vehicle stopped at a stop sign for several minutes, blocking traffic. When officers checked on him and searched the vehicle, they discovered a 9mm Smith & Wesson M&P Shield pistol on his person.
According to federal law, individuals with prior felony convictions are prohibited from legally possessing a firearm.
“Convicted violent felons who continue to arm themselves pose a grave threat to our communities. These prosecutions demonstrate our commitment to working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to remove illegal firearms from the streets and hold offenders accountable. We will not tolerate individuals who repeatedly disregard the law and endanger public safety.,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
“The ATF is pleased with the outcomes in all these cases,” said Special Agent in Charge Jorge Rosendo. By leveraging our unique capabilities in coordination with our partner agencies, we work to suppress violent crime at its core and help create safer neighborhoods. Our foremost concern remains felons who continue to illegally possess firearms in furtherance of criminal activity, and we will continue to hold them accountable.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IMPD, Fishers and Carmel Police Departments investigated these cases. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judges Richard L. Young, Matthew P. Brookman, Tanya Walton Pratt, and Sarah Evans Barker.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Preston, Carolyn Haney, Cristina Caraballo-Colon and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Nate Walter, who prosecuted these cases.
These cases are 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.
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U.S. Attorney Heap Announces over Three Million Dollars Disbursed in Equitable Sharing to Local Law Enforcement Partners and Federal AgenciesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, today announced that, based on joint criminal investigations conducted by federal, state, and local partners in the Southern District of Georgia, the federal government has disbursed $3,072,605 in equitable sharing of forfeited assets to over 50 local law enforcement partners and federal agencies for the 2025 fiscal year.
“The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the FBI, DEA, IRS, USPIS, and our local and state law enforcement partners, worked diligently to locate and forfeit these assets,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “These ill-gotten gains included cash, money in bank accounts, and real estate, and were connected to a wide variety of criminal activity, including domestic and international drug trafficking, illegal pill mills, money laundering, and wildlife trafficking. Once taken from the hands of criminals, these funds will now be used to enhance South Georgia law enforcement departments and investigations.”
The following local and state law enforcement partners received proceeds from forfeited assets, which were seized by the FBI and DEA:
- Appling County Sheriff’s Office
- Atkinson County Sheriff’s Office
- Baker County Sheriff’s Office
- Blackshear Police Department
- Burke County Sheriff’s Office
- Camden County Sheriff’s Office
- Chatham County Police Department
- Chatham County Sheriff’s Department
- City of Alpharetta Police Department
- City of Douglas Police Department
- City of Pooler Police Department
- City of San Jose Police Department
- Clay County Sheriff’s Office
- Coffee County Sheriff’s Department
- Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
- Dekalb County Police Department
- Effingham County Sheriff’s Office
- Fernandina Beach Police Department
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation
- Georgia Department of Community Supervision
- Georgia National Guard
- Georgia Ports Authority Police Department
- Glynn County Police Department
- Glynn County Sheriff’s Office
- Green Cove Springs Police Department
- Greenwood Police Department
- Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office
- Gwinnett County Police Department
- Heard County Sheriff’s Office
- Jacksonville Beach Police Department
- Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
- Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office
- Jonesboro Police Department
- Laurens County Sheriff’s Office
- Liberty County Sheriff’s Office
- McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office
- Mesa County Sheriff’s Office
- Metter Police Department
- Nassau County Sheriff’s Office
- Oconee District Attorney’s Office
- Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
- Redwood City Police Department
- Richmond County Sheriff’s Office
- Riverdale Police Department
- Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department
- Santa Clara Police Department
- Savannah Police Department
- Spalding County Sheriff’s Department
- Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office
- Treutlen County Sheriff’s Office
- Ware County Sheriff’s Office; and
- Waycross Police Department
“Asset forfeiture ensures that criminals do not profit from their crimes, while directly strengthening the law enforcement agencies that protect our communities,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Through close collaboration with our federal, state, and local partners, the FBI is committed to dismantling criminal enterprises and reinvesting seized assets into the tools, training, and resources needed to keep South Georgia safe.”
The Department of Justice’s (Justice) Asset Forfeiture Program encompasses the seizure, forfeiture, and disposition of assets that represent the proceeds of, or were used to facilitate, federal crimes. The Attorney General exercises statutory authority to manage the Program. See 28 U.S.C. § 524(c)(1) (establishing the Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund (AFF), managed by the Attorney General). One of the ancillary benefits of asset forfeiture is the potential to share federal forfeiture proceeds in appropriate cases with cooperating state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies through equitable sharing. The Program enhances cooperation among federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement by providing valuable additional resources to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies assisting with investigations into violations of federal laws. However, the Program is designed to supplement and enhance, not supplant, appropriated agency resources.
For any questions, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.
Two Senior Members of Stephen Crane Village Drug Trafficking Organization SentencedRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – On January 13 and January 14, 2026, the last two defendants in the Stephen Crane Village drug trafficking case – the enforcer who murdered one of their own and the main drug supplier – were sentenced to 540- and 211-months’ imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in the organization, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
In January 2025, following a three-week trial before U.S. District Court Judge Julien X. Neals in Newark federal court, Michael Mayse, 39, and Gary Shahid, 67, both of Newark, were convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy and related drug and firearms offenses. Mayse was also convicted of murder in relation to the drug trafficking conspiracy.
“These sentences hold accountable two senior members of a violent drug trafficking organization that ruled Stephen Crane Village through fear, violence, and murder. They deliver justice for the family of a young man whose life was senselessly taken and underscore this Office’s commitment to attacking violent crime wherever it exists. We will continue to protect the people of New Jersey by aggressively pursuing violent criminals and removing them from our streets.”
- Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial:
Stephen Crane Village is a public housing complex near Branch Brook Park, on the border of Newark, New Jersey and Belleville, New Jersey. Stephen Crane Village was the site of an open-air drug market controlled by a violent drug trafficking organization (DTO) from at least February 2019 through February 2020.
Through numerous controlled drug purchases, recorded telephone calls and text messages, physical surveillance, electronic surveillance, and analysis of telephone call detail records, law enforcement determined that the members of the DTO conspired to distribute narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base, at Stephen Crane Village.
The DTO used a stash apartment to package and store drugs for distribution. The DTO sold significant quantities of drugs to confidential sources and an undercover agent. In the early morning of December 15, 2019, Mayse entered the DTO’s stash apartment and murdered a 21-year-old member of the DTO over a drug debt.
On January 13, 2026, the Court sentenced Shahid to 151 months’ imprisonment for the drug trafficking conspiracy and drug trafficking offenses, to run concurrent to 60 months for his possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, and consecutive to an additional 60 months’ imprisonment for his possession of a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking, for a cumulative sentence of 211 months in prison.
On January 14, 2026, the Court sentenced Mayse to 480 months’ imprisonment for the drug trafficking conspiracy and the murder, to run concurrent to 240 months for his distribution and possession with intent to distribute drugs, to run concurrent to 120 months for his possession of two firearms as a previously convicted felon, and consecutive to an additional 60 months’ imprisonment for his possession of another firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking, for a cumulative sentence of 540 months in prison.
Co-defendants Jose Lora, Dayquan Jordan, Ricky Terrell, Charles Mells, Raquan Rawls, Nasir Williams, Quadir Hatcher, Tyree Purkett, James Wicker, and Dayana Valderrama – all members or associates of the DTO – all previously pleaded guilty in federal court to crimes related to their respective roles.
Special Counsel Lamparello credited special agents and task force officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr.; special agents and task force officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and Chief Mitchell G. McGuire; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Director Emanuel Miranda; and the Belleville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Minichini. He also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their assistance with this case.
The investigation was conducted as part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The Newark VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the DHS/HSI, the USMS, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, Union County Jail, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, New Jersey Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew of the Criminal Division in Trenton and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Goldberg, Chief of the Narcotics and International Trafficking Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel:
Thomas Ambrosio, Esq., for Gary Shahid
Joel Silberman, Esq., and Keith Oliver, Esq., for Michael Mayse
Two Plead Guilty to Drug-Involved MurderRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Two individuals connected to a drug trafficking organization (DTO) pleaded guilty last week to charges stemming from a 2022 murder in Miami. Tsvia Kol, 37, of Hallandale, and Jimmy Sanchez, 37, of Spring Valley, California, face up to life imprisonment for their crimes.
“This case illustrates that drugs and violence go hand in hand,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As part of their drug operation, these defendants shipped large amounts of methamphetamine, and when they thought the victim stole their product, they killed him in cold blood. The Criminal Division will continue prosecuting serious drug crimes, with and without violence involved, to protect the public from the grave consequences that occur, like they did here.”
“These guilty pleas lay bare the deadly reality of drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This was a cold-blooded murder driven by the drug trade, where intimidation and greed turned narcotics trafficking into violence and death. Our Office will use every federal tool available to dismantle these organizations and hold accountable anyone who chooses violence as a means of doing business.”
“This transnational investigation is the result of law enforcement partners pulling resources and working together to bring these criminals to justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Bobbitt of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division.
“Illegal drug trafficking inherently results in violence which is inflicted by the criminal drug networks that distribute them,” said Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The impact on our communities is real and devastating. The FBI is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners in our common goal of making our communities safe by combating drug-related violence.”
“Postal Inspectors are committed to maintaining the safety of the community and employees of the U.S. Postal Service,” said Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue anyone who uses the nation's mail system for illegal or dangerous use.”
Court documents and statements made in court show that the defendants admitted to murdering a Miami man (the victim) in connection with a missing package containing about 11 pounds of methamphetamine, the street value of which totaled approximately $90,000. Kol and Sanchez believed that the victim stole the package of drugs. In retaliation, Kol and Sachez met the victim in a hotel room. Kol armed Sanchez with a firearm. While inside the room, the victim called 911 and attempted to provide his location, but the audio of the call portrayed a physical altercation ensuing and gunshots firing. Sanchez admitted that he shot and killed the victim in the hotel room and left his body, which was not discovered until the following morning. Hotel security footage revealed Kol and Sanchez fleeing the property after the murder.
As part of their plea agreements, the defendants admitted that they each committed the murder and that they distributed almost 11 pounds of methamphetamine. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled to take place later this year.
The DEA, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Miami Dade Sherriff’s Office, the Hialeah Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.
Trial Attorney Jessica A. Massey from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monique Botero and Jacob Koffsky for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Miami. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute offenders and prevent violence.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20264.
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Two Plead Guilty to Drug-Involved MurderRead the Press Release
Two individuals connected to a drug trafficking organization (DTO) pleaded guilty last week to charges stemming from a 2022 murder in Miami. Tsvia Kol, 37, of Hallandale, Florida, and Jimmy Sanchez, 37, of Spring Valley, California, face up to life imprisonment for their crimes.
“This case illustrates that drugs and violence go hand in hand,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As part of their drug operation, these defendants shipped large amounts of methamphetamine, and when they thought the victim stole their product, they killed him in cold blood. The Criminal Division will continue prosecuting serious drug crimes, with and without violence involved, to protect the public from the grave consequences that occur, like they did here.”
“These guilty pleas lay bare the deadly reality of drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This was a cold-blooded murder driven by the drug trade, where intimidation and greed turned narcotics trafficking into violence and death. Our Office will use every federal tool available to dismantle these organizations and hold accountable anyone who chooses violence as a means of doing business.”
“This transnational investigation is the result of law enforcement partners pulling resources and working together to bring these criminals to justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Bobbitt of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division.
“Illegal drug trafficking inherently results in violence which is inflicted by the criminal drug networks that distribute them,” said Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The impact on our communities is real and devastating. The FBI is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners in our common goal of making our communities safe by combating drug-related violence.”
“Postal Inspectors are committed to maintaining the safety of the community and employees of the U.S. Postal Service,” said Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue anyone who uses the nation's mail system for illegal or dangerous use.”
Court documents and statements made in court show that the defendants admitted to murdering a Miami man (the victim) in connection with a missing package containing about 11 pounds of methamphetamine, the street value of which totaled approximately $90,000. Kol and Sanchez believed that the victim stole the package of drugs. In retaliation, Kol and Sachez met the victim in a hotel room. Kol armed Sanchez with a firearm. While inside the room, the victim called 911 and attempted to provide his location, but the audio of the call portrayed a physical altercation ensuing and gunshots firing. Sanchez admitted that he shot and killed the victim in the hotel room and left his body, which was not discovered until the following morning. Hotel security footage revealed Kol and Sanchez fleeing the property after the murder.
As part of their plea agreements, the defendants admitted that they each committed the murder and that they distributed almost 11 pounds of methamphetamine. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled to take place later this year.
The DEA, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Miami Dade Sherriff’s Office, the Hialeah Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.
Trial Attorney Jessica A. Massey from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monique Botero and Jacob Koffsky for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Miami. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute offenders and prevent violence.
Texas Man and His Romantic Partner Sentenced to Prison for their Roles in Harming Elderly Victims Through A Romance Fraud ScamRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Texas man was sentenced on January 15, 2026, to five years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a romance fraud scam in which he received money from elderly victims, including from New Jersey, and then transferred the money abroad, primarily to Ghana, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced. The man’s romantic partner was sentenced on January 7, 2026, to 18 months in prison and two years of supervised release for her role in the scheme as an unlicensed money transmitter in accepting and transmitting some of the funds for profit.
Felix Clark, a/k/a “Joseph Moore,” a/k/a “Stanley Smith,” 37, of Royse City, Texas, was sentenced to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release by Hon. Renée Marie Bumb, Chief, U.S. District Judge, in federal court in Camden. Clark previously pleaded guilty on May 6, 2025, to a two-count Information, charging conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud in connection with the romance fraud scam. At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, Chief Judge Bumb remanded Clark to the custody of the U.S. Marshal to begin serving his sentence.
On January 7, Chief Judge Bumb sentenced Clark’s romantic partner, Esther Amppiaw, 34, of Royse City, Texas, to 18 months in prison and two years of supervised release. On May 23, 2025, Amppiaw pleaded guilty to a one-count Information charging her with operating an unlicensed money transmitter business. Amppiaw will report to serve her sentence on a later date.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From at least as early as October 2021 through September 2022, while a resident of Delray Beach, Florida, Clark conspired and agreed to receive the proceeds of fraud perpetrated by a co-conspirator in Ghana and transfer proceeds overseas. During the conspiracy, one or more of Clark’s co-conspirators went onto online dating sites and, using fake names, pretended to be romantically interested in elderly victims, including stating that they wanted to marry them. Many of the victims had recently lost their spouses.
The co-conspirators used electronic messages and emails to con victims into sending money—for instance, claiming that there was a large amount of gold in Ghana, but in order to get it, the victim had to pay taxes, fees, or other sums. The co-conspirators directed victims to send money to Clark and others acting at his direction, including Amppiaw. Clark used fake names, including “Joseph Moore” and “Stanley Smith”—as well as financial accounts in those fake names—to transfer the victims’ funds.
During his guilty plea hearing, Clark admitted responsibility for $501,071 in victim losses. He also admitted that after law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home, he attempted to obstruct justice by arranging for a falsified death certificate and funeral notice to be submitted to the United States, falsely claiming the death of a family member in order to obtain a passport that had been lawfully seized and to which he was not legally entitled.
Amppiaw admitted that she operated an unlicensed money transmitting business from January 2022 through June 2023, while a resident of Delray Beach, Florida. Amppiaw also admitted that she knowingly received checks, money orders, and electronic payments totaling $317,290 from individuals she did not know, and that she knowingly transmitted most of the funds to other individuals, including at least one recipient in New Jersey and also to recipients overseas, including Ghana. During that time, Amppiaw lied in four separate conversations with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (in her interview for U.S. citizenship), federal law enforcement, and her bank about the nature and amounts of her financial transaction activity.
Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited agents of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, with the investigation leading to the sentencings.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa T. Wiygul of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
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Defense Counsel:
Felix Clark: Jeremy McLymont, Esq., Miami, Florida
Esther Amppiaw: James Maguire, Esq., AFPD, Camden, New Jersey
Texas Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Marcos Gonzalez, 62, Los Fresnos, Texas, was sentenced January 8, 2026, by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 188 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine. The prison term will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Gonzalez pled guilty to this charge on October 21, 2025.
Between December 2023 and June 2024, Gonzalez served as the leader of a conspiracy that trafficked more than thirty kilograms of cocaine from the southern border to Dane County, Wisconsin. As part of the conspiracy, Gonzalez arranged for the cocaine to be smuggled from Mexico into southeast Texas. From there, Gonzalez arranged for a courier to transport the cocaine to coconspirator Ernesto R. Abeyta in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
Judge Peterson explained that he imposed a significant sentence because of the “very aggravated” nature of Gonzalez’s offense. Judge Peterson noted that Gonzalez not only trafficked a large quantity of cocaine, but he also had a clear connection to a large criminal enterprise in Mexico. Judge Peterson also expressed concern that Gonzalez was “a committed recidivist,” since this was his third federal drug conspiracy conviction. Gonzalez previously served twenty-two years in federal prison for a 1995 conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine conviction. In 2003, while serving that sentence, Gonzalez was convicted for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, for trying to smuggle marijuana into a federal prison.
“Gonzalez is a career drug trafficker who leveraged his Mexican cartel connections to sell pounds of cocaine across the United States, including here in Dane County,” said Acting United States Attorney Elgersma. “Today’s sentence not only ensures significant prison time for the leader of a drug organization, but it also sends a message that the United States Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners are committed to using every legal tool available to disrupt and dismantle terrorist organizations that profit from addiction and violence. I commend everyone who played a role in bringing Gonzalez to justice.”
On November 6, 2025, Judge Peterson sentenced coconspirator Ernesto R. Abeyta to nine years in federal prison for his role in the cocaine trafficking operation.
The charge against Gonzalez was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Sherriff’s Office, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, Madison Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s 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 federal 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.
Texas Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Donald Spivey, 43, Spring, Texas, was sentenced January 16, 2026, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 9 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Spivey pleaded guilty to this charge on October 27, 2025.
On November 30, 2021, an inspector from the United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted a suspicious parcel sent from Houston, Texas to an address in Verona, Wisconsin, which was associated with Spivey. The inspector searched the parcel pursuant to a federal warrant and found approximately two kilograms of cocaine.
As the investigation continued, law enforcement officers identified an apartment in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, where Spivey stored his drugs. On April 6, 2023, investigators obtained a search warrant for the apartment and seized approximately two kilograms of cocaine, $5,160 in cash, multiple cell phones, a heat sealer, shipping material, a digital scale, and a drug press. Numerous text messages on Spivey’s phones revealed his involvement in drug trafficking.
Spivey waived his rights and admitted to mailing the two kilograms of cocaine seized on November 30, 2021. Spivey further confessed to regularly trafficking cocaine from Texas to Wisconsin.
As part of the investigation, investigators also searched the residences of coconspirators Shelby Longino and Darnold Thomas. Inside Longino’s house, investigators found 183 grams of fentanyl pills, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and $22,878 in cash. During the search of Thomas’s house, investigators seized two kilograms of methamphetamine.
At Spivey’s sentencing, Judge Conley noted that Spivey was responsible for bringing a significant amount of cocaine into the community. Judge Conley found that a lengthy sentence was warranted.
On August 29, 2025, Thomas pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Judge Conley sentenced Thomas to 90 months in prison on December 11, 2025.
On July 31, 2025, Longino pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Judge Conley sentenced Longino to five years in prison on October 29, 2025.
The charges against Spivey, Thomas, and Longino were the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Kansas Highway Patrol, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and Madison Police Department. Acting U.S. Attorney Elgersma prosecuted this case.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s 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 federal 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.
Texas Couple Pleads Guilty for Operating Website Selling Smuggled Pesticides and Veterinary DrugsRead the Press Release
Thao Duong of Garland, Texas, pleaded guilty today for conspiring to smuggle and sell unregistered pesticides and misbranded veterinary drugs. Duong’s husband, Lam Mai, also pleaded guilty for conspiring to sell unregistered pesticides and misbranded veterinary drugs. The couple operated a website selling those drugs and pesticides, which had been smuggled into the United State from Mexico. They are scheduled to be sentenced on June 9.
“Stopping transborder crime is a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We will continue to investigate and prosecute those who flout our customs laws and endanger the health and safety of Americans.”
“No one should profit from bringing illegal chemicals into the United States and poisoning American communities,” said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Illegal Mexican pesticides and animal steroids are a toxic combination. The guilty plea in this case underscores the importance of the cooperative efforts of federal, state, and local agencies to disrupt smuggling operations and secure our nation’s borders from foreign harm.”
“This case highlights the need to protect unwitting consumers from dangerous, misbranded products smuggled in from foreign sources at the expense of the health and safety of our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas. “We applaud the diligent work of our law enforcement partners to interrupt these illegal practices and punish those who commit them.”
“Smuggling prohibited and misbranded products into the United States, and then selling them to unsuspecting consumers, greatly endangers public health,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Lamb of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations, Kansas City Field Office. “The FDA will continue working with our federal government partners to bring to justice anyone who carries out these illegal actions.”
According to filings and evidence presented in court, in approximately 2011, Duong began using various online platforms to sell animal care products to customers throughout the United States. The products she sold were used primarily by people engaged in rooster fighting ventures. Duong was not a veterinarian and did not require customers to provide veterinary prescriptions to purchase veterinary drugs. She also sold products such as Cipio Vet, Baytril Max, and Caterrol, which are produced in Mexico and not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. In 2017, she added the pesticides Taktic and Bovitraz to her inventory. Taktic and Bovitraz are not registered with the EPA for sale or use and cannot be sold legally in the United States.
In 2018, Duong started a website which she used as her primary means of selling and distributing veterinary drugs and pesticides. After launching the website, Duong entered into agreements with several co-conspirators to purchase veterinary drugs and pesticides that she knew had been smuggled into the United States from Mexico.
The smuggled pesticides and veterinary drugs were brought into the United States through the Calexico Port of Entry in Imperial County, California, and placed in storage units near the border. Duong’s co-conspirators then shipped the products from California to Texas. Between 2018 and 2022, Duong obtained approximately $2.4 million worth of smuggled merchandise from her co-conspirators.
Lam Mai was the shipping manager for the website. After orders were received he packaged the pesticides and veterinary drugs and distributed them to customers throughout the country using the United States Postal Service and other shippers.
According to the EPA, the active ingredient in the pesticides Taktic and Bovitraz is amitraz, which is toxic to bees if released into hives, and then ultimately to humans when it ends up in honey, honeycomb, and beeswax. Misuse of amitraz-containing products in beehives can result in exposures that could cause neurological effects and possibly reproductive effects in humans from the consumption of contaminated honey. Signs of neurotoxicity from exposure to amitraz have been documented in multiple animal species and include central nervous system depression, decrease in pulse rate, and hypothermia.
The EPA and FDA investigated the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the United State Postal Inspection Service.
Trial Attorney Lauren D. Steele of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section is handling the prosecution with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincent J. Mazzurco for the Northern District of Texas.
Tennessee Man Sentenced for Stealing Firearms from Vehicles in MissouriRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Tuesday sentenced a man who in 2023 broke into 24 vehicles in Scott County and New Madrid County to steal and stole firearms to 137 months in prison.
Corterian L. Wright, now 42, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau in April to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted stealing five handguns from vehicles on Oct. 24, 2023. The thefts were among 24 vehicle break-ins in a 3½ hour span at multiple businesses in those counties, according to court documents. Wright is a felon and is thus barred from possessing firearms.
The Matthews Police Department, the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Office, the New Madrid Police Department, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Shelton is prosecuting the case.
Tennessee Man Convicted for Three Bank Robberies and One Attempted Bank Robbery Ending in a ShootoutRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal jury in Memphis, Tennessee convicted a man on Friday for a series of brazen bank robberies, one of which ended with the defendant shooting two people with an assault rifle. At trial, the defendant was convicted of robbing three banks and joining a conspiracy that robbed a total of five bank branches. This is the last of eight defendants indicted in this case, which charged robberies and related firearm charges. All defendants have now been convicted either by guilty plea or at trial.
“This defendant was part of a violent robbery crew whose actions put lives in grave danger and seriously injured innocent people,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The series of bank robberies committed by these eight defendants terrorized bank employees and customers and threatened the lives of hardworking Americans. The Criminal Division will aggressively prosecute those who commit violence, just as it has here.”
“Bank robbery committed with a firearm is an inherently violent offense and threatens the very fabric of our financial institutions that provide commercial services to citizens and the community,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “These brazen and disturbing armed robberies of multiple Memphis banks by Patterson and his co-conspirators terrorized the community and inflicted fear and harm on multiple victims. Now they will have plenty of time in federal prison to suffer the consequences of their violent criminal conduct, and the citizens of Memphis will be safer for it.”
“Friday’s conviction should send a strong message that violent crime will not be tolerated, and law enforcement will not rest until violent offenders are caught, prosecuted, and held accountable for their actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to fight violent crime in communities across Tennessee.”
Evidence at trial proved that over about eight months between April 2023 and December 2023, the defendant, Mario Patterson, 45, joined a conspiracy with his co-defendants to rob banks throughout Memphis. The robbers even attempted to rob the same bank branch twice.
Patterson carried a gun in each robbery, and during one attempted robbery he shot two people with an assault rifle. In another robbery, Patterson wore a bulletproof vest and pointed a rifle at bank employees while a co-defendant stole thousands of dollars from the bank. By the end of 2023, Patterson and his group stole over $160,000 from Memphis-area banks.
Patterson’s sentencing is scheduled for April 24. Three of Patterson’s co-defendants ─ Robert Haley, Devin Hinds, and Joshua Cribbs ─ were sentenced in late 2025 for their role in the offenses, with Haley receiving 17 years in prison, Hinds receiving 16 years and 1 month in prison, and Cribbs receiving 12 years in prison. The four additional co-defendants, Travis Drain, Monterrio Trenell, Marquarius Trenell, and Courtney Trenell, face sentencing later this year.
The FBI and the Memphis Police Department’s Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case. This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.
Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, with assistance from Trial Attorney Aaron Hendricks, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner and Tony Arvin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
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Tennessee Man Convicted for Three Bank Robberies and One Attempted Bank Robbery Ending in a ShootoutRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Memphis, Tennessee, convicted a man on Friday for a series of brazen bank robberies, one of which ended with the defendant shooting two people with an assault rifle. At trial, the defendant was convicted of robbing three banks and joining a conspiracy that robbed a total of five bank branches. This is the last of eight defendants indicted in this case, which charged robberies and related firearm charges. All defendants have now been convicted either by guilty plea or at trial.
“This defendant was part of a violent robbery crew whose actions put lives in grave danger and seriously injured innocent people,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The series of bank robberies committed by these eight defendants terrorized bank employees and customers and threatened the lives of hardworking Americans. The Criminal Division will aggressively prosecute those who commit violence, just as it has here.”
“Bank robbery committed with a firearm is an inherently violent offense and threatens the very fabric of our financial institutions that provide commercial services to citizens and the community,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “These brazen and disturbing armed robberies of multiple Memphis banks by Patterson and his co-conspirators terrorized the community and inflicted fear and harm on multiple victims. Now they will have plenty of time in federal prison to suffer the consequences of their violent criminal conduct, and the citizens of Memphis will be safer for it.”
“Friday’s conviction should send a strong message that violent crime will not be tolerated, and law enforcement will not rest until violent offenders are caught, prosecuted, and held accountable for their actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to fight violent crime in communities across Tennessee.”
Evidence at trial proved that over about eight months between April 2023 and December 2023, the defendant, Mario Patterson, 45, joined a conspiracy with his co-defendants to rob banks throughout Memphis. The robbers even attempted to rob the same bank branch twice.
Patterson carried a gun in each robbery, and during one attempted robbery he shot two people with an assault rifle. In another robbery, Patterson wore a bulletproof vest and pointed a rifle at bank employees while a co-defendant stole thousands of dollars from the bank. By the end of 2023, Patterson and his group stole over $160,000 from Memphis-area banks.
Patterson’s sentencing is scheduled for April 24. Three of Patterson’s co-defendants ─ Robert Haley, Devin Hinds, and Joshua Cribbs ─ were sentenced in late 2025 for their role in the offenses, with Haley receiving 17 years in prison, Hinds receiving 16 years and 1 month in prison, and Cribbs receiving 12 years in prison. The four additional co-defendants, Travis Drain, Monterrio Trenell, Marquarius Trenell, and Courtney Trenell, face sentencing later this year.
The FBI and the Memphis Police Department’s Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case. This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.
Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, with assistance from Trial Attorney Aaron Hendricks, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner and Tony Arvin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
Tallahassee Fugitive Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Possession of Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Justin Grantsteadman, 36, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The U.S. Marshals are second-to-none in tracking down fugitives and bringing them to justice. My office stands ready to back up their hard work to get dangerous felons off our streets with successful prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences to fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
Court documents reflect that the United States Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force located the defendant at a motel in Midway, Florida, due to an active warrant for absconding from state felony probation. Law enforcement arrested the defendant and found a Taurus 9-millimeter pistol in his front pocket, which had been reported stolen several days before in Tallahassee.
“Grantsteadman was an armed and dangerous fugitive who thought he could outrun the law. Our community is now safer with him behind bars,” remarked Acting U.S. Marshal Greg Leljedal.
Upon his release from prison, Grantsteadman will be on three years of supervised release.
The case involved an investigation by the United States Marshals Service, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Syracuse Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Arif Karicic, age 36, of Syracuse, New York, pled guilty on January 16, 2026, to distribution and possession of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement.
As part of his plea, Karicic admitted that between November 2024 and February 2025, he sent child pornography files to other people through smartphone social networking applications. The FBI’s investigation also revealed that on February 12, 2025, Karicic possessed child pornography on two electronic devices at his Syracuse residence.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “The evidence of this defendant’s illegal activity reveals a disturbing sexual interest in young children. In addition to the serious harm child pornography offenses do to the original victims portrayed in the files, there is a real risk such offenders turn to hands-on abuse of their own. Thanks to the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners, this defendant’s deviancy has been identified and he will be held accountable for his despicable actions.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “Mr. Karicic’s offenses are heinous and the impact on his innocent victims is immeasurable. This plea ensures he will spend a substantial amount of time in federal prison where he can no longer exploit our children. FBI Albany’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force will continue to leverage our federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships to aggressively investigate and bring to justice these sick predators terrorizing our most vulnerable.”
Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2026, before United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi. Karicic faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years in federal prison on the distribution charges, a maximum term of 20 years in federal prison for each of the charged offenses, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life. Karicic will also be required to register as a sex offender. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
St. Thomian Man Arrested for COVID-19 Payroll Protection Program (PPP) Loan FraudRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI – U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that on January 15, 2026, David J. McDonald, 31, appeared before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson III on criminal charges related to bank fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and false statements.
According to court documents, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was a federal law enacted in or around March 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through a program referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”).
Investigation revealed that from 2020 through 2021, McDonald fraudulently obtained PPP loan disbursements of amounts in excess of $400,000. McDonald submitted false documents and statements in support of Small Business Administration (SBA) loan applications to various banks. These certifications alleged that McDonald owned the businesses Ocean Breeze, LLC and DEMS Holdings, LLC, and that the funds would be used to pay employees of the businesses. The investigation revealed that the businesses had no employes and PPP funds were being used for personal expenses and wire transfers to other accounts and individuals unrelated to the business. The investigation also revealed that McDonald applied for and obtained PPP loan forgiveness from the SBA. Over a period of approximately 5 years, McDonald expended all PPP loan funds.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Natasha Baker of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 170 Months in Prison on Drug, Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon caught twice with drugs to 170 months in prison.
Quentin Simms, 54, of St. Louis County, pleaded guilty in September to five counts: possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possession with the intent to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking crimes and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
He admitted that St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department detectives conducting a court-approved search of a home in the 4000 block of Labadie Avenue on May 31, 2024, spotted Simms nearby, trying to hide in a red Dodge Ram. Officers saw a large baggie of capsules containing fentanyl, $3,668 in cash and a loaded Ruger 5.7 model 5.7x28mm caliber semi-automatic pistol in the truck. They found a bag containing heroin, cocaine and cocaine base and a stolen Smith & Wesson 10mm pistol in a subsequent search. After Simms was indicted on drug and gun charges, Deputy U.S. Marshals arrested him on Oct. 9, 2024, and found about $1,000 in cash and a baggie that contained 27.95 grams of cocaine base, Simms’ plea says.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christian Goeke prosecuted the case.
Shawano Man Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 20, 2026, Brandon M. Boogren (Age: 29) of Shawano, Wisconsin, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach to 180 months’ incarceration in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of Production of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a).
According to court documents, in June of 2025, the FBI office in Green Bay was contacted by the FBI office in Houston alerting them that a search of a Texas suspect’s phone revealed videos of child pornography created and transferred by an individual in the Shawano, Wisconsin, area. The videos depicted a two-and-a-half-year-old child being sexually assaulted by Boogren at the request of an “online model” in Houston. The “online model” was, in fact, a man posing as a woman to “catfish” the defendant.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach described the defendant’s crime as “horrendous” and “extremely serious.” He further stated that Boogren’s criminal acts called for strong punishment. After his 15-year prison sentence, the defendant will serve 5 years on supervised release. He will further be required to register as a sex offender under state and federal law.
This case was investigated by the Houston and Green Bay offices of the FBI with the assistance of the Shawano Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Serial Offender Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Tuscaloosa County man has been sentenced on charges related to the sexual exploitation of children, announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona.
United States District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Jalan Christopher Lewis, 31, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to 35 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Lewis was also ordered to pay a $5,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Act. In October 2025, Lewis pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, transferring obscene materials to minors, production of child pornography, and receipt and distribution of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, in July 2024, an undercover (UC) law enforcement officer used a social media application to pose as a 15-year-old female in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Lewis messaged the UC, and after learning her age, proposed engaging in sexual activity. Lewis continued messaging the UC and attempted to meet her for sexual activity. Upon arrival at the proposed meeting location in August 2024, Lewis was arrested. He had a condom in his sock.
Later, in December 2024, law enforcement discovered that Lewis had engaged in sex acts with a 14-year-old victim after he was released on bond following his August 2024 arrest. Lewis also met this minor victim on a social media application. Records from the social media application revealed that Lewis had produced child pornography depicting the 14-year-old and sent the produced material to the child. Lewis also received child pornography from the 14-year-old. Lewis was arrested for these additional offenses following a search warrant executed at his home in January 2025.
This case was part of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort by FBI field offices across the country, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorneys’ Offices around the country to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators, and in connection with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
If you suspect or become aware of the possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The FBI Birmingham Field Office investigated the case along with the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
School Superintendents Plead Guilty to EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS – Earl Joe Nelson of Biloxi, Mississippi and Monekea Smith-Taylor of St. Louis, Missouri appeared in Federal Court before District Judge Sharion Aycock in Aberdeen today and pled guilty to conspiracy to commit embezzlement. On a previous court date, in October 2025, Mario Willis of Southaven, Mississippi also pled guilty to the same conspiracy.
According to court documents, from July 2019 to May 2022, Nelson was the superintendent of Clarksdale Municipal School District. In October 2022, Nelson became the superintendent of Leake County School District. Mario Willis was the superintendent of Hollandale School District. Monekea Smith-Taylor was a schoolteacher in the St. Louis, Missouri area.
Nelson and Willis used their position as school superintendents to enter into reciprocal consulting contracts and generate reciprocal payments for consulting services at an inflated rate of payment and for consulting services that were not actually provided. From November 2021 to June 2023, at the direction of Mario Willis as superintendent, the Hollandale School District paid a total of approximately $94,400 to Ira Reed Consulting, Inc. and N17 Group, LLC for the personal benefit of Nelson.
From November 2021 to May 2022, at the direction of Nelson as superintendent, the Clarksdale Municipal School District paid a total of approximately $25,400 to K&S Enterprises, LLC and ALM Brothers, LLC for the personal benefit of Mario Willis. From January 2023 to May 2023, at the direction of Nelson as superintendent, the Leake County School District paid a total of approximately $23,500 to K&S Enterprises, LLC for the personal benefit of Mario Willis.
Many of the invoices used to justify these payments were identical with only the names changed. Nelson often used the same invoices generated by Willis, changed the names and sent them back to the Hollandale School District for payment to Nelson.
In addition to the conspiracy with Nelson, Willis used his position as school superintendent to generate payments to Erudition Consulting Company, a company owned and controlled by Monekea Smith-Taylor, for consulting services at an inflated rate of payment and for consulting services that were not actually provided. After receiving payment, Smith-Taylor would meet Nelson in person and provide him with a cash payment, often exactly half of what she had been paid by the Hollandale School District. From June 2021 to May 2023, at the direction of Mario Willis as superintendent, the Hollandale School District paid approximately $250,902 to Erudition Consulting Company, LLC.
Nelson, Willis and Smith-Taylor face a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. District Judge Sharion Aycock will determine their sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“The protection and education of children goes to the very heart of who we are as a people,” said U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary. “Those that violate this sacred trust will face the consequences of their actions. Always remember those law enforcement officers who spend their careers protecting the public and especially the children of this great state.”
“Today’s action shows that these former school leaders not only knowingly and willfully abused their positions of trust for personal gain but did so at the expense of the educational development of children. That is unacceptable," said Adam Shanedling, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Regional Office. “Deservedly, they will both be held accountable for cheating Mississippi students and taxpayers."
“Thank you to the US Attorney’s Office for helping us bring this case to a close,” said State Auditor Shad White. “My office will continue to work with prosecutors to deliver record results for taxpayers.”
The Mississippi Office of the State Auditor and the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton A. Dabbs is prosecuting the case.
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