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20 January 2026
Dallas Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine from MexicoRead the Press Release
A Dallas man was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine he received from Mexico, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
“Ejecting transnational drug traffickers from our streets is critical to protecting North Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “This criminal spilled poison into our communities in exchange for money. All credit for the conviction and 40-year prison sentence goes to our heroes in law enforcement and our line prosecutor, who worked in close collaboration with the Dallas Homeland Security Task Force.”
“The sentence of Mr. Mejia-Mendoza sends clear message to drug traffickers that they will be held accountable for the distribution of poisonous drugs and violence in North Texas,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Division. “This investigation demonstrates what coordinated, intelligence-driven, law enforcement can accomplish. The men and women of DEA and our partners remain committed to pursuing and dismantling foreign terrorist organizations that endanger Americans.”
“This lengthy sentence is another success for the Dallas Homeland Security Task Force. Our collective effort resulted in a member of a transnational criminal organization being held accountable for trafficking narcotics into the Dallas area,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.
Orlando Gerardo Mejia-Mendoza, of Dallas, Texas, pled guilty in June 2025, to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court records, in 2023, Mejia-Mendoza was receiving shipments of liquid methamphetamine from Mexico. Some of the shipments involved as much as 20 to 25 kilograms of methamphetamine at a time, for which Mejia-Mendoza paid $1,800 per kilogram. Court documents reflect that one Dallas apartment used by Mejia-Mendoza contained an active methamphetamine conversion laboratory used to convert methamphetamine from its liquid form to crystal methamphetamine. Agents found methamphetamine in various stages of conversion scattered about the apartment. In another apartment used by Meji-Mendoza, agents found multiple guns and cash.
On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge Ada Brown sentenced Mejia-Mendoza to 480 months in federal prison.This case was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
Dallas HSTF comprises agents from FBI, DEA, and HSI, who were assisted in this investigation by the Dallas Police Department, Coppell Police Department, and the Grand Prairie Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More than Four Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
United States District Judge Annemarie C. Axon sentenced Billy Keith Hamilton, 42, of Midfield, Alabama, to 24 months in prison on a supervised release revocation. Hamilton was also sentenced to a consecutive 27 months in prison based on his guilty plea to charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm, resulting in a total of 51 months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
According to the plea agreement, on July 13, 2024, a state trooper with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency initiated a traffic stop of Hamilton. The state trooper informed Hamilton that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and asked him to exit the vehicle. Hamilton initially complied, then fled the scene with his minor children in the vehicle. After a chase through several cities, Hamilton arrived at his own neighborhood, abandoned his children and vehicle, and fled on foot into the woods while wearing a backpack. After a short pursuit, Hamilton was apprehended. The state trooper recovered a stolen Springfield XD .45 caliber pistol from Hamilton’s backpack.
ATF investigated the case along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Keown, Sr. prosecuted the case.
Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Joshua Steven Hicks, 43, of Charleston, was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 25, 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Hicks in Hurricane. Hicks admitted that he possessed a Taurus model 709 Slim 9mm pistol that was seized during the traffic stop.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Hicks knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of counterfeit obligations of the United States, both in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on November 29, 2018.
At the time of his current offense, Hicks was on supervised release for his November 29, 2018, convictions. On September 12, 2024, Hicks was sentenced to one year in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hurricane Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-54.
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Canadian Man Charged with Wire Fraud After Falsely Posing as a Commercial Airline PilotRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Dallas Pokornik, 33, of Toronto, Canada, was indicted on October 2, 2025, for wire fraud. Pokornik was arrested in Panama and extradited to the United States.
According to court records, over the course of four years, Pokornik falsely claimed he was an airline pilot and presented a fictitious employee identification card to obtain hundreds of flights at no cost on three different airlines. During the fraudulent scheme, Pokornik requested a jump seat in the cockpit of the aircraft, even though Pokornik was not a pilot and did not have an airman’s certificate.
If convicted, Pokornik faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, plus a term of supervised release.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Nammar is prosecuting the case.
Cambridge Man Charged with Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Cambridge man has been arrested on state charges and a federal complaint has issued, charging him with forcing a woman to engage in commercial sex throughout multiple states including Massachusetts, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maine.
Daniel Rodriguez, 36, is charged with one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. Rodriguez is currently held in state custody and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging document Rodriguez allegedly forced a 27-year-old female to engage in commercial sex throughout Massachusetts as well as in Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maine. The charging document also alleges that Rodriguez has trafficked multiple women, including one minor, from 2017 until 2026.
It is alleged that Rodriguez began trafficking the victim in 2025. When the victim attempted to leave Rodriguez in early January 2026, Rodriguez allegedly posed as a sex buyer in an attempt to locate her and then required her to return to Boston with him. On Jan. 13, 2026, Rodriguez was allegedly transporting the victim from one hotel to another to engage in commercial sex. After allegedly committing a traffic violation, Rodriguez’s car was stopped by law enforcement. It is alleged that as law enforcement approached the vehicle, Rodriguez sped away. He yelled at the victim, blaming her for the traffic stop and led police on a high-speed pursuit, travelling at over 100 mph. Rodriguez crashed the vehicle and fled on foot, leaving his victim behind and injured. Rodriguez is alleged to have sent an accomplice to pick the victim up from the hospital and advertised her for commercial sex within hours of her hospital discharge. Rodriguez was ultimately arrested in Middleboro, Mass. on a state arrest warrant issued out of the Quincy District Court on Jan. 14, 2026.
The federal complaint alleges that Rodriguez trafficked at least three other women, one of them a minor, in 2017, 2018, and 2023. Rodriguez is alleged to have used violence and threats and made good on his promises to track his victims down if they attempted to leave him.
The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion carries with it a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of 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.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of Federal Bureau of Investigations; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Riley and Craig Estes of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit are prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact [email protected].
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
California Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI - United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that Shaheel Singh, 25, of California, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson III on January 15, 2025, to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers were inspecting all checked bags on American Airlines flight 2211 from Miami, FL to St. Croix. During the x-ray examination of one bag, officers noticed images consistent with smuggling narcotics. The defendant’s name was on the baggage tag. CBP officers placed the baggage on the carousel and monitored to see who would retrieve it. The defendant retrieved the baggage, and CBP officers escorted him to an area for further inspection. A physical search of the baggage revealed vacuum-sealed bags containing a green leafy substance. The substance tested positive for marijuana with a total weight of approximately 10.6 kilograms.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.Brookhaven Man Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Brookhaven man was sentenced on January 13, 2026, to 40 months in prison and ordered to pay $928,500 in restitution for defrauding investors.
According to court documents, David Tiler Castillo, 23, falsely represented to investors that he was in the business of making investments in marketable securities, such as stocks, on behalf of others and obtained $928,500 from those investors. However, Castillo invested only about $3,000 of investors' money and used the remainder for his personal benefit, including the purchase of vehicles.
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, and Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service, Mississippi Secretary of State Securities Division, and Mississippi Attorney General's Office Cyber Crime Division investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dave Fulcher prosecuted the case.
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARQUES ISIAH LINDSAY, 37, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for unlawfully possessing a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 17, 2023, Bridgeport Police attempted to stop a vehicle in which Lindsay was a passenger in the area of Washington Terrace in Bridgeport. When the vehicle pulled over, Lindsay exited from the back seat and attempted to flee on foot. Lindsay was quickly apprehended and a search of his person revealed a loaded Glock 26 9mm handgun with an extended magazine, another extended magazine, and $420 in cash.
Lindsay’s criminal history spans approximately 20 years and includes felony convictions in state court for drug, robbery, larceny, and other offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Lindsay has been detained since his arrest. On October 1, 2025, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham.
Brevard County Woman Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Jaime Pelletier (39, Melbourne) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. Pelletier pleaded guilty on October 16, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the plea agreement, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office used a confidential source to conduct two controlled purchases of drugs from Pelletier at her home, totaling over 420 grams of pure methamphetamine. A search warrant was then executed at Pelletier’s residence. Upon the arrival of law enforcement, Pelletier began flushing methamphetamine down the toilet. The search warrant resulted in the seizure of additional methamphetamine, digital scales, cutting agents, and other drug processing materials.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.
Beverly Hills man pleads guilty to over $2 million in pandemic fraud schemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Beverly Hills man pleaded guilty today to an extensive pandemic fraud scheme,
United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr announced.
Jabari Long, 45, entered a guilty plea before Judge Brandy McMillion to wire fraud affecting a financial institution.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations-Detroit and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations Detroit Field Office.
According to court records, Long submitted fraudulent loan applications to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for businesses that did not exist. Specifically, Long received $2,187,000 in federal loans for Priceless Preservations Construction, a company that Long claimed had 50 employees and an average monthly payroll of $875,000. In truth, Priceless Preservations Construction had few, if any, employees and little to no payroll expenses.
Long will be sentenced by Judge McMillion on July 28, 2026. He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment.
The case was investigated by HSI and IRS and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara D. Woodward.
Albany County Felon Sentenced for Receiving Firearms Stolen from Hudson Falls Gun Store and Using the Firearms in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kwahpreme Mitchell, age 34, of Watervliet, New York, was sentenced January 9, 2026, to 106 months in federal prison for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing firearms as a convicted felon. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James; and Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea, Mitchell admitted to receiving firearms from Jonathon Combs and Martin Taft that they had stolen from Calamity Jane’s Firearms and Fine Shoes, a federally licensed firearms dealer, in Hudson Falls, New York, on October 21, 2022. In exchange for the stolen firearms, Mitchell agreed to provide Combs and Taft with 150 grams of cocaine, which they intended to distribute. Additionally, on or about October 15, 2022, Mitchell provided Combs with approximately 3.5 grams of cocaine base in exchange for a shotgun. Mitchell could not legally possess firearms, as he had been previously convicted of a New York State felony drug charge.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Mitchell has now been held accountable for his poisoning of our communities with drugs and stolen guns. We again express our appreciation for the collaboration between ATF NY Albany, the NYSP, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and this Office in combating violent crime and keeping our communities safe.”
Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, stated, “This sentence reflects the serious danger posed when stolen firearms are funneled into drug trafficking networks. Mitchell’s actions tied together two violent threats – stolen guns and illegal drugs – putting communities at risk. ATF NY, alongside our state and local partners, remains committed to disrupting firearms trafficking at every point, holding offenders accountable, and preventing stolen guns from being used to fuel further crime and violence.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James stated, “I applaud our law enforcement officials at all levels for their strong police work and dedication to intercepting the trafficking of cocaine and weapons within our communities. The sentencing of Mr. Mitchell sends a clear message that we will find the people responsible for putting illegal substances and firearms in the hands of others. We will remain vigilant alongside our law enforcement partners in keeping these criminals off our streets and to maintain the safety of all New Yorkers.”
Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy stated, “This sentencing sends a clear message—those who target businesses in our county will be held accountable. Through strong collaboration with our law enforcement partners, justice was served, and our commitment to the victims remains unwavering.”
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to begin after Mitchell is released from prison.
NYSP, ATF and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case with assistance provided by the Washington and Warren County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Vickey 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.
19 January 2026
U.S. Attorney Andrew Benson Provides Statement Regarding Peaceful Protest vs. Unlawful ObstructionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: U.S. Attorney Andrew Benson issued the following statement today:
“Every member of federal law enforcement swears to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. This oath guides the men and women of law enforcement as they fulfill their duty to enforce federal law, including the laws relating to illegal immigration.
The Constitution guarantees the right to peacefully assemble and to protest. These are fundamental rights that form the basis for a free society. What is not protected, however, are acts of violence against other individuals, destruction of property, or obstruction of lawful governmental activity.
In the coming days, if Maine citizens seek to exercise their rights to assemble and protest, it is vital that these protests remain peaceful. Anyone who forcibly assaults or impedes a federal law enforcement officer, willfully destroys government property, or unlawfully obstructs federal law enforcement activity commits a federal crime and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Finally, it is incumbent upon anyone with a public voice—whether that be an elected official, commentator or engaged citizen—to similarly urge peaceful protest and engagement. Divisive, bombastic public statements only inflame the situation and make violence more likely.
Force, intimidation and threats have no place in our public discourse and are contrary to our time-honored tradition in Maine of peaceful civic engagement.”
18 January 2026
Franklin Woman Pleads Guilty to Aiding in the Preparation of False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 16, 2026, Jahnell Easly, 29, of Franklin, Wisconsin, pled guilty to one count of Aiding in the Preparation of False Tax returns, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2).
According to the plea agreement filed in court, Easly worked as a tax preparer who prepared and filed federal tax returns for clients for a fee. For the 2020, 2021, and 2022 tax years, Easly electronically filed approximately 424 federal tax returns with the IRS. Of those, approximately 386 contained indicators and evidence of fraud. Most of the 1040 tax returns filed by Easly on behalf of her clients reported materially false income related to business income and losses, household employee wages, and/or ordinary dividends. They also reported a variety of materially false refundable credits and other payments including sick and family leave credits, child and dependent care credits, fuel tax credits, IRC Section 1341 credits, and/or false income tax withholdings. As a result of Easly’s material misrepresentations, her clients received larger refunds to which they were not entitled, which increased Easly’s commission well beyond what she was entitled to receive. Throughout the course of her scheme, Easly intended a loss to the IRS of approximately $3,499,253, and caused an actual tax loss, based on fraudulent refunds paid, of $1,397,947. As a result of her fraudulent conduct, Easly also obtained approximately $253,712.89 in fees and commissions to which she was not entitled.
Easly faces up to 3 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. She will be sentenced before federal Chief District Court Judge Pamela Pepper on May 21, 2026.
This case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter J. Smyczek.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Bayside Man Charged with Cyberstalking and Transmitting Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 16, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Bradley S. Rose, 41, of Bayside, Wisconsin, with two counts of cyberstalking in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2261A, and one count of transmitting interstate threats, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c). Rose appeared in court today for his initial appearance and arraignment.
According to the indictment, Rose used an electronic communication service and system of interstate commerce to engage in a course of conduct that placed two victims in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury, and caused, and attempted to cause, substantial emotional distress to the victims. The indictment also alleges that Rose transmitted in interstate commerce a series of Apple iMessages containing a threat to injure one of the same victims.
If convicted, Rose faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Milwaukee Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter J. Smyczek.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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16 January 2026
Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty today in federal court to being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition.
Gilbert Morin, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for April 23, 2026. In September 2025, Morin was indicted by a federal grand jury.
On May 30, 2025, police responded to a report of a man with a firearm outside of a downtown nightclub. Upon not finding the individual at the scene, officers drove a short distance away and observed a man appearing to be concealing an item in his hand. When police attempted to stop the individual, later idented as Morin, he led police on a foot chase through the Worcester Common behind City Hall. Upon being apprehended, Morin was found to have possessed a Taurus pistol, loaded with ammunition. Morin was previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison. Morin was arrested and charged in state court on May 30, 2025 and has remained in custody since.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division; and Paul Saucier, Chief of the Worcester Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Wilkes-Barre Man Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Child Exploitation CrimeRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Roland Bennett Rhodes, III, age 55, a resident of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley, for receipt of child pornography.
According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on October 24, 2024, FBI agents served a federal search warrant at Rhodes’ residence in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Pursuant to the warrant, agents seized and later analyzed nineteen electronic devices, which included laptops, hard drives, thumb drives, and a cellular telephone. The forensic analysis uncovered approximately 554 images and 192 videos of child pornography on Rhodes’ devices and showed that he received images of child pornography on multiple occasions in 2024.
FBI – Philadelphia Division, Scranton conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson 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.
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West Yarmouth Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Funds from Labor UnionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Barnstable County employee pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to embezzling from a labor union.
Kenneth Mattoon, 67, of West Yarmouth, pleaded guilty to embezzlement of labor union assets. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for April 15, 2026.
Between May 2020 and May 2025, Mattoon embezzled funds from the Barnstable Massachusetts Department of Public Works Employees Local Number 3003 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO. Mattoon was an officer of the labor union at the time.
The charge of embezzlement from a labor union provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Chief Jean Challis, Barnstable Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
Virginia Beach man sentenced to 45 years in prison for auto loan scheme and identity theftRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 45 years in prison for defrauding and exploiting numerous victims including romantic partners, credit unions, auto dealers, and even strangers.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Dion Lamont Camp, 41, conned numerous women into romantic relationships and leveraged those relationships to obtain fraudulent loans and credit cards. He typically sought out women with good jobs and high credit scores, particularly enlisted U.S. Navy servicemembers. Camp caused six fraudulent loans to be issued from a national credit union in 2020 through 2022 for luxury cars that were never purchased or for which financing was obtained both from a credit union and the car dealership for the same car.
Evidence presented at trial and sentencing showed that his scheme to defraud involved coercing women through repeated sexual, physical, and mental abuse. He used the proceeds of the scheme to buy luxury goods, even though he was over $100,000 in default for child support judgments for his 22 children. His proceeds from the scheme exceeded $1.7 million.
On March 21, 2025, a federal jury convicted Camp on 19 charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and false representation of a social security number.
“Dion Camp’s fraudulent scheme inflicted lasting harm on victims who entrusted him with their financial futures,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Victims of identity theft often spend years rebuilding their credit and restoring their financial stability. This sentence demonstrates the seriousness of these crimes and sends a clear message that financial exploitation carries substantial and lasting consequences.”
"Dion Camp preyed on women who were seeking connection and companionship, exploiting their trust to steal their identities and cause lasting financial and emotional harm,” said Dominique Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Norfolk Field Office. “The victims in this case were manipulated through false relationships and left to rebuild their lives after being deceived. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of these crimes and affirms that those who abuse trust for personal gain will be held accountable. The FBI remains committed to standing with victims and aggressively pursuing those who commit romance scams and identity fraud.”
Camp obtained an American Express card using a victim’s personal identifying information without her knowledge. He also obtained supplemental American Express cards from the accounts of other victims using the Social Security number of an individual who had never met or had any relationship with Camp.
Camp applied for a property rental in Virginia Beach using a false Social Security number, a fake credit report with a highly inflated credit score, and a false IRS business tax filing that showed that his alleged house flipping business, Camp Investments LLC, made hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Gantt prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-63.
United States Attorney Heekin Praises 2025 AccomplishmentsRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE – United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced today a summary of significant accomplishments made by the Northern District of Florida in 2025. Highlighting the impact of his office’s work, U.S. Attorney Heekin emphasized his continued commitment to advance the priorities of the Department of Justice and protect our communities.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This past year was momentous for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida as we capably answered the calls to action by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi while fulfilling the vital mission of the Department of Justice. Through our work, we have demonstrated our unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the safety and wellbeing of our communities. Of course, we could not have succeeded without the close and lasting partnerships we have with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, which we will further strengthen in 2026 as we strive toward delivering safe streets for our residents.”
The federal case work performed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office is divided across three divisions: Criminal, Civil, and Appellate. More information about the Northern District of Florida’s varied responsibilities can found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/usao-ndfl/what-we-do.
The Criminal Division answered the call to action by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi through Operation Take Back America, which marshaled 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, human and drug trafficking. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida made significant strides to deliver justice for our communities poisoned by illegal drugs and plagued by criminal violence, including the following in calendar year 2025:
- 391 criminal defendants charged;
- 293 guilty pleas entered;
- 35 criminal jury trials conducted;
- 984 direct contacts with crime victims, and 9,818 written notifications issued to victims of crime.
The Civil Division represents the interests of the United States in civil litigation, defending federal agencies and workers sued in their official capacity and pursuing affirmative lawsuits to recover monies improperly or fraudulently taken from the federal government. The Division’s Financial Litigation Program also works to enforce criminal and civil monetary judgments and recover restitution owed to ensure criminal defendants do not profit from their crimes. Notable work performed by the Civil Division in 2025 included:
- Zealous representation of federal partners in the 53 newly filed defensive matters;
- Recovery of $1.7 million lost to false claims submitted to the U.S. Government through three settlements of Affirmative Civil Enforcement matters;
- $6.4 million in criminal money judgments collected;
- Nearly $4 million applied toward victim restitution through asset forfeiture restoration;
- More than $1 million distributed to state and local law enforcement partners through the Equitable Sharing Program.
The Appellate Division represents the interests of the United States in appeals filed in criminal cases to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2025, the Appellate Division’s notable accomplishments included:
- 105 appeals filed, which included 93 criminal appeals and 12 civil appeals;
- 113 responses to post-conviction motions filed;
- 80 affirmances of District Court decisions in favor of the Government.
“The substantial accomplishments of 2025 are merely the foundation upon which we will build even greater achievements in 2026,” added U.S. Attorney Heekin. “President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have set forth ambitious expectations for the United States Attorneys’ Offices nationwide to deliver safe streets for our residents and rein in fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. The Northern District of Florida is prepared to meet the urgency of the moment. In 2026, we will remain tireless in our pursuit of justice on behalf of our citizens and committed to making the Northern District of Florida the absolute best – and safest – place in America to live, work, and raise a family.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 88 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 88 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week:
- On January 9, Alonso Marquez-Arreola, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged with Attempted Entry after Deportation. According to a complaint, the defendant presented false documents to officers at the San Ysidro Port of Entry pedestrian lanes. He was most recently removed from the United States on November 11, 2025 through Atlanta, Georgia.
- On January 11, Juan Vizcarra, a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm. According to a complaint, when Vizcarra applied for entry to the United States at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, Customs and Border Protection officers observed that he exhibited slurred speech and droopy eyes with an open beer bottle and a bottle of Fireball inside the vehicle. He was referred to secondary inspection. Officers then found a 9mm Beretta semi-automatic firearm with a Beretta magazine and three 9mm rounds in the center console of his vehicle. Vizcarra has several felony convictions, including burglary, vehicle theft and first-degree robbery.
- On January 11, Erick Alexander Becerra-Rocha, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., was arrested and charged with Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found two undocumented Mexican immigrants in the trunk of the defendant’s car as he attempted to enter the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
- On January 12, Ernesto Carrillo Jr., a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found 60 packages containing 61 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in the gas tank of the defendant’s vehicle.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
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.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $9,093,573.60 in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
GREENSBORO, NC – United States Attorney Dan Bishop announced today that the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC) collected $9,093,573.60 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $5,692,558.56 was collected in criminal actions and $3,401,015.04 was collected in civil actions.
The MDNC also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $1,846,408.74 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $3,107.92 was collected in criminal actions and $1,843,300.82 was collected in civil actions.
In a noteworthy case, the MDNC recovered a total of $1,023,234.24 from Indra Lee Johnson in FY 2025. On April 23, 2025, Johnson was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Willful Failure to Collect or Pay over Tax in the case of USA v. Johnson, 1:25CR25-1. Johnson was ordered to pay a special assessment of $100.00, restitution of $1,344,925.41, and a fine of $45,000.00. To date, a total of $1,354,876.00 has been collected in the case.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the MDNC, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $3,258,817 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund and Department of Treasury Seized Assets Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
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U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes ReportRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.
In the one-week period ending January 16, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:
- 60 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
- 6 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
- 58 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
- 18 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.
Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for sexual assault, drug trafficking, and prior immigration offenses.
In one significant case, Denis Houston Puente-Rios was charged this week with illegally re-entering the United States and assaulting a female border patrol agent who attempted to arrest him. While the agent was trying to handcuff Defendant, he wrestled with her until they fell to the ground where Defendant pinned her arms to the ground. The agent eventually broke free and struck Defendant with a rock. Defendant has criminal history for a domestic disturbance.
Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border security. During Fiscal Year 2025, 88 El Paso Sector Border Patrol Agents were assaulted, down from 103 assaults in Fiscal Year 2024. U.S. Border Patrol is collaborating closely with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office to ensure that those who assault federal officers are brought to justice. This interagency cooperation is crucial in protecting the men and women who serve on the frontlines of our nation's border security efforts and in deterring future attacks on law enforcement personnel.
These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller Commends the Confirmation and Swearing-In of Former Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook as District Court Judge for the Western District of LouisianaRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE– Alexander C. Van Hook has been confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Western District of Louisiana. This confirmation comes after a long and impactful tenure as a prosecutor and supervisor in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana. After being sworn in by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter, Mr. Van Hook began his service on the bench on January 13, 2026.
“Alec’s impact on the Office as a manager was profound and lasting, but people will remember him most as a prosecutor’s prosecutor and a lawyer’s lawyer—as someone who exemplifies the qualities that our society demands of its leaders in the criminal justice system,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “I have no doubt that Alec will carry his deep experience and the wisdom he’s gained into this new role in public service, continuing the work of achieving justice for our Louisiana community.”
Mr. Van Hook served in a variety of leadership positions in his 26+ years at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Those roles including his leading the office as Acting U.S. Attorney during three separate timespans: from March 2017 to April 2018, from August 2020 to December 2021, and finally from January 2025 through September 2025. Mr. Van Hook also served as the Office’s Deputy Criminal Chief, First Assistant United States Attorney, and Special Counsel to the United States Attorney, as well as a line prosecutor who prosecuted and tried cases for many years.
Mr. Van Hook graduated from Centenary College of Louisiana in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and from Louisiana State University Law School in 1997. After law school, Mr. Van Hook served as a law clerk for United States District Court Judge Tom Stagg in the Western District of Louisiana and then for Judge Henry A. Politz in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals before joining the Office in 1999.
Van Hook, 55, was nominated by President Trump on October 21, 2025, and the United States Senate confirmed his nomination on January 8, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
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CONTACT:
Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Tennessee Man Pleads in Hacking U.S. Supreme Court, AmeriCorps, and VA Health SystemRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Nicholas Moore, 24, of Springfield, Tennessee, pleaded guilty this morning in U.S. District Court in connection with hacking the electronic filing system of the U.S. Supreme Court at least 25 times and additionally hacking accounts at AmeriCorps and the Veterans Administration Health System, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Moore pleaded guilty to a one count information charging him with fraud activity in connection with computers, a Class A misdemeanor. Moore is eligible for up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 when he is sentenced by Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 17.
According to court documents, the electronic filing system was restricted to authorized users. Between Aug. 29, 2023, and Oct. 22, 2023, Moore accessed the filing system without authorization using the stolen credential of an authorized user over 25 days, sometimes returning to the site multiple times on the same day.
On three occasions, Moore posted screenshots to his Instagram account, @ihackedthegovernment, of his victim’s Supreme Court filing system details including the victim’s name and other information.
Moore also used the stolen credentials of an authorized user of MyAmeriCorps to access a second victim’s AmeriCorps account. Between Aug. 17, 2023, and Oct. 13, 2023, Moore obtained the second victim’s personal information from the AmeriCorps servers. On Oct. 17, 2023, Moore posted that victim’s personal information to the @ihackedthegovernment Instagram account.
Additionally, Moore used the stolen login credentials of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran to access the Department of Veterans Affairs “MyHealthEVet” platform on five days between Sept. 14, 2023, and Oct. 14, 2023. The hack allowed Moore to access the veteran’s private health information including prescribed medications and other intimate data. Moore then posted the veterans' health information to @ihackedthegovernment and boasted about gaining access to the VA’s servers.
This case was investigated by the Supreme Court of the United States Police - Protective Intelligence Unit and the FBI Washington Field Office with assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Borchert and Rami Sibay for the District of Columbia.
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Taos Pueblo Man Sentenced for Killing Indigenous Artist DeAnna Autumn Leaf SuazoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Taos Pueblo man was sentenced in federal court to 10 years in federal prison for the November 2021 killing of his longtime girlfriend, DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo, a Taos Pueblo woman, during a domestic-violence incident.
DeAnna’s pictures, paintings, and her book, as displayed in Court.There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, in the early morning hours of November 13, 2021, Santiago Martinez, 33, killed Suazo during an argument outside their shared home on the Taos Pueblo. The couple had been listening to music when DeAnna again expressed her long-stated desire to end their romantic relationship, which she had often done before.
The argument escalated into a physical altercation during which Martinez ripped DeAnna’s gauge earring from her ear and pushed DeAnna out of her car. Rather than disengage, Martinez entered the driver’s seat of DeAnna’s SUV, put her car in gear, and intentionally ran DeAnna over. Martinez then called his family, rather than alerting police, which diminished any chance that DeAnna could have survived. DeAnna died from mechanical asphyxia and blunt trauma caused by being run over.
Martinez later acknowledged that although he had consumed alcohol, he knew what he was doing and knew it was wrong.
DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo was a Diné and Taos Pueblo artist whose work celebrated Indigenous identity, strength, and resilience. Her paintings were exhibited nationwide, including at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. In 2022, the Institute of American Indian Arts established the DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo Memorial Fund to support Indigenous women artists, honoring her life, talent, and lasting impact.
David Gery Suazo David Gery SuazoOn March 28, 2025, Martinez pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Upon his release from prison, Martinez will be subject to three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary C. Jones and Nora Wilson prosecuted the case.
Southern District of Texas continues its relentless pursuit of border security, charging 319 people with new casesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 318 additional cases have been filed in immigration and border-related matters from Jan. 9-15, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Of those charged, 113 people face illegal entry charges, while another 180 face charges of felony reentry after removal. Many of those charged have prior felony convictions involving narcotics, violent crimes and immigration offenses. An additional 24 people are accused of engaging in human smuggling, while the remaining two face charges related to other immigration crimes.
Among those charged this week are Mexican nationals Carlos Ricardo Lucio-Lucio and Fernando Soto-Guerrero. Criminal complaints allege both men attempted to unlawfully reenter the United States within six months of their most recent removals. The complaints detail that Lucio-Lucio and Soto-Guerrero were previously removed Aug. 1, 2025, and Dec. 29, 2025, respectively. Both allegedly have prior felony convictions for transporting and harboring of illegal aliens. According to court documents, law enforcement discovered both aliens within the United States without any legal authorization.
Another illegal alien facing charges this week is Mexican national Maclovio Esparza-Salas, whom law enforcement allegedly discovered unlawfully in the United States near Roma. According to court documents, he was previously removed Oct. 11, 2024, and has a prior conviction for possession of a weapon.
If convicted of felony illegal reentry after removal as charged, all three face up to 20 years in prison.
In addition to the newly filed cases, Honduran national Jose Castro Orellana received a 54-month federal prison sentence for illegally reentering the United States without authorization. He has prior convictions for domestic violence, evading arrest and illegal reentry. He was first removed in 2012 and illegally returned twice.
Two Mexican nationals in Brownsville and Corpus Christi also received prison sentences for illegal reentry after removal. Gabriel Rodriguez-Martinez received a 60-month federal prison sentence, while Jose de Jesus Galicia-Castillo received 41 months. Both have prior felony convictions for illegal reentry.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
South Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Wire Fraud Conspiracy that Defrauded Victim of Nearly $500,000Read the Press Release
BOSTON – A South Boston man pleaded guilty in federal court in Springfield to participating in a scheme that defrauded a 75-year-old man from Berkshire County, Mass. of approximately $500,000.
Urvishkumar Vipulkumar Patel, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Feb. 13, 2026. Patel was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Oct. 7, 2024 and indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.
In early 2024, an elderly Berkshire County resident received a pop-up message on his computer claiming that his computer was frozen and directing him to call the number provided on the computer screen, purportedly associated with Microsoft. The victim’s call was routed to an individual who identified himself as a federal law enforcement officer with the U.S. Treasury Department and referred to himself “Sam Wilson.” Wilson told the victim that he was involved in a money laundering scheme and instructed the victim to take out the cash from his bank accounts and send the money to the Treasury Department for safekeeping. Wilson directed the victim to place the cash in a taped box with the victim’s own name and address written on it. Wilson then sent couriers to the victim’s home to collect the boxes of cash. Prior to each collection, Wilson had the victim describe the clothes he would be wearing and provided the victim with a “PIN” passcode the couriers were to recite upon pickup.
On or about Oct. 7, 2024, Patel drove from South Boston to North Adams, Mass., for the purpose of retrieving cash from the victim. On that date, Patel spoke with an individual he believed to be the victim and provided the prearranged passcode, before taking possession of the box of cash and driving away. Patel was immediately apprehended.
The investigation remains ongoing. Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including elder fraud scams, cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams and business email compromise fraud scams – should contact [email protected]. To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 (833–372–8311) Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm EST.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the North Adams Police Department and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin Brown and Dan Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 57 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On January 16, 2026, Verrhontez L. Williams, 40 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Williams was sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $168,744.00 in restitution to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
According to documents in the case, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer of 2020, Williams used other people’s personal identifying information to apply for Indiana unemployment benefits and benefits provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The cash benefits were deposited onto pre-paid debit cards that were mailed to Williams’s house in South Bend. Williams used the debit cards to withdraw cash at banks throughout the city. During the course of Williams’s scheme, at least 23 people’s names were used to apply for benefits totaling $168,744.00.
This case was investigated by the Department of Labor OIG, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerome W. McKeever.
Six Sentenced in Sweeping Multi Million Dollar Cargo HeistRead the Press Release
NEW ALBANY- Juan Perez-Gonzalez (“Perez”), 51, a Cuban national living in Florida, has been sentenced to 13.5 years in federal prison following his conviction for participating in a massive, multi-state cargo theft conspiracy.
The remaining five defendants pled guilty to their respective charges. A summary of the charges, sentence, and restitution with respect to each defendant is outlined below:
DEFENDANTSENTENCERESTITUTIONCHARGE(S)Juan D. Perez-Gonzalez, 51, FL13.5 years$1,165,193.00Conspiracy; possession of goods stolen from interstate commerce; interstate transportation of stolen propertyCarlos Enrique Freire-Pifferrer, 46,
Louisville, KY
7 years, 11 months$1,765,193.00Conspiracy; two counts of interstate transportation of stolen propertyJose Antonio Gomez-Pifferrer, 33,
Louisville, KY
3 years, 1 month$1,765,193.00Conspiracy; two counts of interstate transportation of stolen propertyRichard Alameda, 47,
FL
2 years, 10 months$789,284.00ConspiracyLuis Velazquez, 58, Jacksonville, FL2 years, 9 months$1,329,674.00Conspiracy; interstate transportation of stolen propertyDalwy De Armas-Rodriguez, 38,
Louisville, KY
Time served ConspiracyAccording to court documents, between November 2021 and May 2023, Perez-Gonzalez and his co-conspirators conspired to steal tractor-trailers containing commercially available, high-end electronics and other items, which they later resold at a discount for profit.
The co-conspirators traveled from Florida and Kentucky to distribution facilities used by national companies such as Meta, Microsoft, and L Brands located in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. The group then surveilled these facilities and followed semi-tractor trailers as they departed. When a driver stopped to rest, refuel, or park, the conspirators stole the entire tractor-trailer.
In many instances, the group abandoned the stolen tractor nearby and reattached the trailer to a different semi-tractor they operated. To evade law enforcement, they painted over logos and identifying numbers and used different license plates on the solen trailers.
The group then transported the stolen cargo to Miami, Florida, where it was sold to buyers, including co-defendant Richard Alameda, for a fraction of its retail value. The group carried out at least 14 separate cargo thefts, resulting in the theft of over $2 million in Oculus virtual reality headsets from a Meta facility, $940,000 in Microsoft products, $1 million in Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret merchandise, $669,000 in Harmon-JBL audio products, $180,000 in Logitech products, and $480,000 worth of Bose audio speakers, among other stolen items.
“These thefts had real consequences for consumers and businesses, increasing costs and disrupting the flow of goods across the country. What this group attempted was a sweeping attack on the backbone of U.S. commerce, but it was ultimately dismantled through the unified work of federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Federal law enforcement has a far reach and unwavering resolve, and this case makes it clear that anyone who threatens the nation’s supply chain will be tracked down and held accountable.”
“This was a coordinated, multi-million-dollar criminal operation - not an opportunistic theft. Cargo theft schemes like this drive-up costs for businesses and consumers alike,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The sentences imposed reflect the seriousness of the crime and demonstrate that those who target supply chains for personal gain will face significant consequences.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation was assisted in this investigation by several state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Kentucky State Police, Indiana State Police, and the Florida Highway Patrol. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Rinka and Matthew Barloh, who prosecuted this case.
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Sioux City Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Andrew Gross, 42, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced on January 16, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City. Gross pled guilty September 11, 2025, to possession of child pornography.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Sioux City Police received a report from the parents of a 15-year-old that Gross was having conversations with their child that were sexual in nature. Further investigation revealed that Gross and the minor victim discussed sexually explicit messages which also contained photographs of the minor victim. Evidence also showed that Gross received child pornography from April 1–May 14, 2024, and that Gross possessed thousands of other images and videos of child pornography on his cell phone. In 2021, Gross had been convicted of offenses relating to aggravated sexual abuse involving a minor in Minnesota.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Gross to 120 months’ imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Gross must also pay $3,000 in restitution to the victims of his crimes and an additional $1,100 in fines and assessments. Gross remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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.”
The case was investigated by Sioux City and South Sioux City Police Departments and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information is at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 25-4021. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Daniel Kaler, 38, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced today to 64 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty on September 8, 2025, to possessing child pornography.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from November 2023 to October 2024, Kaler received and possessed over 7,000 images and videos of child pornography. The images and videos involved material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct, as well as prepubescent children, infants, and toddlers. A CyberTip from Verizon’s cloud storage company to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children connected downloads of child pornography to Kaler’s account. Law enforcement officers searched Kaler’s electronic devices pursuant to a search warrant. Analysis of Kaler’s devices showed he utilized third-party web browsers called “Brave” and “Yandex” to search for and download child pornography.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Kaler was sentenced to 64 months’ imprisonment, and he must serve a term of five-years of supervised release following imprisonment. He was ordered to pay $6,600 in fines and restitution. Kaler remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.”
The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-4016. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Sacramento Drug Dealer Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Michael William Hutchison III, 24, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena M. Coggins to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between Jan. 26, 2023, and May 10, 2024, Hutchison was a leader and organizer of violent drug traffickers who distributed massive amounts of lethal drugs in the Sacramento region. Hutchison’s specific role involved orchestrating the transport of large drug loads while he himself was active in selling drugs in Sacramento.
During the investigation, undercover operatives conducted nine controlled buys directly from Hutchison and seized hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from the drug trafficking organization. Hutchison’s role in these serious offenses was aggravated by his status as an influential figure in a violent Sacramento street gang. Hutchison pleaded guilty on Aug. 13, 2025.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sacramento Police Department, the Yuba County Sheriff’s Department, and the California Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt 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.
Rensselaer County Man Sentenced for Money Order FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Matthew Dundas, age 26, of Petersburgh, New York, was sentenced to two years of probation with 80 hours of community service and a $4,000 fine on January 14, 2026, for money order fraud. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Matthew M. Modafferi, the Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Area Field Office of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (“USPS-OIG”) made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea, Dundas admitted that, while he was employed with the United States Postal Service, between January 2023 and September 2024, he fraudulently issued 105 money orders to himself without paying for them and stole $76,976.61 from the United States. Dundas repaid the money he stole prior to pleading guilty.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Government employees stealing from taxpayer dollars is an egregious betrayal of the public trust and will be met with swift and decisive action. Our Office will continue to root out any self-dealing and fraud in the government. We thank the Postal Service, Office of Inspector General for its continued efforts to root out fraud from within.”
Special Agent in Charge Matthew M. Modafferi stated, “The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is dedicated to protecting the U.S Mail and the U.S. Postal Service. When a Postal Service employee decides to break the public’s trust and participates in criminal acts, USPS OIG Special Agents will work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice. The sentence imposed on the defendant will serve as a clear reminder to Postal Service employees of the consequences when they utilize their position to commit crimes. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of New York for their dedication and efforts in this investigation.”
The USPS-OIG investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping prosecuted it.
Rapid City Woman Who Discharged Firearm at Local Grocery Store Sentenced to over Six Years in Federal Prison on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a woman from Rapid City, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on January 12, 2026.
Talisse Fighting Bear, 34, was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The federal sentence was ordered to run concurrent to a state sentence Fighting Bear is currently serving.
Fighting Bear was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in May 2025. She pleaded guilty on October 8, 2026.
At a grocery store in Rapid City, South Dakota, Fighting Bear pointed a handgun at several people. Before arriving to the grocery store, Fighting Bear had fired one round into the air. While inside, she held a store clerk at gunpoint and directed her to move. Fighting Bear then pointed the gun at two other people. Fighting Bear had been previously convicted of a felony and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Fighting Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a man from Rapid City, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on January 12, 2026.
Raymond Winters, 36, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Winters was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025.
On January 22, 2025, in Rapid City, South Dakota, Winters quickly fled the vehicle he was driving and threw a firearm onto the ground after he noticed law enforcement’s presence. Winters was carrying ammunition and a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Evidence showed that shortly before his encounter with law enforcement, Winters had pointed the firearm at his domestic partner several times. Winters had been previously convicted of a felony. As a result, he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Winters was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Acquitted on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a man from Rapid City, South Dakota, was acquitted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm following a federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, on January 14, 2026.
Christian Kelly, age 32, was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025.
The charges related to an incident in Rapid City, South Dakota, during which Kelly was alleged to have been seen waving around an illegally modified rifle and hiding it under a vehicle once law enforcement arrived.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and the Rapid City Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.
Port Huron Resident Pleads Guilty to Stealing $900,000 from His EmployerRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Peter Paulus, 51, of Port Huron, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, between November 2020 and August 2023, Paulus worked as a sales manager at Countertops Direct in Harrison Township, Michigan. During this time, Paulus devised a scheme to divert customer credit card payments from Countertops Direct to bank accounts that he controlled. To cover up the scheme, he falsified transaction display information and receipts, making it appear that the money that he appropriated was in fact remitted to Countertops Direct. Paulus embezzled approximately $900,000 from his employer.
"Peter Paulus’s guilty plea reaffirms that financial crimes carried out through deception come with consequences,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Our team from the FBI Macomb County Resident Agency continues to do outstanding work, alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with the goal of protecting public trust and ensuring financial crimes are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.”
Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2026. A conviction for wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alyse Wu and Philip A. Ross.
Perry Man Indicted for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Robert Shane Willis, 47, of Perry, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Willis appeared in federal court for his 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.
Willis faces 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life, if convicted as charged.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Perry Police Department, and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Pensacola Man Indicted in Federal Court for Interstate Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking and Money Laundering OffensesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Christopher J. Watson, 43, of Pensacola, Florida, was indicted in federal court for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and over 500 grams of cocaine; conspiracy to utilize a telephone communication facility to carry out a drug trafficking crime; conspiracy to commit money laundering; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and attempting to prevent the seizure of drug trafficking evidence by lawful authorities. The indictment was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Watson appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho, in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for March 2, 2026, at 8:00 am, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rogers.
Watson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years up to life imprisonment if convicted. The indictment reveals that Watson has previously spent time in federal prison for similar offenses.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton.
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.
Oregon Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Sell Cocaine Purchased from the Dark WebRead the Press Release
MEDFORD, Ore.—An Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for attempting to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine purchased from the dark web.
Dominick Jeffrey Aragon, 32, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, in February 2025, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) task force intercepted a parcel addressed to Aragon’s residence containing approximately one ounce of cocaine. In March 2025, they intercepted a second parcel destined for Aragon at the same address that contained two ounces of cocaine.
The investigation continued into April 2025, when USPIS and RADE seized two additional parcels addressed to Aragon at an acquaintance’s residence that contained controlled substances.
At the time of these offenses, Aragon was on federal supervised release after completing a 15-month federal prison sentence for distributing cocaine.
On September 29, 2025, Aragon pleaded guilty to attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
This case was investigated by USPIS and RADE. It was prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and Olivia Mendez, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
RADE is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. RADE includes members from Oregon State Police, the Grants Pass Police Department, Josephine County Probation & Parole, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.
Oregon Man Indicted for Cyberstalking and Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Oregon man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly cyberstalking and making interstate threats against a Massachusetts state prosecutor. According to court records, defendant has history of making death threats.
Lewis Floyd, 40, was indicted for cyberstalking and threatening interstate communications. Floyd will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. Floyd was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in December 2025.
According to court documents, Floyd has been convicted in state court multiple times of making death threats, including most recently in Bristol County Superior Court for allegedly making repeated threats to kill and maim personnel at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Bristol County, Massachusetts. After his release from state prison, it is alleged that Floyd continued to make death threats against a Massachusetts state prosecutor and their family.
The charge of cyberstalking as a repeat offender provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Fall River Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric L. Hawkins of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Okmulgee Resident Pleads Guilty to Assault with A Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Isaac James Looney, age 22, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on December 16, 2024, Looney assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon intending to do bodily harm.
The crime occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okmulgee Police Department, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Looney will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
North Carolina Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice 11-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Geoffrey Lee Dudding (40, Concord, NC) was sentenced by United States District Judge Wendy W. Berger to 50 years in federal prison for using his cellphone and the internet to attempt to entice an 11-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. He was also ordered to serve a lifetime term of supervised release. Dudding pleaded guilty on October 28, 2025. Dudding is a registered child sex offender who was previously convicted in North Carolina of indecent liberty with a minor in 2007 and solicitation of a child by computer to commit an unlawful sex act in 2024. He was also convicted of criminal solicitation of a minor in South Carolina in 2023. On May 8, 2025, Dudding was arrested in North Carolina and was later transported to Jacksonville for prosecution.
According to court documents, on January 13, 2025, an FBI agent (UC) in Jacksonville was conducting an undercover operation to identify individuals seeking to make online contact with and engage in sexual activity with children. Posing as the parent of an 11-year-old child, UC posted several short messages in a public chat room on an online social messaging platform (app). An individual using the app name “metalh34d321,” who was subsequently identified as Dudding, contacted UC by private text message on the app and expressed sexual interest in UC’s “daughter.” Dudding told UC, “Let me know if ya ever down to let me do her.” Despite being advised that the “child” was 11 years old and lived in Florida, Dudding stated that he wanted to meet the “child” and “[h]ave a good time and sex.” Dudding described the sexual acts that he wanted to perform on the “child” and sent UC a video of himself performing a sex act to show to the “child.”
Dudding and UC also communicated by cellphone text messaging. They discussed plans for Dudding to travel to Jacksonville so that he could engage in sexual activity with the “child.” Dudding told UC that he intended to book a hotel room in Jacksonville for the sexual encounter with the “child.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cabarrus County (NC) Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
New York Man Charged with Robbery Spree That Targeted Six Manhattan BanksRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Vanessa Tibbits, announced an Indictment charging CORNELL NEILLY in connection with a pattern of bank robberies and attempted bank robberies of six Manhattan banks between August and October of 2025. NEILLY is currently in federal custody on allegations that he violated the conditions of supervised release imposed in a prior federal case and is expected to be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.
"As alleged, Cornell Neilly robbed or attempted to rob six banks in multiple neighborhoods across Manhattan,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Hardworking New Yorkers, including the tellers and customers at these six banks, deserve to go to work without worrying that they will become victim to this type of brazen conduct. And New York families should not have to fear for their safety on New York streets. The women and men of this Office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe.”
“Cornell Neilly is charged with attempting to rob six banks across Manhattan by demanding cash from their tellers,” said FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Vanessa Tibbits. “This alleged spree is a bank employee’s worst nightmare. Preying on fear to satiate one’s own greed will not be tolerated. Along with our law enforcement partners, the FBI remains steadfast in disrupting any serial criminal targeting our city’s financial institutions.”
As alleged in the Indictment and in public statements made in public court proceedings:[1]
Between August and October of 2025, NEILLY robbed or attempted to rob six banks across Manhattan, including in Chelsea, the West Village, and just north of Madison Square Park. At each bank, NEILLY handed a teller a note demanding specific amounts of United States currency. NEILLY took thousands of dollars from three banks whose tellers complied with his demands.
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NEILLY, 34, of New York, New York, is charged with three counts of bank robbery and three counts of attempted bank robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the New York City Police Department.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations & Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon D. Harper is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Plaistow, New Hampshire, man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on March 21, 2025, Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call at a residence in South Thomaston. Deputies encountered Dennis Duquette, 46, outside the home with a 9mm pistol in his hand. Duquette dropped the pistol after being ordered to do so by police and was subsequently taken into custody. Duquette is prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of prior felony convictions.
Duquette faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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New Gloucester Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a HandgunRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New Gloucester man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, officers with the Scarborough Police Department responded to a tip that Shawn Small, 29, was attempting to sell a pistol to another individual. Officers then located Small at a business in Scarborough. They approached and attempted to detain him. He physically resisted. During the ensuing struggle, a pack was removed from his person. Inside that pack, officers located a Smith & Wesson pistol with a loaded magazine. Small was a convicted felon at the time and on probation for a state robbery conviction.
Small faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, with the assistance of the Scarborough Police Department.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Nebraska man behind “Building Barndominiums” scheme sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Nebraska contractor was sentenced to 87 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $700,000 in restitution to victims after accepting money from customers for construction projects across multiple states then failing to do the work.
According to court documents, Bobby Bates Sr., 43, of Grand Island, Nebraska, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
From February 2023 to October 2023, Bates, as the owner of Built Rite Construction, used a social media group called “Building Barndominiums” to solicit clients for construction projects. Bates required customers to provide initial deposits of up to 50 percent of the estimated overall construction cost. He instructed customers to pay via wire or checks into his bank accounts. After collecting funds, Bates either failed to complete construction or never began construction. As victims contacted him, he gave false excuses and promises or did not respond to messages about uncompleted projects.
Bank records show Bates used payments from customers for personal expenditures instead of for the respective construction projects. A federal judge ordered Bates to pay restitution of $703,016 to more than ten victims located in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Alabama, Illinois, and South Dakota.
“Anyone who has done a construction project understands that there is a level trust required with a contractor, particularly when there are upfront payments. Fraud like this damages an entire industry because consumers fear being swindled by con artists like Bobby Bates,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Here, the victims handed over their hard-earned money to someone they thought they could trust. We hope victims take solace in that Mr. Bates is not only going to prison but also ordered to pay back every dime he stole from them. The Financial Litigation Program with my office is standing by to do everything possible to make good on this court ordered restitution amount.”
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask prosecuted the case.
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Mexican National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Mexican national unlawfully residing in the United States was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for felon in possession of a firearm after absconding from supervision for sixteen months.
Alfredo Terrero-Ortega, 28, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on January 31, 2023, despite an ICE detainer, Oregon public officials released Terrero-Ortega from the Oregon Department of Corrections to post-prison supervision in the community. If the detainer had been honored, Terrero-Ortega would have been deported to Mexico upon his release.
In June 2023 in Oregon, within five months of his release, Terrero-Ortega threatened to kill a woman and shoved her to the ground while she was holding her baby. He also strangled her. She reported the incident, and he absconded from his post-prison state supervision. On November 7, 2024, the U.S. Marshals found and arrested Terrero-Ortega in Portland. When arrested, Terrero-Ortega, had a black satchel containing a loaded 9mm pistol, methamphetamine, zip lock baggies, a phone, handwritten credit card information, and documents linked to Terrero-Ortega’s girlfriend.
On December 17, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a single-count indictment charging Terrero-Ortega with felon in possession of a firearm.
On October 2, 2025, Terrero-Ortega pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm.
The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah K. Bolstad prosecuted the case.
Mexican National Sentenced for Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Mexican National, Israel Ortiz Velasco, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves to 300 months for a money laundering conspiracy and a conspiracy to import controlled substances into the United States, including 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine.
According to his plea agreement, from approximately June to December 2017, Ortiz agreed with others to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, knowing and intending that those drugs would be unlawfully imported from Mexico into the United States for distribution. During the conspiracies to distribute drugs and to launder money, Ortiz was in Mexico, and his Mexico-based coconspirators supplied the fentanyl and cocaine imported into the Eastern District of Kentucky. Ortiz admitted his role in the distribution of kilograms of powder fentanyl and fentanyl pressed into counterfeit pills, and approximately 25 kilograms of cocaine. Once the drugs were distributed in the Eastern District of Kentucky, the bulk cash proceeds of distribution were collected and transferred to Mexico by wire transfers, structured deposits at financial institutions, and other money laundering methods.
Under federal law, Ortiz must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Ortiz’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.
Paul C. McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Lawrence Weathers, Chief of Police, Lexington Police Department, and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI, ATF, DEA, IRS, and HSI with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
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Mexican Child Rapist Alien Charged with Perjury and Immigration FraudRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – On January 6, Juarez Sanchez-Montiel, 41, a Mexican alien had an initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge. On November 18, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Sanchez with perjury and immigration fraud. The indictment alleges that Sanchez lied about his criminal history on his application to obtain a non-immigrant visa.
“We take protecting our children and borders very seriously.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. We will continue to focus on investigations into this type of alleged behavior to bring justice, safety, and prosperity to North Carolina and The United States.”
According to the indictment and previously issued court documents, Sanchez allegedly knowingly made materially false statements under penalty of perjury on his application to obtain a non-immigrant visa when he submitted it to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) in November of 2021. In response to the questions “Have you EVER committed a crime or offense for which you have not been arrested?” and “Have you EVER ordered, incited, called for, committed, assisted, helped with, or otherwise participated in any of the following:…[e]ngaging in any kind of sexual conduct or relations with any person who was being forced or threatened?” he answered “No.”
On December 11, 2023, in Montgomery County Superior Court, a grand jury returned two indictments against Sanchez. The first charged him with one count of first-degree statutory rape, two counts of statutory rape of a child under the age of 15, and three counts of sex act by a substitute parent or custodian for crimes he allegedly committed against the first victim in May 2016. The second indictment charged him with three counts of statutory sex offenses with a child and three counts of sex act by substitute parent or guardian, for crimes he allegedly committed against the second victim in September 2023. On August 19, 2024, Sanchez was convicted of statutory rape of a child under the age of 15, statutory sex offense with child under the age of 15, and two counts of sex act by substitute parent or custodian. The Superior Court Judge sentenced him to a term of imprisonment of between 216 and 320 months and ordered to register as a sex offender. Sanchez confessed to having committed the offenses in 2016 and 2023. Both victims were under the age of 13 and the crimes resulted in the birth of two children.
Sanchez is charged in a two-count indictment. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. ICE ERO officers are investigating the case as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing initiative designed to aggressively target child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtain immigration benefits. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-00114.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.