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Friday 21 November 2025
Recidivist Offenders Receive Combined 57 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Donta Allen, 28, and Lance McGee, 33, both of Indianapolis, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a string of eleven armed robberies across Marion County.
Allen pleaded guilty to 11 counts of interference with commerce by robbery and four counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. In June, he was sentenced to 38 years in federal prison, followed by three years of restitution, and ordered to pay $12,790.91 in restitution.
McGee pleaded guilty to 11 counts of interference with commerce by robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. He was sentenced to 19.5 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $12,790.91 in restitution.
According to court documents, from March 25 through April 8, 2022, Allen and McGee conspired to rob at least eleven different stores in Indianapolis and Speedway, Indiana. Wearing a ski mask and concealing his tattoos with makeup, Allen entered each store, pointed a firearm at the cashier, and demanded cash. McGee acted as the getaway driver in a Chevy Malibu and received a share of the stolen proceeds.
The firearm used in the robberies—a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol—was stolen by McGee from a client while working for a moving company.
The robberies occurred on the following dates and at these locations:
DateVictim BusinessMarch 25, 2022Disc Replay; 8210 Rockville Road, IndianapolisMarch 25, 2022GameStop; 5816 Crawfordsville Road, SpeedwayMarch 27, 2022GameStop; 3269 West 86th Street, IndianapolisMarch 27, 2022AutoZone; 4606 East County Line Road, IndianapolisApril 2, 2022GameStop; 4525 Lafayette Road, IndianapolisApril 2, 2022AutoZone; 7455 Michigan Road, IndianapolisApril 3, 2022Disc Replay; 9739 East Washington Street, IndianapolisApril 5, 2022Disc Replay; 7317 US 31 South, IndianapolisApril 5, 2022AutoZone; 8525 Southeastern Avenue, IndianapolisApril 5, 2022AutoZone; 6055 East 82nd Street, IndianapolisApril 8, 2022GameStop; 6905 South Emerson Avenue, IndianapolisAt the time of the offenses, both defendants had prior felony convictions that prohibited them from legally possessing firearms. McGee had previously been convicted of felony possession of a narcotic drug and aggravated possession of drugs. Allen had prior convictions for robbery, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
“This case sends a clear message that repeat violent offenders who terrorize our communities will face the full force of federal justice,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Donta Allen and Lance McGee are recidivist criminals who committed a spree of armed robberies, endangering lives across Marion County. Thanks to the exceptional work of the FBI, IMPD, and the Speedway Police Department, they have received lengthy prison sentences and can no longer threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.”
“Our communities deserve to feel safe from violent criminals who think nothing of pointing a gun at innocent people,” said Timothy J. O’Malley, special agent in charge of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “These sentences reflect the strength of our partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement and send a clear message: if you use a firearm to terrorize others, you will face serious consequences.”
The FBI, IMPD, and Speedway Police Department investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela S. Domash, who prosecuted this case.
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Prior Felon Convicted for Kidnapping and Four Counts Related to Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury convicted a Collinsville man of kidnapping and four counts related to domestic abuse and violence.
Jerry Charles Creek, Jr., 55, was convicted of two counts of Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and
Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country; two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country;
and Kidnapping in Indian Country.According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Creek began a relationship with the victim in the summer of 2023. After the victim moved in with Creek, he became jealous, possessive, and abusive. Creek isolated the victim from her family and friends. Evidence presented at trial showed that verbal abuse escalated into physical abuse.
In November 2023, Creek accused the victim of cheating and assaulted her throughout the weekend. The victim testified about being strangled, dragged around the house, and kicked by Creek when he was wearing steel-toed boots. He kept the victim from leaving by taking her keys and making her stay naked. If the victim attempted to get dressed, Creek would get enraged. After two days of abuse, Creek left the trailer briefly, and the victim was able to get dressed and escape. When she sought medical treatment, the victim had fractured ribs, a concussion, and bruises all over her body.
The victim testified that in March 2024, Creek began accusing the victim of cheating and strangled her until she lost consciousness and urinated. After regaining consciousness, Creek continued to abuse the victim. At some point she was able to escape, however once Creek noticed she was gone, he went after her, promising to take her home. Upon getting closer to the victim’s home, she testified that Creek stated he needed to go home to get gas. While at a stoplight, in fear, the victim jumped out of the truck and went to a fire station. There she waited for a family member to pick her up.
During a third incident in April 2024, the victim testified that she was at a bar with a male friend. Creek walked into the bar and told her to get in his truck. Creek was enraged again and drove erratically to the victim’s house. They argued in front of the house and went inside. Creek left the house, and she went to bed. Later that evening, she woke up to smoke in her house because it was on fire. Her cellphone was gone, and she could not break her bedroom window. After being rescued by neighbors, and before being intubated, she told her neighbor, “Jerry did it.” She was intubated and hospitalized for eleven days. She was diagnosed with several injuries that were not present before the fire, including numerous lacerations and bruises, and a fractured L4 vertebra. While in the hospital, the victim wrote a note to a family member stating that Creek tried to kill her.
Court records show that Creek was previously convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon, obstructing an officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and several other felonies.
The Tulsa Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey Todd, George Jiang, and Thomas Buscemi prosecuted the case.
If you are impacted by relationship abuse and need confidential help, you can text “START” to 88788.
Polk County Felon Convicted at Trial for Assaulting Deputy U.S. Marshal with A FirearmRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Myles Andrew Strickland (36, Bartow) guilty of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Strickland faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Strickland was a convicted felon and fugitive wanted on a state arrest warrant out of Polk County. A U.S. Marshals Service task force located Strickland in Lee County. When confronted, Strickland led authorities on a foot chase. During the chase, Strickland turned to face a Deputy U.S. Marshal that had been pursuing him and racked the slide of a firearm he was carrying inside of a jacket, thus preparing the firearm to fire. Strickland was then struck by gunfire from pursuing law enforcement. A spent cartridge casing showed that Strickland had discharged his firearm.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to More than 22 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Commit Violent Armed Home Invasions Targeting Business Owners and Their FamiliesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Shaquan Brown, 31, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cynthia M. Rufe on Thursday to 272 months’ incarceration for conspiracy to commit armed home invasion robberies targeting the businesses and attached residences of their owners, as well as robbery affecting interstate commerce and attempted robbery affecting interstate commerce, using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of robbery, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Brown was charged by indictment with these crimes in August 2020 and convicted at trial on April 16, 2024.
From November 2019 through January 3, 2020, Brown and three co-conspirators conspired to carry out a series of robberies that targeted business owners and another individual that they believed would keep cash in their home. The offenders used zip ties, duct tape, and firearms to commit these crimes. Brown researched his victims and their businesses, using a GPS tracking device to learn where the victims lived. The defendant and his co-conspirators targeted victims they believed kept cash in their homes, including business owners who were Asian and other business owners who dealt in cash.
On the night of December 31, 2019, Brown and two co-conspirators accosted the owner of a nail salon in Delaware County, Pa., as the owner returned to the business. The offenders forced the victim inside, and repeatedly demanded money, placing zip ties on the owner’s wrists, covering his mouth with duct tape, and striking his face with their fists and a gun. The men took cash from the business, then forced the owner to his residence, where they encountered his wife, their children, and their nanny. The men zip-tied the wife and all of their children, then continued to beat and injure the owner, and demand money. They ransacked the residence while making statements such as “we have been watching you for weeks.”
On the morning of January 3, 2020, Brown and another individual attempted to break into a residence in Chester County, Pa. The defendant had planned to commit an armed home invasion robbery of the homeowner, who was a business owner, and his family, to steal the owner’s business proceeds. While attempting to enter the victim’s home, the home security alarm system went off, and the police responded within minutes. The defendant led the police on a foot chase through the woods and into a creek, where he was arrested. The police recovered duct tape, zip ties, and a firearm from the defendant’s backpack.
“What Shaquan Brown and his crew put their victims through was utterly horrifying,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “No one should have to endure a violent ambush in their home or business, be brutally beaten, and see their family traumatized. Today’s sentence ensures that Brown’s home invasion days are over. We will not permit criminals who’d rather take money than make it to terrorize innocent people and whole communities.”
“Shaquan Brown violently terrorized his victims in their business and in the sanctity of their home,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “He is now going to federal prison where he will no longer endanger his neighborhood. ATF Philadelphia Field Division has a long history of partnership with the Philadelphia Police Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office, and we will continue to work tirelessly together to ensure justice for the victims and to make our communities safer.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Carissimi and J. Jeanette Kang, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian Doherty.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced on Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Roberto Febus, age 35, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was sentenced by Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann to 78 months of imprisonment to be followed by four years of supervised release.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Febus conspired with others to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in Northumberland County in May 2022.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Philadelphia Man Convicted at Trial of Two Commercial Robberies, Murder of Gas Station AttendantRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Chihean Jones, aka “Cha,” 40, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was convicted this afternoon at trial of two commercial robberies in the city and the murder of a gas station attendant during one of those robberies.
Jones was charged by second superseding indictment in January 2024 with two counts of robbery interfering with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery), murder in the course of using and carrying a firearm, and using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. A federal jury found him guilty on all counts.
As proven at trial, on August 22, 2022, the defendant drove two other men to a cell phone store on the 100 block of East Olney Avenue. While Jones waited in his Chevrolet Suburban, the two others went inside the store, forced their way into a back room, and stole multiple cell phones. The three men then fled the scene in the defendant’s Suburban.
As further proven at trial, on January 17, 2023, Jones, accompanied by his girlfriend and two other men, drove the Suburban to a gas station on the 7100 block of Torresdale Avenue, which the group intended to rob. They planned to wait for the gas station attendant to leave the store to smoke a cigarette, at which point the defendant would approach with his .45-caliber pistol. The two men accompanying Jones would zip tie the attendant and force him back into the station to open the safe.
When the attendant failed to exit, however, the group sent the defendant’s girlfriend into the store to see what was happening and to determine if the men could kick in the door to the register area. After she reported back, the three men entered the store. Immediately upon entering, Jones pushed his pistol under the protective glass and shot the attendant in the back as the attendant tried to run away. Jones and the two men ransacked the store and stole the attendant’s wallet as he lay dying on the floor.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26 and faces a maximum possible term of life in prison.
This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Parisi and Amanda McCool.
Philadelphia Felon Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Norman Copper, 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 540 months in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Mark A. Kearney for drug and gun crimes.
In March of this year, the defendant was convicted at trial of one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possession of firearms by a felon.
He was charged with those offenses by superseding indictment in June 2024.
In December 2023, the Upper Merion Township Police Department had received information from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Parole Field Services that Copper, who was on state parole at the time for attempted murder, had been intercepted on recorded prison calls and video visits that suggested he might be involved in narcotics sales and/or the illegal possession of firearms. As a condition of his parole, Copper wore a GPS monitor.
As proven at trial, GPS location data indicated that he spent many early morning hours at an unapproved area in King of Prussia, Pa., which investigators determined was the apartment of his then-girlfriend. Through physical and video surveillance, Upper Merion detectives saw Copper entering and exiting the apartment on many occasions, often heading in the direction of what was later learned to be a storage unit associated with his girlfriend’s apartment.
In January of last year, law enforcement served search warrants on the apartment and storage unit, seizing more than a pound and a half of methamphetamine, three semiautomatic handguns, one of them equipped with a silencer, and one AK-style semiautomatic rifle, weapons that he was not permitted to possess due to his previous felony conviction.
“Again and again, Norman Copper has flouted the law and chosen to engage in criminal activity that endangered the community,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “He was deeply involved in the distribution of large quantities of meth — and heavily armed to protect his profits, product, and drug dealer persona. Our office and our partners are working every day to put dangerous offenders like him behind bars, to make the public safer.”
“This case is another example of our law enforcement cooperation to prevent violent crime,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “Copper, who was on parole for attempted murder, was heavily armed and loaded with drugs. Working with the Upper Merion Township Police Department, the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, and Assistant United States Attorneys, Copper will no longer threaten his neighborhood.”
The case was investigated by the Upper Merion Township Police Department, the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lindsey Mills and Justin Ashenfelter.
Pharmacist and Brother Sentenced to Prison for $15M Health Care and Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A former Michigan pharmacist and his brother were sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison and five years in prison, respectively, for their roles in a conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from approximately 2010 to 2019, Raad Kouza, 59, of Wayne County, a pharmacist, and his brother, Ramis Kouza, 46, of Oakland County, a pharmacy manager, billed Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for prescription medications that they did not dispense at pharmacies they owned or operated in Michigan. The defendants executed this fraud by targeting the billing of expensive medications, such as antipsychotics and inhalers, and by concealing inventory shortages at their pharmacies from multiple auditors. As a result of their criminal conduct, the defendants caused a total of over $15 million loss to Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
In November 2024, Raad Kouza and Ramis Kouza were convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud by a federal jury in the Eastern District of Michigan. At sentencing, the Court ordered the brothers to pay approximately $15.5 million in restitution and the same amount in forfeiture.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan of the FBI Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Claire Sobczak Pacelli, Jeffrey A. Crapko and Andres Q. Almendarez of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Panama City Man Pleads Guilty to Retaliating Against and Sending Threats to a Federal InformantRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Thomas Zachary Breeding, 41, of Panama City, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of retaliation against a federal informant and transmission of threatening communications in interstate commerce. The guilty plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Ensuring the safety of our informants and witnesses against threats of reprisals for their cooperation in our criminal investigations and prosecutions is of critical importance to our success in safeguarding our communities from crime. My office will aggressively prosecute such criminal threats to ensure the brave members of our community who join us in the fight against crime are kept safe from retaliation.”
Court documents reflect that on May 31, 2024, the defendant sent Facebook messages threatening bodily injury to an individual. In the messages, the defendant blamed the individual for sending him to prison, called him a “rat,” and promised to “break” a “knife off” in their “guts.” The defendant sent the threats to retaliate against the individual for having provided information to federal law enforcement as part of a prior federal investigation and prosecution of the defendant for distributing cocaine. The defendant, who was on federal supervised release for that prior case at the time he made the threats, also faces revocation proceedings for violating the terms of his supervision.
Breeding’s sentencing and violation of supervised release hearings are currently set for December 18, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. The defendant faces up to 25 years’ imprisonment.
The conviction was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.
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.
Online Seller of Infant Formula Pleads Guilty to Smuggling and Violating FDA Prior Notice RequirementsRead the Press Release
Able Groupe Inc., a company that sold infant formula on the website LittleBundle.com, pleaded guilty today to two felony charges for smuggling European infant formula and importing it into the United States in violation of FDA’s Prior Notice Requirements.
According to court documents, Able Groupe, which also did business as Little Bundle and Huggable, Inc., sold European infant formula to consumers throughout the United States beginning in the spring of 2019. Several of the infant formulas Able Groupe sold were listed on FDA Import Alerts due to their failure to meet nutrient or labelling requirements for infant formula. In pleading guilty, Able Groupe admitted that it attempted to avoid detection and detention of its imported formula by failing to comply with FDA’s Prior Notice requirements for imported food and by using false commodity descriptions for the imported formula. Following an FDA inspection, the company ceased operations and recalled 76,000 units of formula in August 2021.
Able Groupe pleaded guilty to two felony counts: (1) importing food without providing Prior Notice to FDA with the intent to defraud or mislead in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA); and (2) passing and attempting to pass false and fraudulent documents through customs to defraud the United States. Under the FDCA, importers are required to provide Prior Notice to FDA when they import food into the United States. This is the first time a defendant has pleaded guilty to a felony violation for failing to provide such notices to FDA. The company’s plea agreement includes a proposed forfeiture of $304,640, and the matter will result in a total recovery by the Government of approximately $2.3 million. U.S. Magistrate Judge Toliver presided over the company’s guilty plea.
“FDA’s Prior Notice requirements help safeguard consumers as well as the nation’s food supply, and the Department is committed to enforcing the law and protecting our most vulnerable citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to work with our agency partners to investigate and prosecute those who ignore this important legal obligation, attempt to defraud the government, and put the health and safety of infants at risk.”
“U.S. consumers rely on the FDA to ensure that the food products they purchase for their families are safe,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Walker, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ Kansas City Field Office. “The FDA will continue to work to bring to justice those who would defy its prior notice requirements, defraud the government, and attempt to deceive American consumers, particularly at the potential expense of infants’ health.”
The Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations Special Agent Chad Medaris investigated the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Director Patrick Runkle of the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch in partnership with the Northern District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 300 Months for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Jason E. Pemberton, 51, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 19, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Pemberton to 300 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Pemberton’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
In December of 2023, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents identified Pemberton as a narcotics distributor with a residence near 88th Plaza and Boyd Street, Omaha, and began a surveillance operation. On January 11, 2024, agents saw Pemberton leave his residence driving a Hyundai Veloster. They followed him to a McDonald’s parking lot where he parked and his co-defendant got out of a parked Chevy Silverado, approached Pemberton, and handed him a black backpack containing methamphetamine. Both vehicles departed immediately after the exchange.
Agents and local law enforcement officers followed Pemberton onto I-80, westbound. Officers saw Pemberton violate traffic laws while driving near mile marker 412, activated their emergency lights, and attempted to conduct a traffic stop but Pemberton did not stop. He fled, reaching speeds of up to 110 MPH, and threw the backpack out the vehicle window. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle by deploying stop strips, but Pemberton made a U-turn and fled the wrong way down an interstate on-ramp near Lincoln, Nebraska, eventually lost control, crashed, and ran before officer took him into custody.
The backpack contained multiple bags of methamphetamine with a gross of weight of 11 pounds.
Later, on the same day of January 11, 2024, agents and officers served a search warrant at Pemberton’s residence. During the search, they seized 36 plastic bags of methamphetamine with a gross weight of 32.06 pounds. During the residential search, agents also found a digital scale, packaging materials, two cell phones, and a money counter.
On January 16 and 17, 2024, agents interviewed two known associates of Pemberton who both said Pemberton had been distributing methamphetamine and is affiliated with a Mexican drug trafficking organization.
The co-defendant in this case is similarly charged for his role the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine as well as a separate conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens for commercial advantage and private financial gain. His cases are ongoing.
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations Task Force.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 235 Months for Fentanyl and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Kadonta Muldrew, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 19, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Muldrew to 235 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Muldrew’s release from prison, he will begin an 8-year term of supervised release.
In January 2024, a Federal Bureau of Investigation task force identified Muldrew as a dealer of fentanyl pills in Omaha and began an investigation. Between February and May of 2024, Muldrew sold pills to a confidential informant four times in quantities ranging from 50 to 200. Investigators also determined Muldrew was supplying at least one other dealer. On May 17, 2024, law enforcement arrested Muldrew and executed search warrants at three residences and a storage unit in Omaha. When he was arrested, Muldrew had approximately 234 fentanyl pills and $11,301 cash. Execution of the search warrants resulted in seizure of almost 2,000 fentanyl pills, four handguns, and more than $124,000 cash.
Co-defendant Jeron Morris, 33, of Omaha, has been convicted after a jury trial of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Because of prior federal convictions that enhance the statutory penalties, Morris faces a mandatory minimum of 35 years in prison and a maximum of life. Morris’ sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2025.
The cash that was seized will be forfeited to the United States as proceeds of drug dealing.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department with assistance from the Council Bluffs Police Department (Iowa), Bellevue Police Department, Papillion Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Iowa State Patrol. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Sex Trafficking MinorsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that James Hatten, II, 54, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 7, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for five counts of Sex Trafficking a Minor. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert R. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Hatten to 480 months’ imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hatten’s release from prison, he will begin a 15-year term of supervised release. Hatten was also ordered to pay a total of $304,800.90 in restitution to his victims.
Hatten was charged with sex trafficking five different minors, spanning from May 1, 2022, through December 6, 2023, in the Omaha area. At sentencing he claimed that he did not know his actions, which involved distributing drugs to minors in exchange for sex acts, constituted sex trafficking as he was not advertising and selling the victims to other people. Calling that of no consequence, Chief Judge Rossiter said the case involved a “reprehensible crime, reprehensible conduct” on the part of Hatten and noted the significant age gap between the perpetrator and his victims in imposing the sentence.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
Omaha Crips Gang Enterprise Charged with Violent Crimes in Aid of RacketeeringRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that 13 Crips gang members were indicted together on a range of federal organized crime charges, including murder in aid of racketeering, murder by firearm, firearms trafficking conspiracy, firearms conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging firearms during and relation to crimes of violence, and other related offenses.
The following defendants were indicted on November 18, 2025:
Gregory Jerome Bahati,
Malik D. Bahati, II,
Johnny L. Chatmon, IV,
Deshawn P. Jackson,
Jaqueris J. Allen,
McKeith M. Bingham,
Kevin Rashad Pierce,
Lamar D. Glover,
Kavion Wright,
Cameron J. Williams,
Darnell L. Matthews,
Noah McIntosh, and
Antrevion McNichols.
The Indictment alleges the Crips gang committed violent acts, including shootings, that targeted portions of the city of Omaha that are claimed territory of rival gangs, such as the Bloods. Evidence adduced at the detention hearings in this matter indicated that many of the victims of these violent events had no gang affiliation at all and were merely innocent people allegedly gunned down by these gang members in their efforts to protect their reputation and status as a gang or to act in retaliation against rival gangs for Crips gang members who were themselves shot or murdered. Evidence at the hearings further indicated that the Crips attempted to claim city blocks in Omaha as their own territory and those actions made those neighborhoods a target for rival gang violence.
Among the Omaha shooting targets that described at the pretrial detention hearings were children under the age of 12, a graduation party with attendees of all ages, including children, a man returning from taking his son to baseball practice, a young man and woman driving down the road in their vehicle, and a mother and two sons who simply witnessed a fight amongst Crip gang members who were shot at and assaulted for recording the gang on a cellular phone.
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said of the charges: “The recent indictment represents a significant step forward in protecting the safety of our community. The work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been instrumental in bringing these charges forward, and I want to commend their partnership and commitment to justice. I am equally proud of the relentless efforts of the men and women of the Omaha Police Department—particularly those who have dedicated countless hours to these complex investigations. Their hard work directly contributes to a safer Omaha, and these indictments send a clear message that violent gang activity will not be tolerated in our city.”
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods said, “Without the tireless efforts of the dedicated men and women of the Omaha Police Department, this gang would never have been taken into custody and out of these neighborhoods on these charges. The charges are the result of the police department’s resource-intensive and complex investigation into this alleged criminal network, and their dedicated efforts will provide these victims and their families their deserved day in federal court. This Indictment would similarly not have been possible without the outstanding investigative work of the Lincoln Police Department on the murder charges in the tragic shooting of Savieon Hopkins. The collaboration between OPD and LPD greatly furthered this investigation, and when those police departments join forces, no target is out of reach. Any gang that attempts to claim city streets in the State of Nebraska will make themselves the target of a federal investigation.”
Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel, leader of the Omaha FBI Field Office said, “The work by the Omaha Police Department in this case will have a profound impact. Our Safe Streets Gang Task Force brings together multiple agencies in the Omaha Metro region to share resources, manpower, and gang intelligence. We will continue using all the tools we have to apprehend violent gang members who prey upon our neighborhoods with violence, intimidation and fear. We commend the unwavering efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office supporting this investigation.”
Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department, the Lincoln Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Norwood, Ohio, man, Marcus Goodwin, 37, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 200 months in prison, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, Goodwin conspired with others to distribute over a kilogram of crystal methamphetamine from March 1, 2024 through February 14, 2025 in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Using a confidential informant, law enforcement conducted four controlled purchases of crystal methamphetamine totaling more than a kilogram from Goodwin. Upon arresting Goodwin, law enforcement found three handguns at a hotel room where he was staying, and an additional handgun and 1,192.9 grams of crystal methamphetamine at his residence. Three additional handguns were seized from a location Goodwin used to distribute drugs.
Goodwin was previously convicted of drug trafficking and voluntary manslaughter with specification in the Court of Common Pleas for Hamilton County, Ohio and served a sentence of 14 years for those offenses.
Under federal law, Goodwin must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Louisville Field Office; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Field Division; and Chief Jeff Mallery, Florence Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, DEA, and Florence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Ocala Convicted Felon Who Attempted to Pawn A Firearm Sentenced to Five Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Shymiere Montese Howell (31, Ocala) to five years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition affecting commerce by a convicted felon. Howell entered a guilty plea to the offense on July 22, 2025.
According to court documents, Howell is a 19-time convicted felon with prior convictions that include possession of a firearm by a felon, child neglect, felony battery, and drug possession. On November 8, 2024, Howell entered a Leesburg pawn shop and attempted to sell a loaded handgun. When law enforcement arrived at the pawn shop, Howell attempted to push past them and run out of the store. He was quickly apprehended. As a convicted felon, Howell is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Leesburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.
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).
New York Siblings Charged with Conspiracy, Money Laundering, Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Mayovanet Fermin, age 26, and Frnsheska Fermin, age 25, of Yonkers, New York, were indicted on August 19, 2025, by a federal grand jury on 68 counts of fraud, including conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. The case was unsealed following defendants’ arraignment on October 3, 2025.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that from January of 2020 through July of 2021, the Fermins obtained and shared lists of victims’ personal identifying information (PII) to create and submit fraudulent federal income tax returns, economic impact payment applications, and pandemic unemployment assistance benefits. The indictment alleges over $400,000 in fraudulently obtained payments as a result of the scheme.
The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the most serious offense charged is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
This matter occurred on date indicated but not issued at that time due to the government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
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New York Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Drug-Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on November 19, 2025, Keahnard Rowell, also known as “Stacks,” 35, of New York City, New York, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Rowell previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl in Bennington, Vermont, in 2022.
According to court records, between mid-February and July 2022, Rowell was a high-ranking member of a violent drug-trafficking organization in Bennington led by co-conspirator William McLaughlin. While much of the violence was perpetrated by McLaughlin, Rowell was aware of it. Court records indicate that after a particularly violent beating of a woman by McLaughlin over a drug dispute, Rowell offered to protect the woman by bringing her to New York. Once there, however, Rowell took the woman’s phone and identification, thereby making her feel she was not free to leave his residence. In Bennington, Rowell supervised drug trafficking locations and sold drugs for the organization. He also took trips to New York to obtain more drug supply to bring back to Bennington for the organization to sell.
First Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bennington Police Department, the Rutland City Police Department, the Vermont State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corinne Smith, Jonathan Ophardt and Paul Van de Graaf. Rowell was represented by Jason Sawyer, Esq.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to over 24 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that ODINE DOMINICK (“DOMINICK”), age 35, was sentenced on November 20, 2025 by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to 292 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, along with a $300 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(D); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, in the fall of 2023, law enforcement officers observed a photograph of DOMINICK with a rifle magazine in his waistband and a video of DOMINICK inside of a stolen car with a handgun. On December 14, 2023, the New Orleans Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at DOMINICK’s residence and found over 100 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin; vacuum sealed bags of marijuana weighing over a kilogram; eight digital scales; drug trafficking supplies; 400 rounds of various calibers of ammunition; and a loaded Glock Model 23 .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine.
Prior to his most recent arrest, DOMINICK was convicted of conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine in Orleans Parish, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in St. Bernard Parish.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Berman and Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit.
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New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Drug Trafficking and Weapons ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –CYRIL HOFFMAN, JR. (“HOFFMAN”), age 27, was sentenced on November 12, 2025 by U.S. District Judge Darrel J. Papillion to 12 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, along with a $400 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and receipt of a firearm while under indictment, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(n) and 924(a)(1)(D).
According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at HOFFMAN’s residence on August 20, 2021. FBI personnel recovered marijuana that HOFFMAN intended to sell, and six firearms from HOFFMAN’s bedroom: a Brothers LA Arms .300 millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with a 60 round magazine; a Palmetto State Armory PA-15, .223/5.56 millimeter caliber semi-automatic rifle, loaded with a 30 round magazine; an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15, 5.56 millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with a high-capacity magazine containing live rounds; a Glock 23, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 20 live rounds; a Glock 19, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 14 live rounds; and a Glock 17, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 17 live rounds.
A few weeks before the execution of the search warrant, HOFFMAN was indicted in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court for six felony offenses, including four counts of attempted second degree murder, and one count of conspiracy to commit second degree murder. Following the search warrant, HOFFMAN was arrested on those charges but later bonded out of jail in June 2022. On October 25, 2022, while still under indictment and awaiting trial in Orleans Parish, deputies with the United States Marshals Service encountered HOFFMAN inside a motel room in New Orleans East. There was a Glock 22, .40 caliber firearm inside the room, which HOFFMAN denied was his. However, the FBI later found messages that HOFFMAN sent to a third-party admitting he was in possession of the gun. HOFFMAN continued to sell marijuana while on bond and on May 17, 2023, FBI personnel executed another search warrant at HOFFMAN’s new residence and recovered marijuana, digital scales, and packaging supplies for distribution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.
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Monroe County Man Sentenced to 144 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John Nester, age 55, of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on November 20, 2025, to 144 months’ imprisonment and a term of supervised release by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Nester previously pled guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute approximately 30 grams of fentanyl and possessing a Glock pistol in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. The pistol and fentanyl were found during the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s home in June of 2024. Nester also possessed additional fentanyl on his person and in his vehicle.
The matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Pocono Mountain Regional Police, and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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Mission Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Mission, South Dakota, convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on November 12, 2025.
Shannon Dunham, age 38, was sentenced to eight 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.
Shannon Dunham was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He pleaded guilty on August 7, 2025.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in October of 2024, in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation, wherein a Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services officer was dispatched to a residence in Mission based on a report that Dunham was causing a disturbance. Upon arrival at the residence, the officer contacted Dunham, who was verbally aggressive, grabbed the officer, and brandished a knife at him. Dunham was subsequently arrested.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Dunham was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Mountain Lake, Minnesota man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on November 10, 2025.
William Soudap Somphanthabansouk, 29, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, fine, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Somphanthabansouk was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on August 25, 2025.
Somphanthabansouk obtained methamphetamine in California through the mail and then distributed it to others in Sioux Falls as well as in Western Minnesota. In early 2025, investigators discovered that Somphanthabansouk had traveled to California and mailed himself a package from there. They arranged to have him stopped on the interstate on his way to Sioux Falls and discovered approximately 228 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded pistol in his vehicle. They then obtained a search warrant for his residence in Mountain Lake, Minnesota, and discovered approximately 850 grams of methamphetamine and multiple firearms. Altogether, investigators believe that Somphanthabansouk was responsible for distributing approximately nine pounds of methamphetamine in this area.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Worthington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Somphanthabansouk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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).
Maryland Man Facing Federal Charges for Sexual Exploitation of Children in Connection with Child Sex Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment, charging Philip Andrew Turner, 46, of Linthicum Heights, Maryland, with sexual exploitation of a minor, online coercion and enticement, receipt of child sexual abuse material, and possession of child sexual abuse. Turner, who is currently detained, is slated for his initial appearance on Wednesday, December 3, in U.S. District Court in Baltimore before Judge Chelsea J. Crawford.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Acting Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Baltimore; Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Acting Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MDSP); and Anne Colt Leitess, State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County.
According to the 15-count indictment, Turner used an online account to connect with known child traffickers in the Philippines. Turner submitted payment after negotiating a price and then selected children that he wanted to watch, and the sex acts he wanted to see. He also received child sexual abuse material images from the traffickers that he saved to an online account. Additionally, Turner possessed commercially available child sexual abuse material images on his laptop computer.
If convicted, Turner faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each count of sexual exploitation of a child. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
Know2Protect is a national public awareness campaign from the Department of Homeland Security. Know2Protect’s aim is to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent, combat and report online child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information, please visit Know2Protect’s YouTube playlists at Know2Protect Campaign PSA Playlist and Know2Protect Digital Safety Series Playlist on DHS’ main channel. Additional resources are available at Know2Protect.gov, Instagram, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, the MDSP, and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen E. McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Man from Guatemala Sentenced for False Representation of SSN and Resisting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Romeo Edilzar Yaxcal-Tiul, 26, of Guatemala, was sentenced on November 19, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for falsely representing a social security number and resisting a federal officer. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Yaxcal-Tiul to concurrent terms of 12 months’ imprisonment on each offense. There is no parole in the federal system. Judge Buescher also imposed concurrent 1-year terms of supervised release on each count to follow the imposed terms of imprisonment, noting that while Yaxcal-Tiul will be deported by U.S. immigration authorities when he completes his sentence of imprisonment, the imposed term of supervision will serve as a deterrent to Yaxcal-Tiul returning to the United States.
Sometime after two unsuccessful attempts to enter the United States illegally in 2022, Yaxcal-Tiul ultimately entered the United States illegally and came to Nebraska. In October 2024, Yaxcal-Tiul used a fake name, fake Social Security Number (SSN), fake Social Security Card, fake Alien Number, and fake Legal Permanent Resident Card to gain employment at an Omaha area restaurant as a dishwasher. Investigators confirmed that both the SSN and Alien Numbers used by Yaxcal-Tiul were invalid and had not been assigned to Yaxcal-Tiul.
Yaxcal-Tiul was encountered by law enforcement at the Omaha area restaurant in June 2025. Despite clear identification by law enforcement as “police” and instruction not to move, Yaxcal-Tiul fled from law enforcement and into a crowded patio, diving into a booth filled with restaurant patrons. Members of the public assisted in securing Yaxcal-Tiul until law enforcement were able to take over. Yaxcal-Tiul continued to resist law enforcement on the ground, pulling his hands away and manipulating his body to avoid being handcuffed. Eventually, Yaxcal-Tiul was successfully secured and transported into custody. A law enforcement officer who assisted in apprehending Yaxcal-Tiul was injured during the pursuit.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Love County Resident Sentenced for Discharging Firearm During A Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Isaiah Lynn Wood, age 22, of Overbrook, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Love County Sheriff’s Office.
On May 12, 2025, Wood pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on the evening of February 17, 2025, Wood parked at a distance from an Overbrook residence, then entered the residence undetected armed with a Glock 45 semi-automatic pistol. Once inside, Wood threatened one resident, assaulted a second, fired the weapon twice striking a third, then barricaded himself inside. A Love County deputy responding to the 911 emergency dispatch call took Wood into custody.
The Honorable John C. Coughenour, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Wood will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Louisville Man Sentenced to over 8 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Gun and Machine Gun Possession, and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced on October 21, 2025, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal possession of a machine gun, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Dominique Thompson, 30, was sentenced to 8 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a Ruger, Model AR-556, 5.56 caliber pistol, a Glock, Model 17 Gen5, 9-millimeter pistol, ammunition, a machine gun, and for possessing the Ruger in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Thompson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On May 23, 2023, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Thompson was convicted of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, illegal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree Schedule I heroin, and illegal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree Schedule II fentanyl (two counts).
On March 18, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Thompson was convicted of receiving stolen property and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Thompson has related and pending charges in Jefferson Circuit Court alleging criminal attempt murder of a police officer and wanton endangerment in the first degree.
Mr. Bumgarner stated, “This is an extremely important case for our office and demonstrates our responsibility and commitment to protecting our law enforcement officers that courageously serve our community. This case also demonstrates our commitment to working with the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Louisville Metro Police Department and ATF to aggressively prosecute firearms crimes.”
“Violent crime targeting members of our community, including law enforcement officers, will not be tolerated. ATF remains committed to eradicating Machinegun Conversion Devices (MCD) from our streets because of the increased threats they pose. This case and the resulting sentence reflect the strength of the partnership between federal and local law enforcement,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the Louisville Field Division.
"This man’s long criminal history, including charges of attempting to kill an LMPD officer, underscores the serious threat he poses to our community,” said LMPD Police Chief Paul Humphrey. “We remain committed to working with our federal partners to keep dangerous criminals off our streets so families can feel safe."
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF and LMPD.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez prosecuted the case.
This conviction is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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).
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Louisville Man Sentenced as a Career Offender to 15 Years and 10 months in Federal Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced on October 30, 2025, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Johnathan Hankins, 35, was sentenced to 15 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by six years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
Hankins’ conviction stems from two instances in which he sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Jefferson County. On March 11, 2024, Hankins sold 444 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Again, on May 22, 2024, Hankins sold 212 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Each methamphetamine transaction was audio and video recorded. The total amount of methamphetamine from both of the controlled purchases was 656 grams. The methamphetamine was tested at the DEA laboratory, where it was confirmed to be methamphetamine.
Based upon his criminal history, Hankins was sentenced as a Career Offender. A defendant is a career offender if (1) the defendant was at least eighteen years old at the time the defendant committed the instant offense of conviction; (2) the instant offense of conviction is a felony that is either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense; and (3) the defendant has at least two prior felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense. Hankins had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On or about October 27, 2010, in Jefferson Circuit Court, under Case Number 09-CR-2427, Hankins was convicted of robbery in the second degree.
On or about October 27, 2010, in Jefferson Circuit Court, under Case Number 09-CR-3555, Hankins was convicted of robbery in the second degree.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF, with assistance from the DEA Louisville Field Division and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erwin Roberts prosecuted the case.
This conviction is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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).
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Louisiana Man Sentenced to 84 Months for Cares Act FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that ERNEST X. TAYLOR, JR. (“TAYLOR”), of Laplace, LA, age 41, was sentenced on October 29, 2025 to 84 months in the Bureau of Prisons, after previously pleading guilty to two counts of making false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), by U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion.
On March 27, 2020, The CARES Act became effective and established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) authorized forgivable loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to small businesses to retain workers and maintain payroll, make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.
According to the court documents, TAYLOR made false statements to an approved lender on or about March 2, 2021, for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining a PPP loan. TAYLOR falsely claimed in his PPP application that he had not been convicted of a felony involving “fraud, bribery, embezzlement, or a false statement in a loan application or an application for federal financial assistance” within the last 5 years. In truth, TAYLOR had pleaded guilty on July 15, 2016, in the Eastern District of Virginia, criminal matter no. 16-118, to conspiracy to commit federal student loan fraud and mail fraud in a scheme that involved stolen identities. TAYLOR thereafter received approximately $18,500 based upon the misrepresentations. TAYLOR then made the same false statements to an approved lender on or about April 21, 2021, when he applied for a second draw PPP loan. TAYLOR received approximately $18,500 for the second loan.
In addition to incarceration, TAYLOR was sentenced to (5) five years of supervised release, as well as payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Secret Service in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit was in charge of the prosecution.
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Little Rock Man to Spend Life in Prison Following Conviction for Distributing Fentanyl that Resulted in DeathRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—After hearing four days of testimony, a federal jury found that Arthur Joyner distributed fentanyl pills to a man who died after ingesting those pills two days later. That transaction, which resulted in a conviction for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, will keep Joyner, 43, of Little Rock, in prison for the rest of his life. On Thursday, following the four-day trial, the jury convicted Joyner of the charge after 45 minutes of deliberation.
On March 5, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Joyner on the single count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. The jury returned the verdict to United States District Judge Brian S. Miller, who will sentence Joyner at a later date. Due to Joyner’s prior criminal record, which includes a serious felony drug conviction among other violent felony convictions, Joyner is facing a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Joyner will remain in federal custody while awaiting sentencing.
The evidence presented at trial showed that on October 13, 2023, an acquaintance of Joyner’s requested oxycodone pills from Joyner because this person had injured his back while working. The acquaintance specifically told Joyner to make sure the pills were real oxycodone, and not fake pills. Along with the request, the individual sent Joyner articles describing how fentanyl is being pressed and produced to look like oxycodone pills. Joyner responded, “they are real” and proceeded to send a picture of numerous blue pills with an “M” on one side and a “30” on the other, which purported to be oxycodone pills.
Joyner then sold the individual three of those blue pills the next day, October 14, from a residence in Little Rock. The pills in fact contained fentanyl, and not oxycodone. According to testimony at trial, the individual took one of those pills at a hotel in Searcy sometime late in the evening on October 15, and then another one in the hotel between 8 and 9 a.m. on October 16. He stopped breathing within minutes of snorting the second fentanyl pill, and was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:23 a.m.
The evidence at trial indicated that Joyner sold the three fentanyl pills for $30 and had been selling cocaine to the victim and others in the weeks prior to selling the fentanyl pills.
In addition to the mandatory life sentence, the drug charge carries a fine penalty of up to $1,000,000. There is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Central Arkansas Drug Task Force, with assistance from the Searcy Police Department and the White County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Bryant and Chris Givens prosecuted the case.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
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Lawrence County meth dealer sentenced to 15+ years’ imprisonmentRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Lawrenceville, Illinois, man to 188 months’ imprisonment for distributing meth in Lawrence County.
Jeffrey S. Metz, 49, pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of meth. Following imprisonment, he will serve four years of supervised release. He was sentenced Nov. 6.
“Trafficking drugs in any county of southern Illinois will earn dealers a federal prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.
According to court documents, Metz admitted to distributing more than 25 grams of meth in Lawrence County in October and November 2024.
"The Illinois State Police is committed to stopping illegal drug trafficking and keeping dangerous drugs from flooding and hurting our communities," said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. " ISP is targeting drug traffickers and will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney's Office to put them behind bars."
The Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force of the Illinois State Police, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and DEA contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case.
Las Vegas Resident Charged with Cyberstalking and Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of cyberstalking and sexual exploitation of a minor, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The four-count Indictment named Renad Bautista, 36, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from May 2022 through August 2025, Bautista intimidated and harassed an individual in the Western District of Pennsylvania when she was a minor and into adulthood by repeatedly attempting to contact and contacting her over social media and by repeatedly sending letters to her through the mail. All of the contact was unwanted and harassing and caused substantial emotional distress to Bautista’s victim and her immediate family members.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or a combination thereof. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Bautista remains detained following his arrest in Las Vegas and arraignment in the Western District of Pennsylvania earlier this week.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.The Federal Bureau of Investigation-Pittsburgh conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Lackawanna County Woman Sentenced to 36 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jazmyn Warshawsky, age 26, of Olyphant, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on November 19, 2025, to 36 months’ imprisonment and a term of supervised release by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick, for attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Warshawsky had earlier pled guilty to attempting to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams and more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. As part of her guilty plea, Warshawsky admitted that on or about May 26, 2023, in Lackawanna County, Warshawsky received and possessed a United States Postal Service mail package that she believed contained a large quantity of controlled substances. Investigators observed the defendant take possession of the package, bring the package to her co-defendant’s home in Luzerne County, where investigators later seized the package, among other controlled substances. As part of that seizure, investigators recovered over 2 kilograms of methamphetamine and nearly 4 kilograms of marihuana.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Gerard Donahue prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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.
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Jury Convicts Owyhee Man of Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
RENO – A federal jury yesterday convicted a resident of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Owyhee, Nevada, of witness tampering.
As proven at trial, from March 11, 2025, to March 16, 2025, R.C. Crutcher made attempts to persuade a victim from testifying at a federal trial. Crutcher made multiple phone calls from jail to his mother, asking his mother to locate and persuade a victim not to show up for trial so his case would be dismissed.
Following a four-day trial, Crutcher was found guilty of one count of tampering with a witness.
Crutcher is scheduled for sentencing on February 24, 2026, before United States District Judge Anne R. Traum. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney Penelope Brady and Andrew Keenan are prosecuting the case.
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Jamaican Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Defrauding Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Xavian Brown, a Jamaican-born man living in Baldwin County, Alabama, was sentenced today to 10 years’ imprisonment for defrauding elderly victims using a Publishers’ Clearing House scheme.
According to court documents, Brown and his co-defendants targeted over 130 individuals across the United States by notifying them that they had either won the lottery or the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes, but in order to obtain their winnings, the targets would have to pay taxes in advance. Testimony at sentencing showed that many of the victims liquidated their life savings and suffered substantial financial harm because of the fraud.
United States District Judge Kristi DuBose sentenced Brown to serve 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The Court set a hearing in early December to determine the amount of restitution Brown will owe his victims.
Brown’s co-defendant, Romario Nembhard, was previously sentenced to serve one year and a day in prison followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $441,281.21 in restitution. Jermaine Smith was also sentenced today to serve one year and a day in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $447,591.21 in restitution. Co-defendant Britney James, who has been in custody since February 2025, was sentenced to time-served, followed by three years of supervised release, and was also ordered to pay $447,591.21 in restitution. The remaining co-defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in December 2025.
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message” said U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello. “Exploiting Americans through this type of scheme is a cruel and calculated crime, aimed at a vulnerable community. Protecting Americans from financial exploitation is one of our top priorities. This sentence demonstrates that those who abuse trust for personal gain will be held accountable.”
“The FBI is committed to investigating those who exploit the American people for financial gain and seeing through the prosecution of those individuals” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sara Jones. “The hard work of our agents and professional staff, along with a dedicated United States Attorney’s Office, assures that these criminals will not go unpunished for their actions. Today’s sentence is another example of our collective efforts to combat criminal activity in the Gulf Coast Region in conjunction with our partner agencies.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Mobile Division. Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Foley Police Department, and the Gulf Shores Police Department also provided support.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kasee Heisterhagen and Mike Anderson prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
For more information about elder fraud scams, visit: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/elder-fraud.
- Jackson County Probation Officer Sentenced for Extorting State Probationers and Witness Tampering
Indian National Indicted for Assault Aboard AircraftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Indian national was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for allegedly stabbing two minor victims with a metal fork while on board a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Germany on Oct. 25, 2025. The defendant was previously admitted to the United States on a student visa and was enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies. At the time of the alleged incident, the defendant did not have lawful status in the United States.
Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, was indicted on two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. Usiripalli was apprehended immediately following the incident and charged by complaint on Oct. 27, 2025. He remains detained pending trial and will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, on Oct. 25, 2025, while on board Lufthansa flight 431 enroute from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany, Usiripalli allegedly stabbed a 17-year-old male passenger (Minor A) in the shoulder area with a metal fork. Usiripalli then allegedly stabbed a second 17-year-old male passenger (Minor B) in the back of the head with the same metal fork.
Specifically, following meal service, Minor A was sleeping lightly in a middle seat when he allegedly awoke to see Usiripalli standing over him. It is alleged that Usiripalli used his right hand to strike Minor A in the left clavicle area with a metal fork. Usiripalli then allegedly lunged toward Minor B – who was seated to Minor A’s right in a middle seat in the center row of the aircraft – and struck Minor B in the back of his head with the fork. Minor B suffered a laceration to the rear of his head.
When flight crew members attempted to subdue Usiripalli, he allegedly raised his hand, formed a gun with his fingers, put it in his mouth and pulled an imaginary trigger. Immediately afterwards, Usiripalli allegedly turned toward a female passenger and slapped her with his hand. Usiripalli also allegedly attempted to slap a flight crew member.
As a result of the disturbance, the flight was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport, where Usiripalli was immediately taken into custody.
Usiripalli was previously admitted to the United States on a student visa. Most recently, he was enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies. Usiripalli presently does not have lawful status in the United States.
The charge of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to 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 that 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 Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm 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.
Illegal alien arrested for impersonating U.S. citizen for over 14 yearsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 56-year-old Columbian national illegally residing in Houston has been charged for theft of government funds, false representation of a U.S. citizen and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The individual’s true identity is unknown, but he was most recently known under alias Johnny Mina Rodriguez. He is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo at 2 p.m.
The now unsealed indictment, returned Nov. 5, alleges this individual fraudulently applied for and obtained Social Security Administration disability benefits in June 2011 by impersonating a U.S. citizen.
According to the charges, they continued receiving SSA disability until his arrest, resulting in a total theft of government funds exceeding $150,000.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years imprisonment as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine for each of the charges. He also faces an additional two years in prison for aggravated identity theft which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.
SSA-Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen M. Lansden is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Guatemalan National Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S. and Making False Statements on Immigration ApplicationsRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that MARCOS ISMALEJ IXPANCOC, also known as Marcos Hernandez Lopez and Jose Ernandez, 39, a citizen of Guatemala residing in Stamford, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after being deported and making false statements on applications for immigration benefits.
Ixpancoc was arrested today. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and was ordered detained.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in October 2006, Ixpancoc was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona. He identified himself to U.S. Border Patrol as Marcos Hernandez Lopez, claimed to be a citizen of Mexico, and was issued a voluntary return to Mexico. In August 2012, Ixpancoc was again apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in Texas. He identified himself as Jose Ernandez and claimed to be a citizen of Guatemala. He was removed to Guatemala in September 2012. In June 2023, Ixpancoc submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) an application for legal permanent residency and work authorization under his true name and listed a home address in Stamford. The fingerprints that USCIS collected in connection with those applications matched those collected when he was apprehended and removed under the names Marcos Hernandez Lopez and Jose Ernandez in 2006 and 2012.
It is further alleged that in Ixpancoc’s applications to USCIS, Ixpancoc falsely denied ever using any names other than Ixpancoc, falsely denied ever having been issued a final order of removal, and falsely denied ever having been removed from the U.S. In addition, in connection with his application for legal permanent residency, Ixpancoc submitted a petition under the Violence Against Women Act claiming that he was the victim of abuse by a U.S. citizen spouse or child, and that his abuser was his son. However, his son was two years old at the time he filed the petition. Ixpancoc signed each of these applications under penalty of perjury.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Ixpancoc faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years. If convicted of the charge of making false statements on applications for immigration benefits, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
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.
Gainesville Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a MacHinegunRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Jaquan Tyrell Calhoun, 21, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced in federal court to 5 years and 10 months imprisonment for possession of a machinegun. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “With yet another successful prosecution, my office continues to deliver on the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the violent criminals who have threatened the safety of our communities for far too long. I deeply appreciate the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to identify and remove this offender from the streets, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes with the full force of our federal laws.”
Court records reflect that Calhoun, who is a member of a gang, would routinely post images and videos of himself with firearms on social media, including multiple videos of himself shooting machineguns. On April 21, 2024, Calhoun and codefendant Lagarius Johnson live-streamed a video of themselves posing with cash and firearms. Calhoun is seen on video flashing a Glock pistol that had been modified with a machinegun conversion device. Johnson was arrested later that night carrying that same illegally modified Glock pistol which was confirmed to be a machinegun.
“Calhoun’s decision to flaunt a machine gun on social media highlighted the recklessness that endangers our communities,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “This sentencing demonstrates our commitment to working side by side with our federal and local partners to stop violent and organized criminal activity in our communities.”
“The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office remains steadfast in our commitment to combat gun violence in our community by working closely with our state and federal partners to locate and apprehend criminals like Jaquan Calhoun — individuals who have no business possessing a firearm, let alone one illegally modified into a deadly automatic weapon,” stated Sheriff Chad Scott, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
The case involved an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain and Eric W. Welch 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.
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.
Fraud and Financial-Crime Prosecutions Continue During Federal Funding LapseRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – During the lapse in government funding, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma continued to work to protect Oklahomans from financial harm. The cases below represent a portion of the sentencings finalized during this period in separate and unrelated cases involving bank fraud, forged checks, and theft of mail.
AARON D. JOHNSON, 43, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve six months in federal prison, followed by 12 months of home confinement and 24 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $102,069.44 in restitution and a $100,000 fine for bank fraud. According to public records, from September 2017 through at least November 6, 2018, Johnson, who was President and CEO of Farmers Bank, used the bank’s operating account to pay for personal expenses, causing an overdraft in the bank’s operating account of approximately $200,000. Johnson then approved a modification to a loan, without approval from the bank’s board of directors, advancing $200,000 on the loan which he used to repay the overdraft he caused.
DEONTE MONTRELL HORNSBY, 28, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 21 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and possession of stolen mail. According to public records, between December 2024 and April 2025, Hornsby used a stolen United States Postal Service key to steal mail from mail deposit boxes in Oklahoma City. Hornsby then fraudulently altered checks found in the stolen mail and deposited the altered checks into bank accounts owned by co-conspirators to obtain cash from banks. In all, Hornsby and the co-conspirators were responsible for $72,727.96 in losses.
RAHBIN JOSEPH WARD, 27, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 12 months and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $53,960 in restitution for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. According to public records, between May 2023 and June 2023, Ward and other co-conspirators obtained checks from stolen mail, fraudulently altered the information on the checks, and deposited the forged checks into Ward’s personal bank account.
These cases are the result of investigations by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of the Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia E. Barry and Jackson D. Eldridge prosecuted the cases.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Fourteen Defendants Indicted for Drug Conspiracy and Related ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that the following individuals were each indicted for Drug Conspiracy, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 841(b)(1)(B), punishable by not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and up to a $10,000,000 fine:
- JERRY LEE GRIST, age 66, of Atoka, Oklahoma;
- TOMMY BLAKE McCARY, age 74, of Wright City, Oklahoma;
- MEAGON RASHEL BOX, age 39, of Atoka, Oklahoma;
- LESLIE GALE BELLETTINI, age 67, of Coalgate, Oklahoma;
- SHAWNDA LA DAWN RUSSELL, age 55, of Ada, Oklahoma;
- GLENN ROGER HYDE, age 65, of Ada, Oklahoma;
- JEFFERY LANCE DEAVER, age 56, of Tishomingo, Oklahoma;
- JESUS MARTIN OLIVARES VASQUEZ, SR., age 58, of Mexico;
- DEAN DEWAYNE HENSLEE, age 52, of Idabel, Oklahoma;
- ANGIE EULALIA NUNEZ a/k/a Angie Farrell, age 51, of Durant, Oklahoma;
- DAVID GEORGE NUNEZ, age 56, of Durant, Oklahoma;
- RAYMOND ERWIN WELCH, age 57, of Dallas, Texas;
- WILLA MARGARETTE WEAR, age 47, of Atoka, Oklahoma; and
- CLIFFORD EUGENE BERRY, age 61, of Atoka, Oklahoma.
In addition to federal Drug Conspiracy charges, JERRY LEE GRIST and DEAN DEWAYNE HENSLEE each face additional charges for Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and up to a $10,000,000 fine; LESLIE GALE BELLETTINI faces additional charges for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and up to a $10,000,000 fine, and for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and up to a $1,000,000 fine; and ANGIE EULALIA NUNEZ and DAVID GEORGE NUNEZ each face an additional charge for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and up to a $1,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleges that beginning in or about June 2024 and continuing until on or about the date of the indictment, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendants willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together, and with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United States, namely the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine.
The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Quapaw Nation Marshals, the Miami, Oklahoma Police Department, the Wyandotte Nation Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Department, the Atoka County Sheriff’s Department, the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Department, the Oklahoma District 16 Drug Task Force, the Oklahoma District 18 Drug Task Force, the Oklahoma District 22 Drug Task Force, the Durant Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigations Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. All defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
These charges are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Oklahoma City comprises agents and officers from the DEA and FBI, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
Fourteen Defendants Indicted for Drug Conspiracy and Related ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that the following individuals were each indicted for Drug Conspiracy, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 841(b)(1)(B), punishable by not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and up to a $10,000,000 fine:
- JERRY LEE GRIST, age 66, of Atoka, Oklahoma;
- TOMMY BLAKE McCARY, age 74, of Wright City, Oklahoma;
- MEAGON RASHEL BOX, age 39, of Atoka, Oklahoma;
- LESLIE GALE BELLETTINI, age 67, of Coalgate, Oklahoma;
- SHAWNDA LA DAWN RUSSELL, age 55, of Ada, Oklahoma;
- GLENN ROGER HYDE, age 65, of Ada, Oklahoma;
- JEFFERY LANCE DEAVER, age 56, of Tishomingo, Oklahoma;
- JESUS MARTIN OLIVARES VASQUEZ, SR., age 58, of Mexico;
- DEAN DEWAYNE HENSLEE, age 52, of Idabel, Oklahoma;
- ANGIE EULALIA NUNEZ a/k/a Angie Farrell, age 51, of Durant, Oklahoma;
- DAVID GEORGE NUNEZ, age 56, of Durant, Oklahoma;
- RAYMOND ERWIN WELCH, age 57, of Dallas, Texas;
- WILLA MARGARETTE WEAR, age 47, of Atoka, Oklahoma; and
- CLIFFORD EUGENE BERRY, age 61, of Atoka, Oklahoma.
In addition to federal Drug Conspiracy charges, JERRY LEE GRIST and DEAN DEWAYNE HENSLEE each face additional charges for Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and up to a $10,000,000 fine; LESLIE GALE BELLETTINI faces additional charges for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and up to a $10,000,000 fine, and for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and up to a $1,000,000 fine; and ANGIE EULALIA NUNEZ and DAVID GEORGE NUNEZ each face an additional charge for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and up to a $1,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleges that beginning in or about June 2024 and continuing until on or about the date of the indictment, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendants willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together, and with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United States, namely the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine.
The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Quapaw Nation Marshals, the Miami, Oklahoma Police Department, the Wyandotte Nation Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Department, the Atoka County Sheriff’s Department, the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Department, the Oklahoma District 16 Drug Task Force, the Oklahoma District 18 Drug Task Force, the Oklahoma District 22 Drug Task Force, the Durant Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigations Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. All defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
These charges are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Oklahoma City comprises agents and officers from the DEA and FBI, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
Four Hartford Men Charged with Trafficking Firearms and NarcoticsRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that ANTONIO BAEZ, also known as “Fat Boy,” 26; CORY LEWIS, also known as “City,” 36; JAVON HUTLEY, 33; and ROGER MOODY, 42, all of Hartford, have been charged by indictment with offenses related to the illegal trafficking of firearms and narcotics.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in June 2025, ATF began an investigation of Baez and other armed drug traffickers who were operating in the area of Evergreen Avenue in Hartford, where Baez and Moody resided. Between June and October 2025, ATF undercover agents made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl, which included carfentanil or other additives including xylazine and tramadol, from Baez, Lewis, and Moody, and a total of seven firearms from Baez, Lewis, and Hutley.
“The trafficking of guns and drugs, especially when the drugs are fentanyl mixed with extremely toxic additives, are a dangerous combination,” said U.S. Attorney Sullivan. “We remain committed to using federal resources to thwart this criminal behavior and prosecute those involved. I commend ATF for this effective undercover operation. It has made our capital city safer.”
“This investigation targeted members of a criminal organization that endangered the community by trafficking firearms and distributing fentanyl,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Greco. “ATF enforcement operations will continue to focus on disrupting shooters and those who enable them by providing firearms.”
Baez, Lewis, Hutley, and Moody were arrested on federal criminal complaints on October 15, 2025. On that date, a search of Hutley’s residence on Sisson Avenue revealed two gun magazines and ammunition. A search of Lewis’s residence on New Britain Avenue revealed a .357 magnum revolver.
On October 28, 2028, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a 16-count indictment charging the four defendants. Baez, Lewis, and Moody are charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of this charge, based on the type and quantity of drug attributed to each defendant, an a defendant’s criminal history, Baez faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of 40 years, Lewis faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and Moody faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Baez, Lewis, and Moody are also charged with one or more counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of controlled substances.
The indictment also charges Baez, Lewis, and Hutley with firearms trafficking conspiracy and firearms trafficking, and Lewis and Hutley with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. These charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years on each count.
Baez, Lewis, Hutley, and Moody, who have been detained since their arrests, appeared yesterday in Hartford federal court and entered pleas of not guilty to the charges in the indictment.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. A charge is only an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.
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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Founder of “Leadership Training” Company and Co-Conspirator Found Guilty of Defrauding COVID Relief ProgramsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury found Shawn Michael Simmerer (49, Florida) and Seth Downes (30, Michigan) guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). Simmerer was also found guilty of four counts of submitting false claims to the IRS, related to fraudulent Employee Retention Credits and Sick and Family Leave Credits. Simmerer and Downes face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud count, and Simmerer faces a maximum penalty of 5 years on each false claim count. Their sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 17, 2026.
Simmerer and Downes were indicted on February 28, 2024. A superseding indictment was later returned on January 29, 2025.
According to the testimony and evidence presented at trial, starting in April 2020, the defendants participated in a scheme to fraudulently obtain PPP proceeds and to then live off the proceeds. The scheme involved the submission of PPP loan applications on behalf of multiple companies, including two applications on behalf of “Your 10 Life Foundation,” a “leadership training” company founded by Simmerer. These applications falsely claimed employees and payroll that did not exist. The applications also attached phony payroll records and tax returns that were either never filed, or differed from the versions filed, with the IRS. Through these applications, the defendants were able to obtain over $344,000 in PPP loans. They were later able to have the loans forgiven through a series of loan forgiveness applications, which also included false and fraudulent information.
In addition, Simmerer prepared and submitted tax returns on behalf of Your 10 Life Foundation, which claimed hundreds of thousands of dollars of COVID-related tax credits. The evidence at trial showed that these tax credits, Employee Retention Credits and Sick and Family Leave Credits, were fraudulent. Based on these fraudulent credits, Simmerer was ultimately able to obtain over $680,000 in refunds from the IRS.
“These defendants didn’t just cheat the system—they stole from the American people,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Their scheme was built on lies, but thanks to the relentless work of IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners justice caught up with them. We will continue to follow the money and hold fraudsters accountable—no matter how complex the scheme.”
“These two individuals engineered a multi-pronged fraud scheme that included exploiting the Paycheck Protection Program to steal valuable funds meant for small businesses that depended on them,” said Caroline O’Brien-Buster, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Orlando Field Office. “The U.S. Secret Service and our partners remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring fraudsters like Mr. Simmerer and Mr. Downes are held accountable for their crimes.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert D. Sowell and Noah P. Dorman.
Former southern Illinois pastor sentenced to prison for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief money in church’s nameRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a former church pastor in Hamilton County to 21 months’ imprisonment for obtaining COVID-19 money from the SBA by fraudulently representing to the SBA that the money would be used for his church.
Terry L. Hall, 58, of McLeansboro, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and three counts of making false statements. Following imprisonment, he will serve two years of supervised release. Hall was ordered to pay $199,900 plus the accrued interest back to the Small Business Administration.
“The vast majority of pastors across southern Illinois answered the pandemic with selfless service,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Terry Hall chose a different path: he requested federal relief on behalf of his congregation, then used nearly $200,000 for purely personal expenses. Conduct that far from the calling of ministry demands accountability, and accountability arrived in the form of a 21-month federal prison sentence.”
Enacted in March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from impacts by the pandemic.
Under the CARES Act and administered by the SBA, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provided low-interest funding to small businesses, renters and homeowners. As appropriated, EIDL funds could be used for payroll, sick leave, production costs and other general business expenses.
"FBI Springfield is committed to exposing those who abuse positions of trust in southern Illinois" said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Springfield Field Office, Christopher J. S. Johnson. "Our communities deserve honesty, and we remain steadfast in holding accountable anyone who violates that trust."
According to the indictment, Hall was the lead pastor of a religious congregation in McLeansboro. As pastor, Hall applied for economic relief on behalf of the church and received two EIDL disbursements totaling approximately $199,900 to his personal bank account in 2020. To ensure he received the loan, Hall created fake documents, contacted elected representatives and intimidated fellow church members.
Hall admitted to using the EIDL funds to pay off his mortgage, the construction of a pole barn, various travel and other personal expenses like clothing, gas and food. The church did not receive any assistance to alleviate the economic hardships during the pandemic.
The FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Howard prosecuted the case.
Former police captain charged for offenses against childrenRead the Press Release
GALVESTON, Texas - A 59-year-old resident of League City has been indicted on multiple counts to include coercion and enticement of a minor, and possession and production of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Authorities have now arrested Daryn Edwards. He is now making his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo.
A federal grand jury in Galveston returned the five-count indictment Nov. 18.
Edwards is charged with two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor and faces up to life in prison, if convicted. He is also facing two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography which carries terms of 20 and 10 years, respectively. He could also be ordered to pay a $250,000 fine.
FBI Texas City conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren M. Valenti is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Former Virginia Beach Man Sentenced for Making Threats Against Former President Joe Biden, Vice President HarrisRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A former Virginia Beach man, who repeatedly threatened the lives of former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris through a series of phone calls to local government offices, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison.
Kevin Butler, 47, was found guilty of seven counts of knowingly and willfully making various threats against the president and vice president of the United States following a two-day bench trial in December 2024.
“Threats of violence against elected officials affront the political process and the rule of law,” Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “This office will seek clear accountability against those who threaten public officials with acts of violence.”
According to evidence presented at that trial and other court records, in early December 2022, Butler made a series of phone calls to a Virginia Probation and Parole office in which he threatened the lives of then-President Joe Biden and then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
Butler left several voicemails vocalizing his threats. For example, he threatened to get a MAK 90 (a semiautomatic firearm), “jump over the fence” outside the White House and “kill the President.”
This is the second time Butler has been convicted of making threats against the president and vice president. In 2014, Butler was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for making threats against then-President Barack Obama and then-Vice President Joe Biden.
Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Scheff and Keith Parrella prosecuted the case for the United States.
Federal Jury Finds Markita Barnes Guilty of Healthcare Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, Providing Unlawful Kickbacks, Obstruction, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 21, 2025, Markita Barnes, the owner and operator of a now-defunct Prenatal Care Coordination Company called Here for You, was convicted of twenty federal charges, including Healthcare Fraud, False Statements related to Healthcare Matters, Anti-Kickback Statute violations, Aggravated Identity Theft, Obstruction of a Healthcare Fraud Investigation, and Money Laundering.
The evidence presented at trial established that Barnes and her employees exploited vulnerable pregnant women and young mothers by luring them into the company’s prenatal care coordination program with kickbacks in the form of cash enrollment bonuses and free baby items such as car seats, pack ‘n plays, diapers, and wipes. Once enrolled, Barnes’s company unlawfully used the women’s personal information to submit claims to Medicaid for services that were never provided, often backdating the claims to months before anyone at the company had met or enrolled the client. In reality, participants often received only occasional deliveries of diapers and wipes, and in some cases, nothing at all. The evidence also demonstrated that Barnes used her fraud proceeds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including luxury travel, designer clothing, and even a $75,000 Mercedes.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on March 17, 2026, by United States District Court Chief Judge Pamela Pepper. Markita Barnes faces a mandatory minimum 2-year sentence on the aggravated identity theft charges, and a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment for each of the healthcare fraud charges.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kate M. Biebel prosecuted the case.
# # # #Federal Grand Jury Indicts 7 Louisville Men for Firearm Related OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on November 4, 2025, charging several individuals with firearm related offenses.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Anthony Adams, Jr., 21, of Louisville, was charged with stealing 52 firearms, trafficking 46 firearms, and possessing an additional stolen firearm. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Roeneil Jones, 22, of Louisville, was charged with possessing two stolen firearms, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and firearms trafficking of two firearms. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Jones was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On March 12, 2024, in Jefferson Circuit Court, in Case Number 23-CR-0607, Jones was convicted of complicity to receiving stolen property over $1,000 under $10,000, complicity to wanton endangerment in the first degree (four counts), complicity to fleeing or evading police in the first degree (motor vehicle), complicity to fleeing or evading police in the first degree (pedestrian), and complicity to receiving stolen firearm.
Christopher White, 26, of Louisville, was charged with possessing a stolen firearm, and firearms trafficking. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Dillon Sutherland, 34, of Louisville, was charged with possessing five stolen firearms, and firearms trafficking of four firearms. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Terry Sutherland, 37, of Louisville, was charged with possessing four stolen firearms, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. T. Sutherland was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense.
On July 13, 2010, in Jefferson Circuit Court, in Case Number 09-CR-3249, T. Sutherland was convicted of robbery in the first degree.
Robert Malone, 33, of Louisville, was charged with possessing a stolen firearm, illegal possession of a machine gun, and firearms trafficking. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Gary White, Sr., 54, of Louisville, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. White, Sr. was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense.
On September 19, 2012, in Jefferson Circuit Court, in Case Number 10-CR-3865, White, Sr. was convicted of burglary in the third degree.
Defendants Adams, Jr., Jones, White, Malone and White, Sr. have made their initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Defendants D. Sutherland and T. Sutherland are in custody at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections awaiting resolution of charges in Jefferson County. Upon the resolution of their charges, D. Sutherland and T. Sutherland will make their initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Mr. Bumgarner advised that this case is being investigated by the ATF and LMPD and congratulates both agencies for their strong cooperation and dedication to investigating and prosecuting firearms trafficking in Louisville.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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).
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