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7 January 2026
Fort Dodge Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man involved in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine pled guilty January 6, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.
Matthew Groat, 41, from Fort Dodge, Iowa admitted that from August 2025 through November 2025 he and others distributed over 2,200 grams of methamphetamine and at least 10 grams of cocaine to individuals in the Fort Dodge area. Groat also admitted that on two occasions in September 2025 he distributed about 10 grams of cocaine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement and on two other occasions in September 2025 and three times in October 2025, he distributed a total of more than 130 grams of pure methamphetamine. Groat further admitted to obtaining 5 to 10 pounds of methamphetamine from a local source during the four months of the conspiracy and selling it to people around Fort Dodge.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Groat remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Groat faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Fort Dodge Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa DCI Criminalistics Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-3054. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Former Richmond City Employees Federal Credit Union CEO Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Daniel Johnson, 37, of Centerville, Indiana, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to two counts of bank fraud. Johnson must also pay $285,855.66 in restitution.
According to court documents, Johnson served as Chief Executive Officer and Manager of Richmond City Employees Federal Credit Union (“Credit Union”). In this role, he held significant authority over the underwriting and processing of member loans. While Credit Union officials are permitted to apply for loans, such applications must be reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors.
On August 5, 2021, and September 16, 2021, Johnson submitted two fraudulent applications for secured loans, each valued at $150,000, claiming the funds were intended for the purchase of recreational vehicles. In reality, Johnson had no intention of purchasing the vehicles.
To conceal his scheme, Johnson falsely represented that the Board of Directors had approved the loans, when in fact no such approval had been granted. After obtaining the funds, Johnson used a portion to pay off previously secured loans totaling approximately $65,697.98, thereby eliminating the Credit Union’s security interest. He then diverted the remaining proceeds to pay personal debts, including student loans, and to purchase a home.
In the September 2021 application, Johnson further violated Credit Union policy by forging his then-wife’s signature, making it appear as though she had requested the second loan. Through this scheme, Johnson obtained what were effectively unsecured loans totaling approximately $300,000. As a result, the Credit Union suffered losses estimated at $285,855.66.
“As the Chief Executive Officer, Johnson was tasked with protecting money earned by hardworking public servants for the City of Richmond. Instead, Johnson chose to abuse this trust and line his own pockets through dishonesty,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “His actions not only violated the law but also undermined the integrity of the institution he was entrusted to serve. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold accountable those who exploit positions of authority for personal gain.”
“Credit union members rely on their leaders to safeguard their finances - not misuse them for personal gain,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “This sentence demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to pursuing those who exploit financial institutions through fraudulent schemes.”
The FBI investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Eakman and Kyle M. Sawa, who prosecuted this case.
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Florida Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Interstate Travel to Engage in Sexual Conduct with MinorRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On January 7, 2026, Jeffrey Lee Robertson, 35, of Jacksonville, Florida and Indianapolis, Indiana was sentenced to 360 months by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his imprisonment, Robertson will be on supervised release for life and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Robertson agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of interstate travel for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b); one count of enticement of a minor under the age of 18 to engage in illegal sexual activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b); and one count of tampering with a victim to destroy evidence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(2).
Investigators with the Homeland Security Investigations-Internet Crimes Against Children (HSI-ICAC) Task Force and local law enforcement investigated a report of child sexual abuse and determined that from December 2023 to February 2024, Robertson, along with co-defendant and wife, Kasey Lynn Skaggs, travelled across state lines on three different occasions into the EDTN to have sex with a 14-year-old female. On the victim’s phone, investigators located text and social media messages between the two defendants enticing and talking to the minor about illicit sexual acts they would together. Investigators also found additional evidence that the two defendants instructed the victim to destroy their communications to avoid detection by law enforcement.
Co-defendant Skaggs is set to be sentenced by District Judge Varlan on February 17, 2026, in the United States District Court at Knoxville.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement. The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by HSI-ICAC, 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and Lenoir City Police Department.
This investigation was led by HSI-ICAC Task Force Officer Cortney Dugger.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Fitness Club Operator Pays More Than $2 Million to Resolve PPP Loan AllegationsRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that IFH Holdings Group, Inc., doing business as IGNITE Fitness Holdings, formerly known as ECP-PF Holdings Group, Inc. (“IGNITE”), has paid $2,067,726.03 to settle allegations that it applied for and received a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan that it was not eligible for. IGNITE owns and operates more than 130 Planet Fitness locations in the United States and Canada, and has its principal place of business in Milford, Connecticut.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The PPP was administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and was intended to support small businesses struggling to pay employees and other expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the requested loans and that the information they provided was true and accurate.
In December 2020, Congress approved funding for a second round of forgivable PPP loans, which became available to borrowers beginning in January 2021. This “second-draw” loan program included additional eligibility requirements. One of the eligibility requirements for receiving a second-draw PPP loan was that the entity could have no more than 300 employees, with certain limited exceptions. The second draw PPP loan application required the applicant to certify, among other things, that it had fewer than 300 employees.
In February 2021, IGNITE applied for a second-draw PPP loan for $2,000,000, certifying that it was eligible for a “per-location” exception to the employee-count size standard. However, this exception did not apply to IGNITE. After receiving this PPP loan, IGNITE sought and received forgiveness of the total loan amount of $2,007,726.03, including $2,000,000 in principal and $7,726.03 in interest. The government alleges that IGNITE was not eligible for the PPP loan it received and had forgiven because it had more than 300 employees and no exception to the employee-count size standard applied to IGNITE.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Kaczmarek, with assistance from SBA’s Office of General Counsel.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
El Salvadorian National Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry Following Aggravated Felony ConvictionRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Edwin Armando Sanchez-Montiel, 32, a national of El Salvador residing in Silver Spring, Maryland, to 16 1/2 months in federal prison for re-entry of an alien removed after being convicted of accessory after the fact to first degree murder in Montgomery County, Maryland, an aggravated felony.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to his guilty plea, Sanchez-Montiel was an alien illegally in the United States. In 2023, he was convicted of accessory after the fact to first degree murder in Montgomery County, Maryland. Following the conviction for this aggravated felony, Sanchez-Montiel was removed from the United States after proceedings before an immigration judge. As part of his removal, authorities advised Sanchez-Montiel that he was permanently excluded from re-entering the United States because of his prior conviction.
Following his removal, Sanchez-Montiel voluntarily and unlawfully re-entered the United States without inspection or permission. On July 27, 2024, ICE officers encountered Sanchez-Montiel in Montgomery County where they took him into custody. He never sought nor obtained the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for readmission.
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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke Oki who prosecuted 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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Ecuadorian National with Manslaughter Conviction Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DARWIN FRANCISCO QUITUIZACA-DUCHITANGA, also known as Darwin Duchitanga-Quituizaca and Juan Mendez-Gutierrez, 40, a citizen of Ecuador, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 12 months and one day of imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in December 2003, Quituizaca, using the alias Juan Mendez-Gutierrez, was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol. He was issued a voluntary return to Mexico after he claimed to be a citizen of Mexico.
In March 2018, the Connecticut State Police arrested and charged Quituizaca, under the alias Darwin Duchitanga-Quituizaca, with charges related to a fatal motor vehicle accident on I-91 in North Haven in March 2017. On August 30, 2018, ICE encountered Quituizaca in Meriden and arrested him on an administrative warrant while he was at liberty awaiting trial in his state case. In September 2018, an immigration judge ordered Quituizaca removed from the U.S. to Ecuador, but he was subsequently transferred to state custody to face his pending charges. In January 2019, Quituizaca was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court of manslaughter second degree and sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment. He was subsequently released from state prison on an unknown date. On August 15, 2023, ICE encountered and arrested Quituizaca on an administrative warrant of removal in Meriden. He was removed to Ecuador in September 2023.
Quituizaca illegally reentered the U.S. and, on June 28, 2025, ICE arrested Quituizaca on an administrative warrant in Meriden.
Quituizaca has been detained since his arrest. On July 30, 2025, he pleaded to unlawful reentry.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George
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.
Dominican National Sentenced to Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Yonelin Manuel Baez Soto, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to one year and one day in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. In May 2025, Baez Soto pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Baez Soto was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025.
In November 2020, Baez Soto was removed from the United States after being convicted of a felony narcotics offense in Essex Superior Court. Additionally, prior to his removal, Baez Soto was also convicted of multiple counts of misuse of a Social Security number and aggravated identity theft in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Sometime after his November 2020 removal, Baez Soto illegally reentered the United States without permission.
Also in May 2025, Baez Soto was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and other offenses. That case is currently pending in federal court in Boston. Baez Soto is subject to deportation upon completion of all imposed sentences.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cutshall of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Dominican National Sentenced to 28 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in the New Hampshire SeacoastRead the Press Release
Dominican National Sentenced to 28 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in the New Hampshire Seacoast
CONCORD – A citizen of the Dominican Republic, who previously lived in Massachusetts, was sentenced today in federal court for drug trafficking in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Eddy Mendez Carmona, 44, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Court Judge Samantha Elliott to 28 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. Mendez Carmona previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and one count of distributing controlled substances. Mendez Carmona will be removed from the United States upon the completion of his prison sentence. Charges are still pending against two of Mendez Carmona’s co-conspirators, Jose Luis Guerrero Nunez and Juan Carlos De Los Santos Romero. Two other co-conspirators, Carlos Alejandro Chevalier Santos and Luis Guerrero Cabral, have previously pleaded guilty and have been sentenced by the Court.
“Fentanyl and methamphetamine are a scourge on our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “We will continue to pursue and hold accountable those individuals participating in drug trafficking organizations that affect the Granite State.”
“DEA stands committed to keeping highly addictive drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl off the streets of New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Mendez Carmona accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are contributing to the drug crisis in New England and America. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
Mendez Carmona was part of a Methuen-based drug trafficking organization that was distributing significant quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Seacoast area. In late 2023, Mendez Carmona made at least three deliveries of controlled substances to undercover law enforcement officers.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. The Seabrook Police Department, Hampton Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Methuen Police Department, and the New Hampshire State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo 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.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national in state custody at Souza-Baronowski Correction Center in Lancaster, Mass., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Carlos Alexander Martinez-Jimenez, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Feb. 9, 2026. In December 2025, Martinez-Jimenez, who is currently serving a state prison sentence, was indicted by a federal grand jury.
In February 2017, Martinez-Jimenez was convicted of Furnishing a False Name or Social Security Number as well as Identity Fraud in Fall River District Court, for which he was sentenced to 134 days in state prison. He was subsequently removed from the United States in April 2017 after serving his sentence.
On Jan. 31, 2024, Martinez-Jimenez was convicted of Trafficking 18 grams or more (Less Than 36 grams) of Heroin/Morphine/Opium/Fentanyl in Essex Superior Court. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half to five years in state prison and is currently serving that sentence.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and Zachary Stendig of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Detroit Resident Sentenced to Prison for Cocaine, Fentanyl, and Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Detroit, Michigan, has been sentenced in federal court to 18 months in prison on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Patrick Brown, 33, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and a quantity of heroin between August 2023 and August 2024, and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine on August 1, 2024. Judge Colville also ordered Brown to pay a $1,000 fine and to serve two years of supervised release following his prison term.
Prior to sentencing, Judge Colville was informed that Brown was part of a conspiracy that was responsible for the distribution of large quantities of controlled substances in New Castle as well as in Detroit, Michigan. Brown primarily participated in the conspiracy by regularly selling fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine to customers, including moving from the Detroit area to work the conspiracy’s trap houses in New Castle.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Mercer County Drug Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security, and Douglas County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution in this case.
This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations that 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.
Department of War Assigns 20 Military Lawyers to Serve as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in MemphisRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, is pleased to announce the temporary assignment of twenty (20) military lawyers from the Department of War to serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) to support the White House “Restoring Law and Order in Memphis” Presidential Action issued on September 15, 2025. The SAUSAs are Judge Advocates (JAGs) detailed from all four branches of the armed forces and will be assigned to prosecute federal cases referred by the Memphis Safe Task Force, which was established by Presidential Order with the objective to end street and violent crime in Memphis to the greatest possible extent through the promotion and facilitation of hypervigilant policing, aggressive prosecution, complex investigations, financial enforcement, and large-scale saturation of besieged neighborhoods.
The JAG SAUSAs are deployed from states all over the country, and many have prior federal and state prosecutorial experience as well as litigation practice backgrounds. Members of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee provided foundational federal prosecution training, as well as district-specific rules and information for the SAUSAs at the Department of Justice National Advocacy Center in November.
Thus far during the Memphis Safe Task Force (MSTF) operational period from October 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee has charged a total of 195 defendants, including 136 by criminal complaint and 141 by indictment. Our office has also reviewed, approved, and issued over 130 search warrants and has accepted 99.4% of the cases referred for federal prosecution through the Virtual Command Center (VCC) from the MSTF.
Those numbers include a total of 14 defendants charged with Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Federal Law Enforcement Officers under 18 U.S.C. § 111. Other federal charges filed include: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), Unlawful Possession of a Machinegun under 18 U.S.C. § 922(o), Hobbs Act Robbery under 18 U.S.C. § 1951, Carjacking under 18 U.S.C. § 2119, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute under 21 U.S.C. § 841, Child Exploitation offenses under 18 U.S.C. § 2251, and Possession of a Firearm in furtherance of a Crime of Violence or Drug Trafficking Crime under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).
A comparison of cases indicted and defendants charged for the same period in 2024 and 2025 reveals the following:
From October 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee filed a total of 35 indictments charging a total of 37 defendants. During the MSTF operational period thus far from October 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee has filed a total of 111 indictments charging a total of 141 defendants. This represents a 217.14% increase in cases indicted and a 281.08% increase in defendants charged.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Our office is committed to supporting the work of the MSTF by responsive and aggressive federal prosecution of cases involving offenders who pose a significant risk to public safety, to effectively punish, incapacitate, and deter criminal conduct and reduce violent crime. This coordination and personnel-sharing between the Department of Justice and the Department of War is unprecedented and comes at a time when federal prosecutorial resources are most needed due to increased court dockets caused by the outstanding work of the MSTF. I am thankful to the Armed Forces leadership for their commitment to bringing the skill and dedication of America’s service members to deliver justice, restore order, and protect the people of Memphis.”
U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller, of the Western District of Tennessee, stated: "The Memphis Safe Task Force has created momentum in reducing violent crime, and the arrival of these Special Assistant United States Attorneys means progress made on the streets will continue in the courtroom. They will ensure prosecutions keep pace with the surge and justice is served, resulting in sustained positive change for Memphis."
Pictured: JAG SAUSAs with members of the U.S. Attorney's Office and U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller for the Western District of Tennessee.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Colorado Man Convicted of Trafficking Fentanyl, Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Denver man was convicted by a federal trial jury of trafficking fentanyl and illegally possessing firearms.
Jason S. Thompson, 50, was found guilty of one count each of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of firearms.
In the early morning hours of Aug. 30, 2024, officers with the Nixa, Mo., Police Department contacted Thompson, who was camping in a minivan in the parking lot of the Nixa Walmart. Thompson initially provided officers with a false name and date of birth. When officers attempted to arrest him, Thompson fled on foot but was quickly apprehended. Once Thompson gave officers his actual name and identifying information, they learned that he had a federal probation and parole warrant for his arrest.
Officers searched Thompson and found a small bag of cocaine and more than $1,000 in cash. Officers also located two loaded firearms, drug paraphernalia, and a large plastic bag containing nearly 140 grams of fentanyl pills in the minivan.
Thompson has an extensive criminal history that includes prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and theft.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., deliberated for about two hours before returning guilty verdicts yesterday to U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough, ending a trial that began Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.
Under federal statutes, Thompson faces a sentence of 15 years to life in federal prison, without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron A. Beaver, James J. Kelleher, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Lucas. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nixa, Mo., Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Collin County men sentenced in methamphetamine trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas–Two Plano men have been sentenced to lengthy prison sentences for their roles in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Brandon Michael Pitts, 30, pleaded guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 216 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on January 7, 2026.
Matthew Craig McCutchen, 30, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 162 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on January 7, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Pitts and McCutchen were part of a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather H. Rattan.
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Cocaine trafficker who distributed millions of dollars of illegal drugs sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Maurice Lynch has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a nationwide cocaine trafficking conspiracy, during which he sold approximately two million dollars’ worth of cocaine from a Fairburn, Georgia residence.
“Lynch was part of a large network of cocaine traffickers that peddled millions of dollars of deadly drugs from a metro-Atlanta residence,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to hold dangerous drug dealers accountable.”
“This case demonstrates how illegal drug and firearms possession can create a serious public safety threat,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “DEA will continue working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to identify and dismantle drug operations that endanger our communities.”
“Let the word get out that if you spread poison in our community there is no way you can run and hide from the U.S. Marshal’s service,” said U.S. Marshal Thomas E. Brown. “We will hunt and find you, there is no rock large enough to conceal your whereabout from us.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Lynch participated in a conspiracy that distributed cocaine from stash houses located across the United States, including in the Northern District of Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Buffalo, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; and northern New Jersey. Lynch operated one of the organization’s stash houses in Fairburn, Georgia. From there, Lynch distributed 86 kilograms of cocaine, worth approximately two million dollars, during the summer of 2022.
On July 18, 2022, Lynch departed the Fairburn stash house in a ride-share vehicle, carrying two bags. When a Georgia State Patrol trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, Lynch fled on foot, tossing the two bags into nearby trees. He was quickly apprehended, and troopers found two kilograms of cocaine inside the bags. Law enforcement subsequently searched the Fairburn stash house and found two firearms under a couch, over $100,000 in cash, and a drug ledger.
Maurice Lynch, 50, of Tacoma, Washington, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Lynch was convicted of conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute on September 25, 2025, after he pleaded guilty.
Lynch was charged with eight other defendants, four of whom have pleaded guilty:
- Tyronne Johnson, Jr., 49, of Queens, New York, pled guilty to possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute on August 20, 2025. He was sentenced to six years, six months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release on November 19, 2025.
- Elisa Johnson, 35, of Kirkland, Washington, pled guilty to conspiring to maintain a premise to distribute a controlled substance on August 20, 2025. She was sentenced to two years, six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release on November 21, 2025.
- Jovan Jackson, Sr., 49, of Snellville, Georgia, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and conspiracy to commit money laundering on July 23, 2025. Jackson’s sentencing is set for February 16, 2026.
- Dominique Gwinn, 29, of Atlanta, Georgia, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit money laundering on August 6, 2025. Gwinn’s sentencing is set for March 2, 2026.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew R. LaGrone, Sandra E. Strippoli, Elizabeth M. Hathaway, and Nicholas L. Evert, and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua May and Norman L. Barnett, prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia State Patrol.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
This prosecution is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Chinese National Charged with Unlawfully Photographing Air Force Base and Vital Military EquipmentRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – United States Attorney R. Matthew Price today announced the filing of a criminal complaint against Qilin Wu, 35, in the Western District of Missouri. The complaint charges Wu with one count of taking photographs of a vital military installation and military equipment without authorization, in violation of U.S. law.
The complaint alleges that on December 2, 2025, the Whiteman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) investigated a report of a suspicious minivan bearing a Massachusetts license plate near the perimeter of the military installation. Air Force patrolmen were dispatched to the area to investigate, and encountered Wu, who stated that he was there to observe the B-2 Spirit aircraft. The patrolmen informed Wu that he was not permitted to take photographs or make video recordings of the military installation.
The following day, according to the complaint, AFOSI was notified that the same minivan was again identified at a perimeter fence of Whiteman Air Force Base. AFOSI agents went to the area to investigate and again made contact with Wu. Wu admitted to taking videos of the B-2 Spirit aircraft and numerous photographs of Whiteman’s perimeter fencing, a gate, and military equipment. Wu showed investigators his phone, including images of Whiteman Air Force Base and military equipment that Wu had recorded. In total, investigators observed 18 images and videos that Wu admitted he had taken of the installation and of military equipment. Wu also admitted to having photographed another U.S. Air Force base and its military aircraft as well.
According to court documents, Wu is a Chinese national who illegally entered the United States on June 22, 2023, near Nogales, Arizona. At that time, Wu was arrested by immigration authorities for illegally being present in the United States. Due to a lack of detention space, Wu was released on his own recognizance to await immigration removal proceedings originally scheduled for February 9, 2027. On December 3, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) re-arrested Wu.
The allegations contained in the complaint are accusations, not evidence of guilt, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 795, Wu would be subject to a sentence of up to one year in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes; any sentence would be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Chlarson with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorney Brendan P. Geary of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. It was investigated by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Air Force’s Security Forces, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
California man pleads guilty to making fake id’s for delivery driversRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Miguel Angel Guevara-Murillo, 35, of Stockton, California, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession of device-making equipment, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that on July 28, 2025, Guevara-Murillo was inspected at the Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry. In the trunk of his car, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found, among other things, a laptop, an access card printer, blank plastic access cards, a scanner, and a paper cutter, which Guevara-Murillo brought with him from California to New York. He used these items to make counterfeit identification documents that appeared to be issued under the authority of different states in the United States. Guevara-Murillo then sold the documents for $250, which allowed individuals who purchased the documents to work for an online food delivery company.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 18, 2026, before Judge Vilardo.
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Bronx Woman Sentenced in Nationwide Sweepstakes Fraud Scheme Targeting the ElderlyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that RICKI RICKALINE GIBBS was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas to 51 months in prison for perpetrating a multi-year scheme to defraud elderly victims across the United States, which resulted in losses of over $1.6 million to more than 20 victims. GIBBS pled guilty in September 2025 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud.
“Fraudsters who prey on our most vulnerable must be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s sentence reinforces that message.”
According to the Superseding Indictment and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:
From at least 2019 through at least 2023, GIBBS and others engaged in a fraud scheme perpetrated against elderly victims (the “Elder Fraud Scheme”), through which GIBBS and her co-conspirators defrauded more than 20 elderly victims of more than $1.6 million. Victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme typically received an unsolicited phone call or text from an individual using a common name—e.g., “Robert James,” “Robert Hill,” or “Mark Miller”—claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car, but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize. The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings. In particular, victims were instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, Vanilla Visa gift cards, and cash concealed in books, as well as by wire and Zelle transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller. After luring in victims with the sweepstakes lie, the perpetrators of the Elder Fraud Scheme also used romance scam tactics to induce victims to continue making payments.
Of the more than $1.6 million lost by victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme, at least $1,379,402 went to Gibbs, or accounts belonging to or controlled by Gibbs. Gibbs, a dual citizen of Jamaica and the United States, participated in the scheme from both New York and Jamaica, alongside co-conspirators based in Jamaica. Gibbs used proceeds obtained from victims to, among other things, fund a clothing business she started called “Fairy’s Crown” and make numerous purchases of luxury items.
After her arrest, Gibbs twice met with federal law enforcement officers and falsely denied participating in the Elder Fraud Scheme and claimed to be a victim of the scheme. For example, on each occasion, Gibbs falsely told law enforcement officers that she had received calls from men named “Simon” and “Peter” saying that she had won an $8.5 million prize and that she was given instructions to pay taxes required to receive the money. Gibbs also falsely stated that she believed the money she had received from actual victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme was money from “sponsors” who were helping her pay taxes to obtain her sweepstakes prize.
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In addition to the prison term, GIBBS, 31, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $1,018,703, and restitution of $1,379,402.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Division. Mr. Clayton also thanked the New York Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander and Margaret Vasu are in charge of the prosecution.
Bronx Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in Connection with the Shooting of an Innocent BystanderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that KEANO SAHUSILAWANI, a/k/a/ “Chino,” a/k/a “Bhino,” a/k/a “Bhino Shots,” was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for illegally possessing ammunition in connection with a June 12, 2024, shooting during which SAHUSILAWANI and an accomplice fired multiple shots on a residential street in the Bronx, New York, striking and injuring an innocent bystander. SAHUSILAWANI previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, who imposed yesterday’s sentence.
“On June 12, 2024, Keano Sahusilawani and his accomplices fired several shots in an attempt to kill an intended target who was riding a bicycle down the street,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Instead, they struck an innocent bystander and caused others to run in fear for their lives. New Yorkers want gun-toting criminals off our streets, and the women and men of our Office are committed to delivering that.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint, court filings, and statements made in court proceedings:
On the evening of June 12, 2024, three individuals emerged from an SUV parked along Morris Avenue in the Bronx, just north of 151st Street. The three individuals—SAHUSILAWANI, who was unmasked and wearing a gray sweater; a second individual, who was masked up and wearing all black clothes (“Shooter-2”); and a third individual, who wore a black hoodie and light-colored pants (“CC-1”)—walked towards 151st Street. A few minutes later, the three individuals turned north onto Courtlandt, with SAHUSILAWANI and CC-1 walking up one sidewalk of Courtlandt and Shooter-2 walking up the opposite sidewalk.
Coming from the opposite direction was someone riding a bicycle in the middle of Courtlandt Avenue (the “Intended Target”). As the Intended Target got closer, SAHUSILAWANI pulled out a gun and quickly fired off multiple shots aimed at the Intended Target. As SAHUSILAWANI finished shooting, Shooter-2 fired off one or more shots. The Intended Target stumbled off his bike and was able to sprint away seemingly uninjured. However, an innocent bystander was grazed by a bullet that broke the skin on the back of his right leg. SAHUSILAWANI was not permitted to possess ammunition because of prior felony convictions for multiple gunpoint robberies, a knifepoint robbery, and criminal possession of a firearm. At the time of the shooting, SAHUSILAWANI was also on parole for his state convictions.
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In addition to the prison term, SAHUSILAWANI, 25, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department, and thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their assistance with the investigation.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Ly is in charge of the prosecution.
Bronx Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Trafficking Semiautomatic Rifles and 800 Rounds of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that HASSAN HUBBARD was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for trafficking firearms. HUBBARD previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who imposed today’s sentence.
“New Yorkers have made clear they want illegal firearms out of their neighborhoods, and that’s what they deserve,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s lengthy sentence takes yet another provider of illegal automated weapons to gun-toting criminals off the streets of New York. I commend the career prosecutors of this Office for their unwavering commitment to combatting the proliferation of illegal weapons and the havoc they wreak on our city.”
According to charging instruments and other public court filings:
In spring 2024, HUBBARD sold firearms and ammunition on multiple occasions to an undercover member of law enforcement from inside, or nearby, a Bronx apartment building. The firearms HUBBARD sold included semiautomatic assault rifles, an untraceable “ghost gun,” and high-capacity magazines, along with over 800 rounds of ammunition. Some of the firearms and ammunition HUBBARD sold are shown below:
In imposing the sentence, Judge Subramanian remarked upon the “important need to send a message that when firearm trafficking is detected, the penalties are significant.”
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In addition to his prison term, HUBBARD, 54, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick R. Moroney, Ashley C. Nicolas, and Jared D. Hoffman are in charge of the prosecution.
Armed illegal alien sentenced for operating Atlanta area methamphetamine laboratoriesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Ramiro Contreras-Sandoval, an illegal alien from Mexico, will serve a 30-year prison sentence following his convictions for operating two conversion laboratories containing over 135 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine concealed in paint buckets and for possessing firearms as an illegal alien and in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes.
"This case should send a clear message to anyone thinking about running drugs or using deadly weapons to protect their operation: the federal government will relentlessly seek justice and protect the community from drug traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The successful prosecutions of Contreras-Sandoval and his codefendant illustrate the positive impact collaboration among law enforcement agencies has on the community.”
“Operating methamphetamine labs is a reckless and dangerous crime,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This conviction underscores that DEA will aggressively pursue anyone who engages in drug trafficking activities that put lives at risk.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between March 2019 and October 2021, Contreras-Sandoval and Genaro Davalos-Pulido operated two separate clandestine liquid methamphetamine conversion laboratories in the Atlanta area. On April 23, 2019, law enforcement seized over 135 kilograms of a methamphetamine mixture concealed in paint buckets that Contreras-Sandoval and Davalos-Pulido removed from the Morrow, Georgia conversion lab and attempted to transport in a vehicle driven by a conspirator. After law enforcement stopped the drug-laden vehicle, both Contreras-Sandoval and Davalos-Pulido fled the jurisdiction to avoid arrest.
In the fall of 2021, agents located Contreras-Sandoval and Davalos-Pulido back in the Atlanta area – this time in a Norcross, Georgia neighborhood. On October 21, 2021, agents searched a Norcross residence and found Davalos-Pulido inside with a full-scale liquid methamphetamine conversion operation, a loaded Baretta handgun, $84,000 in cash, and a .50 caliber rifle that appeared ready to be shipped to Mexico. Agents arrested Contreras-Sandoval nearby and found approximately $12,000 in his vehicle and pockets.
In June 2024, Davalos-Pulido pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Davalos-Pulido was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in October 2024.
Earlier today, U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross sentenced Contreras-Sandoval, a/k/a Manuel Santiago Vazquez, a/k/a Jorge Gomez-Sandoval, a/k/a Mirin, 41, of Michoacán, Mexico, to 30 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Contreras-Sandoval was convicted by a federal jury on September 16, 2025, of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms by an alien illegally present in the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, Lawrenceville Police Department, Clayton County Police Department, and the Long Beach, California Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Thomas M. Forsyth, III prosecuted the case.
This case was part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
This case was also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Atlanta comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
6 January 2026
Zadeh Kicks Owner Sentenced to Federal Prison for $80 Million Wire Fraud and Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.— The former owner of Zadeh Kicks LLC, a now-defunct Oregon corporation that sold limited edition and collectible sneakers online, was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in a vast fraud conspiracy that cost customers more than $65 million in unfulfilled orders and defrauded financial institutions out of more than $15 million.
Michael Malekzadeh, 42, a Eugene resident, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit more than $15 million in assets. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
“This million-dollar fraud was fueled by the defendant’s insatiable greed and wreaked havoc on the lives of his victims and their families—delaying home purchases, retirements, and engagements,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Michael Malekzadeh fed his lavish lifestyle by cheating his customers, collectors, and investors out of millions and defrauding banks. The sentence imposed today reflects the seriousness of these crimes and should serve as warning to anyone contemplating fraud as a get-rich-quick scheme.”
“While the defendant lived in luxury, he took money from kids and adults for goods he was never going to deliver,” said Acting FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Shark. “In this case, part of the cost of his crimes are the unfulfilled desires of individuals who trusted him with their money. It is a good reminder that when transactions require us to rely on those who we do business with; it is important to do whatever we can to also verify they can deliver what they promise. Investigating fraud and deception in our communities remains an FBI priority.”
“The devastating effects of financial crime are real, as Mr. Malekzadeh’s greed harmed many lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “The consequences for financial crime are equally as real however, as shown in Mr. Malekzadeh’s sentencing. IRS-CI is committed to protecting our communities from financial fraudsters.”
According to court documents, Malekzadeh started his business in 2013 by purchasing limited edition and collectible sneakers to resell online. Beginning as early as January 2020, Zadeh Kicks began offering preorders of sneakers before their public release dates, allowing Malekzadeh to collect money upfront before fulfilling orders. Malekzadeh advertised, sold, and collected payments from customers for preorders knowing he could not satisfy all orders placed. By April 2022, Malekzadeh owed customers more than $65 million in undelivered sneakers.
Beyond defrauding his customer base, Malekzadeh conspired to provide false and altered financial information to numerous financial institutions—including providing altered bank statements—on more than 15 bank loan applications. All told, Malekzadeh and his co-conspirator received more than $15 million in loans from these applications.
During the investigation, agents seized millions of dollars in cash and luxury goods that Malekzadeh acquired with the proceeds of his fraud, including luxury watches, jewelry, and hundreds of handbags. Additionally, almost $7.5 million was seized from the sale of Malekzadeh’s residence in Eugene, his watches, and luxury cars manufactured by Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche.
On July 29, 2022, Malekzadeh was charged by criminal information with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and money laundering. On March 20, 2025, he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
As part of their plea agreements, Malekzadeh and his co-conspirator agreed to pay restitution in full to their victims. A restitution hearing is currently set for March 31, 2026.
This case was investigated by the FBI, IRS-CI, and Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Oregon Intellectual Property Task Force. It is being prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Forfeiture and restitution proceedings are being handled by the United States Attorney’s Office’s Asset Recovery Unit.
Update on Investigation into Brown University and Brookline ShootingsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The Department of Justice, alongside our law enforcement partners, has been actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding the mass shooting at Brown University and the homicide of an MIT professor in Brookline, Mass. The investigation into these horrific acts remains ongoing.
As part of the investigation on Dec. 18, 2025, investigators executed a federal search warrant at a storage facility used by Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the Portuguese national responsible for the senseless murders. During the search of the storage facility, the FBI recovered an electronic device containing a series of short videos made by Neves Valente after the shootings.
Today, the Department of Justice is releasing the transcripts of these videos, which have been translated from Portuguese to English. In these videos, Neves Valente admitted that he had been planning the Brown University shooting for a long time. Although Neves Valente stated that Brown University was his intended target, based on initial review of the evidence collected, he did not provide a motive for targeting students at Brown University or the professor at MIT. Neves Valente showed no remorse during the recordings; on the contrary, he exposed his true nature when he blamed innocent, unarmed children for their deaths at his hand and grumbled about a self-inflicted injury he suffered when he shot the MIT professor at close range. Our investigation into the motives behind Neves Valente’s heinous acts will continue.
Based on the evidence seized and analyzed to date, authorities do not believe there are any ongoing public safety threats associated with the shootings. Additional updates will be provided as further information is developed and following appropriate victim notification.
neves-valente_tanscript.pdfU.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $10 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Tom Wheeler, announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office (the Office) collected more than $10 million in asset forfeiture and financial litigation debt in fiscal year 2025.
Of this total:
- $2.6 million was recovered in criminal restitution debts and forfeiture actions
- $7.4 million was collected in civil actions to enforce debts.
Additional highlights underscoring the Office’s commitment to public safety and justice include:
- $1.8 million collected from criminal defendants who forfeited the proceeds and tools of their crimes.
- $755,000 recovered through seizures connected to interdictions and other criminal investigations resulting in civil forfeiture actions.
- A substantial portion of these funds distributed to local law enforcement agencies, strengthening their ability to combat crime.
- $1 million in forfeited funds restored directly to victims, ensuring they received meaningful restitution.
All U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States, as well as criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law also requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is directed to victims, criminal fines and felony assessments are deposited into the Department of Justice’s Crime Victims Fund, which supports federal and state victim compensation and assistance programs nationwide.
“These results demonstrate how asset forfeiture not only disrupts criminal activity but also provides critical resources to law enforcement and, most importantly, delivers justice to victims,” said U.S. Attorney Wheeler. “We are proud to have partnered with so many local, state, and federal agencies, and we will continue to hold accountable those who seek to profit from their illegal activities.”
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelese Woods, Chief of the Office’s Civil Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Rota, Chief of the Office’s Asset Recovery Unit, along with the Office’s dedicated support professionals- Shannon Stewart, Natoyia Sims and Jennifer Ross- and contractors Amanda Alexander and Teaune Trice. Their diligent efforts have been instrumental in upholding the law, holding wrongdoers accountable, and recovering funds for victims of crime.
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U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro Addresses Successful Results in the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful InitiativeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro gave remarks at a press conference on the success of President Trump’s federal surge to bringdown crime rates in the District.
In her remarks, U.S. Attorney Pirro reflected on the remarkable progress her office made towards fighting crime in the nation’s capital. She thanked President Donald J. Trump for his unwavering commitment to law and order by implementing a surge in federal law enforcement resources, which bolstered our teams with additional agents, advanced tools and a no-nonsense mandate, and helped to create a renewed focus to crack down on violent offenders, dismantle criminal networks and restore safety to our streets.
“When President Trump assigned me to this Office in May of last year, we knew there was a lot of work to do in fighting crime here in D.C., said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “The crime rate here is one of the worst in the country and we needed to work swiftly and aggressively to turn things around for the better. Because of the President’s push and my Office’s intentional efforts, we have now seen a huge downturn in the crime statistics in just a short period of time. There is a lot of work to do but we are up to the task and making tremendous progress.”
She re-iterated her Office’s tough stance on crime by highlighting key successes in 2025 resulting from President Trump’s Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Initiative. In 2025, there were 8,406 arrests and 856 illegal guns taken off the streets. As a result of the surge starting in August, homicides are down 60%, robberies are down 49%, carjackings are down 68% and overall crime is down 32% compared to the same time in 2024.
Going forward, U.S. Attorney Pirro explained that the safety of the residents of D.C. remains her office’s top priority, and they are taking major steps to combat crime.
Two Berks County Residents Plead Guilty to Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - Two residents of Reading, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Angel Diaz-Gibson, 34, and Kayla Rickenbach, 24, separately pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines on January 5, 2026.
In connection with the guilty pleas, the Court was advised that, from in and around June 2024 to in and around August 2024, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Diaz-Gibson and Rickenbach conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, with Diaz-Gibson also conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and Rickenbach conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Additionally, each defendant pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl: Diaz-Gibson, in and around July 2024, and Rickenbach, in and around August 2024.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for Diaz-Gibson for May 4, 2026, and for Rickenbach for May 5, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both for Rickenbach. Diaz-Gibson faces a maximum total sentence of not less than 15 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $20 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of the defendants.
Tuba City Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Brandon Hyden, 40, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced Dec. 16, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 23 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for Second Degree Murder, and five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, to be served concurrently. Hyden previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
“Hyden has been brought to account for his senseless acts of violence that took a life and forever altered others,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “While no sentence can undo the pain suffered by the victims, their families, and the Tuba City community, this outcome reflects our commitment to justice. We thank our partners at the FBI, ATF and Navajo Nation Police Department for their diligent work in this case.”
“This sentence certainly reflects the senseless violence of this case and underscores our office’s commitment to protecting all communities in Arizona and ensuring that justice is served throughout the state,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “The FBI is responsible for investigating the most serious crimes on our tribal lands, and we will continue to aggressively pursue those individuals who commit these heinous acts of violence.”
On Jan. 26, 2025, Hyden murdered an unarmed victim by shooting him six times in a parking lot at a business in Tuba City, Arizona. Approximately thirty minutes later, Hyden shot another unarmed victim four times in a residential area within the Tuba City limits. The second victim survived his gunshot wounds after several weeks of hospitalization and intensive medical treatment.
Hyden is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
The FBI, Navajo Nation Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, prosecuted the case.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-08026-PCT-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-002_Hyden
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
TD Bank Insider Pleads Guilty to Facilitating Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
A former New York-based employee of TD Bank N.A, Wilfredo Aquino, pleaded guilty today to facilitating a money laundering network’s movement of hundreds of millions of dollars through TD Bank accounts.
“The defendant leveraged his position at TD Bank and facilitated the criminal activity of a money laundering network that moved hundreds of millions of dollars through the bank’s accounts,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “During the illicit scheme, the defendant evaded reporting requirements to hide the identity of the leader of the money laundering network. The Criminal Division is fully committed to rooting out money-laundering networks and their facilitators that exploit the security and stability of our country’s banking system.”
“Aquino helped criminals launder money from inside TD Bank,” said Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello for the Criminal and Special Prosecutions Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. “Bank employees are the first line of defense against money laundering, fraud, and other financial crimes. When bank employees ignore their obligations and instead use their positions to commit crimes and line their own pockets, we will not hesitate to hold them accountable.”
“Wilfredo Aquino’s position at TD Bank required him to report suspicious customer activity and adhere to robust anti-money laundering regulations,” said Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Newark Field Office. “Instead, he turned a blind eye to complying with the law and prioritized enriching himself. IRS-CI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate individuals taking advantage of our financial system through criminal activity.”
Aquino, 47, of New York, pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with conspiring to launder monetary instruments. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12.
According to court filings, beginning in 2019 and continuing until February 2021, Aquino, then a TD Bank assistant store manager, leveraged his position to facilitate a money laundering network’s movement of hundreds of millions of dollars through TD Bank accounts. During that time, the leader of the network, Da Ying Sze, also known as David, and his co-conspirators (collectively known as David’s Network) moved approximately $474 million through TD Bank accounts by depositing cash at TD Bank stores in New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere. In February 2022, David pleaded guilty to coordinating a $653 million money laundering conspiracy, operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, and bribing bank employees in connection with financial transactions.
While David’s Network used a number of TD Bank stores to conduct its money laundering activity, it laundered the most money through Aquino’s Midtown Manhattan store. Nobody processed more transactions for David’s Network at the Midtown Manhattan store than Aquino.
During the course of David’s money laundering scheme, Aquino processed approximately 1,680 official bank checks for David’s Network, totaling more than approximately $92 million. Nearly all of these bank checks were funded with a corresponding cash deposit exceeding $10,000, which triggered TD Bank’s legal requirement to file a currency transaction report (CTR). Although Aquino knew that David was conducting these cash deposits, Aquino never identified David as the “conductor” on the CTR. Aquino also knew that TD Bank had closed other accounts linked to David for suspicious activity; one colleague even warned Aquino that David’s activity “looks like money laundering.” In February 2021, Aquino facilitated three of David’s money laundering transactions, totaling almost $2 million in cash, in a third party’s account. He failed to report David as the conductor of the transaction, thus concealing David’s role in the money laundering scheme.
Aquino accepted numerous retail gift cards from David totaling over $11,000 in return for his facilitation of this scheme, including for the three transactions in February 2021.
The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater.
IRS-CI and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) investigated the case. The Department also thanks the Morristown Police Department for its assistance with the investigation.
Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marko Pesce, Chief of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
TD Bank Insider Pleads Guilty to Facilitating $2M in Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
NEWARK – A former New York-based employee of TD Bank N.A, Wilfredo Aquino, pleaded guilty today to facilitating a money laundering network’s movement of hundreds of millions of dollars through TD Bank accounts.
“Aquino helped criminals launder money from inside TD Bank. Bank employees are the first line of defense against money laundering, fraud, and other financial crimes. When bank employees ignore their obligations and instead use their positions to commit crimes and line their own pockets, we will not hesitate to hold them accountable.”
- Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello
“The defendant leveraged his position at TD Bank and facilitated the criminal activity of a money laundering network that moved hundreds of millions of dollars through the bank’s accounts,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “During the illicit scheme, the defendant evaded reporting requirements to hide the identity of the leader of the money laundering network. The Criminal Division is fully committed to rooting out money-laundering networks and their facilitators that exploit the security and stability of our country’s banking system.”
“Wilfredo Aquino’s position at TD Bank required him to report suspicious customer activity and adhere to robust anti-money laundering regulations,” said Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Newark Field Office. “Instead, he turned a blind eye to complying with the law and prioritized enriching himself. IRS-CI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate individuals taking advantage of our financial system through criminal activity.”
Aquino, 47, of New York, pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with conspiring to launder monetary instruments. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12.
According to court filings, beginning in 2019 and continuing until February 2021, Aquino, then a TD Bank assistant store manager, leveraged his position to facilitate a money laundering network’s movement of hundreds of millions of dollars through TD Bank accounts. During that time, the leader of the network, Da Ying Sze, also known as David, and his co-conspirators (collectively known as David’s Network) moved approximately $474 million through TD Bank accounts by depositing cash at TD Bank stores in New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere. In February 2022, David pleaded guilty to coordinating a $653 million money laundering conspiracy, operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, and bribing bank employees in connection with financial transactions.
While David’s Network used a number of TD Bank stores to conduct its money laundering activity, it laundered the most money through Aquino’s Midtown Manhattan store. Nobody processed more transactions for David’s Network at the Midtown Manhattan store than Aquino.
During the course of David’s money laundering scheme, Aquino processed approximately 1,680 official bank checks for David’s Network, totaling more than approximately $92 million. Nearly all of these bank checks were funded with a corresponding cash deposit exceeding $10,000, which triggered TD Bank’s legal requirement to file a currency transaction report (CTR). Although Aquino knew that David was conducting these cash deposits, Aquino never identified David as the “conductor” on the CTR. Aquino also knew that TD Bank had closed other accounts linked to David for suspicious activity; one colleague even warned Aquino that David’s activity “looks like money laundering.” In February 2021, Aquino facilitated three of David’s money laundering transactions, totaling almost $2 million in cash, in a third party’s account. He failed to report David as the conductor of the transaction, thus concealing David’s role in the money laundering scheme.
Aquino accepted numerous retail gift cards from David totaling over $11,000 in return for his facilitation of this scheme, including for the three transactions in February 2021.
The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater.
IRS-CI and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) investigated the case. The Department also thanks the Morristown Police Department for its assistance with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marko Pesce, Chief of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
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aquino.information.pdfStockton Firearms Trafficker Who Sold Guns, Including Two Machineguns, Sentenced to 77 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Rayshawn Williams, 20, of Stockton was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to six years and five months in prison for illegally dealing in firearms and possessing machine guns, United States Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between May and July 2024, Williams sold 10 firearms to a confidential informant in illegal deals conducted on the streets in exchange for cash. Of the ten firearms sold to the informant, two of them were Glock pistols with machinegun conversion devices, popularly known as “switches,” that allow the Glock pistols to fire in a fully-automatic mode.
Williams pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 2025. While sentencing Williams, Judge Mendez observed that Williams had boasted about his involvement with a burglary of a jewelry store in Oakland, that he was affiliated with a violent street gang, and that, despite his young age, Williams had already amassed a substantial criminal history.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Stockton Field Office for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Stockton Police Department Crime Gun Intelligence Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Hitt and Zulkar Khan are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Spiro Resident Sentenced for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jessica Marie Campbell, age 44, of Spiro, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office.
On May 8, 2025, Campbell pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 7, 2023, Campbell sold a baggie containing approximately 117 grams of a crystalline substance which later tested positive for methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Campbell 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. Attorneys Jordan W. Howanitz and Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
Somali National Sentenced After Impersonating Deceased Mother to Obtain over $25,000 in Social Security FundsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Muna Abdi, 36, a Somali national living in Millcreek, Utah, was sentenced today to 12 months’ probation and ordered to pay $25,638.61 in restitution. She was sentenced for impersonating her deceased mother in order to keep Social Security benefits flowing to her mother’s account, even though her mother died in 2021 and was no longer entitled to Social Security benefits.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge David Barlow, comes after Abdi pleaded guilty to conversion of government funds on September 29, 2025.
According to court documents, from November 1, 2021, to about June 30, 2024, Abdi converted funds from the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) for her own benefit. The SSA, who was not aware of Abdi’s mother’s death, continued to disperse funds to her Social Security account, to which Abdi had access. For over three years, Abdi fraudulently withdrew at least $25,638.61 in government funds. She admitted to withdrawing the funds regularly through cash-back purchases and ATM withdrawals. She further admitted to impersonating her deceased mother in correspondences with the SSA and in person at the SSA field office.
“For years, Ms. Abdi stole funds intended for qualifying disabled and retired individuals,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “My office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to ensure justice is done when individuals defraud government programs putting critical benefit funds at risk.”
“Ms. Abdi wrongfully converted her late mother’s Supplemental Security Income payments from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for personal gain,” said John McLeod, Special Agent-in-Charge of the SSA Office of the Inspector General, Cooperative Disability Investigations – Western Field Division. “I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their collaboration in holding her accountable and reinforcing that Social Security fraud will not be tolerated.”
The case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit (SSA-CDIU) in Salt Lake City.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Sachiko J. Jepson of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
Social Media Agitator Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Harm Federal Agent's WifeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Anthony Noto pleaded guilty today to knowingly transmitting a threat to injure the wife of a federal deportation officer.
“Threatening to harm a federal agent’s spouse, child, or other loved one is inexcusable, outrageous, and illegal” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Through swift and aggressive prosecution, my office will bring to justice anyone who commits or threatens violence against federal agents and their families.”
“Threatening law enforcement officers or their families will not be tolerated,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners to hold accountable those who threaten violence against law enforcement officers and anyone connected to them.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: After an individual posted to Instagram identifying information for a federal deportation officer and the officer’s wife, Anthony Noto commented under a picture of the officer’s wife, “Anybody wanna test the sites [sic] on their new A-R? There’s a pretty good target right there!” “A-R” refers to a semiautomatic rifle.
Sentencing for Noto, 63, of Ronkonkoma, New York, is scheduled for April 16, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. Noto was previously indicted on September 23, 2025.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Eric White are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Sidney Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Sidney man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to one count of receiving child pornography.
According to court records, in 2019 Jeremy Grignon, 29, used social media platforms to receive videos of child pornography over the internet using his home computer and cellular phone. He received some of the videos from minors themselves.
Grignon faces from five to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Seminole County Resident Sentenced to 51 Months for ArsonRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robby Dewayne Tiger, age 41, of Seminole County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for one count of Arson in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Seminole Lighthorse Police, and the Seminole Police Department.
On June 4, 2025, Tiger pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on December 7, 2024, Tiger purposefully lit a fire in a Seminole residence, lit a second fire when the first fire burned out, then exited the residence to watch it burn. Law enforcement arriving on the scene discovered the house engulfed in flames and Tiger watching from nearby with a lighter in his pocket.
The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Tiger 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 Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Robeson County Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – On December 11, 2025, a federal judge sentenced a Maxton man to 14 years in federal prison for distributing cocaine and methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Lloyd Kinston Locklear, Jr., age 36, pleaded guilty on April 9, 2024.
“Drug dealers who flood our communities with dangerous drugs that put families and children at risk. They don’t care who they kill. We will not tolerate it,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This criminal chose drugs, guns, and chaos over the safety of kids in our neighborhoods. Spending the next 14 years in in prison ensures he can no longer threaten our families or poison our communities. We will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who sells dugs that kills our kids. Good riddance.”
According to the court documents and other information presented in court, investigators with the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office learned in January 2022 that Locklear was selling drugs. On January 26, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 3.7 grams of cocaine from Locklear. Officers executed a search warrant at Locklear’s residence the following day. When officers arrived, Locklear turned tail and scurried away, but they arrested him shortly afterward.
During the execution of the search warrant and arrest of Locklear, law enforcement located and seized large amounts of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, alprazolam, marijuana, and a firearm. On November 2, 2022, officers arrested Locklear again and conducted a search incident to that arrest, seizing additional amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine. State judges released Locklear on bond.
On January 20, 2023, a Robeson County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped Locklear in his car on Interstate 95 after observing him fail to maintain his lane. Deputies determined that Locklear had a pending federal arrest warrant and attempted to take him into custody. Locklear fought the officers, resisting arrest. The officer tazed Locklear and had to shoot at him. Thankfully, officers ultimately subdued Locklear before he could kill them, and detained him pending federal prosecution.
The ATF, Maxton Police Department, and Robeson County Sheriff’s Office performed excellent work investigating this case as a team.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 7:22-CR-00141-M-BM.
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Registered sex offender from Maryland sentenced to 24 years in prison after attempting to meet a minor for sexRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland man was sentenced today to 24 years in prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and commission of a sex offense by an individual required to register as a sex offender.
“Johnny Duran’s crimes are abhorrent, and today’s sentence ensures that he cannot continue to prey on children,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA). “Thanks to the hard work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, this child predator has been removed from our communities. EDVA will pursue offenders with the full force of federal law.”
“As part of a Northern Virginia-Washington, DC Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation, the U.S. Secret Service remains committed to investigating crimes that exploit innocent children,” said William Mancino, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Criminal Investigative Division. “We are grateful for all those involved in this case and for the work that was done to ensure a dangerous predator was brought to justice.”
According to court documents, on April 23, 2025, Johnny Daniel Duran, 47, of Hagerstown, used a social media messaging app to contact another user whom he believed to be a 14-year-old boy in Loudoun County. Duran, a convicted sex offender on federal probation, immediately began discussing sexual topics with the other user, who in reality was an undercover law enforcement officer. The sexual conversations continued the following night, and after learning that the user’s mother would be working that night, Duran arranged to meet him at a Taco Bell for sex. Duran described the sexual activities in which he expected to engage and repeatedly confirmed that he knew the user was 14 years old.
When Duran arrived at the Taco Bell, law enforcement approached him and found him in possession of multiple cellphones, including a secret phone that was unknown to the U.S. Probation Office and still displayed the messages between the defendant and the other user. The phone was found to contain approximately 1,700 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants and toddlers. Duran also brought with him a backpack containing multiple sex toys, lubricant, and a whip.
At the time he committed this offense, Duran was required to register as a sex offender according to federal law. Duran was previously convicted in 2006 in Maryland state court for distribution of child pornography. In 2013, he was convicted in the District of Maryland for possession of child sexual abuse material.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office provided substantial assistance in the investigation of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Halper prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-226.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Cocaine and for Violating ParoleRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Cuyahoga County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy committed while he was out on release after serving a prison sentence for a previous drug offense.
Deion Thompson, 39, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 180 months (15 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after pleading guilty in July 2025 to the following charges:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
In addition to the sentence on the drug charges, he was also ordered to serve two years of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his federal supervised release, which he had been serving as a result of a 2014 conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin. Judge Barker imposed the sentences Jan. 5.
According to court documents, from about April 1 to July 12, 2023, Thompson and a co-conspirator knowingly conspired to traffic fentanyl, cocaine base (crack), and cocaine throughout the Greater Cleveland region. Federal agents executed search warrants at three residences related to the conspiracy and discovered numerous plastic bags containing several types of controlled substances. Among the drugs seized were more than 500 fentanyl pills, five pounds of methamphetamine, over one kilogram of fentanyl analogues, one kilogram of cocaine, and 28 grams of crack cocaine. Agents also seized five loaded handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, and related ammunition. Drug paraphernalia such as blenders, scales, pill presses and cutting agents were also found. Additionally, more than $19,000 in cash and a motorcycle were also seized.
Co-defendant Murray Foster, 38, also of Cleveland, pleaded guilty to his role in the drug conspiracy and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence.
This case was investigated by the Southeast Area Law Enforcement Task Force and the FBI Cleveland Division.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian for the Northern District of Ohio.
Port Arthur man sentenced to over 19 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas –A Port Arthur man has been sentenced to over 19 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Paris Lynn Bennette, 55, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on January 6, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in 2024, local law enforcement received information that Bennette was distributing illegal drugs in the Eastern District of Texas. On July 30, 2024, Bennette was observed speeding by local law enforcement and a traffic stop was initiated. Bennette attempted to evade the officers by fleeing on foot before being apprehended a short distance away. A police canine indicated the presence of narcotics in Bennette’s vehicle, and a search was conducted resulting in the discovery of a gallon-sized bag in the vehicle containing approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Port Arthur Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lee.
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Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking of FedEx Truck, Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Ronald Byrd, 37, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 22 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release by United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer for his role in the armed carjacking of a FedEx truck in August of 2022 and related offenses.
Byrd and co-defendant Saikeen Dixon, 33, also of Philadelphia, were charged by superseding indictment in September 2023. In June of this year, both were convicted at trial of carjacking and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. In addition, Byrd was convicted at trial of attempted possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. After trial, Byrd also agreed to plead guilty to an additional firearms charge.
Judge Weilheimer sentenced Dixon last month to more than 12 years in prison.
As detailed in court filings and proven at trial, on August 9, 2022, a package was sent from “Karen Boothe” of “Caliber Consulting LLC” in Buena Park, California, to “Universal Medical Inc” at 3401 North Broad Street, Suite 101, in Philadelphia, which is the address for Temple Hospital.
A FedEx Express driver, J.H., was delivering packages to Temple Hospital on the morning of August 10, 2022. J.H. began receiving phone calls and text messages from a former FedEx Express employee, P.A., asking for a package addressed to “Universal Medical Inc” at Temple Hospital.
After J.H. arrived at the Temple Hospital loading dock, P.A. met him there and asked him again for the package addressed to “Universal Medical Inc.” J.H. told P.A. he could not give him the package. P.A. continued asking for it, even offering J.H. $5,000 in exchange. J.H. refused and called his supervisors.
J.H.’s supervisors, R.J. and D.J., arrived at the Temple Hospital loading dock driving a FedEx van. They took the package P.A. was asking for onto their FedEx van, told J.H. to do his next round of deliveries at Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, which is right next to Temple Hospital.
D.J. saw a black Jeep Cherokee come out of the Temple Hospital loading dock and follow the FedEx truck. P.A. then approached D.J. and asked her if he could have the package that he had asked J.H. for; she told him that he could not.
After finishing his deliveries at Shriners, J.H. drove his FedEx truck south on Broad Street towards the FedEx distribution center at 3600 Grays Ferry Avenue, with D.J. and R.J. following behind in their FedEx van. The black Jeep Cherokee that D.J. had seen continued following J.H.’s FedEx delivery truck.
At a red light about a block from the FedEx facility, the black Jeep, driven by Dixon, pulled in front of the FedEx truck. Defendant Byrd got out of the passenger side of the Jeep, pointed a black semi-automatic pistol at J.H., and approached the driver’s side of the FedEx truck. J.H. jumped out of the passenger side door and ran into oncoming traffic, heading toward the FedEx facility.
Byrd climbed into the FedEx truck and drove westbound across the Grays Ferry Bridge before pulling over at 47th and Linmore in Southwest Philadelphia, with Dixon following him in the Jeep. Byrd tried to open the back of the FedEx truck but could not, so he abandoned the FedEx vehicle and got back into the Jeep, which fled the scene.
After the carjacking, a trained narcotics K9 alerted to the package that P.A. had been asking for and investigators obtained a search warrant. Inside were nine individual packages wrapped in plastic and labeled “DSQUARED2,” each of which weighed approximately one kilogram and field-tested positive for cocaine. Lab testing later confirmed that the packages contained a total of approximately 9.005 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $500,000.
“The defendant was willing to get his shipment of cocaine by any means necessary, stalking and carjacking a FedEx truck at gunpoint on a busy Philly street,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “He did all of this in broad daylight — while on supervised release for a prior federal drug conviction. Ronald Byrd is clearly a danger to our community with zero regard for the law. This sentence both holds him accountable and makes the city safer.”
“This defendant’s conduct placed Philadelphia residents at risk,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Today’s result was made possible by the tireless efforts of the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and our partners at the Philadelphia Police Department, the United States Attorney’s Office and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. Together, we remain resolute in disrupting violent criminal activity, preventing further harm, and delivering justice for the victims and communities affected by violence.”
This case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Bowerman.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Fentanyl and Cocaine, Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Mario Fernandez Nunez, 23, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison by United States District Judge Chad F. Kenney for drug trafficking and gun offenses.
The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in July 2024 and pleaded guilty in May of last year to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine; three counts of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a protected location.
As detailed in court filings and hearings, from November 2023 through February 2024, Nunez conspired with co-defendant Yercy Fernandez Salcedo and others to distribute fentanyl. Typically, Salcedo arranged drug sales over the phone and then sent defendant Nunez to meet the buyer with the narcotics and collect the money.
As part of the drug trafficking conspiracy, Salcedo arranged to have Nunez live at and manage the stash house, located on the 4700 block of Worth Street in Philadelphia. A federal search warrant executed at the property in February 2024 recovered six firearms, tens of thousands of packets of fentanyl, a kilogram of cocaine, packaging materials, and paraphernalia.
Salcedo pleaded guilty in July to drug trafficking and gun offenses and is awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shayna Gannone.
Own Every Dollar Gang Leader Sentenced to 17 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that JESUS ZAPATA, a/k/a “Jeezy,” a/k/a “Hendrix,” was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken to 17 years in prison for his role as “Duarte,” or leader, of the violent gang Own Every Dollar (“OED”).
“This case reflects our efforts to dismantle violent gangs, with today’s sentence reinforcing that accountability reaches gang leaders, like Jesus Zapata, who directed and ordered violence that harmed New Yorkers and their quality of life,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.
As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
ZAPATA served as the “Duarte” of the violent OED gang, a subset of the Trinitarios gang based in and around the Washington Heights area of Manhattan. The prosecution in this case has involved the convictions of 22 members of OED for five murders, more than 10 attempted murders, multiple robberies, and the control and operation of an extensive drug trafficking network that sold large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine. ZAPATA is being held responsible for committing and ordering a number of violent acts on Rikers Island, including three slashings in 2021, as well as for trafficking narcotics.
ZAPATA is the 21st defendant to be sentenced in the case, and the 11th defendant to be sentenced to a prison term of 10 or more years.
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In addition to the prison term, ZAPATA, 36, of New York, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, the New York State Police, and the NYPD Task Force Officers assigned to this Office for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah L. Kushner, Kevin Mead, Ashley C. Nicolas, and Alexandra Messiter are in charge of the prosecution.
Nine Salinas Acosta Plaza Norteño Gang Members Indicted for Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – A federal grand jury has indicted nine South Bay men for taking part in a racketeering conspiracy to promote the aims of the Salinas Acosta Plaza Norteños (SAP Norteños) street gang by engaging in multiple crimes, including 11 murders, 14 attempted murders, drug and gun distribution, and other related offenses.
The superseding indictment, filed Dec. 18, 2025, and unsealed today, charges nine defendants, Gustavo Garcia, aka “Tatis,” 26; Lorenzo Garcia Jr., aka “Chito,” 32; Bertin Medrano, aka “Dre,” 32; Jesus Saldana aka “D Rose,” 22; Oscar Benitez aka “Sideshow,” 27; Carlos Gutierrez aka “Black Carlos,” 19; Jesus Avalos Fernandez aka “Chuchin,” 27; Jose Aguilera aka “Jay,” 26; and Marco Sanchez aka “Cooks,” 29, each with one count of racketeering conspiracy. Eleven defendants, including Gustavo Garcia, Lorenzo Garcia, and Medrano, were originally indicted in April 2024. Saldana was arrested this morning in a coordinated law enforcement operation and was arraigned in federal district court this afternoon. The other defendants were already in federal or state custody.
“For more than a decade, this gang has terrorized the residents of the Acosta Plaza townhomes and East Salinas more broadly. The violent criminal activity that defendants have been charged with is appalling and unacceptable. We will not stop until the residents of this community feel safe and secure in their homes,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “I want to thank Homeland Security Investigations and the Salinas Police Department for their excellent work and collaboration.”
“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to investigating, and bringing to justice, dangerous criminal gangs threatening our communities. We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to dismantle these groups and disrupt their illicit and violent enterprises,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeff Brannigan.
According to the superseding indictment, the SAP Norteños are a street gang that originated in a Salinas townhome complex by the same name. The group is now recognized as a clique within the larger collection of Norteño criminal street gangs. Members of the street gang work together to carry out crimes for the benefit of the street gang, its members, the larger Norteño organization, and the Nuestra Familia prison gang. Crimes are perpetrated by gang members to protect and uphold its power, territory, and profits, and gang members are expected to engage in shootings, robberies, drug sales, and other criminal conduct to gain entry into, and improve a member’s status in, the gang. Once in the gang, attempting to leave is not permitted; the punishment for attempting to leave is death.
The superseding indictment lists more than four dozen criminal acts that the defendants are alleged to have committed, including murders and attempted murders between July 2014 and April 2024 of perceived rival gang members, transient individuals, and former gang members. Defendants are also alleged to have engaged in multiple other crimes, including the robberies of individuals at gunpoint, the firebombing of a Salinas apartment, the distribution of drugs including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, firearms trafficking, and numerous shootings.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine for racketeering conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c).
In addition, the indictment alleges that special sentencing factors apply to Lorenzo Garcia for his role in the July 19, 2014, murder of a person identified in the indictment as “Victim-1” and Saldana for his role in the January 23, 2023, attempted murder of two people identified as “Victim-2” and “Victim-3.” If convicted, Lorenzo Garcia and Saldana each face a maximum sentence of life in prison. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Assistant United States Attorneys George Hageman and Jared Buszin are prosecuting this case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI and the Salinas Police Department, with assistance from the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
SAP Norteños Superseding Indictment
Niagara County convicted sex offender facing new charges of having sex with a minorRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a six-count indictment charging Joshua Mahley, 42, of Gasport, NY, with interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct, transportation of a minor, penalties for registered sex offenders, and obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen M. McCarthy, who is handling the case, stated according to the indictment, in December 2010, Mahley was convicted in Orleans County Court of Rape in the Second Degree, Sexual Intercourse by Person 18 or More with Person Less than 15, and Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, and is a registered sex offender in New York State. On three separate occasions in June, July, and August 2025, Mahley traveled across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor victim. In September 2025, Mahley transported the minor victim across state lines to engage in sexual activity. In addition, on September 8, 2025, Mahley possessed visual depictions, namely obscene computer and AI generated images, depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Muskogee Resident Sentenced for Attempted Arson in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Johnny Lee Vann, age 48, was sentenced to 83 months in prison for one count of Attempted Arson in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On July 1, 2025, Vann pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on January 4, 2025, Vann positioned a haybale beneath a neighbor’s trailer and ignited the bale. One of the residents smelled smoke, chased Vann away, and removed and extinguished the bale.
The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Vann 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 Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Mitchell Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Mitchell, South Dakota, man convicted of Production of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on January 5, 2026.
Mark Stephen Gullings, age 44, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Once released from federal prison, Gullings must register as a sex offender.
Gullings was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from Gullings using his cell phone in October 2022 to take surreptitious photos of a minor female living in his home and under his care while she was in the bathroom. Gullings would put his phone under the bathroom door or over the shower curtain to take pictures of the juvenile’s genital area for his own sexual gratification.
This case was investigated by the Brandon Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Gullings was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mexican National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the US After a Prior RemovalRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Mexican national was sentenced on Monday in U.S. District Court in Portland for illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Juan Mendez-Morales, 43, to time served (approximately 70 days). Mendez-Morales pleaded guilty on November 19, 2025.
According to court records, on October 22, 2025, Mendez-Morales was stopped by police for speeding. When a United States Border Patrol Agent arrived, Mendez-Morales admitted that he was a citizen of Mexico and had no immigration documents allowing him to be in the U.S. Mendez-Morales was previously removed from the country in October 2013 under an order from an immigration judge.
The United States Border Patrol investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Mexican Alien Drug Dealer Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Jonathan Tadeo-Neri, a 31-year-old Mexican alien, to over 11 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine. Tadeo-Neri pleaded guilty on June 23, 2025.
“This Mexican alien came to our community and sold large quantities of methamphetamine. He chose to sneak into North Carolina illegally from Mexico to sell poison that kills children and our families just to feed his greedy lust for more money. This illegal alien can fester for more than a decade in federal prison before he is immediately deported from the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “If you slink into the United States illegally to sell dangerous drugs, we will hunt you down, prosecute you, imprison you, and deport you.”
According to the court documents and other information presented in court, this investigation began in January 2023, when a confidential source contacted DEA agents regarding a methamphetamine dealer in the Raleigh area. DEA identified the drug dealer as Tadeo-Neri and conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from him. On January 9, 2023, Tadeo-Neri agreed to sell drugs and delivered 83.22 grams (94% pure) of methamphetamine.
On January 27, 2023, DEA conducted a second controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Tadeo-Neri. Tadeo-Neri sent the same courier to deliver 981.9 grams (97% pure) of methamphetamine. Tadeo-Neri is a Mexican illegal alien, who slinked into the United States without permission. The United States will deport him as soon as he has completed his prison sentence.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted the case. The DEA and Raleigh Police Department investigated the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:24-CR-00298-D-RJ.
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Member of Drug Trafficking Organization Known as “Getting Money Brothers" Found Guilty by Federal JuryRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte convicted Kareem Hicks, 45, and a member of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) known as “Getting Money Brothers” (GMB), of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Kyle D. Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in North Carolina and South Carolina, James C. Barnacle, Jr. Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Estella Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.
Four other individuals have pleaded guilty in connection with this case and are awaiting sentencing. Mandella Quinshawn Wolfe, 36, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base. His brother, Campton Conway Wolfe, 39, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine. Whynell Jason Rodriguez, 41, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base. And Dwight LaQuelle Hallman, 42, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to evidence presented at trial, filed court documents, and witness testimony, from 2023 to 2025, GMB was a DTO that distributed large amounts of cocaine, cocaine base, and other narcotics in the greater Charlotte area, as well as operated multiple drug houses. During the course of the two years GMB operated, information obtained by investigators indicated the DTO had dealt more than 50 kilograms of cocaine and crack. Investigators ultimately seized more than 20 kilograms of methamphetamine, six kilograms of cocaine, and a kilogram of fentanyl. The interdiction of the group also led to the seizure of more than 30 firearms from various individuals.
Trial evidence established that, on March 18, 2024, Hicks travelled to Charlotte from New Jersey to purchase a large amount of cocaine from Wolfe. Following his meeting with Wolfe, officers executed a federal search warrant and located approximately 200 grams of cocaine in Hick’s suitcase.
“This case wasn’t just about one defendant,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “It was about dismantling an entire drug trafficking organization that flooded our community with dangerous drugs and weapons. Our office is committed to pursuing drug traffickers from the street level to the top of the organization and working with our law enforcement partners to shut them down completely.”
“This verdict sends a clear message: Homeland Security Investigations, alongside our law enforcement partners, will not tolerate criminal organizations that endanger our communities with drugs and violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Burns. “Through coordinated investigations and strong partnerships, we are committed to dismantling drug trafficking networks and keeping dangerous narcotics and firearms off our streets.”
After the verdict, Hicks was remanded into custody. At sentencing, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended HSI, the FBI, and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William Wiseman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Mason City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
Charles Robinson, 44, from Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison, after a September 2, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Between at least May 2023 and continuing through September 2024, Robinson was involved in an ongoing methamphetamine distribution conspiracy based in Mason City, Iowa, where law enforcement documented Robinson actively engaged in drug trafficking. Robinson has an extensive criminal history, including numerous assault and domestic abuse-related convictions.
Robinson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Robinson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Cerro Gordo County, Iowa Sheriff’s Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-3032.
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Maryland man sentenced to over three years in prison for auto-theft conspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland man was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison for conspiring to steal vehicles from airport parking facilities.
According to court documents, on six occasions from Jan. 4, 2023, to April 5, 2024, Tyrese McKinnon, 25, of Temple Hills, and a co-conspirator entered parking lots at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Virginia and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Maryland and stole vehicles. McKinnon and his co-conspirator would take the vehicles from the parking lots and transport them across state lines. On one occasion, they used a credit card that they found inside the stolen vehicle.
McKinnon was incarcerated on state charges during his car theft spree. He was released from jail on March 1, 2024, and stole the fifth vehicle just 12 days after he was released.
“Tyrese McKinnon has shown a complete disregard for the law, repeatedly stealing vehicles even after prior convictions,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This sentence makes clear that chronic offenders who victimize Americans will be held fully accountable in federal court.”
“This case represents the success of law enforcement partnerships to hold Mr. McKinnon and his co-conspirator accountable for their criminal behavior,” said Special Agent in Charge Hanna Porterfield of the NCIS Washington, D.C. Field Office. “NCIS is unwavering in its commitment to protect and serve our Navy and Marine Corps families and the communities in which they live.”
"During a 15-month crime spree, McKinnon conspired to steal half a dozen vehicles and transport them across state lines — undeterred by a brief stint in jail," said Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division. "Let his yearslong sentence serve as a warning to other thieves: Auto theft is not a game. It is a crime that the FBI and our partners investigate as part of our duty to protect our fellow community members and their property."
The combined value of the vehicles stolen by McKinnon is between $150,000 and $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc J. Birnbaum and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Amzallag prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-260.
This release was edited on Jan. 13, 2026, to include a quote from the FBI.