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Thursday 30 October 2025
Ukrainian National Extradited from Ireland in Connection with Conti RansomwareRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Following his extradition from Ireland, a Ukrainian man had his initial appearance today in the Middle District of Tennessee on a 2023 indictment charging him with conspiracy to deploy Conti, a ransomware variant that infected victim computers and networks, encrypting their data.
According to court documents, from in or around 2020 and continuing until about June 2022, Oleksii Oleksiyovych Lytvynenko, 43, of Cork, Ireland, conspired with others to deploy Conti ransomware to extort victims and steal their data. Court filings allege the conspirators hacked into victims’ computer networks, encrypted their data, and demanded a ransom to restore the victims’ access to their files and avoid public disclosure of the hacked information. The conspirators allegedly extorted more than $500,000 in cryptocurrency from two victims in the Middle District of Tennessee, and published information stolen from a third victim in that District.
Conti was used to attack more than 1,000 victims worldwide, including victims in the Middle District of Tennessee, approximately 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and approximately 31 foreign countries. The FBI estimates that, as of January 2022, Conti ransomware attacks resulted in at least $150 million in ransom payments. According to the FBI, in 2021, Conti ransomware was used to attack more critical infrastructure victims than any other ransomware variant. Court documents further allege that Lytvynenko controlled data stolen from numerous Conti victims and was involved in the ransom notes deployed on the victims’ systems.
At the request of the United States, An Garda Síochána—the Irish national police—arrested Lytvynenko in July 2023. An Irish court then detained him pending extradition proceedings which concluded this month. In addition to his involvement in Conti, filings allege that he engaged in cybercrime up until days before his arrest in Ireland in 2023.
“The defendant allegedly participated in a conspiracy to extort approximately $150 million in ransomware payments responsible for defrauding victims in almost every U.S. state and from over two dozen countries worldwide,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Ransomware is a significant threat to the safety, security, and prosperity of American citizens and business. The Department will continue to pursue ransomware actors all over the world in its efforts to hold them to account for the damage they have inflicted on victims.”
“We will continue to work diligently to hold ransomware actors accountable for their actions which victimize American businesses and harm Tennesseans,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “I commend the prosecutors and investigators who have worked hard and sought justice for years in this investigation, and we look forward to proving our case in court.”
“Lytvynenko conspired to deploy Conti ransomware against victims in the United States and across the globe, extorting millions in cryptocurrency and amassing a trove of stolen data,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “His extradition demonstrates the strength of our partnership with Irish law enforcement and the FBI’s commitment to counter cyber criminals who threaten American infrastructure. We urge every organization to remain vigilant and quickly report ransomware intrusions to your local FBI field office.”
Lytvynenko is charged with computer fraud conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison for the computer fraud conspiracy and 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy.
In September 2023, an indictment charging four other Conti conspirators was unsealed in the Middle District of Tennessee.
The FBI’s Nashville, San Diego, and El Paso field offices and the U.S. Secret Service are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Sonia V. Jimenez of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Phillips of the Middle District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
The extradition was handled by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs with the cooperation of the Irish government and assistance from the U.S. Embassy in Ireland.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. CCIPS leads the Department of Justice’s fight against ransomware. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Russian Mob Leaders Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Murder-For-Hire Targeting a Journalist on Behalf of the Iranian GovernmentRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that RAFAT AMIROV, a/k/a “Farkhaddin Mirzoev,” a/k/a “Pᴎᴍ,” a/k/a “Rome,” and POLAD OMAROV, a/k/a “Araz Aliyev,” a/k/a “Polad Qaqa,” a/k/a “Haci Qaqa,” were each sentenced yesterday to 25 years’ in prison for their participation in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Masih Alinejad, a journalist, author, and human rights activist, on behalf of the Government of Iran. In March 2025, Amirov and Omarov were found guilty of murder-for-hire, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related charges, following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon, who imposed today’s sentences.
“The defendants and their criminal associates came chillingly close to gunning down an Iranian-American journalist on the streets of New York.” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Tehran has long sought to silence Ms. Alinejad, and after multiple failed kidnapping attempts, turned to Omarov and Amirov and their organization to stalk and murder her. This case is part of a well-documented and disturbing rise in plots involving criminal networks paid by Iran to target dissidents in the United States and around the world. We are committed to holding accountable those who join forces with this vile regime to violate our national sovereignty or threaten U.S. citizens.”
“The Government of Iran, a sponsor of terrorism, assassination, and espionage around the globe, brazenly brought its efforts to murder Masih Alinejad to New York,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton. “The plot exposed at trial involved actors on three continents, culminating with a hitman with an AK-47 outside Ms. Alinejad’s apartment in Brooklyn. Yesterday’s sentences send a clear message: the DOJ and our partners will expose and severely punish those who target U.S. citizens and bring terror to our community.”
“This sentencing marks a victory for justice and a clear warning to those who seek to export repression onto U.S. soil,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “The plot, orchestrated by the Iranian government to assassinate a dissident living in America, demonstrates the lengths to which authoritarian actors will go to silence voices of freedom. The FBI remains steadfast in its mission to defend the homeland from anyone who participates in transnational repression and threatens our democratic values.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, two highly ranked members of the Russian Mob, attempted to assassinate Masih Alinejad to permanently silence her criticism of the Iranian government and public advocacy of human rights. These defendants operated as unlawful enforcers for a foreign government to target an American journalist on our nation’s soil. May yesterday’s sentencing emphasize the FBI’s steadfast commitment to protecting Americans against any foreign actor seeking to inflict terror and physical harm to further a political agenda.”
According to the Superseding Indictment, public court filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
AMIROV and OMAROV were high-ranking members of an Azerbaijani faction of the Russian Mob (the “Organization”) who worked with other members of the Organization to kill Masih Alinejad on instructions from high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (“IRGC”). Ms. Alinejad has previously been the target of multiple plots by the Government of Iran to intimidate, harass, and kidnap her for her work as a journalist, author, and human rights activist who has publicized the Government of Iran’s human rights abuses, especially its discriminatory and oppressive treatment of women, repression of political expression, and killings of Iranians engaged in peaceful protests against the regime. As recently as 2020 and 2021, Iranian intelligence officials and assets plotted to kidnap Ms. Alinejad from within the U.S. for rendition to Iran in an effort to silence her criticism of the Iranian regime.
After its efforts to kidnap Ms. Alinejad from the U.S. failed in 2020 and 2021, the IRGC turned to AMIROV—a Vor, or Thief-in-Law, the highest rank in the Russian Mob—and OMAROV—the cousin of a powerful Vor who aspired to become a Vor himself—to locate, surveil, and murder her. The IRGC offered AMIROV $500,000 for Ms. Alinejad’s murder and provided him with targeting information about Ms. Alinejad, including her home address. Beginning in approximately July 2022, AMIROV sent this targeting information to OMAROV. OMAROV, in turn, communicated this information to Khalid Mehdiyev, another member of the Organization who had been residing in Yonkers, New York, so that Mehdiyev could surveil Ms. Alinejad and murder her. AMIROV and OMAROV arranged the delivery of $30,000 to Mehdiyev from the IRGC’s advance payment; Mehdiyev used a portion of these funds to buy an AK-47 style assault rifle, two magazines, and 66 rounds of ammunition.
In late July 2022, Mehdiyev repeatedly traveled to Ms. Alinejad’s neighborhood to surveil her residence and locate her. Mehdiyev sent photographs, videos, and updates on his stakeouts to OMAROV, who passed them on to AMIROV. AMIROV gave OMAROV intelligence about Ms. Alinejad’s home, location, and family members provided by his IRGC contacts to assist Mehdiyev’s attempts to locate and kill Ms. Alinejad. On July 24, 2022, Mehdiyev reported to OMAROV from Ms. Alinejad’s residence that he was “at the crime scene.” On July 27, 2022, OMAROV told AMIROV that Mehdiyev was ready to kill Ms. Alinejad, writing “this matter will be over today. I told them to make a birthday present for me. I pressured them, they will sleep there this night.” On July 28, 2022, Mehdiyev sent OMAROV a video taken from inside the car that Mehdiyev was driving with the assault rifle and a message reading, “we are ready.” As OMAROV continued to update AMIROV about Mehdiyev’s readiness, AMIROV cautioned OMAROV, “let him keep the car clean.” When Mehdiyev drove away from surveilling the residence on July 28, 2022, he was stopped after a traffic violation and, during a search of the vehicle, police officers found the assault rifle; 66 rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber of the assault rifle; approximately $1,100 in cash; gloves; and a black ski mask.
After Mehdiyev was arrested and placed into custody, OMAROV contacted Mehdiyev’s mother and threatened to kill her and her other son if she did not locate Mehdiyev, in part because the IRGC was demanding the return of its money.
In addition to their prison terms, AMIROV, 46, of Iran; OMAROV, 41, of the country of Georgia, were sentenced to a $500 special assessment.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and its New York Field Office Counterintelligence-Cyber Division and the New York FBI Iran Threat Task Force. Mr. Clayton also thanked the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) and the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, for their assistance. Mr. Clayton also thanked the authorities in the Czech Republic.
This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Lockard, Jacob H. Gutwillig, and Matthew J.C. Hellman are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Christopher Rigali and Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Two Russian Mob Leaders Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Murder-For-Hire Targeting A Journalist on Behalf of the Iranian GovernmentRead the Press Release
Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John A. Eisenberg, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that RAFAT AMIROV, a/k/a “Farkhaddin Mirzoev,” a/k/a “Pᴎᴍ,” a/k/a “Rome,” and POLAD OMAROV, a/k/a “Araz Aliyev,” a/k/a “Polad Qaqa,” a/k/a “Haci Qaqa,” were each sentenced yesterday to 25 years’ imprisonment for their participation in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Masih Alinejad, a journalist, author, and human rights activist, on behalf of the Government of Iran. In March 2025, Amirov and Omarov were found guilty of murder-for-hire, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related charges, following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon, who imposed yesterday’s sentences.
“The Government of Iran, a sponsor of terrorism, assassination, and espionage around the globe, brazenly brought its efforts to murder Masih Alinejad to New York," U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said. "The plot exposed at trial involved actors on three continents, culminating with a hitman with an AK-47 outside Ms. Alinejad’s apartment in Brooklyn. Yesterday’s sentences send a clear message: the DOJ and our partners will expose and severely punish those who target U.S. citizens and bring terror to our community.”
Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg said: “The defendants and their criminal associates came chillingly close to gunning down an Iranian-American journalist on the streets of New York. Tehran has long sought to silence Ms. Alinejad, and after multiple failed kidnapping attempts, turned to Omarov and Amirov and their organization to stalk and murder her. This case is part of a well-documented and disturbing rise in plots involving criminal networks paid by Iran to target dissidents in the United States and around the world. We are committed to holding accountable those who join forces with this vile regime to violate our national sovereignty or threaten U.S. citizens.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, two highly ranked members of the Russian Mob, attempted to assassinate Masih Alinejad to permanently silence her criticism of the Iranian government and public advocacy of human rights. These defendants operated as unlawful enforcers for a foreign government to target an American journalist on our nation’s soil. May yesterday’s sentencing emphasize the FBI’s steadfast commitment to protecting Americans against any foreign actor seeking to inflict terror and physical harm to further a political agenda.”
According to the Superseding Indictment, public court filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
AMIROV and OMAROV were high-ranking members of an Azerbaijani faction of the Russian Mob (the “Organization”) who worked with other members of the Organization to kill Masih Alinejad on instructions from high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (“IRGC”). Ms. Alinejad has previously been the target of multiple plots by the Government of Iran to intimidate, harass, and kidnap her for her work as a journalist, author, and human rights activist who has publicized the Government of Iran’s human rights abuses, especially its discriminatory and oppressive treatment of women, repression of political expression, and killings of Iranians engaged in peaceful protests against the regime. As recently as 2020 and 2021, Iranian intelligence officials and assets plotted to kidnap Ms. Alinejad from within the U.S. for rendition to Iran in an effort to silence her criticism of the Iranian regime.
After its efforts to kidnap Ms. Alinejad from the U.S. failed in 2020 and 2021, the IRGC turned to AMIROV—a Vor, or Thief-in-Law, the highest rank in the Russian Mob—and OMAROV—the cousin of a powerful Vor who aspired to become a Vor himself—to locate, surveil, and murder her. The IRGC offered AMIROV $500,000 for Ms. Alinejad’s murder and provided him with targeting information about Ms. Alinejad, including her home address. Beginning in approximately July 2022, AMIROV sent this targeting information to OMAROV. OMAROV, in turn, communicated this information to Khalid Mehdiyev, another member of the Organization who had been residing in Yonkers, New York, so that Mehdiyev could surveil Ms. Alinejad and murder her. AMIROV and OMAROV arranged the delivery of $30,000 to Mehdiyev from the IRGC’s advance payment; Mehdiyev used a portion of these funds to buy an AK-47 style assault rifle, two magazines, and 66 rounds of ammunition.
In late July 2022, Mehdiyev repeatedly traveled to Ms. Alinejad’s neighborhood to surveil her residence and locate her. Mehdiyev sent photographs, videos, and updates on his stakeouts to OMAROV, who passed them on to AMIROV. AMIROV gave OMAROV intelligence about Ms. Alinejad’s home, location, and family members provided by his IRGC contacts to assist Mehdiyev’s attempts to locate and kill Ms. Alinejad. On July 24, 2022, Mehdiyev reported to OMAROV from Ms. Alinejad’s residence that he was “at the crime scene.” On July 27, 2022, OMAROV told AMIROV that Mehdiyev was ready to kill Ms. Alinejad, writing “this matter will be over today. I told them to make a birthday present for me. I pressured them, they will sleep there this night.” On July 28, 2022, Mehdiyev sent OMAROV a video taken from inside the car that Mehdiyev was driving with the assault rifle and a message reading, “we are ready.” As OMAROV continued to update AMIROV about Mehdiyev’s readiness, AMIROV cautioned OMAROV, “let him keep the car clean.” When Mehdiyev drove away from surveilling the residence on July 28, 2022, he was stopped after a traffic violation and, during a search of the vehicle, police officers found the assault rifle; 66 rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber of the assault rifle; approximately $1,100 in cash; gloves; and a black ski mask.
After Mehdiyev was arrested and placed into custody, OMAROV contacted Mehdiyev’s mother and threatened to kill her and her other son if she did not locate Mehdiyev, in part because the IRGC was demanding the return of its money.
* * *
In addition to their prison terms, AMIROV, 46, of Iran; OMAROV, 41, of the country of Georgia, were sentenced to a $500 special assessment.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and its New York Field Office Counterintelligence-Cyber Division and the New York FBI Iran Threat Task Force. Mr. Clayton also thanked the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) and the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, for their assistance. Mr. Clayton also thanked the authorities in the Czech Republic.
This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Lockard, Jacob H. Gutwillig, and Matthew J.C. Hellman are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Christopher Rigali and Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Three Rivers resident imprisoned for 15 years after recording sexual video of himself with minor relativeRead the Press Release
Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 39-year-old man has been ordered to prison for sexual exploitation of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Johnathon Roberts pleaded guilty July 24.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now sentenced Roberts to 180 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional information including that Roberts had created similar recordings over a period of years. Roberts will serve 10 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Roberts will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
The investigation revealed child sexual abuse material had been uploaded onto the internet. Law enforcement was able to identify Roberts as the source of the content.
On Oct. 25, 2024, authorities obtained a search warrant for his residence in Three Rivers. At that time, they located and seized Roberts’ cell phone which was found to contain over 150 videos and images of CSAM.
Upon inspection, law enforcement discovered a video recording Roberts made of himself engaging in sexual activity with a minor female. Roberts admitted to law enforcement that he had created the video.
Roberts will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Third Suspect Charged with Murder in the Slaying of Congressional Intern, Also Charged in Killing of Teen GirlRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Naqwan Antonio Lucas, 18, of the District of Columbia, has been charged in a 16-count indictment for the June 30 murder of 21-year-old congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym and charged in a second indictment for the July 4 murder of 17-year-old Zoey Kelley, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Lucas, aka “Qwan,” appeared before Judge Dana Dayson this afternoon in D.C. Superior Court for his arraignment on both indictments. Lucas pleaded not guilty and Judge Dayson held Lucas until a status hearing with his co-defendants scheduled for November 7.
Joining in the announcement were Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces S. Serralta, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Washington Field Office Criminal Division.
“These were predictable homicides based upon the behavior of these individuals and the records that everyone knew about, yet the D.C. Council is interested in protecting not the victims but the criminals under the guise of protecting the innocence of youth,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “It’s time for them to start protecting the citizens of the District.”
Lucas was arrested last night in Montgomery Village, Maryland, by members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, MPD, and U.S. Marshals.
On June 30, Tarpinian, a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, was an innocent bystander when three armed suspects exited a stolen vehicle and began firing shots at two young men near the intersection of 7th and M Street NW. Tarpinian, of Granby, Massachusetts, was shot four times and died the next day. Five other people also were assaulted or injured.
Kelvin Thomas, Jr., 17, and Naqwan Lucas’ brother Jailen Lucas, 17, were arrested September 5 and charged as adults on counts of first-degree murder while armed in connection with Tarpinian’s slaying.
On July 4, MPD officers were flagged down about 5:20 p.m. on the 1700 block of Benning Road NE. The officers followed two witnesses into an apartment and found Zoey Kelley, 17, dead of a gunshot wound to the head inside of a storage container wrapped in bedding in the bedroom closet.
Last week, the MPD and FBI announced a $75,000 reward for information leading to Lucas’ arrest.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Marshal’s Service with valuable assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin M. DeRiso and Anthony Cocuzza.
An indictment is merely an allegation where citizens of the District of Columbia have determined based upon probable cause that an individual should be charged with the crimes contained within the indictment. The charged individual is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a criminal court of law.
2025 CF1 14017 – Eric
2025 CF1 14016 - Zoey
South Bend Man Found Guilty by JuryRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On October 30, 2025, Aguila Binion, 48 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine after a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 19, 2026, at 1:30 PM.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Luke N. Reilander.
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.
Reading Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Three Berks County Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Mikal Portalatin, 35, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 216 months in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge John M. Gallagher for committing three commercial armed robberies. Judge Gallagher also ordered Portalatin to pay $87,700 in restitution and $2,900 in fines and assessments.
The defendant was charged by indictment in January 2024 and pleaded guilty in July of this year to one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of armed bank robbery, charges arising from three armed robberies he committed in Berks County in the second half of 2022:
- July 27, 2022; Citgo gas station convenience store, 200 block of Buttonwood Street
- August 3, 2022; Sunoco gas station convenience store, 1500 block of Lancaster Avenue
- November 21, 2022; Members First Credit Union, 500 block of E. Lancaster Avenue
During the July robbery, Portalatin discharged his firearm at an employee who chased him as he fled; no one was hit.
This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency, the Cumru Township Police Department, and the Reading Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rosalynda M. Michetti and Kelly Lewis Fallenstein.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
National Guardsman Arrested and Charged with Export ViolationRead the Press Release
Canyon Anthony Amarys, 28, of Alamogordo, New Mexico, was arrested on October 28 in connection with his indictment for the attempted violation of the Export Control Reform Act. Amarys will make his initial appearance today in federal court in the District of Kansas at 1:30 p.m. Central Time.
According to the indictment, in February 2025, at an in-person meeting between Amarys and someone he believed to be a Russian intelligence agent, Amarys signed a one-page agreement in order to confirm his covert relationship with a Russian intelligence service. In addition, as part of that relationship, Amarys agreed to photograph a military installation on Fort Riley, Kansas, and to procure a helicopter radio for use by the Russian military.
In March 2025, after purchasing the helicopter radio, Amarys traveled to Kansas in order to retrieve the radio and export it to a purported recipient in Romania. In doing so, Amarys communicated with a person he believed to be a Russian intelligence agent, and confirmed his understanding that the radio would in fact be illegally diverted to Russia.
Pursuant to a court-authorized search, investigators recovered the radio that Amarys had sought to illegally export to Russia. Under U.S. export laws and regulations, the export of this controlled item without a license from the U.S. Department of Commerce was unlawful. Amarys understood that his shipment of the radio abroad was illegal, and told the person he believed to be a Russian intelligence agent that he had researched export regulations in anticipation of their meeting in February 2025.
The FBI Kansas City field office is investigating the case, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, the Kansas National Guard, the Department of Commerce – Bureau of Industry and Security, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask of the District of Kansas and Trial Attorney David Ryan of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Illegal alien gets maximum sentence for leading smuggling organization involving transportation of over 100 peopleRead the Press Release
Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 41-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston has been sentenced for an alien smuggling conspiracy and illegal reentry into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Edgar Ruiz-Briones pleaded guilty July 22.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Ruiz-Briones to serve the maximum of 120 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
The investigation revealed Ruiz-Briones arranged transportation and coordinating trips for illegal aliens coming over the southern border with Mexico. Ruiz-Briones was the leader of the smuggling organization, recruiting drivers from as far away as Kansas to come to the Rio Grande Valley.
Drivers would communicate directly with Ruiz-Briones to set up the trips, give updates on progress and set meeting spots for drop-offs in Houston after successful smuggling operations. They would pick up illegal aliens from different stash houses and transport them to Houston, where they met with Ruiz-Briones before going further into the United States.
Ruiz-Briones handled payments from the aliens to come into the United States and payments to the drivers he recruited.
Over the course of the 18-month conspiracy, Ruiz-Briones arranged for over 100 aliens to enter, remain and be transported further into the United States.
An illegal alien himself having been removed from the United States on multiple occasions, he also pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States from Mexico and remaining here in violation of the law.
Ruiz-Briones has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Houston felon admits to shooting bystander during armed robbery spreeRead the Press Release
Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.HOUSTON – A 26-year-old Houston man has pleaded guilty to brandishing and illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
On Feb. 22 and 23, Devonte Robinson robbed three Houston-area businesses at gunpoint - a Timewise, Circle K and Family Dollar. At the Timewise and Family Dollar, Robinson entered wearing a mask, brandished a firearm at employees and demanded cash from the registers.
At Circle K, Robinson shot a customer while trying to steal money from the victim’s hands. The customer pulled their own firearm and returned fire, causing patrons to run and hide inside the store.
Authorities discovered him with the weapon and same mask used in all three robberies as well as a large amount of cash.
U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal will impose sentencing Jan. 13, 2026. At that time, Robinson faces up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The FBI and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.
Happy Valley Woman Charged with Assaulting Federal Officer During Traffic StopRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Happy Valley, Oregon, woman made her initial appearance today after allegedly punching a Federal Protective Service (FPS) officer in the face during a traffic stop.
Melanie Breeanne Rivas, 25, has been charged by criminal complaint with Assault on a Federal Officer.
According to court documents, on October 29, 2025, an FPS officer was on duty driving in a fully marked federal police patrol vehicle when he observed Rivas repeatedly turning her vehicle towards his vehicle and flipping him off. Rivas turned into the right lane, cutting off the officer, and continued to slam on her brakes in front of his vehicle for more than 4 miles. The officer attempted to change lanes, but Rivas repositioned her vehicle in front of the officer and continued to brake sharply. After initiating a traffic stop, the officer asked Rivas to step out of her vehicle and Rivas refused instead reaching for items in her center console. Once Rivas stepped out of the vehicle, she continued to disregard orders. As the officer attempted to handcuff Rivas, she punched the officer in the face.
Rivas made her first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was ordered released pending further court proceedings.
The FPS is investigating the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Grand Island Man Charged with Assault and Attempted Murder of Federal Task Force OfficersRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Justin Jelinek, 43, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was charged on October 29, 2025, by criminal complaint in Lincoln, Nebraska. Jelinek is charged with Assault on a Federal Task Force Officer with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon, Attempted Murder of a Federal Task Force Officer, Discharge of a Firearm During and Relation to a Crime of Violence, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography. These charges carry penalties with a minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment to life. Discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence carries with it a 10-year mandatory minimum imprisonment term and qualifies for up to life in prison.
The complaint alleges that on October 15, 2025, Jelinek fired upon Federal Task Force Officers with employed with the Nebraska State Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations when executing a judicially issued search warrant in relation to receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse materials.
The complaint alleges that Jelinek confronted the officers with a firearm when they entered his residence after he did not respond to knocking and officers’ commands. Jelinek is alleged to have fired one round from a high-powered rifle when negotiations with Jelinek to drop his weapon and end the confrontation peacefully and safely failed. Jelinek shot out the front door of the residence at 7 officers who were on or around on the front porch. One officer returned fire. Eventually, Jelinek surrendered and was arrested. The officers executed the search warrant and seized several electronic devices and performed a preliminary review for child sexual abuse materials. Law enforcement obtained additional search warrants while on site and seized firearms valued at approximately $100,000 and approximately 25,000 rounds of ammunition.
Jelinek appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Jacqueline M. DeLuca on October 30, 2025, for his initial appearance. A preliminary and detention hearing is scheduled for November 6, 2025, before Magistrate Judge DeLuca.
“This case underscores the extreme dangers our HSI agents and Task Force Officers face every day in the pursuit of justice and the protection of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge for HSI Kansas City Mark Zito. “Despite Jelinek’s continued disregard for anyone other than himself, our Task Force Officers remained steadfast in their mission to hold him accountable. HSI, in collaboration with our partners, will ensure that he faces the full weight of federal justice for his actions. We are grateful that our officers and task force members emerged from this incident unharmed, and we remain committed to safeguarding the public from those who threaten the safety and security of our communities.”
A Criminal Complaint is a charging document that contains one or more individual counts that are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 420 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – On October 30, 2025, James J. Oldham, V, 28 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and to distributing fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Oldham was sentenced to 420 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Oldham went to trial in November of 2024, but he decided to plead guilty after the fourth day of trial. Oldham coordinated the transportation and distribution of massive quantities of fentanyl pills from Arizona to Indiana, distributing the pills in northeastern and central Indiana. Oldham recruited young women to transport his drugs on commercial airlines, including two minors under the age of 18.
"Fentanyl is not just an illegal drug - it’s a weapon of destruction in our communities, destroying lives and devastating families,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “This sentence underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to remove these dangerous dealers from our streets and keep our neighborhoods safe.”
“James Oldham organized a criminal conspiracy to traffic enormous quantities of a deadly and addictive poison into northern Indiana,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “To further this illicit scheme, he enlisted others—including two underage girls—to serve as drug mules. The hefty sentence he received is just in light of the harm his trade has visited on our communities and the callous disregard he demonstrated towards the vulnerable women and girls swept up in his scheme. My thanks go out to the exceptional team of law enforcement professionals who worked diligently to put him in federal prison.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Fort Wayne Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes the FBI, Indiana State Police, Allen County Sheriff’s Department, and Fort Wayne Police Department. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory, the Phoenix (Arizona) Police Department, the Glendale (Arizona) Police Department, and the Allen County (Indiana) Prosecuting Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony W. Geller and Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identified, disrupted, and dismantled the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leveraged the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. OCDETF’s mission has since been brought under the ambit of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) program.
Former Spartanburg County Sheriff, 2 Employees Plead Guilty in Public Corruption SchemeRead the Press Release
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Charles “Chuck” Wright, 60, the former sheriff of Spartanburg County; Amos Durham 61, a former chaplain for the department; and Lawson B. Watson 63, a former employee, have pleaded guilty for their participation in a public corruption scheme that defrauded the county of public funds for years.
Wright pleaded guilty to Counts 1, 2 and 3 of the Information. Count 1 charges conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. Count 2 charges conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and Wright faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and 3 years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. Count 3 charges obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. Wright must pay a special assessment of $100 for each count.
Amos Durham pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment, plus a special assessment of $100. Lawson B. Watson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment, plus a special assessment of $100.
Chief United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence the defendants after receiving and reviewing sentencing reports prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
According to court documents, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain’s Benevolence Fund (the Benevolence Fund) is a non-profit organization that provides financial and emotional assistance to officers of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office during times of need, such as bereavement, financial difficulties, and traumatic line-of-duty events. Wright, in his capacity as sheriff, hired Durham as the Director of the Benevolence Fund. In that position, Durham was responsible for administering the fund. Durham and Wright abused their positions and conspired to siphon public funds from the Benevolence Fund for their private use.
In March 2005, Wright hired Watson as an employee of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. From at least as early as January 2021 through March 2025, Watson certified on his timesheet that he worked a full-time job. In fact, Watson received a full salary and benefits for work that he did not perform. Wright allowed Watson to continue to fraudulently receive a paycheck and benefits of approximately $200,000 for work that he did not perform.
In May of 2023 through September 2023, Wright knowingly and intentionally obtained 147 pills of oxycodone and hydrocodone by misrepresentation from an individual after representing that the pills would be turned in and destroyed as part of the “take back” narcotic disposal program administered by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. In fact, Wright was obtaining the narcotics for his own personal use.
“Thank you to our investigation and prosecution partners and their respective offices, to Solicitor Micah Black, Chief of SLED Mark Keel, FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore, and the federal prosecutors and support members in our office,” said Bryan Stirling, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “In South Carolina we are so fortunate to have local, state, and federal law enforcement in lock step in every case and defendant brought to justice. I want to make it very clear no one is above the law, especially those that wear the badge. Stealing from a fund that’s supposed to benefit law enforcement families in their darkest hours is not something that can be condoned. Finally, if you hold a position of trust and abuse that trust, your misconduct will meet the full force of the law.”
“The defendants held positions of power within the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office but chose to abuse the public’s trust,” said Kevin Moore, special agent in charge of the FBI Columbia field office, “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will always pursue and hold accountable anyone who misuses the power and trust granted to them – no matter who they are or where they serve.”
“The task of investigating a popular and powerful local sheriff is never an easy one,” said Micah Black, 10th Circuit Solicitor. “I would like to thank Chief Keel and his team at the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, including Special Agent Austin Mills, for their persistence in this case. They worked closely with their counterparts at the Federal Bureau of Investigation during this joint investigation. Additionally, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina has been relentless in their pursuit of justice in this case, and we were proud to partner with them in this prosecution. Without the hard work of all involved, today’s guilty plea would not have happened.”
“I’d like to thank our state and federal law enforcement and prosecution partners who worked together to ensure that justice was served. These offenses aren’t just against the law – these actions by public servants violate the public’s trust,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “No one, no matter their title, is above the law.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lothrop Morris is prosecuting the case.
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Foreign national admits to selling counterfeit cancer medicationRead the Press Release
Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Indian national has pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell and ship counterfeit oncology pharmaceuticals into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
From August 2018 to June 2024, Sanjay Kumar and others arranged the sale and trafficking of counterfeit versions of the cancer drug Keytruda worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Keytruda is an FDA-approved immunotherapy used to treat melanoma and Hodgkin lymphoma as well as lung, head and neck, gastric, cervical and breast cancers. Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, formerly Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., holds the exclusive right to authorize the manufacturing of genuine Keytruda.
The counterfeit Keytruda Kumar sold bore fake trademarks and lacked the active ingredient needed to treat cancer. Instead, it contained fillers and adulterants with no medical purpose. The packaging was also counterfeit, bearing marks nearly identical to those registered to Merck.
During an undercover operation, Kumar attempted to sell additional quantities of counterfeit Keytruda. He admitted he knew the drugs would not work to treat cancer, describing them as “just like water.”
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal will impose sentencing Jan. 13. At that time, Kumar faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Food and Drug Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman and Trial Attorneys Ethan Cantor, Bryce Rosenbower and Jeff Pearlman of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.
Convicted Felon Arrested and Charged After Stealing Multiple Firearms from a Storage LockerRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced today that Sidney Campbell, 45, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was charged yesterday by criminal complaint with illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
According to the criminal complaint, Campbell possessed a loaded firearm and ammunition on May 15, 2025, and transferred them to another person that same day. According to the complaint, Campbell was previously convicted of burglary in the first degree in 2001 and has six prior felony convictions in the State of Hawaii, and therefore was forbidden by federal law from possessing firearms.
The complaint also alleges that on October 25, 2025, Campbell broke into a storage locker in Pearl City and stole firearms and ammunition. After the break-in, on October 27, 2025, investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified Campbell on surveillance video breaking into the storage locker. Upon arrest, Campbell admitted to the break-in and provided information that led FBI to recover three pistols, six rifles, and various gun parts including barrels, magazines, firing bolts, and two suppressors.
If convicted of the charged offense, Campbell faces up to fifteen years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Honolulu Police Department, with the assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Arizona Leader of Violent Extremist Network ‘764’ Charged with Running a Child Exploitation Enterprise, Supporting Terrorists, Producing and Distributing Child Pornography, and Other CrimesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the District of Arizona has returned a 29-count superseding indictment against Baron Cain Martin, known online as “Convict” (among other monikers), 21, of Tucson, Arizona. The superseding indictment charges Martin with participating in a child exploitation enterprise, conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, conspiring to kill, kidnap or maim persons in a foreign country, producing child pornography (five counts), distributing child pornography (11 counts), coercing and enticing minors to engage in sexual activity (three counts), cyberstalking (three counts), animal crushing and distribution of animal crush videos, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Martin has been in federal custody since his arrest on federal charges on December 11, 2024.
“This man’s alleged crimes are unthinkably depraved and reflect the horrific danger of 764 — if convicted, he will face severe consequences as we work to dismantle this evil network,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I urge parents to remain vigilant about the threats their children face online.”
“Martin is charged with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, participating in a child exploitation enterprise, and producing child pornography, among many others,” said FBI Director Patel. “His actions as a leader of this criminal network were so atrocious and extreme that he is charged with supporting terrorism. It's alleged that Martin not only committed these crimes but wrote and posted a guide for others to use to identify, groom, and extort their own victims. The FBI will not stop until we find those who perpetrate these horrific crimes that prey on the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
“Martin stands accused of engaging in conduct specifically intended to inflict pain, spread fear, and destroy innocence,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “His alleged actions targeting children as part of the 764 online terror network are so depraved they defy comprehension. We will use every available tool to protect our children and ensure that those who perpetrate such acts of pure evil face the full force of justice.”
“The defendant’s alleged actions in this case are an assault on the basic foundations of human decency,” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine stated. “While cowardly hiding his identity behind a screen and a moniker, Mr. Martin preyed upon vulnerable victims while promoting some of the sickest forms of human depravity. It is an honor for the dedicated men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Arizona to fight against this nihilistic violence by bringing the full weight of American justice against its proponents.”
According to court documents, Martin is a member and leader of “764,” a criminal organization of Nihilistic Violent Extremists (NVEs) operating within the United States and abroad. Those involved with the 764 network methodically target vulnerable, underage populations by using social media to encourage the possession, production, and sharing of extreme gore media and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Members of 764 seek to desensitize young people to violence and break down societal norms regarding violence. They normalize the possession, production, and sharing of explicit CSAM and gore material to corrupt and groom their victims toward future violence, gain notoriety among other members of the network, and spread fear for the purpose of accelerating chaos under the 764 ideology with an aim toward the disruption of society.
The superseding indictment alleges that, since approximately 2019, Martin, using his online moniker “Convict,” has been a participant and administrator in 764 chatrooms, has coerced multiple victims into creating child pornography, extortion videos, and animal crushing videos. Martin also wrote a detailed guide that was posted online detailing how to identify, groom, and extort vulnerable juveniles, and advised readers to target victims struggling with mental health.
The superseding indictment accuses Martin of providing material support to terrorists by providing himself as personnel, services, and expert advice or assistance to carry out a conspiracy to kill or maim a person in a foreign country. In furtherance of the conspiracy to provide material support, the superseding indictment alleges that in September 2022, Martin conspired with others to coerce and direct a victim living outside the United States to self-harm, self-maim, and self-kill.
In addition to the terrorism and conspiracy to kill or maim a person in a foreign country, the superseding indictment accuses Martin of using wire communications in a conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and of conspiring to commit wire fraud.
Martin is also accused of engaging in a child exploitation enterprise during which he produced and distributed child pornography. The superseding indictment also includes five separate counts of production of child pornography, eleven counts of distribution of child pornography, and three counts relating to the coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. In total, the superseding indictment alleges Martin victimized at least nine victims. Eight of Martin’s victims were minors at the time he committed the offenses and their ages were between the ages of 11 and 15 years old.
Martin is alleged to have also engaged in animal crushing and of distributing animal crush videos to 764 members. He is accused of cyberstalking three separate victims, two of whom were minors at the time of the offenses.
If convicted, Martin faces a penalty of up to life in prison for each count that accuses him of participating in a child exploitation enterprise, conspiracy to kill, kidnap or maim persons in a foreign country, and coercion and enticement of a child; 30 years in prison for each count of production of child pornography, and 15 years for providing material support to terrorists; up to 20 years in prison for cyberstalking resulting in permanent disfigurement or bodily injury and wire fraud conspiracy; and 10 years in prison for cyberstalking a minor and use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. Martin also faces mandatory minimum sentences of 20 years for the child exploitation enterprise, 15 years for production of child pornography, and 5 years for distribution of child pornography for each applicable count. Each offense also carries a fine of up to $250,000 and up to a lifetime of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Liza Granoff and Kevin Schiff for the District of Arizona and Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the 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, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat of Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) networks, like 764, that operate within the United States and around the globe. NVEs often target vulnerable individuals, including minors, using social media platforms to share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and gore material, and groom victims toward committing acts of violence. Victims are often extorted, coerced, compelled, and blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, including self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: Parents, Caregivers, Teachers — FBI and the FBI’s March 2025 public service announcement.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
20 Arrested in Mississippi Delta Drug Conspiracy Takedown with FBIRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – 20 Mississippi and Tennessee individuals were arrested today on criminal charges related to their alleged participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy in the Mississippi delta.
According to court documents, Brandon Addison, Javery Howard, Milton Gaston, Truron Grayson, Bruce Williams, Sean Williams, Dexture Franklin, Wendell Johnson, Marcus Nolan, Aasahn Roach, Jeremy Sallis, Torio Chaz Wiseman, Pierre Lakes, Derrik Wallace, Marquivious Bankhead, Chaka Gaines, Martavis Moore, Jamario Sanford, Marvin Flowers, and Dequarian Smith are all charged with drug distribution. These individuals were arrested in numerous counties within the Northern District of Mississippi and Shelby County, TN.
In addition, 19 individuals are charged with violating federal firearm laws pertaining to carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. As stated in the indictments, 14 of these individuals were local law enforcement officials in the Mississippi delta. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi; Deputy Director Andrew Bailey of the FBI and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
The U.S. Marshals Service provided invaluable assistance in today’s arrests. The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Mims is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Wednesday 29 October 2025
- Twenty-Six Individuals and Companies Indicted in Puerto Rico Tax Debt Scheme Involving over $3.5 Million
Tuscaloosa Man Sentenced for Possessing Gun as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Tuscaloosa man has been sentenced for illegal possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Raymone Eugene Tabb, 33, to 22 months in prison. In April, Tabb pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, in June 2024, officers with the Tuscaloosa Police Department were dispatched to an apartment complex in Tuscaloosa for a trespass call. Officers arrived and observed Tabb walking away from the apartment complex. As officers approached Tabb, he fled on foot. Tabb was apprehended after a short pursuit, and officers recovered a loaded firearm from Tabb’s waistband.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples prosecuted the case.
Ten members of drug and gun trafficking groups arrested on indictments and criminal complaintsRead the Press Release
Seattle – A law enforcement operation lead by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Seattle Police Department made ten arrests yesterday in connection with three significant, interrelated, drug and gun trafficking conspiracies, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. The defendants have been appearing in U.S. District Court in Seattle yesterday and today. The arrests are the culmination of a year-long investigation by area law enforcement officers.
“These defendants were trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin on the streets of western Washington. These drugs take a heavy toll on our community,” said U.S. Attorney Floyd. “Worse yet, this group trafficked in dozens of firearms – some of them high powered assault style weapons. Yesterday alone law enforcement seized 34 firearms.”
“This heavily armed Transnational Criminal Organization threatened all of Western Washington by trafficking guns and fentanyl from Lewis County to Snohomish County,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Our entire region is safer today because of the efforts of DEA and our partners, who literally risked their lives to confront this threat to our communities.”
“This violent organization not only trafficked dangerous drugs but was responsible for putting firearms on our city streets,” said Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes. “I’m thankful for the great work of our Seattle Police officers and our federal partners.”
Those arrested on indictments yesterday include:
Luis Humberto Lamas-Guzman, 25, of Lynnwood, Washington
Eduardo Villavicencio-Salido, 44, of Marysville, Washington
Silvestre Ramos Martinez, 35, of Everett, Washington
Jose Navarro Hernandez “Robert”, 46, of Marysville, Washington
Jose Manuel Ramos Ibarra “Kora”, 28, of Everett, Washington
Marisol Perez-Diaz, 23, of Auburn, Washington
Jordan Martinez Gamez, 23, of Auburn, Washington
Those arrested on criminal complaints include:
Jose Isabel Sandoval Zuniga, 30, of Sammamish, Washington
Roni Licona Escoto, 56, of Seattle
Edgar Rivas Robles, 33, of Centralia, Washington
Search warrants were served at twelve different locations including at a largely undeveloped “stash property” linked to Jose Isabel Sandoval Zuniga in Centralia, Washington. The house
contained 25 kilos of suspected fentanyl powder, more than 90,000 fentanyl pills and two dozen firearms. Zuniga was arrested in his vehicle with 1.6 kilos of suspected fentanyl. At his Sammamish home investigators seized heroin, fentanyl, and a loaded .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol.
In the arrest operation yesterday law enforcement seized approximately 100,000 fentanyl pills, 34 kilos of fentanyl powder, 3.7 kilos of methamphetamine, nearly a kilogram of heroin and 8.7 kilos of cocaine. Law enforcement also seized $40,000 in cash.
The charges contained in the indictments and criminal complaints are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
In addition to DEA and SPD, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) is part of the investigation.
These agencies provided assistance in the law enforcement operation on October 28, 2025: Seattle Police Department (SWAT & Community Response Group), North Sound Metro (Regional SWAT), Snohomish County (Region 1 SWAT), Washington State Patrol (SWAT), Centralia Police Department (SWAT), Customs & Border Patrol (BORTAC), Valley (Regional SWAT), King County Sheriff’s Office (SWAT – TAC 30)
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys C. Andrew Colasurdo and Joseph Silvio.
Sex Offender Sentenced for Possessing More than 13,000 Images of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A repeat sex offender has been sentenced for possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Joel Wesley Dillard, 47, of Morris, Alabama, to 189 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release. In June, Dillard pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, on June 24, 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) sent a tip to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s (GBI) cyber tip line. On June 15, 2022, Snapchat reported to NCMEC that Dillard had uploaded videos of child pornography to his account. During the investigation, the GBI determined that the IP address used to access Dillard’s accounts originated in Morris, Alabama, and subsequently transferred the case to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). ALEA executed a search warrant at Dillard’s residence, where agents seized 17 electronic devices. A forensic examination of the devices revealed more than 13,000 images of child pornography. Agents also discovered Telegram messages on Dillard’s cell phone, including a conversation in which he agreed to trade child pornography with other users.
If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Omaha Gang Member Who Received Clemency Charged in ShootingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Khyre Holbert, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was charged by complaint for being a felon in possession of a firearm for his role in a shooting that occurred in Omaha, Nebraska on October 4, 2025. In November, 2018, Holbert pled guilty to three violations of federal law and was sentenced to 240 months of imprisonment by Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. Subsequent to his sentencing, on January 21, 2025, Holbert was granted clemency by former United States President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. At the time, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska objected to the grant of clemency due to Holbert’s gang affiliation and significant criminal history, along with the nature of his criminal convictions in that case, which included possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Clemency was ordered over that objection.
A Criminal Complaint is a charging document that contains one or more individual counts that are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
An unsealed complaint affidavit was filed in conjunction with the charge that details Holbert’s criminal history, which is alleged to have disqualified Holbert from legally possessing a firearm on October 4, 2025, in the District of Nebraska. Holbert had several criminal convictions related to illegal firearms possession prior to his grant of clemency and prior to his alleged possession of a firearm on October 4, 2025.
As the complaint alleges, the same firearm that Holbert possessed during the shooting is allegedly a match for the firearm that was used in multiple other violent gun offenses that were committed earlier this year in Nebraska. The complaint alleges that Holbert attempted to dispose of the weapon, but it was recovered by law enforcement later. Forensics technicians were allegedly able to identify Holbert’s fingerprints on the seized firearm from the October 4, 2025 shooting. The firearm itself was loaded and equipped with a high-capacity magazine.
United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi said, “The Biden Administration’s last-minute commutations were not only a cruel blow to victims’ families, but also a fundamental failure to hold criminals accountable. This tragic case proves that crime must be met with consequences, not weakness. Our prosecutors in Nebraska are doing the job that the prior administration refused to do.”
United States Attorney Lesley Woods commends the tireless efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department to investigate this incident and to collect the evidence necessary to take a dangerous felon like Khyre Holbert back off the streets of Omaha. Woods stated, “Khyre Holbert should never have been prematurely released from federal prison and been free to participate in this violence. Omaha is safer with Mr. Holbert back in custody and off the streets. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska will fight to keep Mr. Holbert – and any other gang members who participate in similar violent acts – in federal custody.”
Special Agent Eugene Kowel, leader of the Omaha Federal Bureau of Investigation field division stated, “Protecting the public from violent criminals remains a top priority of the FBI. Federal, state, and local law enforcement on the Omaha Safe Streets Task Force work tirelessly to apprehend violent gang members who terrorize our communities. We will continue working with our partners to crush violent crime and safeguard our neighborhoods from individuals like Khyre Holbert.”
Nine Alleged Oakland Sureño Gang Members Charged with Racketeering Conspiracy in Connection with Murders and Related CrimesRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A federal grand jury has indicted nine men on charges of racketeering conspiracy in connection with two murders, three attempted murders, narcotics and firearms distribution, and other related crimes allegedly perpetrated on behalf of two Oakland-based Sureño street gangs.
The nine defendants, Marvin Bonilla, a/k/a “Malandro,” 24; Edwin Cano-Merida, aka “Zombie,” 24; Cesar Rolando Lucas-Pablo, a/k/a “Lobo,” 28; Walfer Mendoza-Mendoza, a/k/a “Shorty,” 31; Gonzalo Pablo, a/k/a “Chalo,” 25; Jeronimo “Orlando” Pablo-Carrillo, a/k/a “Paisano,” 41; Mario Pablo-Matias, a/k/a “Chuco,” 24; Raymundo Pablo-Matias, a/k/a “El Moch,” 31; and Carlos Ramiro-Mendoza, a/k/a “Minch,” 28, were charged in an indictment filed October 9, 2025, and unsealed today.
Six of the nine defendants were arrested this morning in coordinated law enforcement operations. Lucas-Pablo and Pablo-Carrillo were already in custody, and Gonzalo Pablo remains at large. A number of the defendants are unlawfully residing in the United States.
“Like people everywhere, the residents of Oakland deserve safe and peaceful neighborhoods, not ones filled with fear and senseless violence. The Administration has made it clear that enough is enough. This indictment charges nine members of the Oakland Sureños for their roles in a dangerous criminal enterprise that inflicted harm throughout Oakland,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “My office will continue to partner with local and federal law enforcement to reclaim our streets from the gangs who threaten our residents. We could not have done this case without the involvement of many law enforcement partners and, in particular, I would like to thank the FBI and the Oakland Police Department for their excellent work.”
“The alleged criminal activity of these gang members has plagued Oakland’s neighborhoods and put innocent residents at risk,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo. “The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to prioritize violent crime and eradicate gang activity that threatens the safety and stability of our communities. While we continue to focus on disrupting the violent and illicit operations of local street gangs, today’s arrests mark significant progress in that ongoing fight. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will not allow violent gangs to operate with impunity or endanger the citizens we are sworn to protect.”
“These individuals have caused lasting damage to our community for years,” said Assistant Chief James Beere of the Oakland Police Department. “Their violent actions, including shootings and homicides, have left families mourning and communities forever changed. We are grateful for the efforts of our local law enforcement partners, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as we work together to seek justice for the victims and their families.”
According to the indictment, the nine defendants were members of a racketeering enterprise referred to in the indictment as the Oakland Sureños, a criminal street gang whose members lived in and around Oakland, California. The Oakland Sureños were part of the larger Sureños criminal street gang and, like the larger Sureños gang, generally recognized the primacy of the Mexican Mafia prison gang. The larger Sureños gang was organized into “cliques,” smaller groups that typically operated within specific territory.
SAP and SSL-502 were among the Oakland Sureños cliques. SAP originally stood for “San Antonio Park,” a public park located between 16th Avenue and 18th Avenue in Oakland, which SAP had claimed as its primary turf before moving to Estuary Park around 2019. SSL-502, which stood for South Side Locos combined with “502,” the telephone country code for Guatemala, originally claimed as its turf the area surrounding the 1300 and 1400 blocks of 72nd Avenue before expanding to Arroyo Viejo Park in approximately 2017. Members of the cliques engaged in criminal conduct for the benefit of the street gang, its members, and the larger Sureños organization. Gang members perpetrated crimes, including murder, shootings, firearms trafficking, and narcotics trafficking, to enhance and protect the power, territory, and profit of the gang and to gain entry into, and improve a member’s status in, the gang. These crimes included committing violence against gang rivals perceived as disrespecting the Oakland Sureños, which led to innocent members of the public being injured or killed.
In furtherance of the Oakland Surenos, defendants allegedly committed more than a dozen criminal acts. The list of crimes includes two murders, both occurring in 2019, of men who were perceived to be rivals of the Oakland Sureños. In addition to the murder allegations, additional crimes described in the indictment that defendants allegedly committed include three attempted murders (two with firearms and one with a baseball bat), attempted robbery, narcotics trafficking, and firearms trafficking.
In sum, each defendant is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, the indictment alleges that special sentencing factors apply to six defendants as follows:
- Gonzalo Pablo for his role in the November 22, 2018, attempted murder of an unidentified victim;
- Cesar Rolando Lucas-Pablo, Jeronimo “Orlando” Pablo-Carrillo, and Carlos Ramiro-Mendoza for their respective roles in the January 5, 2019, murder of a victim identified as “R.B.P.”;
- Carlos Ramiro-Mendoza and Jeronimo “Orlando” Pablo-Carillo for their respective roles in the January 19, 2019, murder of a victim identified as “S.R.J.”; and
- Edwin Cano-Merida and Mario Pablo-Matias for their respective roles in the May 15, 2021 attempted murder of a victim identified “M.M.”
The maximum statutory penalty applying to these violations is 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.
Defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on October 30, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexis James, Andy Scoble, Jonah Ross, and Wendy Garbers, with the assistance of Kevin Costello and Yenni Weinberg. The prosecution is the result of a multi-year investigation by the FBI, the Oakland Police Department, and the FBI SF East Bay Violent Crime Task Force, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration for today’s arrests.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Region 2 San Francisco/Sacramento Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline). HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mounds Man Sentenced for Producing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mounds man was sentenced today for Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson sentenced Dylan Ray Yahola, 33, to 200 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Yahola will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Johnson further ordered Yahola to pay $33,000 in restitution. That money goes directly to the victims identified in the child sexual abuse material that he possessed.
In December 2024, Yahola got into an argument with his girlfriend. During that argument, Yahola’s girlfriend discovered that he was sexting with a 16-year-old he knew through social media. His girlfriend then reported this to the police.
Investigators obtained a search warrant and found that Yahola requested the minor victim to produce nude photos and videos of themselves and to share them with him. In return, Yahola sent the minor victim naked photos and videos of himself. During the investigation, officers found that Yahola had previously downloaded and saved more than 30 images and over 800 videos that showed children being sexually abused. Some images included toddlers being sexually abused.
Yahola is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is the nation’s centralized reporting system for suspected child sexual exploitation. NCMEC reports that its CyberTipline has received more than 195 million reports related to Child Sexual Abuse Material, commonly referred to as CSAM. NCMEC’s Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed more than 425 million images and videos and identified more than 30,000 victims.
Through technology, CSAM images and videos can be found in any online realm, causing the children who were initially sexually abused to be revictimized, over and over, with each share. Families of exploited children often feel alone and overwhelmed by the impact CSAM has on their lives. NCMEC provides assistance and support to families impacted by child sexual exploitation. They work with the victim's family by referring them to appropriate local professionals for longer-term support. NCMEC also has a volunteer program that connects families to others who have experienced the crisis of a sexually exploited child.
The FBI and Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christian Harris and Ashley Robert 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 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, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Illinois Man Arrested for Alleged Threats Against the PresidentRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – An El Paso, Illinois, man, Derek Lopez, 27, has been charged in federal court with making threats against President Donald J. Trump. Lopez was arrested on October 28, 2025. Preliminary and detention hearings are scheduled for Monday, November 3, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the federal courthouse in Peoria, Illinois.
If convicted, Lopez faces a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, with assistance from the United States Secret Service, the El Paso Police Department, the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Illinois State University Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Criminal Chief Darilynn J. Knauss.
Members of the public are reminded that the charges in a complaint are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Illegal Alien sentenced to 25 years for operating methamphetamine conversion labRead the Press Release
Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.HOUSTON – A 26-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to federal prison for running a clandestine methamphetamine conversion laboratory in Houston, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Juan Carlos Reyes Flores pleaded guilty July 28.
U.S. District Judge George Hanks has ordered Reyes Flores to serve 300 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard detailed about the scope of the operation. Judge Hanks noted the lengthy prison term reflects the court’s responsibility to the people that methamphetamine distribution and addiction harms and explained that the court had a duty to issue a sentence that discourages others from engaging in similar criminal conduct.
From May to September 2020, Reyes Flores operated a methamphetamine conversion lab in Houston to process and distribute drugs smuggled between Mexico and the United States.
He oversaw workers who converted liquid methamphetamine imported from Mexico into crystal form and coordinated its distribution throughout the Greater Houston area.
On Sept. 1, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Houston location where they recovered over 30 kilograms of pure methamphetamine. They also found equipment and materials used for the conversion process throughout the premises.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Harris County Precinct Five Constable’s Office and police departments in Baytown, Navasota, Pasadena and Deer Park.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Lu and Michael E. Day prosecuted the case.
Houston man charged with armed robbery of multiple smoke shopsRead the Press Release
Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.HOUSTON – A 33-year-old man has been charged in a nine-count federal indictment for multiple robberies and related firearms offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Previously in custody on related charges, De Aundre Devoy Jones is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Yvonne Ho Nov. 7 at 10 a.m.
The indictment alleges that between Jan. 26-30, Jones and others conspired to rob several Houston-area businesses. They allegedly planned and carried out a series of armed commercial robberies for money. According to the charges, the group worked together, aiding and abetting one another during the robberies.
On Jan. 26, Jones and his conspirators allegedly robbed the Supreme Smoke Vape shop located at 11460 Fuqua Street in Houston. The conspirators brandished firearms at the store clerk and demanded cash from the registers, according to the allegations.
The indictment alleges that two days later, Jones and others allegedly targeted two Vape City locations in Houston and similarly brandished firearms at the store clerk, demanding cash from the registers.
Then on Jan. 30, he and his conspirators also robbed Texas Rock and Roll, a vape shop located on 1960 Road West in Houston, according to the charges. The conspirators allegedly brandished firearms at the store clerk and stole cash before fleeing.
If convicted, Jones faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each robbery count as well as a mandatory minimum of seven years per count for aiding and abetting brandishing a firearm during the robberies which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. The charges could also result in a possible $250,000 maximum fine on each count.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Smith is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Former General Manager for U.S. Defense Contractor Pleads Guilty to Selling Stolen Trade Secrets to Russian BrokerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Peter Williams, 39, an Australian national, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today in connection with selling his employer’s trade secrets to a Russian cyber-tools broker, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Williams pleaded to two counts of theft of trade secrets. The material, stolen over a three-year period from the U.S. defense contractor where he worked, was comprised of national-security focused software that included at least eight sensitive and protected cyber-exploit components. Those components were meant to be sold exclusively to the U.S. government and select allies. Williams sold the trade secrets to a Russian cyber-tools broker that publicly advertises itself as a reseller of cyber exploits to various customers, including the Russian government.
Each of the charges carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss of the offense.
Joining in the announcement were U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alexander Arnett of the Baltimore Field Office.
"America's national security is NOT FOR SALE, especially in an evolving threat landscape where cybercrime poses a serious danger to our citizens. said Attorney General Bondi. “Thank you to all the attorneys who worked so hard to secure this guilty plea”
“We continue to vigorously investigate those who betray our national security by selling valuable U.S. trade secrets to international cyber brokers who support foreign cyber actors,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “These international cyber brokers are the next wave of international arms dealers and we continue to be vigilant about their activities. The conduct here caused over $35 million of loss to a company in the District of Columbia and allowed non-allied foreign cyber actors to obtain sophisticated cyber exploits that were likely used against numerous unsuspecting victims.”
“Williams betrayed the United States and his employer by first stealing and then selling intelligence-related software to a foreign broker that touted its ties to Russia and other foreign governments,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Eisenberg. “His conduct was deliberate and deceitful, imperiling our national security for the sake of personal gain. Today’s guilty plea reflects our commitment to ensuring that insiders who abuse their positions of trust face serious consequences.”
“Today’s guilty plea is the result of an extensive investigation by the FBI Baltimore Field Office in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Arnett of the Baltimore Field Office. “Peter Williams betrayed the United States and our allies by selling trade secrets. The harm caused by his crimes cannot be undone. The FBI and our partners will aggressively investigate and hold accountable anyone who threatens U.S. national security.”
According to the facts admitted in connection with the guilty plea, from approximately 2022 through 2025, Williams improperly used his access to the defense contractor’s secure network to steal the cyber exploit components that constituted the trade secrets.
Williams resold those components in exchange for the promise of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. To effectuate these sales, Williams entered into multiple written contracts with the Russian broker, which involved payment for the initial sale of the components, and additional periodic payments for follow-on support. Williams transferred the eight components and trade secrets to the Russian broker through encrypted means. He used the proceeds to buy himself high-value items.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Baltimore Field Office.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tejpal Chawla and Jason McCullough for the District of Columbia, Trial Attorney Prava Palacharla for the National Security Division’s (NSD) National Security Cyber Section, and Trial Attorney Nicholas Hunter for NSD’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Substantial assistance was also provided by interim U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford for the District of Oregon prior to his current appointment.
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Former General Manager for U.S. Defense Contractor Pleads Guilty to Selling Stolen Trade Secrets to Russian BrokerRead the Press Release
Peter Williams, 39, an Australian national, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today in connection with selling his employer’s trade secrets to a Russian cyber-tools broker, the Justice Department announced today.
Williams pleaded to two counts of theft of trade secrets. The material, stolen over a three-year period from the U.S. defense contractor where he worked, was comprised of national-security focused software that included at least eight sensitive and protected cyber-exploit components. Those components were meant to be sold exclusively to the U.S. government and select allies. Williams sold the trade secrets to a Russian cyber-tools broker that publicly advertises itself as a reseller of cyber exploits to various customers, including the Russian government.
Each of the charges carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss of the offense.
“America's national security is NOT FOR SALE, especially in an evolving threat landscape where cybercrime poses a serious danger to our citizens,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Thank you to all the attorneys who worked so hard to secure this guilty plea.”
“Williams betrayed the United States and his employer by first stealing and then selling intelligence-related software to a foreign broker that touted its ties to Russia and other foreign governments,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “His conduct was deliberate and deceitful, imperiling our national security for the sake of personal gain. Today’s guilty plea reflects our commitment to ensuring that insiders who abuse their positions of trust face serious consequences.”
“We continue to vigorously investigate those who betray our national security by selling valuable U.S. trade secrets to international cyber brokers who support foreign cyber actors,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “These international cyber brokers are the next wave of international arms dealers and we continue to be vigilant about their activities. The conduct here caused over $35 million of loss to a company in the District of Columbia and allowed non-allied foreign cyber actors to obtain sophisticated cyber exploits that were likely used against numerous unsuspecting victims.”
“Williams placed greed over freedom and democracy by stealing and reselling $35 million of cyber trade secrets from a U.S. cleared defense contractor to a Russian Government supplier,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “By doing so, he gave Russian cyber actors an advantage in their massive campaign to victimize U.S. citizens and businesses. This plea sends a clear message that the FBI and our partners will defend the homeland and bring to justice anyone who helps our adversaries jeopardize U.S. national security."
According to the facts admitted in connection with the guilty plea, from approximately 2022 through 2025, Williams improperly used his access to the defense contractor’s secure network to steal the cyber exploit components that constituted the trade secrets.
Williams resold those components in exchange for the promise of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. To effectuate these sales, Williams entered into multiple written contracts with the Russian broker, which involved payment for the initial sale of the components, and additional periodic payments for follow-on support. Williams transferred the eight components and trade secrets to the Russian broker through encrypted means. He used the proceeds to buy himself high-value items.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Baltimore Field Office.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tejpal Chawla and Jason McCullough for the District of Columbia, Trial Attorney Prava Palacharla for the National Security Division’s (NSD) National Security Cyber Section, and Trial Attorney Nicholas Hunter for NSD’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Substantial assistance was also provided by interim U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford for the District of Oregon prior to his current appointment.
Florida man who traveled from Florida to Western New York to have sex with a minor pleads guiltyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jose Francisco Cardoso Tehovnik, 23, of Orlando, Florida, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who is handling the case, stated that in February 2024, Cardoso Tehovnik, who was 21 years old at the time, began communicating with a 16-year-old minor victim on Snapchat. On February 19, 2024, the minor victim sent a 10 second video file depicting the minor victim to Cardoso Tehovnik, which constituted child pornography. In addition, Cardoso Tehovnik received images of the minor victim, which constituted child pornography, on two separate occasions in April 2024.
In late April 2024, Cardoso Tehovnik flew from Florida to the Western District of New York to meet the minor victim in person. Cardoso Tehovnik rented a hotel room in the Niagara Falls area. On April 27, 2024, the minor victim met Cardoso Tehovnik in the hotel room and the two engaged in sexual activity. On June 4, 2024, Tehovnik came back to the Western District of New York, picked up the minor victim, and traveled to New Jersey, where law enforcement located him with the victim. Tehovnik was arrested and taken into custody.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Nicholas Ligammari, and the Beach Haven, NJ, Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Markoski.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Sinatra.
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Federal Jury finds Armed Career Criminal Guilty of Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – After a two-day trial, a federal jury found Memphis man Derrick Richard, 36, guilty of one count of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and made a special finding that Richard had previously been convicted of three violent felonies on different occasions. As a result, Richard faces a mandatory statutory minimum sentence of fifteen years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and being an Armed Career Criminal (ACC). United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the verdict today.
According to information presented in court, on December 22, 2022, an officer with the Memphis Police Department arrested Richard and discovered a Jimenez .25 caliber pistol in Richard’s pocket.
Sentencing is set on January 30, 2026, before United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Under our PSN initiative, we promote public safety by removing firearms from the hands of prohibited persons and by removing dangerous felons from our streets. This recidivist armed career criminal is one more gun-toter who will now be removed from our community for at least 15 years.”
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.
United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Jermal Blanchard and Jennifer Musselwhite, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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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.
Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement OperationsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted six individuals for allegedly forcibly impeding and interfering with a federal agent who was engaged in immigration enforcement operations in a Chicago suburb last month. The indictment includes a conspiracy charge against all of the defendants arising out of the incident.
According to an indictment unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the defendants were among a crowd of people who surrounded a government vehicle with the intent to hinder and impede the driver—a federal agent—from proceeding to a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Ill., on Sept. 26, 2025. The defendants and others allegedly crowded together in the front and side of the government vehicle, stood in its path, banged on the car and windows, and pushed against it to hinder and impede its movement. The conspirators broke one of the vehicle’s side mirrors and the rear windshield wiper and etched a derogatory message into the body of the vehicle, the indictment states.
“No one is above the law and no one has the right to obstruct it,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Federal agents perform dangerous, essential work every single day to enforce our immigration laws and keep our communities safe. When individuals resort to force or intimidation to interfere with that mission, they attack not only the agents themselves but the rule of law they represent. The Department of Justice will never tolerate such conduct and will continue to hold accountable anyone who seeks to impede lawful federal operations.”
“All federal officials must be able to discharge the duties of their office without confronting force, intimidation, or threats,” said Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “As we have warned repeatedly, we will seek to hold accountable those who cross the line from peaceful protests to unlawful actions or conspiracies that interrupt, hinder, or impede the due administration of Justice. The rule of law must always be upheld.”
Charged with conspiracy to impede a U.S. law enforcement officer and individual counts of impeding a U.S. law enforcement officer are MICHAEL RABBITT, 62, of Chicago; KATHERINE MARIE ABUGHAZALEH, 26, of Chicago; ANDRE MARTIN, 27, of Providence, R.I.; CATHERINE SHARP, 29, of Chicago; BRIAN STRAW, 38, of Oak Park, Ill.; and JOSELYN WALSH, 31, of Chicago. Arraignments are scheduled for Nov. 5, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain.
Deputy Attorney General Blanche and U.S. Attorney Boutros announced the charges along with Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
“The FBI has zero tolerance for forcible criminal conduct against law enforcement officers engaged in their lawful functions,” said FBI SAC DePodesta. “Impeding federal officers performing their duties or conspiring to do so are criminal offenses. The people of Chicagoland deserve safe communities and peaceful streets and the FBI and our partners will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who undermine the rule of law through criminal activity.”
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
A video recording of the incident can be viewed here. If you recognize other individuals in the video who may be impeding law enforcement, you are encouraged to contact the FBI Chicago Field Office by logging on to https://tips.fbi.gov/home.
rabbitt_et_al_indictment.pdfCity Man Pleads Guilty to 2024 Carjacking in West PhiladelphiaRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Kristian Jackson, 19, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Court Judge Juan R. Sánchez to one count of carjacking and one count of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Jackson and co-defendant Legend Hall were charged with these offenses by superseding indictment in April of this year, in connection with a September 2024 carjacking in West Philadelphia. In addition, Hall, 19, also of Philadelphia, was charged separately via an information with an October 2024 carjacking in Upper Darby, Pa.
In July of this year, Hall entered a plea of guilty before United States Magistrate Court Judge Jose R. Arteaga to two counts of carjacking and one count of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
As described in the superseding indictment and other publicly filed documents, on September 17, 2024, Victim #1 parked on the 300 block of 62nd Street in Philadelphia and reported being immediately approached by three males, later identified by investigators as Hall, Jackson, and a third individual, who was also charged in this case and is pending trial.
One of the defendants asked Victim #1 to drive them somewhere. When Victim #1 refused, two of the males took out handguns and told Victim #1 to get out of the car. The three males then got into Victim #1’s black Chevy Malibu and drove off with Victim #1’s iPhone 14 and approximately $500 that was in the car.
As further detailed in court filings, on October 1, 2024, Hall and others placed an order for a pizza delivery at Slices and Moore in Upper Darby. When the delivery driver (Victim #2) attempted to make the delivery, the defendant and others pointed guns at him and took Victim #2’s wallet, phone, car keys, the proceeds of the pizza shop, and the rest of the money that Victim #2 had on him at the time. Hall and the others then jumped into Victim #2’s vehicle and fled the area.
Hall and Jackson are both scheduled to be sentenced in February 2026. Each faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of seven years’ imprisonment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert and Special Assistant United States Attorney Samantha A. Arena.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
Cartel Member Pleads Guilty Mid-Trial to Fentanyl Trafficking and Money Laundering OffensesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A member of the Jalisco New Generacion Cartel (“CJNG”) pleaded guilty on October 28, 2025, to fentanyl trafficking and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
After two days of trial testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala, Juan Francisco Castaneda, also known as “Pariente,” 44, pleaded guilty to all counts charged in the superseding indictment, including conspiring to traffic fentanyl, conspiring to commit money laundering, and distribution of fentanyl. The charged crimes occurred in the Birmingham and Homewood area.
According to the evidence presented at trial and in support of Castenada’s guilty plea, Castaneda ran his drug trafficking and money laundering organization with the use of contraband phones while he was serving multiple life sentences for murder at the Alabama Department of Corrections’ Bullock Correctional facility. Castaneda used a network of couriers and local businesses as “fronts,” from which he arranged fentanyl distribution and collected drug proceeds. Undercover operations revealed that Castaneda was laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars to CJNG sources in Mexico through these couriers and businesses.
According to Court documents, Castaneda previously pleaded guilty to a 2008 multi-homicide in Shelby County, in which five individuals were murdered over a cartel debt.
“Cartel activity has no place in Alabama. Those who traffic dangerous drugs in our communities will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that endanger our communities. I commend our federal, state and local law enforcement partners for their hard work and dedication in bringing this defendant to justice.”
“This case delivers a decisive blow against the Jalisco New Generacion Cartel (CJNG) and their ruthless network operating in Alabama,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Hofer, New Orleans Division. “CJNG is responsible for flooding our communities with deadly amounts of fentanyl and using criminal schemes, like money laundering from within prison, to fuel their enterprise. This guilty plea is a clear victory for public safety and a testament to the fact we will use every resource available to neutralize these transnational criminal organizations and hold every one of their operators, from the streets to the cartel leadership, fully accountable.”
“This case underscores the devastating impact of transnational criminal organizations like the Jalisco New Generacion Cartel have on our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama Steven N. Schrank. “Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantling these dangerous networks, disrupting their operations, and bringing their members to justice. Through collaboration with our federal, state, and local partners, we will continue to leverage every resource to protect the American people from the scourge of fentanyl trafficking and the criminal enterprises that fuel it.”
As part of his plea, Castaneda has agreed to forfeiture of a money judgment in the amount of $700,000.
Castaneda is scheduled to be sentenced on January 8, 2026.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance is life in prison. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit money laundering is 20 years in prison.
The DEA and HSI investigated the case, along with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service, United States Marshals Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Hoover Police Department, Birmingham Police Department, Bessemer Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Department of Corrections, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Garnett and Carson Gilbert are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Alabama HSTF comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the Internal Revenue Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.
10 Arrested on Federal Complaints Charging Them with Committing Violence Against Officers and Property During Anti-ICE RiotingRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Law enforcement has arrested a total of 10 defendants federally charged in three criminal complaints with engaging in violence and civil disorder against law enforcement officers and property during immigration enforcement actions in Southern California earlier this year, the Justice Department announced today.
Ten defendants are in federal custody. One defendant is in state custody and is expected to be handed over to federal authorities. One defendant is a fugitive. All 12 defendants are charged with federal crimes alleging they committed violence against law enforcement authorities and property.
“There is zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement officers,” said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “During the summer we warned the public that anyone who engages in any violence will eventually be brought to justice. Today we are delivering on that promise and will continue to hold those who violated the law accountable.”
“Acts of violence against the brave law enforcement officers who protect us are an attack on civilized society itself,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “As today’s arrests and charges illustrate, anyone who engages in such disgusting conduct will face severe consequences from this Department of Justice.”
“While the Constitution protects the freedom of speech and the freedom to peaceably assemble, it does not provide for the freedom to assault federal officers, impede or obstruct federal officers or conspire to do so, or destroy government property,” said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “We will vigorously protect the rights to free speech and free and peaceful assembly, but we will also, without fear or favor, deliver consequences and bring accountability to those criminals that violate federal law.”
“The FBI safeguards civil rights and the right to protest peacefully, but there is no place in a civilized society for violence targeted at law enforcement, nor the destruction of government property,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Our agents and police partners are carrying out their duties lawfully and should be able to do so without violent interference. I urge anyone with information about these unidentified subjects wanted for civil disorder and arson to come forward to assist us and claim the reward of up to $10,000.”
“Violence has no place in our society,” said Special Agent in Charge Kenny Cooper of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Los Angeles Field Division. “Peaceful protest is a right; assault is a crime. The ATF will continue to stand with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who serve and protect our communities can do so safely.”
United States v. Reyes, et al.
Virginia Reyes, 32, and Isai Carrillo, 31, both of Oxnard, are charged via complaint with conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer, a felony that is punishable by up to five years in federal prison.
Carrillo, who was arrested today, is expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Reyes is considered a fugitive.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, agents with the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on July 10 executed several search warrants – predicated on violations of federal immigration laws – at locations, including the Glass House Farms in Camarillo. Before the enforcement operations began, agents determined that the operation had been compromised earlier than expected because of social media posts.
During the operation, numerous protesters – some of them were members or associates of “VC Defensa,” a volunteer group whose members follow, chase, agitate, and impede federal agents enforcing immigration laws – arrived in and around the area of the Glass House Farms. VC Defensa “Rapid Response Network” members also conduct surveillance of DHS office buildings and alert the community to the presence of federal agents within their neighborhoods.
During the Glass House Farms enforcement operation, protesters, including VC Defensa members, built a roadblock using farm equipment at the primary entrance and exit to the Glass House Farms. Due to the roadblock, federal law enforcement vehicles used an alternate exit via a dirt service road to leave the location. Government vehicles that exited the Glass House Farms and traveled south on this road were stopped by protestors, including individuals throwing rocks at the vehicles.
When additional Government vehicles attempted to exit this road and travel north, protesters, including VC Defensa members, created a chokepoint and ambush of the vehicles. Specifically, at least two vehicles and several individuals, including one with a bicycle, attempted to block the government vehicles from exiting. Meanwhile, other individuals threw large rocks at the vehicles. During the incident, at least four government vehicles were damaged and at least one federal contract employee sustained injuries.
Law enforcement learned that at least 10 individuals acted together to impede and assault federal officers and damage government property. Reyes was present for the roadblock’s construction and drove her vehicle to the ambush location to impede government vehicles. Meanwhile, Carrillo and others threw rocks at the government vehicles, causing damage to them, and injuring a federal contract employee.
United States v. Coreas, et al.
The following defendants are charged in one complaint with obstructing, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder, stemming from violence against California Highway Patrol officers in downtown Los Angeles’ Civic Center on June 8. This charge, a felony, carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison:
- Ronald Alexis Coreas, 23, of the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles;
- Junior Roldan, 27, of Hollywood;
- Elmore Sylvester Cage, 34, of Downtown Los Angeles;
- Balto Montion, 24, of Watsonville;
- Jesus Gonzalez Hernandez Jr., 22, of Las Vegas;
- Hector Daniel Ramos, 66, of Alhambra;
- Stefano Deong Green, 34, of Westmont;
- Yachua Mauricio Flores, 23, of Lincoln Heights; and
- Ismael Vega, 41, of Westlake.
Coreas, Roldan, Cage, Ramos, Green, Flores, and Vega are expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in U.S District Court in Los Angeles. Hernandez was arrested today and is expected to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas. Montion is in state custody and is expected to be handed over to federal authorities in the coming weeks.
According to an affidavit filed with the Coreas complaint, federal law enforcement officials began conducting immigration enforcement operations throughout the Los Angeles area on June 6. During and following those operations, protests erupted in and around downtown Los Angeles. While many demonstrators peacefully exercised their First Amendment rights to protest, some individuals violently obstructed, impeded, or interfered with law enforcement officers.
Specifically, on June 8, thousands of demonstrators assembled in downtown Los Angeles’s Civic Center to protest the ongoing enforcement of federal immigration laws. Some protesters engaged in violence against officers – resulting in some injuries to the officers – and against public and private property. Federal buildings were vandalized with graffiti and law enforcement vehicles were damaged by protestors wielding blunt objects. Los Angeles police ultimately declared an unlawful assembly.
Protesters then walked onto U.S. Highway 101 in downtown Los Angeles and blocked all traffic lanes. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers responded to that location in patrol vehicles, pushed the protesters off the freeway, and remained there to prevent the protesters from re-entering. By remaining on the freeway, the CHP officers and their vehicles were positioned under and between the overpasses for Main and Los Angeles streets on the 101 Freeway.
As the CHP officers stood on the freeway, crowds gathered on the overpasses. At some point thereafter, individual protesters began throwing rocks, electric scooters, street signs, and various other objects at the CHP officers below. At one point, a protester poured a clear yellow liquid onto a CHP car that was ablaze, after which the flames immediately grew in size.
The defendants charged in the Coreas complaint were filmed and photographed throwing rocks and other objects at officers and the patrol cars.
United States v. Canil
Yovany Marcario Canil, 22, a.k.a. “Geovani Macario,” and “Yovany Canil Canil,” of Boyle Heights, was arrested Tuesday on a federal complaint charging him with assault on a federal officer, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison.
He is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, on June 6, hundreds of demonstrators protesting immigration law enforcement gathered in front of an Ambiance Apparel warehouse in the Fashion District of downtown Los Angeles. As federal government vehicles were leaving the area, Yovany Marcario Canil pepper-sprayed into one of the vehicles that was occupied by three members of the FBI’s SWAT. At that time, the passenger side windows were opened to manage crowd control. The pepper spray affected at least two members of FBI SWAT with a burning sensation as their faces turned orange.
A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are investigating these matters.
Assistant United States Attorney Patrick D. Kibbe of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting the Reyes case. Assistant United States Attorneys Neil P. Thakor and Rahul R.A. Hari of the General Crimes Section and Jenna Long of the National Security Division are prosecuting the Coreas case. The General Crimes Section is prosecuting the Canil case.
The FBI is seeking the following individuals in connection with violence against people and property related to anti-immigration enforcement protests earlier this year:
https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/civil-disorder-1
https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/civil-disorder-2
https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/arson
Tuesday 28 October 2025
Two Rio Grande Valley men admit to roles in fentanyl trafficking operationRead the Press Release
Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.McALLEN, Texas – Two men have pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jesus Abrego-Salinas, 30, and Ruben Mauricio Arjona, 26, both of McAllen, admitted to transporting fentanyl.
On Oct. 7, 2022, authorities stopped a Mercedes-Benz for a traffic violation. Abrego-Salinas was driving and Arjona was the passenger. During a search, law enforcement discovered a bag of fentanyl pills hidden in Abrego-Salinas’ groin area. He admitted holding the pills for Arjona and expected to be paid.
Abrego-Salinas further admitted he and Arjona arranged to sell fentanyl pills to what they believed was a potential buyer during an undercover operation.
The pills tested positive for fentanyl and weighed approximately 298 grams.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton will impose sentencing Jan. 7, 2026. At that time, Abrego-Salinas and Arjona face up to 40 years in federal prison and a possible $5 million maximum fine.
Both were permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia is prosecuting the case.
Twelve Defendants Convicted in Cross-State Social Media Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Twelve Defendants Convicted in Cross-State Social Media Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
CONCORD – Twelve individuals have pleaded guilty over the last eight months in federal court for their participation in a social media-facilitated drug trafficking ring that distributed deadly fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine across New Hampshire and Maine, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Jacob D. King, 41, of Milton, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, involving more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Sentencing is scheduled for January 27, 2026.
Riley J. Paletta, 26, of Hudson, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentencing is pending.
Amanda E. Gray a/k/a Amanda E. Camera a/k/a Amanda E. Douglass, 39, of Fairfield, Maine, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, involving more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2026.
Benjamin M. Fields, 41, of Laconia, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, involving more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Sentencing is scheduled for January 16, 2026.
John N. Titus, 35, of Farmington, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2026.
Christian F. Gerlach, 52, of Manchester, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentencing is scheduled for January 13, 2026.
Moses J. Losuk, 28, of Portland, Maine, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2025.
Timothy E. Boston a/k/a Timothy Earl Boston II, 38, of Nashua, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante sentenced Boston to 30 months in federal prison and two years of supervised release.
Robert A. Arrington, 38, of Bangor, Maine, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2025.
Robert W. Whiteside Jr., 46, of Exeter, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentencing is scheduled for January 5, 2026.
William L. Wheelock, 34, of Windham, Maine, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante sentenced Wheelock to 50 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
Alexander L. Wilson, 38, of Belfast, Maine, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2025.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2023, law enforcement officers received information that a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, was trafficking narcotics to customers in New Hampshire and Maine using text messages and social media messaging apps. From the fall of 2023 into the spring of 2024, law enforcement officers made a series of controlled drug purchases and conducted searches of residences utilized by the DTO that resulted in seizures of approximately two and a half kilograms of fentanyl, 250 grams of methamphetamine and 28 grams of cocaine, and the recovery of handguns.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers conducted additional enforcement operations, including searches of the DTO’s social media platforms and conducted searches of vehicles and residences that indicated the DTO trafficked in an additional 20 kilograms of fentanyl, one kilogram of methamphetamine and 200 grams of cocaine. Six DTO drug customers also sought to trade firearms, including shotguns, rifles, and handguns for narcotics.
With respect to King, Gray, and Fields, the charging statute provides for a sentence of not less than 5 years and up to 40 years in federal prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $5,000,000. With respect to the others, the charging statute provides for a sentence of not more than 20 years in federal prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. The Hudson Police Department, the Bedford Police Department, the Nashua Police Department, the Manchester Police Department, the Laconia Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Strafford County Sheriff’s Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar Vega is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Nigerian Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Cyberstalking and Other Charges Related to the Sexual Extortion and Death of a Local Young ManRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Imoleayo Samuel Aina, aka “Alice Dave,” 27, of Nigeria was sentenced today to 72 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and $3,250 in restitution by United States District Judge Joel H. Slomsky for offenses related to the sexual extortion and death of a young man in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Aina and co-defendant Samuel Olasunkanmi Abiodun were arrested on a complaint and warrant in Nigeria, taken into custody by the FBI on July 31, 2024, and extradited to the United States to face charges in this case. They and another Nigerian co-defendant, Afeez Olatunji Adewale, 25, were then charged by indictment in August 2024.
In May of this year, Aina pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, interstate threat to injure reputation, receiving proceeds of extortion, money laundering conspiracy, and wire fraud.
Abiodun, 26, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud. He was sentenced on June 10 to five years in prison.
Adewale has also been charged with money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud. He remains in Nigeria, pending extradition to the United States.
“Aina was the driving force behind this sextortion scheme, which left a young man, and then his family, traumatized,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “The Department of Justice won’t just stand by when innocent victims in the U.S. are harmed by criminal scammers overseas. As this case shows, we can — and we will — find, prosecute, and hold accountable these insidious sextortionists who terrorize people for money.”
“This case is a powerful reminder of the profound harm sextortion inflicts on young people and their families, and of our unwavering commitment to pursuing those who perpetrate it,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “This sentence delivers a clear message: whether you are in the United States or operating from abroad, the FBI and our partners will relentlessly pursue you. If you exploit our youth, we will bring you to justice.”
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Abington Township Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Brown.
Aina and Abiodun were extradited to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with assistance of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI Legal Attaché in Abuja, and the FBI. The support and assistance of Nigerian security authorities was essential to this effort, notably that of Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
Mikell Shepard, Connersville Photographer and Owner of “Shepard Photography” and “Boudoir by Shepard” Charged with Multiple Federal Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Mikell Shepard, age 22, of Connersville, Indiana, has been charged by federal complaint with three counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child and one count of Possession of Child Pornography.
According to the criminal complaint, on October 23, 2025, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Indianapolis received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The report included investigative findings submitted by Google, which identified content in Shepard’s account believed to depict sexually explicit images and videos of minor children.
Google reviewed and flagged more than 400 files allegedly showing minors engaged in sexual acts, as well as over 1,000 files depicting the lascivious exhibition of the genitals of minors.
On October 24, 2025, law enforcement executed a state search warrant at Shepard’s residence. Investigators discovered sexually explicit images and videos of minors allegedly produced by Shepard in both professional and personal settings, including while babysitting. These images reportedly include both female and male children, as young as 9 months old. The images and videos date from as recently as October 2025, with some files from the summer of 2024.
Publicly available information lists Shepard as the owner of “Shepard Photography” and “Boudoir by Shepard.” His Facebook account advertises him as a professional photographer who “works well with families, children, and infants.”
Shepard has been known to babysit several children, and has photographed children at a daycare, skating rink, and a gymnastics center in or near Connersville. Investigators believe there may be additional victims.
If you believe a child may have been victimized by Mikell Shepard, please contact Fayette County/Connersville Police non-emergency dispatch at (765) 825-2111.
According to the Writ of Habeas Corpus Ad Prosequendum filed today, Shepard will be transported from the Fayette County Jail to federal custody and will remain in the custody of the United States for all other necessary proceedings in this case.
Homeland Security Investigations, Indiana State Police, Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Connersville Police Department are investigating this case. Should Shepard be convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who is prosecuting this 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. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Meth and Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Summit County man has been sentenced to prison for his role as a supplier of illegal substances in Summit and Portage counties and the surrounding region.
Leverne Eugene Fortson, 51, of Akron, was sentenced to 210 months (17.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after a federal jury found him guilty in August of the following charges:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Cocaine.
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Fortson was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment. In addition, the court ordered that he serve an additional 30 months for a supervised release violation, bringing the total to 240 months (20 years) in federal prison. Judge Adams imposed the sentence Oct. 28.
Court documents show that from about January to July 2024, Fortson and co-conspirator Jeffery Scott Goldbach, 54, of Mantua, Ohio, operated a drug trafficking scheme that distributed methamphetamine and cocaine throughout Summit and Portage counties and the surrounding region. Search warrants were executed at each of their homes. At Fortson’s home in Akron, investigators seized 54.7 grams of pure methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and several mason jars containing fake urine. At Goldbach’s residence, agents seized a semi-automatic rifle, 22 grams of cocaine, approximately 55.5 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Co-conspirator Goldbach pleaded guilty in August to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 78 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release.
This drug trafficking organization was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Portage County Sheriff’s Office, and Akron Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph P. Dangelo and Yasmine Makridis for the Northern District of Ohio.
Former nurse going to prison for possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Erik Hjemdahl-Monsen, 48, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, was sentenced to serve 72 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who handled the case, stated that on September 21, 2023, the New York State Police executed a search warrant at Hjemdahl-Monsen’s residence as part of an investigation of a child pornography file he uploaded to a Kik computer server using his home internet IP address. Investigators seized a cell phone, which contained three videos of child pornography. At the time, Hjemdahl-Monsen was an Emergency Room Nurse at Oishei Children's Hospital.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
# # # #
Former Stoughton Police Officer Indicted for Allegedly Causing the Death of His Victim's Unborn BabyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Stoughton police officer who was previously indicted for allegedly murdering Sandra Birchmore, a pregnant woman, to prevent her from disclosing information about his sexual exploitation of her beginning when she was a minor, has been indicted for allegedly causing the death of Birchmore’s unborn son.
Matthew Farwell, 39, of Easton, has been charged with one count of causing the death of Birchmore’s unborn child. Farwell was arrested and charged in August 2024. He remains in federal custody and will be arraigned at a later date.
According to the superseding indictment, on or about Feb. 1, 2021, Farwell allegedly killed Birchmore by strangulation. Shortly thereafter, Farwell allegedly staged her body and apartment to make it appear as if Birchmore had committed suicide. The indictment alleges that Farwell killed Birchmore with malice aforethought and with the intent to prevent her from disclosing to law enforcement that he used his authority and access as a police officer to groom and sexually abuse Birchmore, including while he was on duty, beginning when she was 15 years old and continuing until her death. The indictment further alleges that Farwell’s killing of Birchmore resulted in the death of her unborn child.
According to court documents, Farwell agreed to attempt to impregnate Birchmore in the Fall of 2020 to avoid her publicly disclosing details about their relationship. Birchmore told Farwell that she was “keeping it” and “the birth certificate is being signed.” Farwell allegedly responded by telling her that she was “the worst person on the face of the earth.”
Over the next several weeks, Birchmore expressed excitement to Farwell about her due date, ultrasounds, genetic testing, gender reveals and doctor appointments. She booked prenatal care appointments that post-dated her death. She also ordered baby items, conducted Google searches related to her pregnancy and future child-rearing decisions, planned for newborn baby photos and an official pregnancy announcement intended for Valentine’s Day.
According to the indictment, Birchmore was eight to 10 weeks pregnant when Farwell allegedly killed her.The charge of causing the death of an unborn child in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1841 carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Riley, Torey B. Cummings and Brian A. Fogerty of the office’s Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former JBLM Sergeant sentenced to four years in prison for delivering national security information to ChinaRead the Press Release
Seattle – A former U.S. Army Sergeant whose last duty post was Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in western Washington was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to four years in prison and three years of supervised release for two federal felonies, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 31, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said he based his sentence on the seriousness of Schmidt’s crime and on his mental health at the time of the conduct.
“As a retired Army officer, I find it unconscionable for a former soldier to put his colleagues and country at risk by peddling secret information and intelligence access to a hostile foreign power,” said U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “These cases remain a priority for our office to keep our country safe.”
“As a soldier, Mr. Schmidt swore an oath to protect the United States and its citizens who, in turn, entrusted him with their security and the secrets necessary to defend it,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Instead of upholding that trust, he betrayed it by handing over classified information to China, as his admissions make clear. The FBI and our partners will remain vigilant in our mission to safeguard our nation, making every effort to uncover those who endanger it and hold them accountable.”
According to records filed in the case, Schmidt was an active-duty soldier from January 2015 to January 2020. His primary assignment was at JBLM in the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion. In his role, Schmidt had access to SECRET and TOP SECRET information. After his separation from the military, Schmidt reached out to the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and later, the Chinese security services via email offering national defense information.
In March 2020, Schmidt traveled to Hong Kong and continued his efforts to provide Chinese intelligence with classified information he obtained from his military service. He created multiple lengthy documents describing various “high level secrets” he was offering to the Chinese government. He retained a device that allows for access to secure military computer networks and offered the device to Chinese authorities to assist them in efforts to gain access to such networks. Just 17 days after he made the approach to the Chinese intelligence contacts, he was granted a long sought-after work visa for China.
Schmidt remained in China, primarily Hong Kong, until October 2023, when he flew to San Francisco. He was arrested at the airport.
Speaking in court today, Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg said Schmidt “created documents based on classified and national defense information. He used his training to provide sensitive information to the Chinese security service. He knew what he was doing was wrong – he was doing web searches for such things as ‘Can you be extradited for treason.’”
The FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg prosecuted the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Former Childcare Provider of the Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Federal Jury Convicts Former Childcare Provider
of the Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material
CONCORD – Krystal Baird, 40, of Keene, was convicted after a five-day trial in U.S. District Court of aiding and abetting the production of child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
United States District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe scheduled the sentencing hearing for February 11, 2026. The conviction subjects Krystal Baird to a statutory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, followed by a period of supervised release upon completion of her prison term. Krystal Baird has been in federal custody since March of 2024.
According to the evidence admitted at trial, on January 29, 2024, Krystal and Paul Baird were babysitting a 9-year-old child. After the child was given THC-infused candy, Krystal Baird directed Paul Baird to try to get the child to play with his genitalia. Paul Baird took at least one sexually explicit image of the victim’s genitalia. Krystal Baird then photographed Paul Baird sexually assaulting the victim, thus producing child sexual abuse material. Paul Baird later uploaded links to three sexually explicit images of the minor victim on a dark website dedicated to child pornography. The evidence showed that the couple had been drugging and abusing the victim since at least August of 2023.
Before her arrest, Krystal Baird was a licensed childcare provider.
The Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. The Keene Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Krasinski and Heather Cherniske prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Father and son arrested for attempting to smuggle hundreds of firearms to MexicoRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Two men from Alabama have been charged with trafficking more than 300 weapons along with ammunition and magazines, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Emilio Ramirez Cortes, 48, a Mexican citizen who legally resides in the United States, and his son, Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz, have made their initial appearances in Laredo federal court and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing set for Oct. 31.
Both are charged with smuggling firearms, ammunition, magazines and other firearms accessories as well as trafficking of firearms.
“Disrupting the illegal flow of weapons into Mexico is a key part of our whole-of-government approach to dismantling the cartels,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This significant seizure represents our commitment to protecting Americans from brutal cartel violence.”
“Those that illegally traffic guns to Mexico empower cartels to terrorize the innocent,” said Ganjei. “This seizure of an immense quantity of firearms illustrates the Southern District of Texas’s full-spectrum approach to fighting the cartels. We will attack every facet of their operations until they are wiped off the face of the earth.”
On Oct. 23, two vehicles appeared to be driving in tandem and approached the Juarez-Lincoln Port of Entry in Laredo, according to the complaint. The charges allege Ramirez Diaz was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe with Alabama license plates followed by his father in a Chevrolet Silverado with Mexican license plates. Both vehicles were allegedly hauling enclosed white box utility trailers.
The criminal complaint alleges authorities found false walls in both trailers which resulted in the discovery of well over 300 rifles and pistols as well as various caliber ammunition and magazines.
According to court records, the men were smuggling the weapons and related items in exchange for payment and had done so on multiple occasions.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Father and Son Arrested for Attempting to Smuggle Hundreds of Firearms to MexicoRead the Press Release
Two men from Alabama have been charged with trafficking more than 300 weapons along with ammunition and magazines, announced Attorney General Pamela Bondi and U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Emilio Ramirez Cortes, 48, a Mexican citizen who legally resides in the United States, and his son, Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz, have made their initial appearances in Laredo federal court and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing set for Oct. 31.
Both are charged with smuggling firearms, ammunition, magazines and other firearms accessories as well as trafficking of firearms.
“Disrupting the illegal flow of weapons into Mexico is a key part of our whole-of-government approach to dismantling the cartels,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This significant seizure represents our commitment to protecting Americans from brutal cartel violence.”
“Those that illegally traffic guns to Mexico empower cartels to terrorize the innocent,” said Ganjei. “This seizure of an immense quantity of firearms illustrates the Southern District of Texas’s full-spectrum approach to fighting the cartels. We will attack every facet of their operations until they are wiped off the face of the earth.”
On Oct. 23, two vehicles appeared to be driving in tandem and approached the Juarez-Lincoln Port of Entry in Laredo, according to the complaint. The charges allege Ramirez Diaz was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe with Alabama license plates followed by his father in a Chevrolet Silverado with Mexican license plates. Both vehicles were allegedly hauling enclosed white box utility trailers.
The criminal complaint alleges authorities found false walls in both trailers which resulted in the discovery of well over 300 rifles and pistols as well as various caliber ammunition and magazines.
According to court records, the men were smuggling the weapons and related items in exchange for payment and had done so on multiple occasions.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Camden Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Two Carjackings in South PhiladelphiaRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Zamer Williams, 20, of Camden, New Jersey, was sentenced today to 10 years’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Anita B. Brody for carrying out two carjackings in November of 2023.
In April 2024, Williams was charged by superseding indictment with two counts of carjacking and one count of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the commission of a crime of violence. He pleaded guilty to those offenses in December 2024.
As detailed in the superseding indictment and other public filings, on November 11, 2023, at approximately 9 p.m., the first victim, an Uber driver, was picking up a passenger at the Ikea on Columbus Boulevard in South Philadelphia. The driver had briefly stepped out of his vehicle, a 2016 Mazda CX-5, when the defendant and another person approached him, demanding his car keys at gunpoint. The victim handed over his keys and the defendant and his accomplice fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle. The victim borrowed an Ikea worker’s phone and called 911.
Two days later, on November 13, 2023, the second victim entered the Wawa on Columbus Boulevard in South Philadelphia, leaving her car running. When she observed the defendant getting into the driver seat of her vehicle, a 2016 Ford Fusion SE, she went outside to confront him. The defendant drove the victim’s car away from the Wawa, with the victim holding onto the driver’s side door. After hanging on for about 10 feet, the victim let go and the defendant fled in her car.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kwambina I. Coker and Robert E. Eckert.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
Monday 27 October 2025
Violent Extremist Group “764” Member Charged with Animal Crushing, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Cyberstalking, and Making Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment against Tony Christopher Long, also known as Inactive, Inactivee0, and inactivecvx, 19, of Porterville, charging him with animal crushing (two counts), sexual exploitation of a minor, possession of material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor, cyberstalking, and transmitting an interstate threat.
“This defendant allegedly engaged in acts of extreme cruelty by exploiting a child, abusing animals, and threatening violence — his conduct reflects the depravity of ‘764,’” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “These networks seek to terrorize and destabilize our communities by preying on the most vulnerable, and the Justice Department will stop at nothing to dismantle this network and bring offenders to justice.”
“The FBI has no tolerance for anyone who preys on children or other vulnerable members of society,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This defendant allegedly targeted juveniles, took part in animal crushing, and was part of a violent online network which seeks to sow chaos and destabilize our society. The FBI will work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable anyone who engages in such reprehensible and illegal activity.”
“This indictment charges a constellation of offenses related to the troubling emergence of NVEs like ‘764’ and related groups,” U.S. Attorney Grant stated. “My office will vigorously investigate and prosecute offenses committed by NVE groups, including those alleged to have been committed by Long against young and vulnerable victims.”
“Violent online networks of predators, such as 764, are exploiting digital platforms to coerce minors and vulnerable individuals into producing graphic content depicting animal abuse, self-harm, and child exploitation. The FBI will not stand by while these victims suffer. We are taking decisive action to dismantle these networks and bring the offenders to justice. Working together with educators, health care professionals, and families, we will protect those at risk and respond swiftly to suspected criminal activity,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel.
According to court documents, Long was a member and associate of “764,” a criminal organization of Nihilistic Violent Extremists (NVEs). NVEs are individuals who engage in criminal conduct within the United States and abroad in furtherance of political, social, or religious goals that derive primarily from a hatred of society and a desire to bring about its collapse via chaos, destruction, and social instability. NVEs work individually or as part of a network with the goal of destroying civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, which often include minors.
The indictment alleges that in late 2024, Long purposely engaged in animal crushing, sexually exploited a juvenile victim living in Washington state, committed cyberstalking and made online threats against a juvenile victim living in Kern County.
This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from the Porterville Police Department and the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office.
If convicted, Long faces a maximum penalty of seven years in prison on each of the two counts charging animal crushing; a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years in prison up to a maximum of 30 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor; a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for possession of material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor; a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for cyberstalking; and a maximum statutory penalty of two years in prison for making an interstate threat. Each count of the indictment also carries a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat of Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) networks, like 764, that operate within the United States and around the globe. NVEs often target vulnerable individuals, including minors, using social media platforms to share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and gore material, or groom victims toward committing acts of violence. Victims are often blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, including self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: Parents, Caregivers, Teachers — FBI and the FBI’s March 2025 public service announcement.
Two men plead guilty for their roles in cocaine and fentanyl conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that David Washington, 45, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000. In addition, Co-defendant Eleazar Martinez Medina, 56, of Los Angeles, CA, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Schroeder to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a fine of $5,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch and Evan K. Glaberson, who are handling the case, stated that beginning in February 2019, Washington and Martinez Medina conspired with others to sell cocaine and fentanyl. Washington resided at and maintained control over a residence on Bennett Village Terrace. In February 2019, Martinez Medina traveled to Buffalo from California and resided with Washington. On February 15, 2019, Martinez Medina went to Chili, NY, picked up approximately 25 kilograms of cocaine from a truck driver, and traveled back to Buffalo. On February 19, 2019, Martinez Medina met with an individual working with the FBI, and stated that he had approximately $656,000, which was the proceeds from the sale of cocaine to a “black guy,” which was a reference to Washington. On February 22, 2019, Martinez Medina was stopped in California by the California Highway Patrol and found in possession of $658,380 in United States currency.
In February 2020, investigators executed a search warrant at Washington’s Bennett Village Terrace residence and recovered over $77,000 in cash. Further investigation determined that Washington was associated with and controlled other residences on Rogers Street and Bailey Avenue in Buffalo. On February 21, 2020, a search warrant was executed at the Rogers Street residence, during which law enforcement recovered approximately three kilograms of fentanyl, 329 grams of a fentanyl mixture, 223 grams of crack cocaine, 1,002 grams of cocaine, 893 grams of heroin, $246,775 in cash. Also on February 21, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Bailey Avenue residence, during which they seized $151,350 in cash. The total amount of cash seized was $1,133,505, which represents the proceeds of drug trafficking. The investigation also included controlled purchases of fentanyl from Washington.
The pleas are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division, Homeland Security investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Alphonso Wright, and the California Highway Patrol.
Sentencing for both defendants will be scheduled at a later date.
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