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26 November 2025
U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors AUSA Mary V. “Jena” King and Legal Assistant Niurka “Nikki” Machin on Their RetirementRead the Press Release
MIAMI – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida proudly celebrated the retirements of Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary V. “Jena” King and Legal Assistant Niurka “Nikki” Machin during a clap-out ceremony honoring their decades of dedicated federal service.
Jena King has been a steady and respected presence in this Office for more than 36-years. Her career stands as a model of integrity, professionalism, and devotion to justice that has shaped generations of prosecutors and staff. She has served this community faithfully in defense of the rule of law with the grace, judgment, and compassion throughout her time in the Southern District of Florida.
“Jena’s family’s legacy of public service is woven into the very fabric of our community. Every day, we walk through the doors of the King Federal Justice Building—a powerful reminder of her father’s enduring contributions to the bench and to this District. Jena has carried that same spirit forward in her own distinguished service, leaving behind a record of excellence that will continue to inspire those who follow.” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida.
Nikki Machin has served the Office for nearly 20 years, primarily supporting the Narcotics Section. She is known for her discipline, reliability, and her ability to manage complex and demanding casework with calm and care. Prosecutors relied on her judgment and steady presence. Her work strengthened this Office’s mission and contributed to some of the most significant prosecutions in the District.
“Nikki was a constant source of support for our Narcotics Section. She kept demanding cases on track and brought order and professionalism to the most complex cases. She made our mission stronger, and we are deeply grateful for the service she gave this Office and the people of South Florida.” – U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones
The clap-out ceremony brought together colleagues and leadership to recognize King and Machin as they concluded their federal careers and embarked on the next chapter of their lives. Their legacy of excellence, professionalism, and service will remain an enduring part of the Office’s history. The Office extends its thanks to City of Miami Chief of Police Manny Morales for his continued support and for his officers joining the Office in recognizing the distinguished service of both honorees.
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Two women sentenced to prison for Hampton Roads drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Two women were sentenced to prison for their roles in a vast Hampton Roads-based drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, federal law enforcement opened an investigation into large-scale drug trafficking activity at Lux Auto in Newport News around June 2021. The conspirators used the business as a base of operations, storing illegal drugs in vehicles throughout the parking lot of Lux Auto. Thirty-seven defendants were charged in a 127-count superseding indictment returned on Sept. 11, 2023.
Amanda Bell, 24, was a courier and a distributer of drugs and narcotics for the organization, selling marijuana and fentanyl pills. Over the multiple controlled transactions conducted by law enforcement, Bell sold more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Bell also served as a money courier for the organization, travelling between Virginia and California with large quantities of money related to drug trafficking. On March 3, 2022, Bell and a companion were intercepted in route to California with a suitcase containing more than $35,000 intended as part of the organization’s marijuana trafficking activities.
Bell pled guilty on April 26 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Bell was sentenced Nov. 25 to five years and 10 months in prison.
Farrah Fair, aka 10K Fay, 26, was a courier for the organization, transporting marijuana in checked suitcases on commercial flights between the supplier in California and her co-conspirators in Virginia. Fair pled guilty on Jan. 14 to use of a communication facility in furtherance of drug trafficking. Fair was sentenced Nov. 25 to two years and six months in prison.
Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Dominique Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric M. Hurt, Alyson C. Yates, and Luke Bresnahan prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-54.
Two Armed Carjackers Sentenced to over 8 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencings of two Memphis men for a 2024 carjacking.
According to information presented in court, on September 2, 2024, Martez Banks, 32, and Marcus Pledge, 37, followed an Acura to an apartment complex after an alleged minor car accident. When the driver of the Acura stopped, Banks and Pledge forced the driver out of the vehicle at gunpoint. After patting down the victim, one of them struck the victim in the head with a firearm. Banks and Pledge then drove off in the Acura and their vehicle. Officers from the Memphis Police Department caught Banks in the Acura two days later. Pledge was arrested by members of the Memphis Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit shortly thereafter.
Both Banks and Pledge were indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024 on charges of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. This case was assigned to Chief District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman of the Western District of Tennessee.
On March 5, 2025, Banks pled guilty as charged and was sentenced on June 20, 2025 to 105 months in federal prison for his offenses. Pledge pled guilty as charged on August 12, 2025 and was sentenced to 105 months in federal prison on November 20, 2025.
There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Armed carjacking is a cowardly act involving short-sighted gain with long term consequences for both victims and offenders. When violent criminals act impulsively, we will respond deliberately with the full weight and force of federal sanctions to suppress, punish, and incapacitate."
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Memphis Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit.
Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
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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.
Township Supervisor Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT – A Pennsylvania woman was sentenced today to 12 months plus a day in prison for evading her income taxes and committing bank fraud.
According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Linda Tarlecki, age 63, of Aristes, Pennsylvania, was formerly a township supervisor for Conyngham Township in Columbia County from 2006 through 2018. In July 2025, Tarlecki entered a guilty plea before Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann to tax evasion and bank fraud. At her guilty plea hearing, Tarlecki admitted that from 2013 through 2017, she misappropriated funds from Conyngham Township by drafting duplicate payroll checks for herself and reimbursing herself for mileage and supplies that did not exist. In total, Tarlecki misappropriated over $147,000 from the township. Additionally, Tarlecki failed to pay income taxes on the fraudulent income resulting in a loss to the Internal Revenue Service of over $38,000.
“No matter what the source of income, all income is taxable,” stated Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Chief Judge Brann ordered Tarlecki to serve two years of supervised release and to pay $187,427 in restitution to the United States.
The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur prosecuted the case.
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Three indicted for burglary conspiracy involving Puget Sound area post officesRead the Press Release
Tacoma – Three residents of the South Sound region face federal charges for their post office burglary scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. Justin Tate, 36, most recently of Tacoma, Gregory Foster, 58, of Port Orchard, Washington, and Paula Gamboa, 37 of Federal Way, Washington, were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 21, 2025. Tate was sentenced for an unrelated crime in Kitsap County yesterday and transferred to federal custody, where he will appear for arraignment in Tacoma at 1:30 PM. His co-defendants were previously arraigned.
According to the indictment, Tate led a burglary crew that targeted post offices in the Puget Sound region. The break-ins spanned Kitsap, Thurston, Pierce, King, and Island Counties. The thieves kept cash and other valuables from the stolen mail. Tate went on to allegedly use identity and financial documents obtained from victims’ mail to commit bank fraud. The specific burglaries are these:
- July 4, 2024, Tate and Foster allegedly break into the Olalla Post Office wearing face masks to obscure their identities.
- July 8, 2024, Tate and Foster allegedly attempt to enter the restricted area of the Littlerock Post Office – they disconnect the security camera but cannot breach a metal shutter into the restricted area.
- July 9, 2024, Tate and Gamboa allegedly enter the Fox Island Post Office and steal mail from various post office boxes.
- July 15, 2024, Foster allegedly breaks a window and enters the Anderson Island Contract Post Office and steal $3,000 in stamps, $100 in cash and about 100 postal money orders.
- July 24, 2024, Tate allegedly enters the Vashon Island Post Office and steals mail from multiple post office boxes.
- July 27, 2024, Tate and Foster allegedly force their way through the back door of the Snoqualmie Post Office and steal mail.
- July 30, 2024, Tate and Gamboa allegedly steal mail from boxes inside the Preston Post Office.
- July 31, 2024, Tate and Gamboa break into the Clinton Post Office on Whidbey Island and steal mail from post boxes and from a mail drop box.
The indictment charges Justin Tate with two counts of bank fraud and lists various transactions that constitute the bank fraud charges. Tate opened a bank account in the name of one of the victims and then transferred or attempted to transfer more than $3,500 for his own use. He attempted to deposit more than $13,000 in fraudulent checks. Tate also ran up $7,200 in point-of-sale charges with a stolen debit card.
Tate is also charged with two counts of Aggravated Identity Theft for his use of the identities of his victims in the bank fraud scheme.
Conspiracy is punishable by up to five years in prison. Bank fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Aggravated Identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum two years in prison to run consecutive to any other prison term imposed in the case.
The charges contained in the indictment 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.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore.
Three Philadelphia Men Charged in Connection with a String of Summer CarjackingsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Rasheen Harvey-Fields, 18, Tavon Fry, 20, and Saair Steele, 21, all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were charged by superseding indictment with conspiring to commit, and committing, multiple carjackings, and related firearms offenses.
Harvey-Fields and Fry made their initial appearances in federal court in Philadelphia this week and Steele made his initial appearance last week. All three are detained in federal custody.
The superseding indictment alleges that, from approximately June 25, 2025, until at least July 11, 2025, the defendants and others conspired to steal at gunpoint numerous vehicles, often using the vehicles they carjacked to commit other crimes, including robbery, aggravated assault, and more carjackings.
As further alleged, the defendants sometimes used the pretense of buying or selling marijuana to mislead their victims and facilitate the carjackings, and other times targeted individuals who were exiting their vehicles.
The three defendants are charged with conspiring to commit a total of 11 carjackings, all in Philadelphia, with the alleged participants in each carjacking noted:
June 25, 2025 – 1400 block of Bouvier Street (Harvey-Fields and others)
June 28, 2025 – 3100 block of West Arizona Street (Harvey-Fields and others)
June 29, 2025 – 3100 block of West Arizona Street (Harvey-Fields, Fry, and others)
July 1, 2025 – 11th and Wallace streets (Harvey-Fields and others)
July 3, 2025 – 1700 block of North 60th Street (Harvey-Fields, Steele, and others)
July 3, 2025 – 700 block of South 55th Street (Harvey-Fields, Steele, and others)
July 3, 2025 – 6000 block of North 5th Street (Harvey-Fields and others)
July 6, 2025 – 6100 block of West Girard Avenue (Harvey-Fields and others)
July 6, 2025 – 600 block of West Cumberland Street (Harvey-Fields, Steele, and others)
July 7, 2025 – 3100 block of West Arizona Street (Harvey-Fields and others)
July 7, 2025 – 2100 block of Natrona Street (Harvey-Fields and others)
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Branwen McNabb O’Donnell and Shannon Zabel.
The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Three Mexican Nationals Convicted for Immigration OffensesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Crescencio Diaz-Diaz, 36, Marcelo Perez-Santiz, 33, and Roman Gomez-Diaz, 32, all of the country of Mexico, pleaded guilty and were sentenced by a federal judge. Diaz-Diaz and Perez-Santiz pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a removed alien, and all three defendants pleaded guilty to possession and use of fraudulent employment documents. The pleas and sentences were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “These criminal aliens tried to lie, cheat, and steal their way into this country by illegally crossing our borders and presenting false documentation. I deeply appreciate the close collaboration between our state and federal law enforcement partners that enabled these successful prosecutions, which continue to deliver on the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by robustly enforcing our national immigration laws.”
Various court documents reflect that Diaz-Diaz, Perez-Santiz, and Gomez-Diaz were arrested following the execution of federal criminal search warrants at a Navarre business, Emerald Coast Lawns, and an adjacent residence in July 2025. During the search, law enforcement found employment records showing that each defendant presented a Social Security card and a permanent resident card (sometimes referred to as a “green card”) bearing their names and/or photographs that were all determined to be fraudulent. Immigration files showed that none of the defendants had record of legal entry into the country, and that both Diaz-Diaz and Perez-Santiz had been previously deported. All three defendants were sentenced to time served and will be deported.
“These convictions underscore our commitment to protecting the integrity of our nation’s employment systems,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas G. Ingegno. “Using fraudulent work not only undermines lawful hiring practices but also exposes our communities to significant risks. The successful prosecution of these three illegal aliens reflects the diligent work of HSI and out partners. We will continue to enforce federal law and hold accountable those who engage in document fraud.”
“This case highlights our ongoing efforts to identify, arrest and remove people who violate federal immigration laws,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “FBI Jacksonville will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue those who undermine lawful immigration and ensure the security of our borders and communities.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Florida Highway Patrol, United States Marshals Service and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Tallahassee Man Found Guilty of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of a MacHine GunRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Sincere M. Perkins, 25, of Tallahassee, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a machine gun. The guilty verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin: “Thanks to the outstanding collaboration between our local and federal law enforcement partners to investigate this case, and this successful prosecution by my office, our community will be made safer while this violent felon finds himself in federal prison. With this conviction, we take yet another step toward fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the perpetrators of violent crime who have plagued our streets for far too long.”
Evidence at trial demonstrated that members of the United States Marshals Task Force located the defendant at an apartment in Tallahassee because of an outstanding warrant for his arrest. A subsequent search of the apartment found multiple firearms, including a pistol that had been modified to fire as a machinegun.
Ballistics from two of the recovered firearms matched shell casings from a prior shooting in Quincy, Florida. The defendant’s DNA was found on both firearms that had been used in the shooting, and a recorded jail call revealed that the defendant was knowingly in possession of the firearms despite his status as a previously convicted felon.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 9, 2026, at 2:30 pm. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
This conviction was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the Quincy Police Department, and the Tallahassee Police Department, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Sioux City Man on Parole Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
A Sioux City man who was on parole for a Woodbury County, Iowa burglary, was sentenced September 29, 2025, to more than 5 years in federal prison.
Mchennlley Mutsuo, age 40, from Sioux City, received the prison term after a May 7, 2025, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user.
Mutsuo was serving his term of parole for a March 1, 2021, conviction of second-degree burglary when Iowa parole officers were conducting a home visit. Upon entering his property, officers located a plate with drug paraphernalia and a white crystalline substance. Sioux City Police were informed, and an Iowa search warrant was obtained, where officers located two semi-automatic pistols and a revolver, along with 132 grams of methamphetamine.
Mutsuo was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 69 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Mutsuo is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol Tabaco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4063.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
San Diego Woman Admits Hiding Father-In-Law’s Death in Philippines to Collect His Retirement BenefitsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO –Josephine Guinauli Aquino of San Diego admitted in federal court today that she hid her father-in-law’s overseas death to illegally collect more than $175,000 in retirement benefits that should have stopped when he died.
In her plea agreement, Aquino, 64, admitted that at the time of her father-in-law’s death in 2019, she knew that he was a veteran receiving monthly retirement benefits from both the Defense Finance Accounting Service and the Social Security Administration. Aquino knew that these benefits would immediately cease when the government became aware of her father-in-law’s death, , but because he died in The Philippines, the U.S. government was not automatically informed. Instead, Aquino admitted that she concealed his death from both the government and the bank where her father-in-law’s benefits were deposited each month. As a result, the United States continued to deposit these funds each month through October 2025.
After his death in August 2019, Aquino admitted, she used her father-in-law’s checkbook to forge at least 150 checks drawn on his bank account. In addition, Aquino admitted that she received monthly pension checks from the Nestle Corporation that were mailed to her father-in-law’s last address in the United States, which Aquino fraudulently endorsed and deposited into his bank account, using his bank card.
Aquino admitted that by concealing the death of her father-in-law, she caused an additional loss to the U.S. Department of Treasury for three economic impact payments issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, which were intended for her father-in-law’s benefit but converted to Aquino’s use.
As a part of her plea agreement, Aquino has agreed to make full restitution to the Defense Finance Accounting Service, the Social Security Administration, the Treasury Department and the Nestle Corporation. Aquino was released pending her sentencing on February 13, 2026, before District Judge Janis L. Sammartino.
“By stealing benefits that did not belong to her, this defendant took money away from other veterans and elderly Americans in need,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “This office is committed to prosecuting those who defraud these important government programs.”
“Ms. Aquino’s guilty plea is an acknowledgement of her six-year fraud scheme in which she benefited financially to the detriment of the American taxpayer by unlawfully obtaining Department of Defense and Social Security benefits,” said John E. Helsing, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “DCIS, along with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice, will continue to aggressively investigate those who seek to enrich themselves through fraudulent schemes targeting the U.S. government.”
“Ms. Aquino’s deliberate decision to conceal her father-in-law’s death abroad and steal Social Security benefits for her own benefit represents a serious violation of the law,” said Christian Assaad, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, San Francisco Field Division, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. “Safeguarding the integrity of Social Security programs is central to our mission, and we will continue to ensure that those who misuse these benefits are held accountable.” This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey D. Hill.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25-CR-4282-JLS
Josephine Guinauli Aquino Age: 64 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Receipt, Concealment, and Retention of Stolen Public Money – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 641
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and a $357,623.00 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Department of Defense – Office of Inspector General
Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a man from Rapid City, South Dakota, convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death. The sentencing took place on November 24, 2025.
Anthony Sorensen, 37, was sentenced to life in federal prison, followed by six years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Sorensen was indicted for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death by a federal grand jury in June 2024. He was found guilty after a three-day jury trial in March 2025.
The indictment stemmed from a fatal fentanyl overdose that occurred in Rapid City on June 5, 2023. During the investigation, law enforcement obtained messages between Sorensen and the victim that indicated Sorensen had agreed to sell the victim a fentanyl pill in the early morning hours of June 5, 2023. Security camera footage from nearby businesses showed the victim arrive at the apartment that Sorensen was living in at the time. The victim was found unresponsive approximately one block from Sorensen’s home just a few hours after the victim had been seen arriving at Sorensen’s residence. An autopsy later confirmed that the victim consumed a lethal amount of fentanyl.
“So much death, misery, and pain has been caused by fentanyl dealers,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “I am so grateful to our law enforcement partners that this dealer is now out of business for good.”
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team, which is comprised of investigators from the Rapid City Police Department, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the National Guard Counter-Drug Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.
Sorensen was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Quincy Felon Returned to Federal Prison for Thirteen YearsRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Zanntayfey Yohoun Bennett, 42, of Quincy, Florida was sentenced to a total of 157 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and marijuana, and for violation of the terms of his supervised release for 2019 federal convictions for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and organized dog fighting. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, this repeat offender has been removed from our streets and will serve a lengthy sentence in federal prison. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to Take Back America from the drug traffickers and career criminals who have terrorized our communities for far too long, and this successful prosecution is yet another step toward achieving that goal.”
According to court records, in February 2025, law enforcement developed information indicating that the defendant, who is a multi-convicted felon serving a five-year term of federal supervised release, was involved in drug trafficking. After a series of controlled operations, during which illegal drugs were purchased from the defendant, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence. During the search, law enforcement seized cocaine base, also known as “crack” cocaine, suspected synthetic cathinones, and marijuana. The defendant had multiple prior federal and state felony drug trafficking convictions, which qualified him as a career offender under federal sentencing rules.
“I’m proud of the great work our agents and local police officers did to remove this career criminal and multiple-time felon from North Florida streets,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “This effort will greatly benefit the communities in and around Tallahassee.”
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Poplar man sentenced to over 5 years in prison for aggravated sexual abuse on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Poplar man who previously pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced yesterday to 68 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Chucho Cruzito Garfield, 40, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of aggravated sexual abuse.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on June 14, 2022, law enforcement responded to a report of drunk juveniles fighting at a residence in Poplar, Montana. When the officers arrived, one of them talked with Jane Doe’s brother who told the officer Doe was inside the home. He claimed Garfield held a knife to Doe’s throat and prevented her from leaving a backroom of the house.
An officer saw Doe inside the house, was familiar with her from previous interactions, and was aware that the Fort Peck Tribal Court had issued a “pick up and hold” for her. After confirming with dispatch that the “pick up and hold” for Doe was still active, the officer went into the house and arrested Doe. Garfield was also arrested after Doe reported he had given her a black eye the day before—and a bruise was visible beneath her eye—and he had prevented her from leaving the house by holding a knife to her throat.
Ultimately, Doe reported Garfield walked her from her house to his house on June 14. While outside the house, Doe’s brother confronted Garfield about the black eye. Garfield grabbed Doe by her arm and jerked her inside the house. Doe told Garfield she wanted to go home, but Garfield told Doe she had to have sex with him and let him slap her around before she could go home. Garfield then forced Doe to perform oral sex on him, and he held a black pocketknife to her throat and chest during the assault.
Garfield initially denied striking or sexually abused Doe but eventually admitted Doe was telling the truth: he had forced her to perform oral sex on him.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation.
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Placer County Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Nearly $1.5 million in COVID-Relief Loans to Fund Lavish LifestyleRead the Press Release
Jedrek Upton, 45, of Lincoln, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between January 2021 and May 2022, Upton repeatedly lied on applications for COVID-19 disaster relief funds that he submitted on behalf of his businesses. The misrepresentations included false statements regarding the number of employees or payroll and that he would spend the money to alleviate economic injury caused by COVID-19. In support of these applications, Upton also submitted falsified IRS documents.
In reality, some of the businesses had no employees or payroll, and Upton spent much of the money received on personal expenses. Upton received nearly $1.5 million in ill-gotten loans from the United States, a large portion of which was ultimately forgiven after Upton falsely claimed that he had spent it on payroll. Instead of legitimate business expenses, the money that Upton received allowed him to fund a lavish lifestyle. He paid off personal credit cards, transferred money to other people, leased a Ferrari and a Lamborghini, and made a large down payment on a $2.7 million, 10-acre property.
In addition to pleading guilty, Upton agreed to forfeit his interest in the property he purchased and pay nearly $1.5 million in restitution to the United States.
This case is the product of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.
Upton is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on March 24, 2026. Upton faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the wire fraud count, and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the money laundering count. The actual sentence, however, will 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.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm by a FelonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jeffrey Hernandez, 40, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, the statutory maximum sentence allowed by law, and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Wendy Beetlestone for illegal possession of a firearm by felon.
Hernandez was charged by superseding information and pleaded guilty in August of this year.
As detailed in case filings and admitted to by the defendant, Hernandez possessed a 9mm semiautomatic pistol loaded with 30 live rounds of ammunition, despite knowing that he was not permitted to possess a firearm given his status as a convicted felon.
As further detailed in court documents and hearings, Hernandez was found in possession of the firearm after the FBI and Philadelphia police received credible information that the defendant and three other men were on their way to kill someone in retaliation for an earlier shooting.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, and the Philadelphia Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Martin and Special Assistant United States Attorney Meagan Gordon.
Pensacola Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Donavon Idris Ellis, 27, of Pensacola, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office is committed to supporting the work of our brave local, state, and federal law enforcement partners who keep our communities safe. We will continue to aggressively prosecute all violations of our laws and hold offenders accountable.”
Court documents reflect that a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence in March 2024, during which law enforcement found and seized two loaded firearms, boxes of bulk ammunition, and multiple magazines, including a large capacity drum magazine. The defendant admitted to law enforcement that the two firearms were his. In 2021, the defendant was federally convicted of three counts of distribution of carfentanil,
The sentence was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Pensacola Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia Forbes.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Nigerian Man Convicted in Federal Trial of Fraud and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal jury convicted Saheed Sunday Owolabi, 34, from Nigeria on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering for his role in several cyber fraud schemes.
“Fraud schemes like this drain millions from hardworking people in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will continue to work with our federal partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who abuse the anonymity of the internet to enrich themselves by stealing from our citizens.”
According to court records and trial evidence, Owolabi pretended to be a woman to build online relationships with men in the United States, a scheme known as a romance scam. He and his co-conspirators used these fake relationships to convince victims to send money and personal information. Owolabi and others used bank accounts provided by the victims to launder money from other fraudulent operations. Owolabi joined a scheme that stole and laundered more than $120,000 from a victim in the Eastern District of North Carolina and defrauded hundreds of others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, fraudsters gained unauthorized access to information about a pending home closing and sent spoofed emails instructing the victim to transfer funds to a bank account they controlled. When the victim complied, the money went to accounts linked to Owolabi and his associates. Owolabi then directed others on how to move and distribute the money, including sending portions to himself. Investigators recovered chat messages in which Owolabi admitted he was running a romance scam until he realized he was actually communicating with another fraudster. That individual mocked Owolabi’s efforts and told him to “learn how to do a clean job.”
Owolabi faces up to 40 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release when sentenced in January 2026.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe is prosecuting the case, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-137-M.
New York City Based Drug Supplier Pleads Guilty for Role in Ulster County Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Defendant, Cecilio Wareham, age 48 of Queens, New York, pled guilty in October to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; William S. Walker, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York; and Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, whose office leads the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT).
In April 2025, ten defendants, including Wareham, were indicted for their roles in drug trafficking organizations that distributed large quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine in and around Kingston, New York and other areas of Ulster County. The organizations are alleged to have distributed over 11 kilograms of cocaine and hundreds of grams of cocaine base. Through the execution of search warrants in Ulster County and additional enforcement actions, law enforcement seized over five kilograms of cocaine and 270 grams of cocaine base.
As part of his guilty plea, Wareham admitted to supplying his co-conspirator, Greg Tejada, with quantities of cocaine for redistribution, including over 2 kilograms of cocaine that were seized from Tejada in October 2024.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “This guilty plea sends a clear and unequivocal message: we will aggressively dismantle the drug-trafficking networks that threaten the safety of our communities. Our work is far from finished, but this case proves that those who choose to spread dangerous narcotics will face decisive accountability. I strongly commend our federal, state, and local partners for their unwavering dedication and coordination throughout this investigation.”
HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel stated: “This plea is the result of a sustained, collaborative investigation aimed at dismantling criminal networks that traffic dangerous drugs into our communities. HSI New York and our law enforcement partners will continue to target the supply chains, distributors, and organizations responsible for fueling addiction and violence. Our efforts will remain relentless as we work to safeguard the public.”
Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa stated: “URGENT and our partnering agencies remain committed to protecting Ulster County from the destructive impact of narcotics trafficking. This case highlights the strength of interagency cooperation and the dedication of our investigators. We will continue to pursue those who bring illegal drugs into our neighborhoods and ensure they are brought before the justice system.”
Sentencing is scheduled for February 26, 2026, before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. Wareham faces a prison term of at least 10 years and up to life, a fine of up to $10 million, and a supervised release term of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The remaining defendants, all of whom are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, would face the following minimum and maximum terms of imprisonment upon conviction:
NameAgeResidenceMinimum Term of ImprisonmentMaximum Term of ImprisonmentDamon Dunn, aka “Moe”48Tilson, New York10 yearsLifeGreg Tejada, aka “Bear,48Highland Lakes, New Jersey10 yearsLifeRichard Johnson35New York, New York10 yearsLifeKevin Dunn52New York, New York5 years40 yearsAidan White23Kingston, New York5 years40 yearsKristine Scibelli41Middletown, New York5 years40 yearsXavier Patterson, aka “Xay”28New York, New York5 years40 yearsAllen McGraw, aka “Snoop”44Utica, New YorkNone20 yearsRaymond Robinson53Kingston, New YorkNone20 yearsAdditionally, Damon Dunn, Raymond Robinson, Greg Tejada, Kristine Scibelli, Xavier Patterson, and Richard Johnson are charged with Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and Aidan White and Damon Dunn are charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
The charges in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by HSI; the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with URGENT (the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement and Narcotics Team); Federal Bureau of Investigation, and New York State Police Special Investigations Unit, Valhalla.
Assistant United States Attorney Ashlyn Miranda is prosecuting the case.
These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
New Jersey Doctor Charged with Unlawfully Distributing Adderall and XanaxRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey doctor was arrested on November 4, 2025, for unlawfully prescribing Adderall, a Schedule II controlled substance, and Xanax, a Schedule IV controlled substance, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced.
David Holbrook, 70, of Bloomsbury, New Jersey was charged by Indictment with nine counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances, each in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Holbrook appeared on November 4, 2025, for his initial appearance and arraignment in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa. The defendant was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On nine occasions between or around January 2021 and September 2022, Holbrook, a licensed psychiatrist, prescribed Adderall and Xanax to multiple patients outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. If convicted, Holbrook faces a statutory maximum sentence of twenty years in prison and a $1 million fine on each count.
Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited special agents, task force officers, and diversion investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz in Newark, New Jersey, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake A. Nasar of the Office’s Health Care Fraud and Opioid Enforcement Unit.
Victims with any information regarding Dr. David Holbrook may contact the DEA New Jersey Field Division at 571-362-3700.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Jay Surgent, Esq.
holbrook.indictment.pdfMonmouth County Man Sentenced to 63 Months’ Imprisonment for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County man was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment for armed bank robbery, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Jeffrey L. Kniffin, 51, of Wall Township, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton federal court on July 22, 2025, to a one-count Information charging him with armed bank robbery. U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi imposed the sentence on November 24, 2025 in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On October 23, 2024, Kniffin entered a bank in Wall Township, New Jersey armed with a loaded handgun, approached a bank teller, and demanded cash from the teller. After demanding the money, Kniffin removed the handgun from his pocket and displayed it towards the teller. During his interaction with the teller, Kniffin instructed multiple times, “Don’t do anything stupid.” Kniffin received approximately $27,072 in cash from the teller and then fled the bank. He was apprehended and arrested by law enforcement several minutes later. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement recovered from Kniffin and his immediate surroundings a loaded handgun and more than $25,000 in cash.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Quraishi sentenced Kniffin to three years of supervised release following Kniffin’s term of imprisonment, ordered forfeiture of Kniffin’s robbery proceeds and crime gun, and ordered restitution in the amount of $1,938.
Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited task force officers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. She also thanked the Wall Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean O’Halloran, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
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Defense counsel: John M. Holliday, Esq.
Mexican Nationals Arrested and Charged in Million-Dollar Real Estate SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO –Victor Hugo Villalobos Almazan and Nayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez, both Mexican nationals, were arrested by federal agents Tuesday and charged with fraudulently selling properties they did not own.
The defendants were taken into custody upon their arrival at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston after arriving from Mexico. They appeared in federal court in Houston today to face wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft charges. An identity and detention hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Houston.
According to the complaint, the defendants pretended to be the owners of vacant or undeveloped plots of real estate and sold the properties to unwitting third parties by forging signatures of notaries and wiring the proceeds abroad to bank accounts in Mexico and Jordan. According to the complaint, the defendants netted nearly $1 million from two illegal real estate sales.
The complaint alleges that between March and April 2023, Villalobos impersonated the recorded owner of a parcel of vacant land in San Diego for purposes of selling the property and collecting the proceeds. Villalobos allegedly opened a bank account in his own name, with the indication that he was “doing business as” the entity that was the recorded owner of the real property. Villalobos then directed the escrow company to wire the proceeds from the sale into his bank account and then wired nearly all of the illicit proceeds to bank accounts in foreign countries.
Photo evidence shows Villalobos dropping off forms necessary to complete the fraudulent sale of the real property at the escrow company responsible for facilitating the sale.
According to the complaint, Montoya executed a similar scheme in March 2023. She impersonated the recorded owner of real estate with a vacant structure, selling it for approximately $400,000. The complaint said she opened a bank account in her own name, “doing business as” the recorded owner of the property, and directed the proceeds of the sale into that account. Once the proceeds were deposited, Montoya wired most of the money into foreign bank accounts within days. She also withdrew several thousand dollars of the money at various ATMs in San Diego. She was seen on bank surveillance cameras withdrawing money from the account, both alone and with Villalobos.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Beeler and David Kete.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25-mj-6506-AHG
Victor Hugo Villalobos Almazan Age: 48 Mexico
Nayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez Age: 48 Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Wire Fraud Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine
Aggravated Identity Theft – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1028A
Maximum penalty: Two years in prison, consecutive to the underlying felony
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mexican Man Charged with Entering United States Illegally and Eluding Examination by Immigration OfficersRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Vicente De La Cruz-Rodriguez, 28, of Mexico, has been charged by criminal complaint with illegal entry into the United States and eluding examination by immigration officers.
On November 24, 2025, Rodriguez appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Rodriguez be detained during the pendency of this matter.
According to court records, Rodriguez illegally entered the United States from Mexico via Texas in October 2022. Thereafter, Rodriguez travelled to and lived in Addison County, Vermont. On November 10, 2025, Rodriguez was convicted of first degree aggravated domestic assault in Vermont Superior Court, Addison County, and sentenced to 59 to 60 days’ imprisonment. On November 21, 2025, special agents of Homeland Security Investigations arrested Rodriguez in Rutland, Vermont. At no time did Rodriguez present himself for examination or inspection by an immigration officer as required by federal law.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Rodriguez is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Rodriguez faces up to six months’ imprisonment and a $5,000 fine if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations.
The prosecutor is Special Assistant United States Attorney Craig S. Nolan. Rodriguez is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Charles N. Curlett, Jr.
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.
Memphis Company Sentenced for Violations of the Clean Air ActRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Memphis company that specialized in repairing diesel engines was sentenced to pay a fine in the amount of $150,000 for violations of the Clean Air Act. P.T. Services, Inc. entered a guilty plea to the violations in September. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court at the plea hearing, between June 2023 and August 2024, P.T. Services, Inc. modified and deleted emissions control monitoring devices from diesel engines. Under provisions of the Clean Air Act, it is a crime to falsify, tamper with and render inaccurate emissions control monitoring devices.
The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Mark S. Norris on November 25, 2025. In addition to the $150,000 fine, as part of the plea agreement, the company was ordered to participate in a compliance program and be subject to unannounced inspections by the Environmental Protection Agency.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "The U.S. Attorney’s Office is a full-service federal prosecution office, and we have the ability and intention to charge any violations of federal law, no matter where or how they occur in the Western District of Tennessee. This prosecution demonstrates our commitment to upholding the rule of law, and to pursuing any cases that harm and impact our air quality and environment."
“This sentence should send a clear message that companies who break environmental laws will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Modifying and deleting emissions control monitoring devices from diesel engines can lead to poor air quality and health risks. The FBI and our partners will continue to work together to hold accountable individuals who disregard health and environmental laws designed to protect our communities.”
The case was investigated by agents with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. André III.
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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.
Mason City Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution and Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Darius Stackhouse, age 33, from Mason City, Iowa, was sentenced October 1, 2025, to 25 years in federal prison after a March 12, 2025, jury verdict where he was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Evidence at trial showed that between June 2021 and March 2023, Stackhouse was part of an ongoing drug conspiracy based in Mason City, Iowa to distribute methamphetamine. Stackhouse sold more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine throughout the conspiracy and three pounds to sources working with law enforcement. During the execution of several search warrants, more than $30,000 cash was located in Stackhouse’s residence, as well as additional methamphetamine, other controlled substances, and a firearm.
Stackhouse was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 300 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Stackhouse is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-3001.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Man from Ecuador charged with being an alien in possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Victor Jose Marino Pullo, 24, a native and citizen of Ecuador, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with being an alien in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, late in the morning on November 25, 2025, Custom and Border Protection (CBP) officers encountered Marino Pullo at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry as he operated a U-Haul box truck. Marino Pullo and another individual were moving from Connecticut to Buffalo. Marino Pullo was following a Global positioning system (GPS) and was directed on to the Peace Bridge. Marino Pullo did not enter Canada, however. Instead, Marino Pullo turned around on the bridge, where he was inspected by CBP officers. Marino Pullo and his companion were sent to secondary inspection for not having proper immigration documents. During secondary inspection, an officer discovered pictures of Marino Pullo holding a pistol on his cell phone. During a search of the U-Haul truck, officers recovered the loaded pistol in a cardboard box filled with clothes. Record checks reveal that Marino Pullo was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol on four previous occasions and was removed from the United States.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Man Living in Ochelata Sentenced for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A man living in Ochelata was sentenced today for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Ramey Joe-Dawn Dill, 38, to 24 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
Court records show that Dill raped an unconscious girl and was convicted of second-degree rape in 2007 in State court. He was sentenced to 12 years, with 9 years being suspended, and is required to register as a sex offender. Dill’s criminal history includes 15 convictions over the last 19 years. His convictions include rape, DUI, malicious injury, burglary, and failing to register as a sex offender.
In 2023, Dill was convicted in federal court for failing to register as a sex offender. After being released in 2025, Dill failed again to keep his address up to date with the sex offender registry.
Dill has used several aliases over the years. Court records show that he has gone by Ramey Joedon Dill and Ramey Joe-Don Dill. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and is still required to register as a sex offender.
The United States Marshal Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michele Hulgaard and Charles Greenough 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.
Local Man Sentenced to over 20 Years in Federal Prison for Multiple CarjackingsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Derrion Turner, 20, of Memphis, was sentenced in federal court after being convicted of two carjackings, an attempted carjacking, and related firearm offenses. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, on August 25, 2023, Turner took a 2016 Ford Mustang from a victim that was in the parking lot of a Circle K located on Highway 64. Turner pointed a handgun at the victim’s chest and demanded the victim’s wallet and keys.
On August 31, 2023, Turner took a 2018 Nissan Rogue inside of an apartment complex near Steel Manor Drive. After Turner snatched the victim’s iPhone from her hand, he then pressed a handgun against her head and told her to move away from the vehicle.
On September 3, 2023, Turner approached a male while holding a gun at a service station located on Third Street and demanded his 2022 Dodge Charger. When Turner turned his head for a moment, the victim fought Turner over the gun. During the struggle, a shot was fired. The victim was able to take the gun from Turner and subdue him until police arrived. Turner later confessed to both robberies and the attempted robbery and plead guilty earlier in the year.
On November 17, 2025, United States District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Turner to 246 months' imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Our office is continuing to coordinate with our federal and local law enforcement partners to prioritize and target carjacking cases for aggressive federal prosecution. This 20-year sentence confirms that there is a significant consequence for sowing lawlessness and violence in our communities, and Turner will now reap a long prison sentence for his brazen and dangerous behavior that victimized innocent citizens."
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the Memphis Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit.
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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.
Leader of Colombian Money Laundering Organization Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Laundering Drug ProceedsRead the Press Release
A Colombian national was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiring to launder drug proceeds. He was also ordered to forfeit $1.2 million.
According to court documents, Michael Nunez Daza, also known as “Luky,” 49, led a transnational money laundering organization operating in Colombia, Mexico, and the United States. Nunez Daza orchestrated bulk cash pickups involving drug trafficking proceeds from Mexico across multiple U.S. cities. After the bulk cash was picked up, Nunez Daza arranged for the illicit funds to be deposited into U.S. bank accounts registered in the names of other individuals and companies before they were further transferred to Colombia. Within days of the bulk cash being delivered and deposited in the United States, corresponding bulk cash in the form of Colombian pesos was delivered in Cali, Colombia, directly to Nunez Daza and his couriers. In just eight months in 2017 and 2018, Nunez Daza laundered at least $1.2 million for his Mexico-based co-conspirators. Nunez Daza was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and was deported to his native country Colombia in 2004.
Nunez Daza was indicted on the money laundering charges in January 2023 and extradited to the United States in April 2025. Nunez Daza pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy on Aug. 14, 2025.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy of the FBI Newark Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
The Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida provided significant assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá, Colombia, worked with law enforcement partners in Colombia to secure the arrest and extradition of Nunez Daza.
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 Homeland Security Task Force and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Kansas farmer indicted for insurance fraudRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas farmer for filing a crop loss insurance claim and receiving payment after allegedly failing to disclose the sale of thousands of bushels of wheat that he reported as ruined.
According to court documents, David L. Mongeau, 54, of Holcomb was indicted on two counts of making a false statement and 17 counts of bank fraud/attempted bank fraud.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Edgar Cuellar-Ortega, 45, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
Miguel Modesto-Cesario, 26, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Lazaro Rodriguez-Hernandez, 35, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
Jose Guillermo Uribe Perez, 38, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Enrique Villareal-Varela, 53, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler 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.
###Kansas City Woman Sentenced to 5 Years for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman was sentenced yesterday to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for a fraud scheme in which she embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer.
Jennifer L. Cabral, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough, to 60 months in federal prison on for one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering to run concurrently and ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $306,034.28 to her former employer and to forfeit $1,393.50.
As part of her plea, Cabral admitted that she stole money from the checking account of her employer and used those funds for her personal benefit, including purchasing a 2019 Mazda CX-9 automobile, in which she has since agreed to forfeit all interests.
According to information presented in court, Cabral made unauthorized Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments to herself using her employer’s online account at a local financial institution. Cabral accessed her employer’s accounting software and directed payments to her personal bank accounts at two other financial institutions. Once those funds were deposited in her personal accounts, she used them for various personal benefits including vehicle payments toward the purchase of her car.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grandview, Mo. Police Department.
Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division Highlights to D.C. Appeals Court the Illegality of 2024 EPA RuleRead the Press Release
Earlier this week, the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to void the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s 2024 air quality standard for particulate matter, because EPA recognizes that it took an unlawful regulatory shortcut in imposing the rule.
The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to conduct a thorough review of the underlying science before revising an air quality standard. Under the previous administration, the EPA decided it could not be bothered to do the science, so it took an illegal regulatory shortcut to adopt a stifling and costly national air quality standard for particulate matter through a truncated reconsideration process.
Under President Donald J. Trump’s Administration, the EPA has renewed its commitment to following the law. ENRD’s filing this week concedes the illegality of the 2024 rule. During the Biden Administration, EPA violated the Clean Air Act by issuing its rule without a thorough review of the science and without considering the costs of its shortcut. Discarding the rule would bring EPA back into compliance with the Clean Air Act and protect Americans from burdensome environmental standards that may ultimately do more harm than good.
Jamestown woman arrested for meth possessionRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Micayla L. Blair, 23, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that on October 30, 2025, investigators executed a search warrant at a William Street residence connected to Blair. During the search, investigators recovered a quantity of suspected crystal methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a pistol.
Blair made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Jamestown man pleads guilty for his role in Jamestown drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jaquez Thomas, 22, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti, Stacey Jacovetti, and Louis A. Testani, who are handling the case, stated that between 2020 to 2022, Thomas distributed quantities of fentanyl and cocaine he received from Joseph Zaso. Thomas utilized Facebook and Cash App to conduct his drug trafficking activities. During the conspiracy, he supplied quantities of fentanyl to Justin Yuchnitz and Joseph Thayer.
Thomas also conspired with Jose Maisonet in 2022. In Spring of 2022, Jamestown Police officers conducted three controlled purchases from Jose Maisonet. In July 2022, a search warrant was executed at Thomas’ Allen Street residence. During the search a loaded handgun, and drug paraphernalia were seized. A search warrant was also executed at Maisonet’s Forest Avenue residence, during which quantities of suspected crack cocaine and methamphetamine, digital scales, cell phones, and $2,715.00 in cash was seized.
Joseph Zaso, Joseph Thayer, and Justin Yuchnitz were previously convicted and are awaiting sentencing. Jose Maisonet was previously convicted and sentenced in a separate case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Sinatra.
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Jamestown man arrested, charged with fentanyl possessionRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Russell Sims, 32, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katerina F. Powers and Joshau A. Violanti, who are handling the case, stated that in the early morning hours of July 20, 2025, a Jamestown Police officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in the vicinity of East 6th Street. Sims was a passenger in the vehicle. After noticing that Sims was agitated, the officer ordered him and the driver out of the vehicle. Sims and the driver were interviewed separately, giving inconsistent details. A search of the vehicle recovered a quantity of cocaine and fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and four cell phones. Fentanyl was also located on Sims’s person.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Jacksonville Man Indicted for Distributing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe has announced that Tyler Bruce McClure (24, Jacksonville) has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of distributing and possessing child sexual abuse materials using the internet. McClure faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. McClure was arrested on November 17, 2025, by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and made his initial appearance in federal court in Jacksonville the next day. He was ordered detained pending trial.
According to the indictment, on or about September 26, 2025, McClure knowingly distributed over the internet the visual depiction of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On October 7, 2025, the defendant possessed on a cellular telephone visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
An indictment is only an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, to include Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
International Audio Electronics Company Harman Pays $11.8 Million to Settle Fraud Allegations for Evading Customs Duties on Chinese Extruded AluminumRead the Press Release
DETROIT – United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced today that Harman International Industries, Inc. (Harman), a leading audio electronics company for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, and whose portfolio of brands includes Harman Kardon®, JBL®, and Mark Levinson®, has agreed to pay $11,809,628 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and other statutes by evading antidumping and countervailing duties on goods made of extruded aluminum from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
To enter goods into the United States, an importer must declare, among other things, whether the goods are subject to duties and the amount of duties owed. The Department of Commerce assesses, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection collects, antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) to level the playing field for American companies. Antidumping duties protect against foreign companies “dumping” products on U.S. markets at prices below cost, while countervailing duties offset foreign government subsidies. During the relevant time period, heat sinks containing extruded aluminum, which are common thermal controlling devices in the electronics industry, were subject to significant antidumping and countervailing duties.
The settlement resolves allegations that, from June 1, 2011 through March 31, 2023, Harman knowingly imported heat sinks that contained extruded aluminum from the PRC without paying the required AD/CVD. The United States further contended that when confronted with its failure to pay required AD/CVD for the heat sinks, Harman concealed and decided not to disclose its knowing avoidance of AD/CVD to the United States.
“For more than a decade, Harman knowingly evaded duties designed to prevent unfair foreign subsidies and trade practices,” said United States Attorney Gorgon. “But we will use the law to protect our American companies against cheaters. And when we catch them, they will pay for it.”
"CBP played a critical role in assisting with DOJ’s investigation concerning Harman’s failure to pay antidumping and countervailing duties on imported electronic components, resulting in a settlement of $11.8 million to resolve its civil liability under the False Claims Act and the customs laws,” said Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner Susan S. Thomas, of CBP’s Office of Trade. “This case underscores CBP’s commitment to enforcing the customs and trade laws and ensuring the protection of revenue to promote U.S. economic security.”
“We commend the sustained effort and diligence of DOJ and CBP in maintaining the integrity of AD/CVD orders,” said Christopher Abbott, performing the duties and functions of the Assistant Secretary of Enforcement and Compliance at the Department of Commerce. “Their work ensures that American industries and workers receive the relief they are entitled to under the law.”
“This settlement reflects the strong partnership between the Department of Commerce OIG, our law enforcement partners, and the Department of Justice to ensure the integrity of U.S. trade laws and hold companies accountable when they circumvent duties designed to protect American industries,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Laura Barsczewsk of the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work together to uphold integrity in public service.”
The allegations resolved by this settlement arose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Jesrel Mitre v. Harman International Industries, Inc., Case No. 2:20-cv-12487. The whistleblower will receive $2,302,877.46 of the settlement proceeds.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Gentner from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
The pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating fraud, waste, and abuse. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential customs fraud can be reported to CBP at www.help.cbp.gov/s/tip
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability
Gainesville Man Pleads Guilty to Carrying Multiple Firearms While Selling DrugsRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Kendrick J. Hills Jr., 23, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the outstanding work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, this drug dealer has been taken off our streets and now faces an extended stay in federal prison. My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting these cases to fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the drug traffickers and violent felons who have plagued our communities for too long.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant was pulled over for multiple traffic violations. During the traffic stop, law enforcement smelled and observed marijuana in his vehicle. The presence of illegal narcotics was also confirmed by a K9 on scene. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a stolen 9-millimeter pistol on the driver’s floorboard, a .40-caliber pistol with an extended 22-round magazine under the driver’s seat, and a backpack filled with almost a pound of marijuana and drug-distribution paraphernalia, such as scales and baggies. The defendant later admitted that he possessed the firearms to protect himself, including protecting himself from the risk of drug-related robberies.
Hills faces a minimum of five years and up to life in federal prison. Following his release, he will be on supervised release for at least two years.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Alachua County Sherriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 10, 2026, at 11:00 am in Gainesville, Florida, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Fort Thompson Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a man from Fort Thompson, South Dakota, convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on November 25, 2025.
Michael Lovejoy, Jr., age 43, was sentenced to time served in custody through January 2, 2026, equal to approximately ten months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Lovejoy was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025. He pleaded guilty on August 14, 2025.
Lovejoy was convicted of Third Degree Rape in Pennington County, South Dakota, in August 2005. As a result of his conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or change in employment or student status. In November 2024, Lovejoy began a period of supervised release, and he updated his sex offender registration to reflect that he was residing at a residence in Fort Thompson. Lovejoy did not thereafter reside at the residence. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued, and on March 13, 2025, Lovejoy was arrested in Fort Thompson.
This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case.
Lovejoy was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Former State Representative Pleads Guilty to Offenses Related to Cancelled State Audit of Medicaid Provider, Bank FraudRead the Press Release
CHRISTOPHER ZIOGAS, 74, of Bristol, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to offenses related to interference with a state audit into a Medicaid provider who engaged in health care fraud, as well as a separate bank fraud offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between January and June 2020, Ziogas, who served as a State Representative for Connecticut’s 79th Assembly District, engaged in a scheme in which Konstantinos Diamantis, a senior official in the State’s Office of Policy and Management (“OPM”), solicited and received corrupt payments and benefits from Ziogas’s fiancée, Helen Zervas, an optometrist and owner of Family Eye Care in Bristol, in exchange for official acts concerning a state audit of Zervas’s and Family Eye Care’s Medicaid overbilling.
As part of the scheme, in January 2020, an official with Connecticut’s Department of Social Services (DSS) provided notice that it would perform an audit of Zervas’s and Family Eye Care’s Medicaid billing. Zervas, who knew that she had fraudulently overbilled Medicaid for medical services that she had not provided, or that were not medically necessary, sought assistance from Ziogas to prevent the DSS audit from proceeding. Ziogas, in turn, sought help from Diamantis in his role as a senior OPM official. In exchange for payments from Ziogas and Zervas, Diamantis undertook official acts and pressured other state officials to undertake official acts aimed at favorably resolving Zervas’s DSS audit.
On March 4, 2020, Ziogas made a $20,000 bribe payment to Diamantis. On that date, Zervas’s attorney emailed a DSS official with a settlement offer to resolve DSS’s audit. The next day, Zervas reimbursed Ziogas with a $25,000 check from Family Eye Care. On March 12, 2020, Ziogas made a $10,000 bribe payment to Diamantis, and was subsequently reimbursed by Zervas. After having been advised and pressured directly by Diamantis and indirectly by him through officials at OPM and DSS, the DSS official cancelled the DSS audit and, on May 1, 2020, accepted Zervas’s settlement proposal.
On May 12, 2020, Ziogas and Diamantis delivered a settlement check from Family Eye Care in the amount of $599,810 to DSS. On May 15, 2020, Ziogas, through Zervas, made a final bribe payment of $65,000 to Diamantis.
Ziogas made a false statement when interviewed by federal agents during the investigation of this matter.
Ziogas also separately committed bank fraud. Ziogas was the trustee of a client trust, identified in court documents as “Trust-1.” In November 2019, Ziogas prepared and caused to be negotiated a check from Trust-1 in the amount of $5,500 made out to Diamantis.
Ziogas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, making false statements, which carries maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.
Ziogas is released on a $500,000 bond pending sentencing, which is currently scheduled for February 18 before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport.
Zervas previously pleaded guilty to related charges and is awaiting sentencing.
Diamantis has been charged by indictment and is awaiting trial in this matter, which is scheduled for January 30 in Bridgeport. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan N. Francis and Paul A. Riley.
Felon Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing a Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – An Oklahoma man was sentenced today for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Christopher Allen Thetford, 31, to 30 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
In April 2024, Broken Arrow Police officers observed a vehicle with a smashed windshield pull into a hotel parking lot, in an area known for high crime and illicit drugs. When the vehicle left the hotel, officers pulled it over. When officers approached the vehicle, they could smell marijuana, and Thetford was in the passenger seat. An officer asked Thetford if there was a firearm in the vehicle, and he said no.
After Thetford got out of the vehicle, officers found a baggie with methamphetamine in his pants. When officers searched the vehicle, they found more bags of methamphetamine and a firearm under the passenger seat where Thetford was sitting.
Court records show that Thetford has prior felony convictions in Missouri and Oklahoma. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Broken Arrow Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dowdell prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
El Cajon Company and its and Human Resources Manager Plead Guilty to Engaging in Practice of Employing Aliens; Company to Forfeit More than $200,000Read the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – El Cajon-based San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings and the company’s hiring manager, Karli Buxton, pleaded guilty in federal court today to engaging in a pattern or practice of hiring undocumented immigrants without authorization to work in the United States. The plea follows a worksite enforcement action which occurred on March 27, 2025, at San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings’ facility.
The company, a government contractor, also agreed to forfeit $230,000 that it gained from engaging in the practice.
As part of the plea agreement, the company admitted that its operations manager, John Washburn, and others recruited undocumented immigrants who did not have authorization to work in the United States. Washburn pleaded guilty in June.
Since 2023, Buxton was responsible for verifying that new employees were eligible to work in the United States. As part of her plea agreement, she admitted that she was aware certain employees were presenting fraudulent documents to show their authorization to work in the United States, but she accepted the documents and hired them for employment at the company.
The company further admitted that it had frequently sent employees to work in secure locations such as military bases or ports of entry and avoided sending any employees working illegally to these secure locations where they would be subject to further screening. The company also admitted the aliens it employed in its warehouses often had access to military equipment such as components for submarines or aquatic vehicles used by the United States Navy.
As part of its plea agreement, the company agreed to participate in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program. The IMAGE program serves the business community by strengthening hiring and employment verification practices by providing guidance on topics such as the use of fraudulent documents and forced labor. IMAGE program participants agree to submit to an audit of their Form I-9s (Employment Eligibility Verification Form) to ensure the integrity of their workforce and that they are only employing individuals authorized to work in the United States. As part of its plea agreement, the company also agreed to use the E-Verify system to check the eligibility of all new employees for the next two years.
“Here’s my advice to the business community and to the lawyers who advise them: enroll in IMAGE,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, “There are numerous tangible benefits to enrolling your company in IMAGE and ensuring the integrity of your workforce. The Department of Justice has and will continue to prioritize investigations into businesses that are employing individuals without authorization to work in the United States.”
“Worksite enforcement operations like these deter illegal immigration, ensure employer accountability, and protect the US Workforce,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Murphy. “HSI is committed to investigations that hold companies like SDPC accountable for their criminal actions.”
“Bypassing required vetting processes and exposing Department of the Navy resources and information to individuals with insufficient or fraudulent documentation threatens warfighter safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross, NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our partners remain dedicated to safeguarding Department of Navy installations, personnel, and assets against any threat to our national security.”
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry F.B. Beshar and Michael A. Deshong.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25 CR 4519
BJS & T Enterprises Inc.,
Dba San Diego Powder & Protective Coating
Karli Buxton Age: 41
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Engaging in a Pattern or Practice of Employing Aliens, in violation of Title 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(a)(1)(A) and (f); Maximum Penalty: Six months in prison; $3,000 fine per alien.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General
General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General
Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General
Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General
Enforcement and Removal Operations, Department of Homeland Security
Drug Enforcement Administration
Bureau Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
U.S. Border Patrol
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
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.
Canadian National Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity, and Distributing, Transporting and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that James Hjelmeland (30, Canada) today pleaded guilty to one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, as well as two counts of distributing, one count of transporting, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Hjelmeland faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for his attempted enticement of a minor, a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 20 years, for each distribution and transportation offense, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the possession offense.
According to the plea agreement, on December 29, 2024, an Orange County Sheriff’s Office undercover detective posed as the guardian of a 12-year-old fictional child. Hjelmeland engaged in sexually explicit conversation with the undercover detective and made plans to travel from Canada to Orlando, Florida to have sex with the child. During the course of the conversation, Hjelmeland distributed CSAM to the undercover detective. When Hjelmeland was arrested in Orlando, Florida, he possessed CSAM material on his cellular phone that he had transported to the United States involving children who had not attained 12 years of age.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, United States Customs and Border Patrol, and the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Team. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
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 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 locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Attack on U.S. Postal Service Mail Carrier Lands Oklahoma City Man in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – KANTRELL DAWAN HENDERSON, 34, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison for assault on a federal officer or employee, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public record, on October 19, 2024, Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to a metro neighborhood regarding an assault on a U.S. Postal Service Mail Carrier. Witnesses reported that, while the Mail Carrier was delivering mail on his route, Henderson confronted and placed the Mail Carrier in a chokehold. A passerby pulled Henderson off the Mail Carrier, which allowed him to escape. Officers located and arrested Henderson following a brief confrontation.
On August 6, 2025, Henderson was charged by Superseding Information with assault on a federal officer or employee. He pleaded guilty on August 13, 2025, and admitted he assaulted a federal employee who was engaged in their official duties.
At the sentencing hearing on November 25, 2025, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Henderson to serve 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Russell noted the seriousness of the offense and Henderson’s criminal history. Public record reflects that Henderson has felony convictions for Arson in the Second Degree in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2016-9248 and Possession of a Controlled Substance in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2016-9100. He was under 10-year suspended sentences in these cases at the time of the assault.
This case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nichols, Jr., prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Alleged Drug Trafficker Extradited from GuatemalaRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Erick Alexander Granados Garcia, who is believed responsible for trafficking large amounts of cocaine into the United States from Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico, appeared in federal court yesterday following his extradition from Guatemala.
Granados Garcia was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of California in June 2017 for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine on Board a Vessel. Granados Garcia was apprehended by Guatemalan authorities on August 21, 2017, and Guatemala granted the United States’ extradition request on October 29, 2025. The defendant arrived in San Diego on Monday.
At yesterday’s hearing, Granados Garcia was arraigned and entered a not-guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard.
This case stemmed from a long-term investigation targeting high-level organizations operating Colombian, Ecuadorian, and Guatemalan-based cocaine production and transportation organizations. These organizations historically transported cocaine into Guatemala and Mexico and then to locations in San Diego and Los Angeles. From there, traffickers delivered the drugs to distributors throughout California and the East Coast of the United States. Investigators learned that the targets use commercial and private airplanes, fishing vessels, go-fast boats, and maritime containers for the illicit movement of narcotics and narcotics proceeds. Agents coordinated the interdiction of at least 45 bulk cocaine shipment events conducted in multiple jurisdictions and multiple foreign countries. Thus far, these operations have resulted in the seizure of approximately $4.7 million and 60,230 kilograms of cocaine from 93 bulk seizure events.
The Justice Department extends its gratitude to the Government of Guatemala and its prosecutorial and law enforcement authorities for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Guatemala. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted in bringing the defendant back to the United States. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle B. Martin.
DEFENDANT Case Number 17-cr-01465-JES
Erick Alexander Granados Garcia Age: 46 Guatemala
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine on Board a Vessel – Title 46, U.S.C., Sections 70503 and 70506(b). Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation
United States Marshals Service
United States Coast Guard
Customs and Border Protection
United States Border Patrol
The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
188-Month Sentence in Kidnapping, Carjacking and Gunpoint AssaultsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Marquette Jackson, 25, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced November 24 in U.S. District Court to 188 months in prison in connection with his role in the June 2023 kidnapping, carjacking, and gunpoint assaults of two victims in Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Jackson – aka “Glocky” and “Twin” – pleaded guilty on May 21 to kidnapping and aiding and abetting. In addition to the 188 month prison term, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Jackson to serve five years of supervised release.
Joining in the announcement were FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department
According to court documents, on June 8, 2023, Jackson and others attended a birthday celebration at a Northwest nightclub then, in the early morning hours, returned to 4400 block of F Street SE.
The victims arrived on the block about 3 a.m. and entered a Mercedes SUV that belonged to one of them. Jackson and others attacked the two victims, removed their clothing, and confined them to prevent them from fleeing.
Jackson and others drove to a nearby area where at gunpoint they threatened and assaulted the victims at gunpoint. Jackson and others then drove one of the victims into Maryland. About 4:40 a.m., Jackson and his group arrived at an apartment complex in Suitland, Maryland, where one of the victims had a residence. Jackson and others burgled the victim’s apartment. An hour later, Jackson and the group arrived at another of the victim’s apartments in Waldorf. Jackson and the group staged an armed robbery at the residence and the occupant of the apartment as other members of the group held the victim in his Mercedes.
About 5:45 a.m., surveillance cameras recorded three individuals engaging in a shootout with the victim. The shootout left the victim and another individual fatally wounded. About 6:45 a.m., first responders found the victim’s Mercedes engulfed in flames in Capitol Heights, Maryland.
On Jan. 31, 2024, law enforcement arrested Jackson at his apartment on the 4900 block of Nash Street NE, and recovered a Glock 22C .40 caliber firearm equipped with a machine gun conversion device.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force and Safe Streets Task Force, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John D. Crabb Jr. and Anthony Scarpelli of the Violence Crimes and Narcotics Trafficking section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
23cr292
25 November 2025
“OPERATION BRIGHTSIDE” - Multi-Agency Warrant Sweep Columbia, MORead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, Mo. - In December of 2024, the United States Attorney's Office established a coalition of Missouri-based federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to form a Violent Crime Abatement Team (VCAT) in response to ongoing violence and gun crimes. The goal of this team is to bring significant, coordinated resources to address violent crime in the mid-Missouri area. In practice, the team works to identify local violent offenders and determine which cases may be appropriate for federal prosecution.
On Nov. 20 and 21, “Operation Brightside” was an enforcement effort to identify, apprehend, and initiate prosecution against some of the most violent offenders in the Columbia metropolitan area. Its mission was straightforward: use existing Missouri law-enforcement resources in a coordinated way to serve warrants across partner agencies, arrest individuals wanted for serious crimes, and identify additional evidence that supports successful prosecution.
Partner agencies in this coordinated effort include:
- Boone County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO)
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
- Columbia Police Department (CPD)
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
- Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP)
- United States Marshals Service (USMS)
“Operation Brightside is an example of the extraordinary impact that law enforcement, at all levels of government, can have when we combine our resources and focus collectively on violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price. “This approach is not new, but rather a hybrid of proven strategies that have delivered results across the country. When we work together, we can make communities measurably safer.”
Price continued, “Violence in our community is unacceptable, especially when innocent people are harmed. Enough is enough. Every agency in this coalition is committed to using all appropriate tools and resource to confront and reduce violent crime in Columbia.”
The following is a breakdown of the “Operation Brightside” effort:
- 33 Individuals Arrested (all but 1 are facing felony charges)
- 19 Federal Indictments
- 21 Felony State Warrants
- 6 Residential Search Warrants
The charges contained in any charging document are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
Wilburton Resident Sentenced to Sixty Years for MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tracy Ann Mannon, a/k/a Tracy Ann Moore, a/k/a Tracy A. Carter, age 53, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 720 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country - Second Degree.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Wilburton Police Department, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
On April 21, 2025, Mannon pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on February 26, 2024, Mannon bludgeoned and stabbed the victim to death at a Wilburton residence. The crime occurred in Latimer County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John C. Coughenour, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Mannon will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
White Supremacist Sentenced to 8 ½ Years Imprisonment on Firearms, Ammunition, and Drug-Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Andrew David Munsinger, 41, of Redwood Falls, Minnesota, has been sentenced to 104 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release following an April jury trial where he was found guilty of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute 5.5 pounds of marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
According to evidence presented at trial, Munsinger was a member of the Aryan Freedom Network, a white supremacist organization. During a year-long investigation by the FBI, evidence gathered included audio- and video-recordings of Munsinger possessing and shooting firearms, purchasing and using ammunition, possessing over 5 pounds of marijuana in heat-sealed bags, discussing his history of marijuana trafficking and his profits, and admitting on more than one occasion that he knew he could not legally possess a firearm.
On February 7, 2024, the FBI executed simultaneous search warrants at Munsinger’s residence, his vehicles, and a farm where he was surveilled on at least two occasions before traveling to a shooting range. Law enforcement seized a total of five firearms, including two unserialized personally made semiautomatic rifles (commonly referred to as ghost guns), two shotguns, a nine-millimeter semiautomatic pistol, over 500 rounds and casings of ammunition, a bullet-resistant vest, multiple high-capacity magazines, and a rifle scope. They also seized over five pounds of marijuana in heat-sealed packages, hydroponic marijuana grow equipment, growing marijuana plants, and $24,300 cash. Because Munsinger has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.
Munsinger was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court before United States District Judge John R. Tunheim to 104 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Bejar and Raphael B. Coburn prosecuted the case.
Wendell Man Found Guilty at Federal Trial for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal jury convicted a Wendell man for armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm after robbing the PNC Bank in Zebulon on February 7, 2024.
“A violent criminal waving a gun while wearing a mask terrorizes innocent employees and customers. We will not tolerate this antisocial mayhem in the Eastern District of North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “I want to thank our local and federal partners whose swift investigative work ensured this conviction. This menace will spend years in prison, away from law abiding citizens.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Victor Antwan Perez, 24, entered the PNC Bank in Zebulon on the morning of February 7, 2024, wearing a ski mask with a distinctive pattern, a black jacket, grey pants, black latex gloves, lavender crocs, and a black handgun.
Perez walked up to a teller, waved the handgun in her face, and demanded money while pointing the gun at her. As the teller gathered the money, Perez threatened to shoot her fingers off if she did not hurry.
Perez sped away from the bank with the stolen money. About three weeks later, law enforcement conducted a search warrant of Perez’s home and car, and recovered the distinctive patterned mask, a black jacket, grey pants, black latex gloves, lavender crocs, and a black handgun.
Officers also seized Perez’s phone, and forensic analysis placed the phone at the bank during the robbery.
Perez faces a mandatory minimum of seven years and a maximum of life in prison when sentenced.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles E. Loeser and Logan Liles prosecuted the case. The Zebulon Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-110-D-RJ.
Wakulla County Man Sentenced to 60 Years for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Donovan Arthur Sauleda, 39, of Crawfordville, Florida, was sentenced on Thursday to 60 years’ imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession and receipt of child pornography, and production and distribution of obscene material portraying a child. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our state and federal law enforcement officers work tirelessly to safeguard our communities against predators, like this repeat sex offender, and this case exemplifies their commitment to keeping our children safe from exploitation and victimization. I am very proud of the outstanding work by my office to secure this successful prosecution and lengthy sentence against this predator, which ensures he will spend the remainder of his life behind bars.”
In November 2021, the defendant, a registered sex offender, came under investigation by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office for a suspicion that he had failed to register his internet accounts as required by law. Further investigation led to a search warrant in March 2022, where Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement found child pornography and child-like sex dolls within the defendant’s residence. The defendant was found to have made videos for sale and distribution with the child-like sex dolls. The defendant was convicted by a federal jury of all charges in June 2025.
“This case underscores the unwavering commitment of the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office to protect our most vulnerable—our children,” said Sheriff Jared F. Miller. “Through the diligent work of our Detectives and the collaborative effort with FDLE’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a repeat offender has been removed from our community. This is what teamwork can do. We will continue to pursue those who violate the law and endanger children with every available resource. There is zero tolerance for this type of exploitation in Wakulla County.”
“Protecting the children of the great State of Florida is something we take very seriously.” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “The sentence handed down today from the U.S. Attorney’s office was the maximum allowed by statute and reinforces the message. If you attempt to hurt children in Florida, we will find and arrest you and our partners will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
“HSI’s advanced forensic capabilities and expertise serve as a critical force multiplier for the law enforcement community, enabling us to uncover, investigate, and prosecute predators who engage in these heinous crimes, said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “This case exemplifies the importance of collaboration between HSI, the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, demonstrating that together, we can bring justice to victims and ensure that offenders are held accountable for their actions. HSI will continue to leverage every resource at its disposal to combat child exploitation and safeguard communities across the nation.”
Sauleda’s sentence represents the maximum authorized sentence under the law for the offenses. He will be required to continue to register as a sex offender following his prison sentence.
This conviction was the result of an investigation by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.
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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.