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Tuesday 28 July 2026
South Bend Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Jakari K. Lawson, 20 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty to a term of 24 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release after pleading guilty to illegal possession of a machinegun, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
“The Defendant chose to possess a machine gun while driving around South Bend and will have two years to think through those choices, thanks to the coalition of local, state, and federal law enforcement through Project Safe Neighborhoods and Operation Take Back America. South Bend Police pulled over a car driven by the Defendant and found two guns, one sitting in his lap and the other placed next to his right leg and the center console of the car. The gun in his lap had a “switch” attached, which enabled the gun to fire in a fully automatic fashion, firing multiple rounds with one function of the trigger. The gun was loaded with an extended magazine holding 19 rounds of ammunition with one round loaded in the chamber. Thanks to the intervention of the South Bend Police Department, investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and assistance from the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office led by Ken Cotter, the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander. Our community and streets are safer due to their collaborative efforts,” U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred said.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 228 Months in Prison for Controlled Substance and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - DeCarlos Christopher Smallwood, 29 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
Smallwood was sentenced to 228 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
“An armed drug dealer possessed nearly a pound and a half of pure methamphetamine intending to profit from unleashing that poison in our community. He will spend the next nineteen years in prison and will be supervised for five years once he is released. He is no stranger to the system as he has convictions for perjury and a prior federal felony conviction for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, which prohibited him from lawfully possessing firearms. On November 6, 2025, law enforcement executed search warrants on Smallwood’s home and a vehicle on the property. Officers found approximately 669 grams of pure methamphetamine and a loaded Ruger firearm. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, including the DEA Merrillville District Office, DEA Chicago Special Response Team, DEA Detroit Special Response Team, DEA St. Louis Special Response Team, and DEA North Central Laboratory; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Indiana State Police; the South Bend Police Department; the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office; the Mishawaka Police Department; and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office led by Ken Cotter, the case was brought and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius. Our community and nation are safer because of their partnership as part of the Homeland Security Task Force and Project Safe Neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred.
“There is no room in north central Indiana for violent drug dealers, let alone for those with prior felony convictions. Mr. Smallwood will soon depart our community for a long, 19 year stay at a federal correctional institution. While there, he can contemplate the pain and suffering he brought to fellow Hoosiers; and hopefully he will work towards being a productive member of society upon his return. In the meantime, the Drug Enforcement Administration, its law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who traffic drugs and bring violence to our cherished northern Indiana,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, including the DEA Merrillville District Office, DEA Chicago Special Response Team, DEA Detroit Special Response Team, DEA St. Louis Special Response Team, and DEA North Central Laboratory, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Indiana State Police, South Bend Police Department, St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, Mishawaka Police Department, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Indianapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Indiana State Police, and other partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.
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.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on July 23, 2026.
Courtney Richmond, 49, was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Richmond was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in November of 2024. He was found guilty following a 4-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls. The verdict was returned on April 10, 2026.
Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations started investigating Richmond late in 2022 and the DEA started looking into him in the Fall of 2023. Investigators discovered that Richmond was sourcing methamphetamine to at least one other person who was then reselling it to others. They observed text and Facebook messages between the two that confirmed their drug-related dealings. Eventually, investigators obtained warrants for Richmond’s person, residences, and vehicles. On December 14, 2023, investigators stopped Richmond in a vehicle that had his company’s BBQ food truck logo on the side. They searched the vehicle and found approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded pistol. They then searched his home and found an additional 216 grams of methamphetamine and another loaded firearm. Richmond is not allowed to possess firearms due to four prior felony convictions from the state of Minnesota. The investigation into Richmond and his associates resulted in the seizure of approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Brookings Police Department, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Richmond was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Shiprock Man Sentenced for Assault and KidnappingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for carrying out a series of violent assaults and a kidnapping that resulted in serious injuries to the victim.
According to court documents, on or about June 30, 2025, Darrin Begay, 34, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted the victim by punching, kicking, and strangling them, causing visible injuries to the victim’s face, neck, and arms. Then, on July 2, 2025, Begay went to the victim’s home, threatened to harm the victim’s family members, and forced the victim into a vehicle. Begay then drove the victim away from their residence. He reportedly assaulted the victim again before pushing them out of the vehicle and leaving them on the roadside.
Begay pleaded guilty to assault by strangulation and kidnapping. On July 28, 2026, he was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meg Tomlinson and Nicholas Marshall are prosecuting the case.
Reno Woman Indicted for Embezzling Nearly $400,000 in Federal Grant FundsRead the Press Release
RENO – A Reno resident made her initial appearance in court yesterday for allegedly stealing federal grant award money intended for the improvement and maintenance of tribal lands.
"The Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that anyone who attempts to enrich themselves through theft and deceit is held fully accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Financial fraud of this magnitude compromises the integrity of our economic systems and directly threatens the security of hardworking people who trust and rely on those systems.”
"Every dollar stolen through fraud is a dollar taken away from critical public services, infrastructure, and the communities that rely on them," said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. "Taxpayers deserve full transparency and absolute accountability. We are drawing a hard line: if you attempt to defraud public programs, we will find you, we will stop you, and you will face the full force of the law."
“Our Agency is steadfast in its commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Nevada State Director Alida Ceballos for the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development. “This indictment marks an important step toward ensuring that resources meant to support rural Nevadans are used for their intended purposes, not stolen by bad actors. We are thankful for the strong partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah, Assistant AG Colin McDonald of the Fraud Division, the USDA Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI, whose cross‑agency collaboration made this multi‑year investigation possible.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, from April 2024 to May 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded the Yomba Shoshone Tribe grant money for an ongoing project to bring clean water to the members of the tribe and residents living on tribal lands. As alleged in the indictment, Blair Smith embezzled about $392,582 of funds awarded by the federal grant for the project.
Smith was charged with one count of federal program theft. If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is 10 years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for September 29, 2026.
The USDA Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Skyler Pearson is prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Production and Attempted Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Christopher Allan Amelsberg, 36, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty to the production and attempted production of child pornography.
Amelsberg pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud on July 27, 2026. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date, and Amelsberg faces a statutory minimum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment.
According to court documents, Amelsberg admitted that between August 2023 through around May 2026, he used text messaging and other internet-based social media and communication applications to engage female minor victims in sexually focused conversations for the purposes of producing or attempting to produce child pornography.
In one case, from August 2025 to October 2025, Amelsberg used online messaging platforms to engage in sexually focused conversations and to solicit and direct Minor Victim 1, of whom Amelsberg knew was 15 years old at the time, to produce videos and images of Minor Victim 1 performing sexually explicit conduct.
Amelsberg knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced multiple victims between the ages of 14 and 17 years old and admitted to “trading” lascivious or sexually explicit images of children. The United States has identified a total of at least 12 minor victims of whom Amelsberg solicited and enticed, or attempted to solicit and entice, to produce child pornography and engage in unlawful sexual acts.
At the time of this conduct, Amelsberg was on the Minnesota Predatory Offender Registry due to his prior conviction for possession of child pornography.
“Amelsberg is a child predator, and today’s plea is an important step towards justice for the victims and families he harmed,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “Protecting children is our office’s highest priority, and we will continue working with federal and local law enforcement to hold accountable those who prey on them.”
“Identifying and holding online predators accountable for their actions is one of the BCA’s highest priorities,” said Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans. “Predators like Amelsberg target the most vulnerable members of our society, our children. We must do everything we can to stop them, bring them to justice, and support the victims and families whose lives they have forever changed.”
“For years, and while being a registered sex offender, Christopher Amelsberg sexually exploited at least a dozen children from his home in Minneapolis,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “Even after a previous state conviction for possessing child sexual abuse material, this defendant did not learn his lesson. Federal charges for child sexual exploitation come with significant mandatory minimum penalties to hold child predators accountable. The FBI, BCA, and our law enforcement partners around Minnesota have and will continue to work together tirelessly to stop child predators, rescue child victims from abuse and exploitation, and help victims on their path to recovery.”
Investigators believe there may be additional child victims of Amelsberg’s online sexual exploitation activity. If you or your child has information about online exploitation committed by Christopher Allan Amelsberg, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit information to tips.fbi.gov.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI Minneapolis Division with assistance from the Minneapolis Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Austin L. Bowyer.
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. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to over 8 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on July 24, 2026.
Parker Behrns, 27, was sentenced to eight years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $6,095 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture was also ordered.
Behrns was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 9, 2026.
Between September 2022 and July 2024, Behrns used his cellular phone and the internet-based application Discord, to search for and receive images and video files containing sexually explicit visual depictions of minors. In some instances, Behrns posed as a minor female to request child pornography from other Discord users.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Peterman prosecuted the case.
Behrns was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Rapid City, South Dakota, convicted of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, and Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on July 24, 2026.
Kyle Beck, age 23, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Beck was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. He was convicted following a court trial on May 12, 2026.
At his trial, the evidence established that on May 28, 2023, Beck messaged a 15-year-old girl via Instagram and requested sexually explicit photographs of her. Beck was subsequently interviewed and admitted to his conduct.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
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 Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Beck was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Raleigh County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jeremy Dale Shuck, 47, of Coal City, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 16, 2024, Shuck sold approximately 13.92 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant for $200 in a service station parking lot in Beaver. Shuck admitted to the transaction as part of his guilty plea.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-41.
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Previously Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 50-year-old Niles man was sentenced to prison after he admitted to downloading and sharing thousands of child pornography files. The defendant had a pattern of related criminal activity and was previously convicted at the state level for engaging in the same exact conduct in 2019.
Daniel Scharmer was sentenced to 168 months (14 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson after pleading guilty in April to:
- Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
- Possession of Child Pornography, or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM)
He was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment. In addition, Scharmer was ordered to pay $71,500 in restitution to victims and $10,000 toward the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which was established in 2015 to impose additional assessment to offenders who commit certain crimes, including sexual exploitation and other abuse of children.
According to court documents and evidence, in June 2024, Scharmer was identified as an active participant in criminal activities involving CSAM. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Scharmer’s residence and seized his electronic devices including two desktop computers, several hard disk drives, two portable hard drives, and five laptops. Investigators found that between Oct. 13, 2022, and Jan. 9, 2025, he received or distributed more than 32,000 files containing CSAM, including more than 11,000 involving sadism and masochism and videos of children engaged in sex acts as well as being abused by adults. Investigators identified Scharmer as one of the top three CSAM downloaders in the state of Ohio in October 2024.
In 2019, Scharmer was convicted in Trumbull County for Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor and Illegal Use of a Minor in a Nudity-Oriented Material or Performance.
This case was investigated by the FBI Youngstown Resident Agency, the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Niles Police Department.
This prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret A. Kane for the Northern District of Ohio.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and 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. To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Portland Woman Pleads Guilty to Interfering with Federal Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— Today Katherine Vogel, 39, pleaded guilty to Interfering with Federal Law Enforcement.
According to court documents, on or about September 30, 2025, Vogel was on the federal property grounds of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Building applying red paint to the ICE facility. Federal law enforcement agents then attempted to arrest Vogel. She failed to comply and forcibly interfered with the lawful direction of the federal officers during the arrest.
On June 22, 2026, Vogel was charged by superseding information with interfering with federal law enforcement and failing to obey a lawful order.
Vogel faces a maximum sentence of 1 year in prison, a $100,000 fine, and 1 year of probation.
She will be sentenced on October 21, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
The FBI and Federal Protective Service are investigating the case. The U. S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon is prosecuting the case.
Pine Ridge Couple Indicted for Fraud, Larceny, and Embezzlement from the Oglala Sioux TribeRead the Press Release
Rapid City - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Pine Ridge married couple on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 14 counts of Wire Fraud, one count of Larceny, and one count of Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.
Patrick Fire Thunder and Tracie Renay Gallego, both 51, were indicted in July 2026. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Haigh and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 assessment on each count to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture and restitution may also be ordered.
Between November 2022 and November 2024, at Pine Ridge, Fire Thunder and Gallego, both enrolled members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST), acted together to obtain and embezzle checks from OST intended to be paid to Emergency Youth Shelter (EYS) vendors or reimbursement checks from the State of South Dakota to OST for social services provided to youth at the EYS. Gallego was the Administrative Assistant for the EYS and responsible for submitting vouchers to OST for payment to the EYS vendors. After submitting the vouchers and obtaining OST checks for payment to the EYS vendors, Fire Thunder and Gallego deposited the checks into Fire Thunder’s personal bank account and then transferred the money to various other accounts and used the money for their own personal benefit.
“Our office is committed to uncovering government fraud at every level and prosecuting those who commit it,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “It’s outrageous that enrolled members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe would be stealing government funds meant to fund essential services for tribal youth. The people deserve better. Our prosecutors look forward to proving these charges in federal court and holding these defendants responsible for their shameless theft.”
“As alleged in this case, this scheme to divert scarce funds for the schemers’ personal use instead of for the intended use -- to support vulnerable youth in the Pine Ridge Indian reservation -- represents a serious breach of trust and an abuse of safety net programs designed to serve individuals in genuine need,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Protecting federally funded social service programs — including those supporting tribal communities — and the people served by them is central to HHS‑OIG’s mission. Working closely with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate allegations of fraud to ensure that those who attempt to exploit public resources for personal gain are held accountable.”
The charges are merely accusations and Fire Thunder and Gallego are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson is prosecuting the case.
Fire Thunder and Gallego were released pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Parkersburg Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kevin Wayne Gardner, 42, of Parkersburg, was sentenced on Monday, July 27, 2026, to 14 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 16, 2025, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Gardner in the Parkersburg area of Wood County. Officers seized approximately 2 pounds of methamphetamine during a search of the vehicle.
Gardner has a criminal history that includes 10 prior felony convictions and multiple revocations of probation and parole.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force and the Wood County Sheriff's Office.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-190.
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Ohio Man with Prior Felony Convictions Sentenced to 7+ Years in Prison for Lurking Outside a Cleveland Home with a Loaded GunRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 46-year-old man was sentenced to prison after he was found with a loaded gun while lurking outside a Cleveland home.
Adam Hall, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 87 months (7.25 years) in prison by U.S. District Chief Judge Sara Lioi. After a three-day trial in April, a federal jury convicted Hall of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Hall was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment.
According to court documents, on Oct. 3, 2025, Cleveland Police officers responded to a 911 call about an unknown man lurking around a home. The caller reported that the man was repeatedly ringing the doorbell and knocking on windows, and that he refused to leave the property. The caller also reported to 911 dispatchers that the man was dressed in all black and was carrying a backpack. Once on scene, the officers quickly located the man, who was later identified as Hall, in the home’s backyard. Hall was instructed to raise his hands, but he refused and engaged in a physical struggle with several officers. During that struggle, officers recovered a loaded firearm from Hall’s pants. A subsequent search of Hall revealed that he was also carrying ammunition, knives, narcotics, and a condom. At the time he possessed the loaded gun, Hall was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of several prior felonies, including drug trafficking, burglary, and domestic violence against women.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Cleveland Division of Police.
This prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph H. Walsh and Margaret A. Kane for the Northern District of Ohio.
North Texas men sentenced to federal prison for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – Two North Texas men have been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Heath Darrian Denson, 28, of Dallas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III, on July 28, 2026.
Tyson Lamar Johnson, also known as TY, or TeeWhy, 38, of Plano, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III, on July 28, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Denson and Johnson were part of a drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for distributing was thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area including the Eastern District of Texas. Johnson was also operating a trap, or drug distribution house on McCallum Avenue in Dallas. During a search of the house, a firearm used in support of the illicit drug trafficking conspiracy was found.
“The scourge of fentanyl has caused devastation and destruction across all of our communities. Trap houses filled with drugs and guns aren’t just figments of Hollywood’s imagination. They are real, tangible, and active in all of our neighborhoods. Texoma HIDTA will remain committed to assisting all of our partners in helping attack this plague on our society. Texoma HIDTA’s commitment to supporting public safety will remain unwavering,” stated Texoma HIDTA Director Keith Brown.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was part of the Texoma HIDTA and investigated by the Plano Police Department, FBI, and the Texas Department of Public Safety with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Smith.
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North Carolina Woman Charged for Allegedly Orchestrating Fraud Scheme Involving $9 Million in USDA Discrimination Financial AssistanceRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A North Carolina woman is facing federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a scheme that defrauded the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP) of millions of dollars, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
A federal grand jury in Charlotte returned an indictment charging Linda Faye Hough, 64, of Rockingham, N.C., with one count of mail fraud and six counts of making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims to a federal program in connection with more than $9 million in DFAP applications.
“Regardless of the program, hard-earned taxpayer dollars should be spent where Congress intended, not to personally benefit those who exploit the system,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “My office is committed to rooting out fraud, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and preserving the integrity of federal assistance programs.”
“A program designed to remedy wrongdoing instead turned into another vector for criminals to defraud the taxpayer. The USDA Office of Inspector General is committed to ensuring taxpayer money is wisely spent. Those who steal from the public can expect to be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said USDA Inspector General John Walk.
“When a federal program is defrauded, every taxpayer becomes a victim and those deserving of assistance are essentially robbed of much needed financial help. Fighting fraud is one of the highest priorities in the FBI. We will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to take down anyone who unlawfully obtains federal assistance to use in their personal piggy banks," said Reid Davis, the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge.
The DFAP (or Program) was established by the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, which appropriated $2.2 billion in federal funding, to compensate farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. To be eligible to receive funding, applicants were required to submit documentation to prove eligibility, including that they owned or leased farmland; that they participated in or attempted to participate in a USDA farm loan program; that they experienced discrimination by USDA employees; and that they suffered financial losses. Individual DFAP awards were capped at $500,000 per applicant.
According to allegations in the indictment, from January 2024 to August 2024, Hough allegedly orchestrated a scheme to fraudulently obtain funds from the DFAP, both for herself and for others. As a promoter of the scheme, the indictment alleges that Hough submitted fraudulent DFAP applications for herself and others that contained false information that falsely made the applicants appear eligible for a DFAP award. In some instances, Hough solicited and received kickback payments from applicants, after they received DFAP awards.
As are result of the fraudulent applications, it is alleged that Hough caused approximately $9 million in fraudulently obtained DFAP funds to be disbursed to her and other applicants.
Hough had her initial appearance in federal court today. If convicted, Hough faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison for the mail fraud offense, and five years in prison for each count of filing false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The USDA Office of Inspector General and the FBI handled the investigation with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Financial Crimes.
Special Assistant U.S. Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
The charges against the defendant are allegations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
New York man pleads guilty to transporting Colerain teenager with intent to engage in sexual activityRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Kyle D. Lawrence, 43, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court in Cincinnati today to transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Lawrence was arrested in late February after investigation into a missing Colerain teenager revealed he was previously involved with the minor.
Transporting a minor with the intent to engage in sexual activity is punishable by at least 10 years in prison.
According to court documents, on Feb. 16, Colerain Township police began investigating the circumstances surrounding a missing teenager. Officers reviewed video surveillance from the minor’s home and discovered that in January, the teenager entered a black Jeep Grand Cherokee with New York license plates. License plate readers and receipts confirm that Lawrence rented the vehicle and that he and the minor stayed at a Cincinnati hotel together on Jan. 31.
It was discovered that Lawrence was the subject of a report to the FBI in May 2024. Lawrence was confronted by a citizen vigilante group while in Canada for traveling to Canada to have sexual contact with a purported 15-year-old girl. Agents in Buffalo had previously been in contact with Lawrence in response to the report.
Further investigation by the FBI revealed two cyber tip reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding Lawrence’s Snapchat account and child exploitation activity.
On Feb. 26, FBI agents in Buffalo executed a federal search warrant at Lawrence’s residence and seized several electronic devices, which contained child sexual abuse material.
Court documents detail that Lawrence told agents he communicated with the minor from Colerain on Snapchat and traveled to the Cincinnati area twice in January to meet up. He used the location services on Snapchat to locate the minor when he picked her up.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Colerain Township Police Chief Edwin C. Cordie III and Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland.
This was a joint investigation being conducted by the FBI divisions in Cincinnati and Buffalo, Colerain Township Police Department, New York State Police and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Mobile Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Illegal Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
MOBILE, Ala. – Marvell Jawawn Williams, 41, of Mobile, was sentenced on July 28, 2026, to 84 months in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Illegal Possession of a Machinegun.
According to court documents, Williams has multiple prior felony convictions, including Possession of Controlled Substances, Possession of Marijuana in the First Degree, and Attempting to Elude.
On October 15, 2024, after receiving information that Williams was distributing fentanyl, the Mobile County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at his residence. During the search of Williams's bedroom, deputies recovered six firearms, fentanyl pills, two Glock switches, and ammunition.
After being advised of his rights, Williams stated that he had recently come off his ankle monitor and was nearing completion of drug court. He also admitted that he was a convicted felon and knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Following his term of imprisonment, Williams will serve three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office along with the Department of Homeland Security Investigation, and The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Hutchins III prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Missouri Man Sentenced to Prison for Threatening Social Security Administration EmployeesRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A man who threatened employees of the Social Security Administration twice in 2025 was sentenced Tuesday to a year and a day in prison.
After his release from prison, Timothy Wells Stevens, 57, will be on supervised release for two years.
On Oct. 1, 2025, Stevens was told in a phone call with an SSA employee in Pennsylvania that there was no record showing that he was due payments. Stevens said that if he did not receive payments, “I’m commin’ gunning for you all.” The employee told Stevens that the SSA takes all threats seriously, and he responded “No, I am going gunnin’ trust me, and I’m going to blow up every (expletive) office around here.”
About 30 minutes later Stevens called again and reached an SSA employee in California. During that call, he said, “Cause I’m telling you now, if I have to sell my place I’ve owned for 17 years and go live under a bridge, I’m hunting every last one of you (expletives) down and I’m gonna blow you up,” his plea agreement says.
Stevens, of Wayne County, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to two counts of transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce.
The Federal Protective Police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis prosecuted the case.
Mexican national convicted in Homeland Security Task Force investigation involving $157M smuggling operation that included drug shipments in produce, charcoal, and fruit pureeRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 30-year-old citizen of Mexico who had resided in Atlanta, Georgia, has been found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and cocaine into the United States.
The jury deliberated for approximately six hours before convicting Wblester Villanueva Echeverria on July 27 following a five-day trial.
From June 7, 2019, until at least Aug. 8, 2023, Echeverria and others conspired to import meth and cocaine from Mexico through Laredo and distributed it in the Atlanta area and throughout the east coast. In total, the drug trafficking organization was responsible for importing approximately 10,460 kilograms of meth, valued at approximately $157 million.
Evidence showed Echeverria’s ties to approximately a dozen shipments of narcotics concealed in produce, charcoal, and frozen strawberry puree, while he had been residing in the Atlanta area.
The investigation began in November 2021 when law enforcement seized 1,184 kilograms of meth and 51.4 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a cauliflower shipment that entered through the World Trade Bridge Port of Entry in Laredo. Authorities then identified numerous other shipments tied to Echeverria and his co-conspirators which included nearly 800 kilograms of meth hidden within a shipment of strawberry puree and over 460 kilograms of meth within a load of charcoal, all of which entered through Laredo.
The jury also heard about the vast conspiracy linking Mexican drug importers, a Dallas cell, as well as Echeverria and his Georgia-based co-conspirators.
The evidence showed that Echeverria created a Facebook account under a fake name of Alexis Maldonado and that he used that account to communicate with co-conspirators. It also showed he had cycled through numerous cell phone numbers, and was very careful to delete his communications, and tell co-conspirators to erase or delete messages as well.
Sentencing will be set at a later date before U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen. At that time, Echeverria faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Day, Leslie Cortez, and Thomas Sekula prosecuted the case.
This operation 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 U.S. 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 South Texas comprises agents and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation/IRS; Interpol/Department of State; and Naval Criminal Investigative Service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.
Mexican National Sentenced to 9 1/2 Years for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court today for possessing more than 56 pounds of methamphetamine.
Pablo DeJesus Peralta Anguis, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 9 1/2 years in prison without parole for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and unlawful reentry after removal.
On Sept. 3, 2024, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper pulled over a vehicle on Interstate 29 in Kansas City, Mo. Pedro Alberto Quiroz Ayala, 22, who did not have a valid driver’s license, was driving the vehicle, with a female juvenile in the front passenger seat and Apolinar Gocovachi Pacheco, 26, and Anguis in the back seat.
When the trooper searched the vehicle, he found a large duffle bag in the third-row seating area containing approximately 55.6 pounds of methamphetamine. Also found was a grocery bag containing approximately one pound of methamphetamine on the floorboard, and a loaded firearm in the driver’s door pouch.
When the four occupants got out of the vehicle for the search, Ayala and Anguis fled on foot. A manhunt ensued and both were apprehended a short time later.
Ayala told investigators he, Pacheco, and Anguis drove to Omaha, Neb., to pick up drugs in exchange for approximately $2,000 for his help in transporting the drugs.
Pacheco told investigators he arrived in the United States approximately two weeks earlier from Nogales Sonora, Mexico. Pacheco said he paid $6,000 to cross the border illegally. Pacheco said he was asked to travel from Kansas City, Kan., to Omaha to pick up drugs by Anguis. Pacheco said he was promised to receive a significant amount of U.S. currency for assisting with the transportation of the drugs from Omaha to the Kansas City area.
Officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Anguis and Pacheco had previously been found illegally in the United States by Border Patrol Agents near Nogalez, Ariz. on Aug. 22, 2024. Anguis and Pacheco were removed from the United States to Mexico that same day.
Ayala pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and on May 6, 2026, was sentenced to 11 years in prison without parole.
Pacheco pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and unlawful reentry after removal, and on April 2, 2026, was sentenced to eight years in prison without parole.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, , Drug Enforcement Administration, Jackson County Drug Task Force, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
KC Metro Strike Force
This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
Maryland Man Admits to Role in Kidnapping and Multiple MurdersRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — A Carroll County, Maryland man has admitted to his role in a multi-state violent crime spree involving kidnapping, murder, and witness tampering causing death following a lengthy investigation, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Monroe Merrell, 29, of Westminster, Maryland, pled guilty today to three charges, admitting he worked with others to kidnap and murder J.R. in an apartment in Westminster, Maryland in March 2020. J.R. was severely beaten and stabbed multiple times before Merrell and others transported him across state lines into West Virginia. During J.R.’s transport Merrell stabbed him multiple times, killing him. Merrell and others attempted to dispose of his body in the woods of a rural, isolated section of Rippon in Jefferson County by dousing him with gasoline and burning his body. The following morning, a nearby resident driving by called in a report for emergency services after seeing a body burning in the woods near the roadway, prompting a multi-state investigation involving collaboration between state and federal agencies.
In April 2020, Merrell became concerned that two witnesses to J.R.’s beating and kidnapping, D.T. and H.G., would communicate what they knew to law enforcement. Merrell and others brought the pair from Maryland to the Falling Waters area of Berkeley County, West Virginia, where they drugged and partially incapacitated them. D.T., 18, of Taneytown, Maryland, and H.G., 33, of Westminster, Maryland, were then both killed, their bodies burned, and their remains disposed of in the Potomac River.
By entering his plea of guilty, Merrell is the last defendant in the multi-defendant case to accept responsibility for the kidnapping and murders. Merrell’s acceptance of responsibility encompasses a fourth victim, E.D. (previously identified in Counts Eight and Nine of the Indictment as “Jane Doe”), who Merrell targeted in a solicitation of murder plot in his continued effort to conceal the crimes. Merrell is facing a life sentence on each of the counts to which he has pled guilty after a United States motion to re-seek the death penalty was denied in October 2025.
Three other co-defendants named in the Indictment, all Maryland residents, David Sanford, Jr.; John Black, III; and Jeffrey Smith, Jr.; previously pled guilty for their roles in the kidnapping and murders. Additionally, April Braner, 43, of Falling Waters, West Virginia, and Norman Bradford, 55, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, also entered guilty pleas by Information for their roles in the crimes. All sentencing hearings are scheduled for January 25, 2027.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley D. Crockett and Kyle R. Kane are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police, Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Berkeley and Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorneys’ Offices investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Maryland Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man learned his fate in federal court, stemming from a firearms incident in a convenience store.
U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Tevin Williams, 33, of Halethorpe, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. Williams, a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, attempted to conceal a backpack containing the firearm in a convenience store.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to court documents, on July 28, 2025, a BPD officer performed a business check at a convenience store located in Baltimore. While inside, the officer observed an individual in the back corner of the store standing next to a backpack stuffed between an ice-cream cooler and the wall. The officer asked the individual if the backpack belonged to him and the individual responded, “no.” Then the officer picked up the backpack and immediately recognized the shape and weight of a firearm inside. The officer opened the black backpack and recovered a pistol, equipped with a large-capacity magazine loaded with 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Law enforcement later reviewed the convenience store surveillance footage from that day and confirmed that the individual standing near the backpack did not manipulate or possess the backpack prior to its recovery. Instead, further review of surveillance footage revealed that Williams entered the convenience store after an unidentified individual approached him and they walked to the back of the store to the location of the backpack. He reached into the narrow space between the ice-cream cooler and the wall and pulled out the backpack.
Williams eventually opened the backpack and handed items to the unidentified individual. THhen Williams closed the backpack and placed it back between the ice cream cooler and the wall. He later admitted that he possessed the recovered firearm and ammunition equipped with a large-capacity magazine.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Tsuei who prosecuted this federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Maple Heights Man with History of Violent Crimes Sentenced to 11 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 38-year-old, previously convicted felon, was sentenced to prison after he was found illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.
Brandon Blackman, of Maple Heights, was sentenced to 137 months (11.41 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Gaughan after a federal jury convicted him in January of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition. His prior convictions include Domestic Violence in 2023, Kidnapping and Felonious Assault in 2010, Drug Trafficking in 2019, and Drug Possession in 2008. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment.
According to court documents and evidence, Blackman was sought by local law enforcement after he was suspected of being involved in several criminal incidents in July 2024, including fleeing from police during an attempted traffic stop. A short time later, Blackman entered a police station lobby where he was arrested. Police later located the BMW that he was observed driving. While searching the vehicle, officers located a 9mm loaded pistol, a shoebox containing $56,000 in cash, two cellphones, and several designer apparel items. Evidence presented at trial established that Blackman had $6,165 in cash on his person at the time of arrest, and $3,000 in cash inside his apartment, along with a scale, a Pyrex container with cocaine residue, and other evidence of drug trafficking.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Fairview Park Police Department.
This prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristen Rolph and Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel for the Northern District of Ohio.
Liverpool Man Indicted for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in Decade Long Social Security SchemeRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Zvonko Klapan, age 68, of Liverpool NY was arraigned Friday in Binghamton, NY before Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric on multiple counts of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and theft of government property. A grand jury indicted Klapan on June 18, 2026. This action is part of an ongoing effort of the Trump Administration’s Fraud Task Force aimed at eliminating fraud across the country.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge, Boston/New York Field Division, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG) made the announcement.
The indictment alleges that Klapan’s mother-in-law passed away in 2016, that the Social Security Administration was not informed of the death, and that Klapan converted her social security benefits checks to his own use for nearly ten years. Between August 2016 and September 2025, Klapan forged his mother-in-law’s signature on monthly SSA benefits checks and deposited them into his own bank account. According to the indictment, Social Security switched from paper checks to direct deposit only in September 2025. Klapan then continued his scheme by posing online as his dead mother-in-law to apply for and arrange direct wire transfer deposits of social security benefits checks to his personal bank account from September 2025 until April 2026. The indictment alleges that Klapan defrauded the program of more than $142,400. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“This defendant is finally facing justice after ten years of fraud, during which he stole, and forged Social Security benefits checks intended for his deceased mother‑in‑law,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone. “He then brazenly expanded the scheme by using her name to apply online for direct deposit payments from the Social Security Administration into his own bank account. My office remains committed to uncovering and prosecuting fraudulent schemes like this that callously divert resources from legitimate surviving beneficiaries.”
“Allegedly exploiting a deceased beneficiary’s identity for personal gain over a decade is a deliberate theft from a program that millions of vulnerable Americans rely on,” said Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG), Boston–New York Field-Philadelphia Division. “Together with our prosecutorial and law enforcement partners, SSA OIG will continue pursuing those who steal taxpayer dollars through fraud and identity theft, regardless of how long they attempt to evade detection.”
The charges filed against Klapan include a maximum term of 20 years in prison on the wire fraud counts, up to 10 years for theft of government property, and a mandatory 2 years for Aggravated Identity Theft. Klapan may also be ordered to pay restitution to the government. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
A jury trial is currently scheduled for September 21, 2026 before Chief Judge Brenda K. Sannes in Syracuse.
SSA-OIG is investigating the case, and it is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Arne F. Soldwedel.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Laredo man receives federal prison sentence for trying to meet minor for sexRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 41-year-old man has been sent to federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor.
Robert Steven Lanier pleaded guilty March 6.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo sentenced Lanier to 151 months in federal prison. In handing down the prison term, the court noted Lanier expressed a proclivity for children and commented on how he left his home twice—while caring for his own minor children—to go engage in sexual acts with a 12-year-old child. Lanier was further ordered to serve 15 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Lanier will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
Authorities identified Lanier in 2025 when conducting investigations into a Kik chatroom. Kik is a messaging app that, like many similar apps, is often exploited by predators to get access to children.
Lanier had been communicating with someone he believed to be the father of a 12-year-old minor female. In those conversations, he expressed interest in engaging in sexual activities with the child.
He had also mentioned how he preferred children under the age of 16, considered child pornography to be “window shopping,” and wanted to be the child’s “sugar daddy.” He expressed the desire to meet the minor and described all the sexual acts he wanted to conduct with her.
On March 18, Lanier arrived at a gas station where he intended to have sexual relations with the minor in his car. Law enforcement took him into custody upon his arrival.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Lake County Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Funds and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Jose Valles Villamizar (29, Tavares) has pleaded guilty to theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment for the theft of government funds offense and a mandatory consecutive sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft offense. As part of his plea, Villamizar has also agreed to forfeit $73,655.27, which are traceable as the proceeds of his criminal conduct. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Villamizar fraudulently used $73,655.27 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) benefits. He personally used the benefits and aided and abetted others to fraudulently use the benefits. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) program established by the United States government to help low-income individuals and families by providing monthly benefits to purchase food items. SNAP benefits are issued to recipients through Electronic Benefit Transfer (“EBT”) cards.
Between September 2023 and February 2025, 650 SNAP applications were submitted in the names of various individuals. All the applications listed residential and mailing addresses that were associated with Villamizar. Once the applications were approved, SNAP benefits were issued under the names of the applicants. The USDA subsequently obtained surveillance footage of Villamizar using the SNAP benefit EBT cards issued in the other names.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and the Florida Division of Public Assistance Fraud. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Jury Finds D.C. Man Guilty of Road Rage ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Marcus Reavenell, 48, of Washington, D.C., was convicted on charges related to a road rage shooting that occurred on May 14, 2025, in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Reavenell was found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful discharge of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, reckless driving, and destruction of property less than $1,000 on July 27, 2026. The possession of a firearm during a crime of violence conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 2, 2026, before Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur.
According to the Government’s evidence, on May 14, 2025, at the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Division Avenue NE, Reavenell attempted to cut off the victim in traffic before tailgating the victim and driving erratically. The defendant continued to follow the victim until he pointed a pistol out of his van and fired a round at the victim’s work vehicle, striking its rear door. Reavenell then fled the scene in his van.
Reavenell was arrested on July 9, 2025, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randle Wilson and Kadian Carter.
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Jacksonville Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Bank Fraud and Failing to AppearRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – McKenzie Phillip Storm Scott (30, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger to three years and six months in federal prison for bank fraud conspiracy and one year and six months for failure to appear, to be served consecutively, for a total of 5 years’ imprisonment. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $21,097.49, the proceeds of the bank fraud conspiracy. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Scott and others conspired to defraud financial institutions by stealing checks from the United States mail, altering the payees and payment amounts for the purposes of manufacturing counterfeit checks, depositing them into bank accounts belonging to accomplices, then withdrawing as much of the fraudulent checks as possible in cash. The intended loss attributable to Scott’s conduct was approximately $526,000. He obtained $21,097.49 in cash.
Scott was due to be sentenced for the bank fraud case on February 7, 2025, but failed to appear for the hearing. He was subsequently indicted for his failure to appear. Law enforcement ultimately located Scott traveling in Las Vegas, Nevada, and arrested him on December 2, 2025.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Secret Service and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.
Inmate receives additional sentence for punching law enforcement officerRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 27-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for forcibly assaulting a federal correctional officer.
Melvin Jones pleaded guilty April 16.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered Jones to serve two years in federal prison, consecutive to his existing sentence, to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Jones had been in three additional altercations with other inmates since entering his plea of guilty.
In 2025, Jones was an inmate at Three Rivers Federal Correctional Institution.
On Sept. 25, 2025, a federal correctional officer attempted to search Jones after suspecting he possessed a contraband cell phone. When the officer attempted to retrieve it, Jones resisted and repeatedly punched the officer in the head and neck.
Other officers intervened, restrained Jones, and separated him from the officer. The victim sustained abrasions and soreness to his head and neck.
Jones has been and will remain in custody.
FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Martin and Patrick Overman prosecuted the case.
Inmate Sentenced for Leading Drug Conspiracy from PrisonRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – An inmate in federal prison was sentenced today for Drug Conspiracy after coordinating the delivery of nearly five kilograms of cocaine to the Tulsa area, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Rafael Gonzalez, 33, to 180 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
In 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation into individuals bringing large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico into Tulsa, Oklahoma. The investigation revealed that Gonzalez coordinated with other inmates and people outside of prison to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Court documents show that he coordinated the delivery of nearly five kilograms of cocaine to the Tulsa area and drug proceeds to various locations in Texas.
Gonzalez will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. This sentence is to run consecutively to Gonzalez's previous federal case where he was conspiring with others to distribute methamphetamine from the Department of Corrections.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Tulsa comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the FBI, the Bureau of Prisons, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma
Illegal alien from Venezuela sentenced to federal prison in the Eastern District of Texas for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Venezuelan national, illegally in the United States, has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Anthony Juber Viloria Colina, 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on July 28, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on January 22, 2025, Colina was stopped for a traffic violation in Grayson County. After consenting to a search of the vehicle and opening the trunk, Colina fled on foot. Law enforcement discovered 100 individually wrapped “bricks” of methamphetamine in the trunk of the vehicle, totaling approximately 100 kilograms.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Erlandson.
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Illegal Alien from Guatemala Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry After Previous DeportationRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – An illegal alien from Guatemala, residing in Beltsville, Maryland, pled guilty in federal court, today, to illegal re-entry after prior removal.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland.
According to federal and state court documents, Bayron Leopoldo Perez Batres, 64, unlawfully re-entered the United States after authorities removed him on three separate occasions. Authorities removed Perez Batres in January 1996, September 2009, and May 2010.
Then on Sept. 6, 2024, law enforcement arrested Perez Batres in Maryland on state charges relating to sexual abuse of a minor. Perez Batres pled guilty to the charges on Sept. 2, 2025. At no time did Perez Batres receive consent from the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States, as required for him to legally enter the country.
Perez Batres faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 10 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Li and Brooke Oki, along with Trial Attorneys Matthew Thiman and Sean F. Mulryne, Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, who are prosecuting the federal case.
The indictment and plea announced today were coordinated and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). JTFA also leads and supports U.S. Attorneys’ Offices (USAOs) in the prosecution of crimes related to unaccompanied alien children (UACs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 464 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 414 U.S. convictions; and more than 360 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
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 other transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Illegal Alien Sex Offender from Guatemala Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry after Previous DeportationRead the Press Release
An illegal alien from Guatemala pleaded guilty today to illegal reentry after previously being deported.
According to federal and state court documents, Bayron Leopoldo Perez Batres, 64, who resided in Beltsville, Maryland, unlawfully reentered the United States after having been previously removed. On Sept. 6, 2024, Perez Batres was arrested in Maryland on state charges relating to sexual abuse of a minor. After his arrest on state charges, it was established that he was illegally present in the United States and that he has been previously removed to Guatemala on three separate occasions – in January 1996, September 2009, and May 2010. He was charged with illegal reentry in the present case on Nov. 13, 2025. He pleaded guilty to state sexual abuse charges on Sept. 2, 2025 and was sentenced to 25 years in prison in October 2025.
Perez Batres is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 20 and faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland; and Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Maryland made the announcement.
HSI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Matthew Thiman and Sean F. Mulryne of the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Li and Brooke Oki for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.
The indictment and plea announced today were coordinated and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). JTFA also leads and supports U.S. Attorneys’ Offices (USAOs) in the prosecution of crimes related to unaccompanied alien children (UACs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and CBP/U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 465 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 424 U.S. convictions; and more than 368 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
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 other transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Angel Roberto Chavez-Nunez, a/k/a Angel Roberto Chavez Nunez, 33, a Cuban national unlawfully present in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than 15 years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Okmulgee County District Attorney’s Office.
The Indictment alleged that on November 4, 2025, Chavez-Nunez, an alien illegally and unlawfully present in the United States and knowing of such status, knowingly possessed six rounds of ammunition and one semi-automatic rifle shipped in interstate commerce.
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 Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Chavez-Nunez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Faces Federal Charges After Shooting on MARTA BusRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Guillermo Cruz Velazquez, an illegal alien from Mexico, faces federal charges after a handgun he allegedly carried onto a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) bus in Sandy Springs, Georgia last week fired a bullet that passed through his arm and into another passenger.
“Illegal aliens are not permitted to possess a firearm in our country,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office will prosecute criminals who unlawfully possess and misuse dangerous weapons, putting the public’s safety at risk.”
“A firearm in the hands of a prohibited individual is a serious threat to public safety,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Gibbons. “ATF works closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and apprehend those who disregard our laws and threaten our communities.”
“The safety of our passengers and employees remains our top priority. This incident resulted in injuries to an innocent individual, and our thoughts are with those affected,” said Chief M. Scott Kreher of the MARTA Police Department. “We are working closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners as the investigation continues. Reckless actions that place the public at risk have no place on our transit system, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe environment for everyone who relies on MARTA.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On July 22, 2026, Guillermo Cruz Velazquez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was traveling on a MARTA bus in Sandy Springs, Georgia, when a firearm allegedly located in his bag discharged a single round that struck a female passenger and himself. After the shooting, the bus pulled over, and Cruz Velazquez allegedly fled the scene on foot. Sandy Springs Police Department officers followed a trail of blood to a nearby parking lot and found Cruz Velazquez with a gunshot wound in his forearm and a bag with a hole in it. From nearby bushes, law enforcement recovered a loaded .45 caliber pistol with a spent cartridge case stuck in the ejection port.
Guillermo Cruz Velazquez, 53, of Iztapalapa, Mexico, appeared in federal court today on a criminal complaint charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully present in the United States. Cruz Velazquez will be held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
Members of the public are reminded that the complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, MARTA Police Department, and Sandy Springs Police Department, with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Bircoll is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Leads to Federal Conviction for Illegal Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Omarion Laparis Rashad, 21, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal possession of machinegun. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The Homeland Security Task Force is investing in the safety of our neighborhoods with its whole-of-government approach to rooting out the criminal influence of cartels, trafficking organizations, and foreign gangs in our streets, and with this successful prosecution we are seeing those results. I applaud the excellent investigative work by the Tallahassee Police Department, in close collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners, and I look forward to many more successful prosecutions as we continue the fight to make our communities safe for the citizens of the Northern District of Florida.”
Court documents reflect the Tallahassee Police Department executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence on November 25, 2025. Officers found marijuana, synthetic cathinone, and ammunition, along with a Glock .40 caliber pistol that had been converted to fire as a machinegun. A second machinegun conversion device was found in a commercial marijuana bag.
The defendant faces up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
The case involved an investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 1, 2026, at 2:00 pm, in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
High-Level Member of Clan del Golfo, a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization Sentenced to over 12 Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Aimer Alberto Alvaran Posada, 52, of Colombia, was sentenced today to 150 months in prison for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents, Alvaran Posada was a high-level member within the Western Bloc of Clan del Golfo (CDG), a Colombian paramilitary and multibillion-dollar transnational criminal organization that was designated on Dec. 16, 2025, by the Department of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). CDG relies on cocaine trafficking to fund its paramilitary activities. In 2018, Alvaran Posada conspired with other CDG members to produce 500 kilograms of cocaine for sale to Mexican buyers, knowing, intending, and having reasonable cause to believe that the cocaine was destined to the United States. Specifically, Alvaran Posada obtained approval from the commander of CDG’s Northern Bloc, where the cocaine transaction would be conducted, and presided over multiple meetings to coordinate the cocaine transaction. Approximately 363 kilograms of cocaine were seized as part of the operation that led to the conviction of Alvaran Posada.
While engaged in this conspiracy, Alvaran Posada was informed by Dairo Antonio Úsuga David — the former leader of CDG — that he was being considered for commanding CDG’s Western Bloc, a promotion that would have given Alvaran Posada control over a vast network of subordinates, the authority to set cocaine prices, and the responsibility to decide who could produce and transport cocaine in his territory. Instead, Alvaran Posada was arrested in 2021 pursuant to his U.S. charges and subsequently extradited to the United States. He pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking conspiracy on Aug. 27, 2025.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case. The FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case. The Colombian National Police, the FBI’s Office of the Legal Attache in Bogotá , and the Department of Justice’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá and Office of International Affairs provided critical support.
Trial Attorney Douglas Meisel of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) prosecuted the case. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance.
MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations.
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.
Gretna Man Indicted for Federal Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Shanon Dewynn Robinson, 54, of Gretna, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Robinson appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for September 8, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida.
Based on his history of prior felony offenses, if convicted, Robinson faces a minimum mandatory 15 years’ imprisonment with a maximum of Life imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Greenwood Bank Robber SentencedRead the Press Release
Aberdeen, MS – Earl Blue, 48, from Greenwood, was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison by Senior United States District Court Judge Sharion Aycock today. In addition to prison time, he was ordered five years of supervision and was ordered to pay restitution to the victim bank in the amount of $5,300. Blue had previously pled guilty to robbing a branch of Regions Bank in Greenwood, Mississippi.
According to court documents, on May 15, 2025, Blue walked into Regions Bank and stated that he wished to open an account. After waiting for a period, Blue approached the teller and pointed a handgun at her and demanded that she provide him with money. The teller complied with Blue’s demands and Blue fled the bank taking U.S. currency with him. The Greenwood Police Department responded to the robbery and along with the FBI, quickly developed Blue as the suspect. Blue was apprehended the following day by the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force in St. Louis, Missouri. A significant amount of stolen currency was recovered from his possession at the time of his arrest.
U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary stated, “Success is not measured by one’s wealth, but by one’s worth. Honorable people are honest, dedicated hard workers, dishonorable people take what does not belong to them. We’ve been dealing with bank robbers for awhile now, and it takes honorable people to bring them to justice, which is what happened in this case. I commend the Greenwood Police Department and the FBI for their investigation of this case. By working together, law enforcement can accomplish so much more in protecting the public from dangerous criminals. I also credit AUSA Herzog for his professionalism in prosecuting this case.”
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff said, "Armed robbery is a bold, brazen act that Blue believed he could commit with impunity, but today’s sentencing sends a clear message: Bank robbery is not an easy payday—it’s a serious federal crime and perpetrators will be held accountable. The FBI, together with our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in our commitment to identify, apprehend, and bring to justice offenders like Blue. Our resolve to protect public safety is unwavering."
Greenwood Police Department Chief of Police, Serafin Simon, Jr., said, "Today's sentence of Earl Blue in the armed bank robbery that occurred in Greenwood represents the successful conclusion of a thorough investigation and the unwavering commitment of our officers, investigators, and our law enforcement partners to bring violent offenders to justice. Armed robberies threaten not only financial institutions but also the safety and security of our entire community. Blue’s sentence sends a clear message that those who commit violent crimes in Greenwood will be identified, apprehended, and held fully accountable under the law. We are grateful to our partnership with the federal prosecutors and investigators for their dedication throughout this process. Most importantly, we remain committed to protecting the citizens of Greenwood and ensuring that justice is served."
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Herzog Jr. prosecuted the case.
Ghanaian National Sentenced to 85 Months in Prison for Stealing More Than $10 Million via Romance ScamsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that DERRICK VAN YEBOAH, a/k/a “Van,” was sentenced to 85 months in prison for his role in an international criminal organization that stole more than $100 million from victims via romance scams and business email compromises. On March 5, 2026, VAN YEBOAH pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who imposed today’s sentence.
“Romance scammers do not simply steal money—they weaponize trust,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Van Yeboah and his co-conspirators exploited trust, loneliness, and legitimate business relationships to steal more than $100 million. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of these calculated frauds and our commitment to pursuing international criminal organizations that target Americans.”
According to the charging documents and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
VAN YEBOAH was a member of a criminal organization primarily based in Ghana that committed romance scams and business email compromises against individuals and businesses located across the United States. Many of the conspiracy’s victims were vulnerable older men and women who were tricked into believing that they were in online romantic relationships with persons who were, in fact, fake identities assumed by members of the conspiracy. Once members of the conspiracy had gained the trust of their victims, they deceived those victims into sending their money to the enterprise or into helping them launder funds from other victims. The conspirators also committed business email compromises to trick and deceive businesses into wiring funds to the enterprise. In total, the conspiracy stole and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims. After stealing the money, the fraud proceeds were then laundered to West Africa.
VAN YEBOAH personally perpetrated many of the romance scams by impersonating fake romantic partners in communications with victims. For example, in 2019 and 2020, VAN YEBOAH assumed fake identities to engage in romance scams with an Ohio woman and a Delaware woman and induced them into transferring approximately $4.2 million to accounts belonging to members of the conspiracy. Similarly, in 2024, VAN YEBOAH assumed a fake identity to engage in a romance scam with a North Carolina man and induced him into transferring approximately $123,000 to accounts belonging to members of the conspiracy by claiming that he needed funds for both a parent’s funeral and to recover gold and diamonds from Italy.
VAN YEBOAH is being held responsible for more than $10 million he stole from victims via his romance scams.
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In addition to the prison term, VAN YEBOAH, 41, of Ghana, was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay $10,149,429.17 in forfeiture.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the International Cooperation Unit of the Office of the Attorney-General of Ghana to secure VAN YEOBAH’s August 7, 2025, extradition to the United States. Ghana’s Economic and Organized Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service – INTERPOL, Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority, and Ghana’s National Intelligence Bureau all provided significant assistance to ensure VAN YEOBAH’s extradition.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead and Mitzi Steiner are in charge of the prosecution.
Forsyth County Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm that was Used During a Highway Shooting SpreeRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – A Winston-Salem, North Carolina man was sentenced today in Greensboro to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to a possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
JOHN FRANKLIN BARROW, JR., aged 43, was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment plus 3 years post release supervision by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC.
According to court records, on August 1, 2024, at approximately 2:42 p.m., an eyewitness called 911 to report that he had just witnessed a driver, later identified as BARROW, shoot into a semi-truck as it was traveling on 1-40, causing the truck to go off the road and crash into the tree line. The driver of the semi-truck, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head and shoulder, was treated for life-threatening injuries. He ultimately survived. When later interviewed by law enforcement, the driver stated he did not know BARROW. BARROW is also linked to another shooting that occurred on I-40 shortly afterwards in which he shot towards a truck. The driver was not shot but his vehicle sustained damage as a result of the shooting. That driver also informed law enforcement that he did not know BARROW.
Based on eyewitness information, officers responded to a motel in Winston-Salem where they encountered BARROW, armed with a loaded firearm in his pants pocket. BARROW was placed under arrest. During a search of his vehicle, officers recovered approximately 9 cartridge casings and approximately 26 additional live rounds.
BARROW’s criminal record dates back to 2002. Prior to his arrest in this case, BARROW received several felony convictions, including Felony Larceny of a Firearm, Felony Conspiracy to Sell Fentanyl, Felony Attempted Breaking and Entering a Building, Felony Manufacturing Marijuana, Felony Obtaining Property by False Pretense, Felony Larceny from the Person, and Felony Attempted Possession of a Firearm by Felon.
BARROW pleaded guilty on April 16, 2026, to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
On May 15, 2026, BARROW was sentenced in Davie County to two consecutive 144-to-185-month sentences for Felony Discharging a Weapon into Occupied Property Causing Serious Bodily Injury and Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury, stemming from the shooting of the semi-truck driver.
The case was investigated by the Winston-Salem Police Department, Davie County Sherriff’s Office, Forsyth County Sherriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tracy M. Williams-Durham and Randall S. Galyon.
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Former law enforcement officer guilty of sexual exploitation of a child in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A former law enforcement officer has pleaded guilty to child exploitation charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Skyler Douglas Laza, 34, pleaded guilty on July 27, 2026, to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.
According to court documents, on at least two occasions, Laza, a former licensed peace officer, persuaded a minor under the age of 12 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating a visual depiction using a cell phone.
The terms of Laza’s plea agreement contain an agreed sentencing range of between 40-60 years in federal prison as well as lifetime supervision and sex offender registration. The actual sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Dallas Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Palestine Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
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Former Youth Pastor Sentenced for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Catawba, Virginia man, who pled guilty in December 2025 to attempting to sexually exploit a 15-year-old child, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Jacob Ryan Barnett, 35, was arrested in August 2025 and pled guilty in December to one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old child.
According to court documents, on May 18, 2025, Barnett used TikTok to message the Minor Victim (M.V.) and they began chatting. Barnett posed as a 17-year-old using another person’s images. As their chat progressed, Barnett sent increasingly graphic sexual messages to M.V. Ultimately, Barnett said he wanted to “use” M.V. and asked for something that he could masturbate to. In response, M.V. sent Barnett sexually explicit video of herself.
Sentencing evidence showed that Barnett used TikTok, Discord, Snapchat, and other social media apps to solicit minor girls for sexual chats and media. Barnett’s TikTok account was following thousands of young women and minors when he was arrested. He also solicited young men for selfies and images of their genitals, which he used to pose as a teenaged boy when soliciting his victims.
Barnett used various tactics to obtain child sex abuse material, including once vying for sympathy with a minor victim by pretending that he was in a mental institution and only had an hour to talk. Barnett pressed another victim to record “risky” videos of herself while on the school bus and to take nude photos while outside.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman is prosecuting the case for the United States.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Former Washington State Employee Sentenced for Theft of $50,000 from Paid Family Leave and Unemployment Insurance ProgramsRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – On July 28, 2026, United States District Court Judge Rebecca L. Pennell sentenced Tasha Hoggatt, age 51, of Valencia, California, to five years of probation, including six months of home confinement, after Hoggatt pleaded guilty to theft concerning programs that receive federal funds. Judge Pennell also ordered that Hoggatt pay $51,403 in restitution and a $4,000 fine. The Plea Agreement can be found here.
Based on court documents, between October 1, 2021, and October 31, 2022, Hoggatt was employed with the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) as a Human Resource Consultant. Between May 16, 2024, and September 19, 2024, Hoggatt was employed with ESD as a Benefits Specialist. While employed with ESD, Hoggatt filed false and fraudulent Paid Family Medical Leave Act applications in her own name and in the name of two family members setting out fictitious medical information and supported by documents with forged doctor signatures. Hoggatt also fraudulently applied for Washington State unemployment insurance benefits between October 31, 2022, and May 16, 2024, while not employed by ESD. Hoggatt falsely represented to ESD that she was unemployed during this period, but she was in fact employed in California. Through her false submissions, Hoggatt stole $51,403 from Washington State’s Paid Family Leave and Unemployment Insurance programs.
“Washington State Employment Security Department uses state and federal funds to provide resources for individuals in need. When people take advantage of these programs, they should expect to be prosecuted by United States Attorney’s Office; this is especially true when someone, like Hoggatt, works for the Department,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano.
“Tasha Hoggatt abused her position at the Washington Employment Security Department to steal more than $51,000 in benefits meant for workers in genuine need,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “Today's sentence underscores a simple truth: if you exploit federal programs and betray the public’s trust, my office will pursue you relentlessly.
Our dedication to working with our law enforcement partners remains unwavering, as we uphold a rigorous zero-tolerance policy towards any misuse of our systems. Those who seek to exploit these programs will inevitably be identified and brought to justice. Accountability is not just a promise—it’s a guarantee."
The case was investigated by Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy J. Kelley.
2:26-CR-00021-RLP
Former Stetson Resident Sentenced for Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A former Stetson man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for being a felon in possession of firearms and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neuman sentenced Marc Karun, 61, to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Karun pleaded guilty on February 15, 2024.
According to court records, police found over 60 firearms and more than 14,000 rounds of ammunition while executing a search warrant at Karun’s Stetson home. The guns were found in various places in the house, and some were loaded. One rifle had the serial number removed. Karun was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior Connecticut felony convictions for sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, burglary, and larceny.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Maine State Police investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Former Shelby County Division of Corrections Officer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Providing Contraband in a PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Tamillian Young, 24, a former Correctional Officer for the Shelby County Division of Corrections, to federal prison for providing marijuana to an inmate in the Shelby County Division of Corrections. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, Young smuggled contraband into the Shelby County Division of Corrections, a facility which houses federal inmates, on October 27, 2025. Young had a package that contained approximately 100 grams of marijuana, as well as additional contraband including cigarettes, vape devices, and a bag containing what appeared to be 18 Oxycodone pills.
When interviewed, Young admitted to bringing the items for an inmate. At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Lea imposed a term of 24 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Official misconduct and corruption by correctional officers in positions of trust and authority undermine the foundational integrity of our government institutions and compromise the safety and security of correctional facilities. This sentence will hopefully deter other corrupt behavior, restore the public’s faith in honest officers, and send a message that nobody is above the law."
Tyreece Miller, United States Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee, said, “The U.S. Marshals Service is committed to ensuring that those who are entrusted with the care and custody of federal detainees uphold the highest standards of conduct and obey the law, not break it.”
“By smuggling drugs and other contraband into the Shelby County Division of Corrections, Tamillian Young betrayed the public trust and jeopardized the safety and security of the entire institution for her own personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that correctional officers who abuse their positions to facilitate criminal activity will be held accountable. The FBI remains committed to rooting out public corruption and working with our partners to protect the integrity of our correctional institutions.”
This case was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), United States Marshals Service (USMS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Assistant United States Attorney Lynn Crum and Special Assistant United States Attorney Yosef Hochheiser, of the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
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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
Former Senior Bank Executive, Edward Gene Smith, Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault, Child Pornography, and Obstruction of Justice OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that EDWARD GENE SMITH was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer to 30 years in prison for drugging a female victim (“Victim-1”) with the intent to rape her, enticing another female victim (“Victim-2”) to travel to New York where SMITH drugged and sexually assaulted her, receipt of child pornography, and obstruction of justice. SMITH also admitted to additional conduct relating to other victims.
“Edward Gene Smith is a sexual predator and a serial rapist,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “He spent years hiding behind wealth, education, and status while he committed egregious sexual crimes. He drugged and raped women, documenting his crimes with extensive notes planning how he would torture and punish his victims, and surreptitiously photographing them, while they were nude and unconscious. The defendant also obtained and maintained a trove of thousands of files of child sexual abuse material. The defendant took steps to hide his crimes, and, when he was caught, obstructed the investigation by compelling a victim he had drugged and raped to sign a false letter of support. He is now where he belongs, in prison. Every New York family is safer with the defendant off the streets.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in public court proceedings:
Between approximately 2015 and June 2024, SMITH, who was during that approximate time period a senior executive of major financial institutions, planned to drug, attempted to drug, and/or drugged numerous women with the intent to incapacitate them and/or render them unable to consent to sexual activity. SMITH did, in fact, engage in sexual activity with multiple of these women, and, in at least some cases, surreptitiously took videos or photographs of his criminal sexual activity.
At least on or about April 23, 2023, SMITH drugged and raped Victim-1 in his Central Park South residence. Specifically, unbeknownst to Victim-1, SMITH gave Victim-1 one or more alcoholic beverages that he had laced with Klonopin, a controlled substance. After Victim-1 consumed the drugged drink, SMITH physically restrained Victim-1, and raped her while she was unconscious. While Victim-1 was still unconscious, SMITH also took a video of himself sexually assaulting Victim-1, and then shared that video with others via an encrypted messaging platform, on a channel that was dedicated to sharing depictions of incapacitated or unconscious women in sexually exploitative positions.
Previously, between in or about 2019 and in or about 2020, SMITH repeatedly drugged and sexually assaulted Victim-2. SMITH met Victim-2 in 2019 when Victim-2 was a college student and persuaded Victim-2 to relocate to New York City, which she did. SMITH thereafter controlled Victim-2’s finances, social life, and activities, and repeatedly drugged and sexually assaulted Victim-2 over the course of several months. During this time period, SMITH caused Victim-2 to engage in sexual activity through coercion and force, including threatened and physical assault and physical restraint. Additionally, SMITH informed Victim-2 of one or more firearms that he possessed and showed Victim-2 at least one such firearm.
In or about the Fall of 2021, SMITH communicated with another victim (“Victim-3”), who was then 17 years old. SMITH followed a similar pattern with Victim-3. While Victim-3 was still 17 years old, SMITH solicited explicit photographs from Victim-3. Shortly after Victim-3 turned 18 years old, SMITH caused Victim-3 to travel to New York City, attempted to drug Victim-3, and then physically and sexually assaulted her. In or about October 2023, SMITH caused Victim-3 to travel to New York City again, which she did, and drugged and sexually assaulted her. Around this time, SMITH also posted Victim-3’s photographs and personal contact information to a website advertising prostitution services, without Victim-3’s knowledge.
Between approximately 2012 and June 2024, SMITH also received via the internet and possessed a large volume of images and videos on his personal devices that depicted children, including prepubescent children, being sexually abused.
In or about August 2024, after a search warrant was executed at SMITH’s residence, revealing that SMITH possessed child pornography on his electronic devices, SMITH paid Victim-1 thousands of dollars to sign a false document in an attempt to obstruct the investigation. Also in or about August 2024, SMITH solicited other individuals to sign false documents in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.
If you have been victimized by SMITH in any way or have any additional information about his illegal behavior, please call the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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In addition to the prison term, SMITH, 50, of New York, New York, was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Remy Grosbard, Rita Maxwell, Daniel Richenthal, and Joe Zabel are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Olivia Sebade.
Former Executive Director and Former Employee of Queens Defenders Legal Services Non-Profit Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling FundsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Lori Zeno, the former executive director of Queens Defenders, a nonprofit legal services organization, and Rashad Ruhani, a former employee of the Organization, were sentenced by United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner for their roles in a scheme to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars from Queens Defenders. Judge Kovner sentenced Zeno to 43 months’ imprisonment and Ruhani to 57 months’ imprisonment. The defendants were also ordered to pay $656,349.57 in restitution to Queens Defenders and forfeiture money judgments of $187,014.24 (Zeno) and $102,534.27 (Ruhani).
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Nadia I. Shihata, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), announced the sentences.
“Lori Zeno brazenly betrayed and abused her position of trust as the director of a nonprofit organization, while Rashad Ruhani worked hand in hand with her to steal funds intended to provide legal services and other critical resources to disadvantaged members of the community,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Instead of upholding the law and serving those in need, the defendants greedily served themselves by spending those funds on luxury goods, lavish travel, and other personal indulgences. Today’s sentences serve as a reminder that our Office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who steal public funds and thereby deprive our communities of essential services.”
“Rather than honoring their responsibility to the community and safeguarding the resources entrusted to them, Lori Zeno and Rashad Ruhani chose to embezzle non-profit funds for their own interests. Their actions deprived people who needed and deserved legal support. Today’s sentencing reinforces our commitment to protecting the integrity of the services non-profits provide,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
“Providing indigent New Yorkers with access to quality legal services is essential to ensuring a justice system governed by the rule of law and respect for constitutional rights. Lori Zeno and Rashad Ruhani betrayed their responsibility to help indigent New Yorkers through the City-funded legal services organization that Zeno co-founded and where Ruhani worked. Instead, they chose to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars from the organization, spending lavishly on themselves, including on a penthouse apartment, a vacation to Bali, and extravagant purchases at luxury retailers. Today, they stand convicted and face the consequences of their crimes. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the New York Office of the FBI for working with us to hold accountable anyone who misuses City funds and compromises vital services to New Yorkers.” stated DOI Commissioner Shihata.
As set forth in court filings, Zeno co-founded and served as the executive director of Queens Defenders, which provided legal services and community support services to indigent residents of Queens, New York. Zeno hired Ruhani to work for Queens Defenders in October 2023.
Between June 2024 and January 2025, Zeno and Ruhani engaged in a corrupt scheme to embezzle funds from Queens Defenders, diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars for their own personal benefit, including spending these stolen funds on foreign travel, expensive meals, luxury shopping, and rent for a penthouse apartment (the Penthouse Apartment). Zeno and Ruhani made extravagant purchases with the Queens Defenders’ credit cards, spending over $10,000 on a vacation to Bali; $1,700 at a luxury resort in Santa Monica, California; $3,300 for an 85-inch smart television to be installed at the Penthouse Apartment; thousands of dollars in food deliveries to the Penthouse Apartment; and thousands of dollars at luxury retailers such as Ralph Lauren and Neiman Marcus. In one instance, Zeno and Ruhani charged over $4,000 to a Queens Defenders credit card to buy a Louis Vuitton designer handbag. As part of the conspiracy, Zeno and Ruhani repeatedly lied to the Queens Defenders, falsely characterizing personal expenses as business expenses to obtain approval for the expenditures. To pay for the Penthouse Apartment, Zeno and Ruhani fraudulently obtained reimbursements from Queens Defenders for over $39,000 in rent by submitting lease documents that were altered to conceal Zeno’s involvement. Zeno also secured lucrative positions at Queens Defenders for relatives and associates of Ruhani who did little or no substantive work, including hiring a woman married to Ruhani as the director of a non-existent “health and wellness” program with a salary of $60,000. As a result of Zeno and Ruhani’s misuse of its funds, Queens Defenders lost its city contract to provide criminal defense services to low‑income New Yorkers.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Russell Noble, Sean M. Sherman, and Brooke Theodora are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Johnson Peow and Daniel Arakawa.
The Defendants:
LORI ZENO
Age: 65
Garden City, New YorkRASHAD RUHANI
Age: 56
Corona, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-182 (S-1) (RPK)
Former Columbia Teacher Indicted for Attempted Production, Distribution, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a nine-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Jonathan Andrew Monk, 44, of Columbia, for attempted production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Monk faces a maximum penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment.
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.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If you have any information to report to law enforcement, please contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or (803) 551-4200.
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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.