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2 October 2025
Guatemalan National Sentenced for His Third Illegal Reentry ConvictionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Francisco Reymundo-Reymundo, 30, a citizen of Guatemala, to eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally reentering the United States following removal. This marks Reymundo-Reymundo’s third illegal reentry conviction.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Acting Field Office Director Jeremy Bacon, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to Court filings, the U.S. previously deported Reymundo-Reymundo four other times. Following his second removal, law enforcement encountered Reymundo-Reymundo for a third time in August 2014, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As a result, Reymundo-Reymundo was convicted of a felony for illegal reentry, resulting in his removal from the U.S. for a third time.
On July 9, 2019, law enforcement encountered Reymundo-Reymundo for a fourth time, this time in West Burlington, Iowa. Reymundo-Reymundo was again convicted of a felony for illegal reentry, resulting in his removal from the U.S. on September 14, 2020, for a fourth time.
Then on April 6, 2025, law enforcement encountered Reymundo-Reymundo for a fifth time, this time in Baltimore County, Maryland. Reymundo-Reymundo voluntarily and unlawfully reentered the United States on an unknown date.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ICE-ERO for its work in this investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys John D’Amico and Michael C. Hanlon who prosecuted the 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 and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Former Des Moines Superintendent Arrested on Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – The former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent, and citizen of Guyana made his initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa today on a criminal complaint charging him with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms.
According to allegations in the criminal complaint, Ian Andre Roberts, 54, possessed four firearms on September 26, 2025, being an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States. Roberts will remain detained in federal custody pending further proceedings.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
"A copy of the criminal complaint may be located here: Ian Andre Roberts Criminal Complaint - 4:25-mj-630."
1 October 2025
Webster County Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
A man who possessed an unregistered short-barreled firearm pled guilty yesterday in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.
Jason Jay Hoogland, 38, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, a short-barreled shotgun.
At the plea hearing, Hoogland admitted that on January 20, 2025, in Fort Dodge, he possessed a short-barreled 20-gauge shotgun which was not registered to him as required in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. That same day, he also possessed a stolen pistol. Law enforcement located these items, and drug paraphernalia, at defendant’s residence after executing a search warrant based on information that he had used a firearm to assault a person being treated at a local hospital. Later, on April 23, 2025, in Fort Dodge, Hoogland was found to possess another stolen firearm and short-barreled firearms not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hoogland remains in custody of the United States Marshals Service and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Hoogland faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
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. This case is also part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 25-CR-03033. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
U.S. Attorney's Office Files Petition to Enforce Administrative Subpoenas to Locate Violent CriminalsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— Today the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon and the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice filed a petition to enforce administrative subpoenas issued to four Oregon counties, including Clackamas, Washington, Multnomah, and Marion, seeking information to locate 10 violent felons who are likely subject to removal from the United States.
Following lengthy prison sentences, Oregon correction officials released 10 violent felons, who are likely subject to removal from the United States, into Oregon communities. Before their release, federal immigration authorities sent immigration detainers to Oregon officials seeking notification before Oregon officials released these criminal aliens into the community. State officials did not honor those detainers, like many others since 2021, and released the following 10 violent criminals into Oregon communities:
Criminal Alien 1 was first convicted in 2004 of Assault in the Second Degree, Assault in the Third Degree, and Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree and sentenced to over 60 months in prison. In 2008, Criminal Alien 1 was convicted of Manslaughter in the First Degree and sentenced to over 150 months in prison and post-prison supervision. He was released into the community in 2023.
Criminal Alien 2 was convicted in 2013 of three counts of Rape in the Third Degree and three counts of Sodomy in the Third Degree involving a minor child under the age of 16. Criminal Alien 2 was sentenced to over 90 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. He was subsequently convicted of nine counts of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree and sentenced to several years in prison to run concurrent to the sentence in the prior case. He was released into the community in 2022.
Criminal Alien 3 was convicted in 2011 of Kidnapping in the First Degree, Burglary in the First Degree, Robbery in the Second Degree, and Assault in the Fourth Degree. He was sentenced to over 150 months in prison and post-prison supervision. He was released into the community in 2025.
Criminal Alien 4 was convicted in 2018 of Assault in the Second Degree, Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, Attempt to Commit a Class B Felony, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was sentenced to over 60 months in prison and post-prison supervision. He released into the community in 2023.
Criminal Alien 5 was convicted in 2010 of two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree involving two separate victims who were under the age of 14. He was sentenced to over 60 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2022.
Criminal Alien 6 was convicted in 2015 of Rape in the First Degree. In his plea petition, he admitted an aggravating fact alleged in the indictment – that during this offense, he used or threatened to use a weapon. He was sentenced to over 90 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2023.
Criminal Alien 7 was convicted in 2015 of Rape in the First Degree. He was sentenced to over 120 months in prison with a lengthy term of post-prison supervision and required to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2023.
Criminal Alien 8 was convicted of three counts of Rape in the First Degree involving a child under the age of 12 and two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree involving a child under the age of 14. He was sentenced to over 150 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2022.
Criminal Alien 9 was convicted in 2008 of Rape in the First Degree and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to over 90 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Shortly after completing that sentence, Criminal Alien 9 was convicted in 2016 of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. He was sentenced to over 70 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and the continued requirement to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2022.
Criminal Alien 10 was convicted in federal court of possessing and using a fake Border Crossing Card to enter the United States in October 2012. In early January 2013, upon release from federal prison, he was transferred to Oregon for an outstanding warrant, where he was subsequently convicted of Robbery and Kidnapping in the First Degree. He was sentenced to over 100 months in prison. He was released into the community in 2023.
The information sought by federal authorities will assist with apprehending these violent criminal aliens in order to remove them from the United States. Since 2021, Oregon public officials have disregarded immigration detainers and have released violent felons, who are likely subject to removal from the United States, into Oregon communities.
“Removing violent criminal aliens from our local communities and country is a matter of public safety and a top priority for federal law enforcement,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow Statement on the Lapse in Congressional AppropriationsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow released the following statement regarding the continuing operations of the Puerto Rico U.S. Attorney’s Office during a lapse in appropriations:
The Department of Justice, including the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, is comprised of components that have a broad array of national security, law enforcement, criminal justice, and other responsibilities. The Department’s mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States, to protect the public from all threats - foreign and domestic, to provide federal leadership in preventing crime and prosecuting criminals, including the protection of human life and property, and to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all.
Notwithstanding the lapse in Congressional appropriations, the public safety mission in Puerto Rico will continue to be carried out without interruption. The dedicated and hard working personnel in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all of our federal law enforcement partner agencies will remain steadfast and will not relent.
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Two Men Sentenced for Their Roles in Fentanyl Overdose Death of 17-Year-OldRead the Press Release
Two men who distributed fentanyl that caused the death of a seventeen-year-old boy were sentenced to federal prison on September 29, 2025, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Tecose Dchaz Martin, 38, of Mesquite, Texas, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for his role in distributing fentanyl that led to the teen’s death, an offense to which he pled guilty in July 2025. In addition to this offense, his criminal history includes numerous prior drug felony convictions. Connor Miller, 22, of Richardson, Texas, likewise pled guilty in May 2025 to aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl resulting in the seventeen-year-old’s death. Miller was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison. Senior United States District Judge David C. Godbey sentenced both men.
According to plea documents and evidence presented in Court at sentencing, on January 30, 2024, Miller contacted co-defendant Jesse Medina, also known as “Plug,” to purchase fentanyl. Medina agreed to sell Miller the pills. Miller and a seventeen-year-old boy then travelled to meet Medina at a location on Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas, Texas. Once there, Medina sold Miller and the teenager four fentanyl pills in exchange for $40. Miller and the teen travelled back to Miller’s residence, where they crushed up and used the fentanyl pills Medina had provided. The seventeen-year-old died after using the fentanyl. A review of the teen’s medical records revealed that he would not have died but for ingesting the fentanyl.
Electronic evidence gathered during the investigation allowed investigators to trace the fentanyl pills sold by Medina to Tecose Dchaz Martin, a/k/a “Blues Man.” Evidence presented in court revealed that Martin told a person identified as Moe, “We can get rich off blues [fentanyl pills],” about 10 minutes after sending Moe a message that contained a link to a news story from Denver, Colorado.
Information presented in court also revealed that Martin purchased fentanyl pills in quantities of 1,000 for $1.50 to $1.60 per pill. Martin then sold those pills to lower-level dealers such as Jesse Medina in varying quantities for $2 to $5 per pill. Martin admitted that he liked to sell fentanyl pills in larger quantities because he felt that there was “more chance of somebody O.D.’ing [overdosing]” for people who purchase four or five pills at a time. As such, Martin told officers he “didn’t really doodle in five and four” because he would rather have someone else deal with “all that.”
At the time of Martin’s arrest, officers located 88 fentanyl pills on Martin’s person, 805 fentanyl pills at his apartment, and two firearms. Court records reflect that Martin had multiple prior drug-related felony convictions, including a 2017 state court conviction for manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance in a drug-free zone. Martin received a 25-year sentence for that offense and was on parole at the time that he was selling fentanyl to Jesse Medina and others.
“Lengthy prison sentences are one step in our continuing fight against the deadly consequences of fentanyl trafficking,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson. “Every trafficker removed from the drug trade is a victory for our community. I commend the tireless work of our law enforcement partners in this investigation, which enabled my office to bring these defendants to justice. Our efforts won’t stop until the flood of deadly drugs into our community stops.”
“Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “The sentences handed down to Mr. Miller and Mr. Martin is a clear message the production and trafficking of fentanyl will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods. DEA and all our law enforcement partners, such as the Richardson Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Texas, will continue to work together to keep this poison off our streets.”
“This sentencing sends a strong and necessary message to those who peddle poison in our communities: actions that result in the loss of life will be met with the full force of justice,” said Richardson Police First Assistant Chief Michael Bussiere. “We are proud to have worked alongside our federal, state, and local partners in bringing this case to a just conclusion. While no sentence can undo the heartbreak suffered by the victim’s family, we hope this outcome provides some measure of accountability and peace.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Richardson Police Department conducted the investigation of this case with the Hickory Creek Police Department, the Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, the Mesquite Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Section. Special assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George Leal.
Texas Man Found Guilty of Sexually Assaulting a Passenger During a Flight Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Robert Sutherland MacLean, 59, of Frisco, Texas, was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment after he was convicted by a jury in July of abusive sexual contact in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
In addition to MacLean’s term of imprisonment, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Dale Kimball imposed a term of three years’ supervised release, a fine of $10,000, and ordered MacLean to pay $7,261.60 in restitution.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on March 1, 2022, during an approximately 3-hour flight from Chicago to Salt Lake City, MacLean repeatedly sexually assaulted the victim seated next to him in the first-class cabin of a United Airlines Flight. MacLean also made calculated and sexually laced statements to the victim throughout the duration of the flight.
According to court documents, MacLean has a history of misconduct on an airplane and was cited by the Federal Aviation Administration civilly for interference with a flight crew where his reported conduct was similar to conduct at issue in this case in which he was convicted.
The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Kennedy and Bryan N. Reeves of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
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*This press release was posted December 1, 2025, after the end of the federal government shutdown.Sugar Land man convicted in conspiracy involving smuggling firearms to IraqRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
HOUSTON – A 54-year-old Iraqi national has been convicted for conspiracy to violate gun export laws, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before finding Hassan Al Gharawi guilty on one count of conspiracy to violate export control laws following a three-day trial.
From approximately November 2020 to June 2021, Gharawi conspired with others to knowingly stockpile, conceal and transport firearms in vehicle parts bound for Iraq.
At trial, the jury heard Gharawi received two deliveries in 2020 and 2021 totaling approximately 77 firearms, which he had stored in his home.
On June 10, 2021, authorities observed Gharawi load firearms into his vehicle and transport them to a storage facility.
The jury saw photos of more than 500 firearms and listened to recordings of Gharawi discussing the trafficking plan.
The defense argued Gharawi acted under duress from the traffickers in Iraq. The jury rejected those claims after seeing the extent of his involvement and found him guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen presided over the trial and set sentencing for Jan. 21, 2026. At that time, Gharawi faces up to 20 years in prison for violating export laws. He also faces a maximum $1 million fine.
Previously released on bond, Gharawi was taken into custody following the conviction where he will remain pending sentencing.
FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Pearson, Steven Schammel and Heather Winter are prosecuting the case.
Second man sentenced for role in carjacking linked to human smugglingRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 19-year-old Richmond resident has been ordered to federal prison for stealing a car that was later used in an alien smuggling scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Christian Brayden Hardy pleaded guilty Oct. 2, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Hardy to serve 18 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of Hardy’s conduct and the fact that he took a bad situation, alien smuggling, and made it far worse.
Jesus Jonathan Rodriguez had recruited Hardy to help smuggle two aliens from McAllen to San Antonio for $1500. They initially traveled in a truck to pick up the aliens in the Rio Grande Valley, but it had mechanical problems and broke down several times. They then decided to steal an alternate vehicle.
Both men approached the driver of a Ford Fiesta. Hardy struggled with the victim, while Rodriguez brandished a firearm and told him it was not worth losing his life. Hardy then drove off in the stolen vehicle with Rodriguez as passenger.
They picked up the aliens and drove to the Border Patrol checkpoint in Falfurrias. Hardy claimed to be heading to Houston, while Rodriguez displayed nervous behavior and looked in every direction which prompted a referral to secondary inspection.
Law enforcement found two illegal aliens hiding in the trunk. They also discovered the vehicle had been stolen.
Hardy was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Rodriguez, 19, Houston, was sentenced Jan. 8 to 42 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol, Edinburg Police Department and Brooks County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
President of Masonry Contractor Sentenced to 7½ Years in Prison for Conspiring to Bribe Amtrak Employee, Making a False ClaimRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Mark Snedden, 70, of Munster, Indiana, was sentenced today to 90 months in prison, one year of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and joint restitution of $2,062,374 by United States District Judge Wendy Beetlestone, for conspiring to commit federal program bribery and making and presenting a false claim.
The defendant was charged by information in March of this year and pleaded guilty to the offenses in April.
As detailed in court filings, on or about December 10, 2015, a masonry restoration contractor (the “Contractor”) was awarded a $58,473,000 contract by Amtrak to be the main contractor on a façade repair and restoration project at Amtrak’s 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.
Federal funding supplied approximately 90% of the money Amtrak used to pay the Contractor for the repair and restoration of the 30th Street Station façade.
Snedden was the sole owner and President of the Contractor, with responsibility to provide executive oversight of the Vice Presidents of the Contractor and the Contractor’s performance on the 30th Street Station façade project.
Donald Seefeldt, charged elsewhere, was the Senior Executive Vice President of the Contractor, with responsibility to provide executive oversight of the Contractor’s performance on the 30th Street Station façade project.
Lee Maniatis, and Khaled Dallo, also charged elsewhere, were Vice Presidents of the Contractor, with responsibility to supervise the Contractor’s performance on the 30th Street Station façade project.
Amtrak Employee #1 was employed by Amtrak as the Project Manager on the repair and restoration project. In that capacity, Amtrak Employee #1 was responsible for communicating with the Contractor about the work being done on 30th Street Station. Amtrak Employee #1 was also responsible for reviewing the invoices, change orders, and requests for payment that the Contractor submitted to Amtrak. Amtrak Employee #1 had the power to approve or reject these invoices, change orders, and requests for payment. Although Amtrak Employee #1 did not have the singular authority to approve Amtrak payments to the Contractor, his approval was a critical step in that process.
The contract between Amtrak and the Contractor prohibited Snedden and other Contractor officials from “offer[ing] to any Amtrak employee, agent, or representative any cash, gift, entertainment, commission, or kickback for the purpose of securing favorable treatment with regard to award or performance of any contract or agreement.”
As detailed in the information and admitted to by the defendant, from in or about May 2016 through in or about November 2019, the defendant conspired with several others, including Amtrak Employee #1, Maniatis, Dallo, and Seefeldt, to knowingly and corruptly give, offer, and agree to give, a thing of value to Amtrak Employee #1, intending to influence and reward Amtrak Employee #1 in connection with any business, transaction and series of transactions.
Specifically, Seefeldt, Maniatis, Dallo, and others, with Snedden’s knowledge and agreement, provided Amtrak Employee #1 with gifts and other things of value totaling approximately $323,686, including, among other things, paid vacations, jewelry, cash, dinners, entertainment, a dog, training for that dog, and transportation, to ensure that Amtrak Employee #1 used his power and influence to benefit the Contractor during the performance of the 30th Street Station Repair and Restoration Project.
In return for these gifts and other things of value, Amtrak Employee #1 allegedly used his position at Amtrak to access internal agency information available only to Amtrak employees about the 30th Street Station Project and shared this internal information with the defendant and other officials with the Contractor.
Court filings further allege that Amtrak Employee #1 used his position at Amtrak to approve additional, more expensive changes to the 30th Street Station Repair and Restoration Project, thereby increasing the amount and value of the work to be performed by the Contractor. These additional expenses were reflected in a series of change orders or contract modifications. In total, Amtrak Employee #1 approved over $52 million of additional payments from Amtrak to the Contractor.
Amtrak Employee #1 and officials with the Contractor falsely inflated the true costs of some of the work to be performed by the Contractor under these change orders, causing Amtrak to be substantially overbilled by over $2 million for the completion of the 30th Street Station Repair and Restoration Project.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Amtrak Office of Inspector General, and Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Grenell.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
Oxon Hill Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Lester Massey, Jr., 42, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, to 30 months in federal prison for being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition. In July 2025, after a two-day trial, a federal jury convicted Massey of the federal crimes.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland announced the conviction with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
According to the evidence presented at trial, on August 11, 2023, ATF agents, with the assistance of PGPD officers, executed a court-ordered search-and-seizure warrant at Massey’s residence. During the search, law enforcement located and recovered 243 live rounds of ammunition throughout the apartment.
Law enforcement also found assorted gun parts — including an AR style receiver — and a slide, spring, barrel, additional magazines, and gun tools. The ammunition traveled in interstate commerce prior to law enforcement finding Massey in possession of it in August 2023. Massey was previously convicted of two state crimes punishable by more than two years imprisonment and was aware that his criminal history prohibited him from possessing firearms and ammunition.
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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and PGPD for their work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Appleby-Rumon and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Nicholas Potter who prosecuted the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Okmulgee Resident Found Guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute Drugs and Illegally Possessing Firearms, Machine Gun, and SilencersRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA —The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Jason Dale Cole, age 46, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was found guilty at trial by a federal jury on ten counts of federal drug and firearm charges.
At trial, the federal jury found Cole guilty of:
- Two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine,
- One count of Possession of a Machine Gun,
- Two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm,
- Two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime,
- One count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana,
- One count of Possession of Unregistered Firearm,
- One count of Maintaining Drug Involved Premises.
The jury trial began with testimony on September 29, 2025, and concluded on October 1, 2025, with the guilty verdicts.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that in the early hours of November 18, 2023, an OHP trooper conducting a traffic stop discovered Cole in possession of two loaded pistols—one with a machinegun conversion device—and over 50 grams of methamphetamine individually packaged for distribution.
The United States also presented evidence of a search conducted later that same morning on Cole’s Okmulgee residence. There, law enforcement officers serving a search warrant found over 500 grams of methamphetamine and a large quantity of marijuana, both federally controlled substances, as well as scales covered in a crystal residue that later tested positive for methamphetamine, approximately $12,000 in cash, a money counting machine, seven firearms, and five unregistered silencers.
The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence report. The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Cole will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals until sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarrod A. Leaman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Mother of the man who killed Sheridan Police Sergeant Nevada Krinkee is sentencedRead the Press Release
Eileen Marie Hurley, 71, of Sheridan, Wyoming, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison with one year of supervised release for transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person and for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on Oct. 1, 2025, in Cheyenne.
According to court documents, in May 2022, the defendant purchased three handguns and matching ammunition for her son, William Lowery in Sheridan. She specifically filled out Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) forms wherein she swore that she was the actual purchaser of the handguns. The defendant then gave them to Lowery even though she knew he was legally prohibited from possessing them due to his prior felony and domestic violence convictions.
On Feb. 13, 2024, Sheridan Police Sergeant Nevada Krinkee encountered Lowery when he served Lowery with a trespass notice outside a rental home where Lowery had been evicted. When Sergeant Krinkee attempted to restrain him, Lowery pulled a handgun from his waistband and shot Sergeant Krinkee several times in the presence of witnesses. Sergeant Krinkee sadly died from his injuries. Lowery was eventually shot and killed by law enforcement after a 30-hour standoff when he attempted to flee, armed with a rifle. Law enforcement found one of the pistols, purchased by the defendant, in the bathroom of the house where Lowery was barricaded. The other two handguns with ammunition purchased in 2022 by the defendant, were in Lowery’s truck.
In an initial interview with the ATF and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the defendant claimed she did not have “any idea where he [Lowery] got those guns.” Text messages exchanged between the defendant and her son indicated that she was specifically buying the guns for him despite knowing that her son was a violent felon, repeat domestic violence perpetrator, and drug addict. The ATF and DCI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige Hammer and Margaret Vierbuchen prosecuted the crime.
U.S. Attorney Darin Smith said, “If you buy a gun for a known violent prohibited person and they use that gun to commit a violent crime, you will be prosecuted. Although we cannot prevent all violent crime, this is the first line of defense in keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals who are a danger to our communities. We offer our support and condolences to the Krinkee family and the Sheridan Police Department. The government cannot obtain justice for the murder of Sgt. Krinkee, but others will now think twice before becoming a firearm straw-purchaser due to the precedent set in this case.”
“Having first served our country in the U.S. Army and later his community as a sergeant with the Sheridan Police Department, Sergeant Nevada Krinkee truly exemplified what it means to “protect and serve,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. “Tragically, his life was taken by a violent felon armed with a gun that was illegally purchased and transferred. Today’s verdict cannot bring back the son, father, husband, and friend that so many love. But we hope it serves as a powerful reminder: straw purchasing is not just illegal, it’s preventable and can have deadly consequences.”
"Today’s sentencing brings a mix of emotions for all of us. While it provides some accountability, it also reminds us of the deep pain caused by the loss of Sgt. Nevada Krinkee. Nothing can make our department or community whole again, but each step toward justice helps us continue healing and honoring Nevada’s memory. We are extremely grateful to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Attorney's Office, who worked tirelessly to see this case through,” said Chief of Police for the Sheridan Police Department Travis Koltiska.
This case was brought as a result 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. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mobridge Man Sentenced to over 1 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Malicious Destruction of PropertyRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from Mobridge, South Dakota, who was convicted of Malicious Destruction of Property. The sentencing took place on September 29, 2025.
Kendall Lee White Tail, age 34, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. White Tail was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,450.22.
White Tail was indicted by a North Dakota federal grand jury in March 2025. The case was transferred to South Dakota for plea and sentencing with the consent of the parties. White Tail pleaded guilty on August 4, 2025.
On the evening of January 18, 2024, White Tail escaped from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Correctional Facility in Fort Yates, North Dakota. During his escape, White Tail caused over $3000 of property damage to the facility. On January 26, 2024, law enforcement arrested White Tail at a residence in Bullhead, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandi Russell and Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
White Tail was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man and Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison in Assault and Larceny CaseRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man and woman, both from Mission, South Dakota, following their convictions in an Assault and Larceny Case.
Moran and Lapointe were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.
Julian Moran, age 31, pleaded guilty on June 24, 2025, to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon and Larceny. On September 29, 2025, he was sentenced to three years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Jalynn Lapointe, age 30, pleaded guilty on June 26, 2025, to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon. On September 30, 2025, she was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The convictions stem from an incident that occurred on September 8, 2024, in Mission, SD, within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, Moran confronted a man in the parking lot of a convenience store and punched him in the face, knocking the man to the ground. The victim got up and ran toward the store, but Moran pursued him and knocked him down again. Moran then produced an expandable baton and repeatedly struck the victim with the baton. Lapointe subsequently approached and repeatedly kicked the victim multiple times while he was lying on the ground. Moran noticed that the keys to the victim’s vehicle had fallen on the ground. He picked them up, walked to the victim’s vehicle, got inside, and drove away.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Moran and Lapointe were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mexican national sentenced to 97 months for possession of sexually explicit videos and images of childrenRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 42-year-old man has been sentenced for possession of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Cesar Orlando Aldana-Aguirre pleaded guilty Sept. 27, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now sentenced Aldana-Aguirre to 97 months imprisonment for possession of child pornography. He was further ordered to pay $54,000 in restitution to the victims and will serve 20 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. Aldana-Aguirre will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“Given his proclivities, Aldana-Aguirre is not somebody we want or need in our country,” said Ganjei. “Thanks to the excellent work of our law enforcement partners, he won’t be out walking the streets of community. This case is just one example of how Project Safe Childhood and a secure border work hand-in-glove to ensure predators aren’t free to victimize American citizens.”
On July 12, 2024, Aldana-Aguirre attempted to enter the United States through the Brownsville and Matamoros port of entry. Law enforcement referred him to secondary inspection where they conducted a search of his cell phone and located CSAM.
Forensic analysis of the devices resulted in the discovery of 219 videos and 149 images of CSAM.
Aldana-Aguirre will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Mexican National Sentenced for Unlawfully Residing in Catoosa After Previous Deportation for Killing his 38-Day-Old BabyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national who was found residing in Catoosa and was previously deported after killing his son was sentenced today for Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Carlos Ambriz-Estrada, 53, to 24 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. He is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence.
In March 2025, the Fugitive Operations Team with Immigration Customs Enforcement began investigating Ambriz-Estrada due to his prior conviction of deliberate homicide in Montana and the possibility of him being present in the United States unlawfully. He was arrested in April 2025 after law enforcement discovered that he was unlawfully living in Catoosa and that he did not have permission to re-enter the United States after being removed.
Court records show that in 1994, Montana law enforcement was dispatched to the hospital to investigate apparent child abuse. Ambriz-Estrada and his wife brought their 36-day-old baby to the hospital for treatment. The detective spoke with a doctor who confirmed that the baby had five broken ribs, detached retinas in both eyes, swelling of the head, bruises on the neck and abdomen, consistent with strangulation. The doctor reported that they believed the baby was strangled and without oxygen for some time, likely causing severe brain damage.
When being interviewed, Ambriz-Estrada admitted that he was angry with his wife and took it out on the baby. While the baby was crying, he squeezed the child’s throat for 15 to 20 minutes, until the baby lost consciousness. Afterward, he put the baby in a crib. The baby woke up crying one hour later, and Ambriz-Estrada admitted to picking up the baby and shaking him. Ambriz-Estrada told detectives the baby's breathing was irregular and appeared to have a seizure.
After two days in intensive care, the baby had no brain activity and was declared brain dead at 38 days old.
After pleading guilty to deliberate homicide, Ambriz-Estrada was ordered to 40 years imprisonment and served 12 years. After being released in 2006, Ambriz-Estrada was deported. After being deported, Ambriz-Estrada returned to the United States unlawfully sometime in 2020.
Ambriz-Estrada is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ammon Brisolara and Augustus Forster 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Mexican Man Guilty of Illegally Re-Entering the United StatesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally re-entered the United States after having been convicted of a felony offense pled guilty yesterday in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.
Jesus Banuelos-Lepe, 49, who is a citizen of Mexico but had been living in Maurice, Iowa, was convicted of one count of illegal re-entry as a felon.
At the plea hearing, Banuelos-Lepe admitted that on July 20, 2025, he was arrested in Sioux County, Iowa, for operating vehicle while intoxicated. Following his arrest, he was booked into the Sioux County Jail but provided an alias to law enforcement. Further investigation proved his true identity as Banuelos-Lepe, a citizen of Mexico who had been removed from the United States on five occasions, and did not have permission to legally be in the United States. Banuelos-Lepe had previously been convicted of felony transportation of an illegal alien, in April of 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Banuelos-Lepe remains in custody of the United States Marshal Service and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Banuelos-Lepe faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-04045. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Little Eagle Woman Sentenced to 3 Years of Federal Probation for Committing Child AbuseRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a woman from Little Eagle, South Dakota, convicted of Child Abuse. The sentencing took place on September 29, 2025.
Taleeya Rose Bird Horse, age 25, was sentenced to three years of federal probation and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bird Horse was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. She pleaded guilty on June 16, 2025.
The conviction stems from conduct that occurred between May 12, 2023, and November 21, 2023, when Bird Horse and co-defendant Leslie Bobtail Bear severely neglected their baby, leading to the child’s emergency hospitalization. The conduct occurred within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.
Bobtail Bear also pleaded guilty to Child Abuse and was sentenced on September 15, 2025, to nine months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, authorizes certain crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country to be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Kenel Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from Kenel, South Dakota, convicted of two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The sentencing took place on September 29, 2025.
Jesse Norman White Bull, age 45, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
White Bull was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He was convicted on July 10, 2025, following a three-day federal jury trial.
At trial, the evidence established that on multiple occasions between June 1, 2023, and July 31, 2023, White Bull sexually abused a juvenile girl, who was then between the ages of twelve and thirteen years old. The abuse included White Bull’s acts of groping the child’s genitalia under her clothing. The offenses occurred within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court.
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 FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
White Bull was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Jefferson County Man Sentenced to More than 10 Years in Prison on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Jefferson County man has been sentenced on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Wayne Carnell Brown, 74, of Birmingham, to 130 months in prison. In February, Brown pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the plea agreement, on July 1, 2024, the Birmingham Police Department Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on Brown’s residence. Detectives recovered multiple firearms, bulk cash, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and digital scales during the search.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Garnett prosecuted the case.
Individual Associated with the 5-9 Brims Gang Charged in Connection with August 17, 2025 Mass Shooting in Crown HeightsRead the Press Release
A complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Elijah Roy, also known as “Eli Spice” and “Swervo,” with crimes related to the August 17, 2025 shooting at Taste of the City Lounge in Brooklyn, New York, in which three individuals were murdered and an additional 10 were shot and injured. Specifically, Roy is charged with assault in-aid-of racketeering and with being a felon in possession of ammunition. The defendant is an associate of the 5-9 Brims, a subset of the Bloods street gang, operating in and around Brooklyn.
Roy was arrested on September 18, 2025 in North Carolina. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the complaint this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the charges and arrests.
“As alleged, the defendant and other associates of a violent gang unleashed gunfire in the middle of a crowded bar, creating a killing zone that, in a matter of seconds, left three people dead and 10 victims wounded,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Such a flagrant disregard for human life will not go unpunished and this prosecution underscores the resolve of our Office and law enforcement to eradicate gangs in the district. It is my hope that this arrest will give some comfort to the victims’ loved ones and the traumatized survivors of this heinous crime.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to FBI/NYPD Metro Safe Streets Task Force, Brooklyn South Homicide Squad, the 71st Precinct Detective Squad, Brooklyn South Video Collection Team, and the first responders to this mass casualty shooting incident.
“Elijah Roy, a Bloods associate, allegedly participated in a mass shooting in a crowded local restaurant, killing three and significantly injuring another ten in about six seconds,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “This alleged act of egregious violence harmed bystanders caught in the crosshairs of a gang’s territorial dispute. These Summer Heat arrests reflect the FBI’s unwavering determination to dismantle all criminal enterprises using our city for their turf war.”
“The charges brought against Elijah Roy marks another step forward in our mission to dismantle the violent street gangs that terrorize our communities with illegal firearms,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Alleged associates of the 5-9 Brims Gang turned a crowded club into a scene of carnage when they opened fire on their rivals, killing three people and wounding ten more. I would like to thank our NYPD investigators, including the Gun Violence Suppression Division who have carried out the most gang takedowns in the unit’s history this year, and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI for their hard work.”
As set forth in the criminal complaint, in the early morning hours of August 17, 2025, the defendant was present at Taste of the City Lounge, a restaurant and hookah bar in Brooklyn, New York. Roy was with other associates of the 5-9 Brims, including Marvin St. Louis, who died as a result of the shooting. Also present at the Lounge were individuals associated with the Folk Nation Gangster Disciples (or “GD”), a rival of the 5-9 Brims that operates in and around Brooklyn, New York, including Jamel Childs, another victim of the shooting. At approximately 3 a.m., associates of the 5-9 Brims began shooting at associates of GD, who returned fire. Roy then proceeded to shoot back towards where Childs and the group of GDs were standing. Within approximately six seconds, over 40 shots were discharged by the defendant and others into the crowded bar. As a result of the shooting three people died and ten were shot and injured.
The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Dana Rehnquist and Daniel J. Marcus are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Samantha Ward, Paul Padilla and Elizabeth Reed.
The Defendant:
ELIJAH ROY (also known as “Eli Spice” and “Swervo”)
Age: 25
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-MJ-262
Illegal alien sentenced to 20 years for producing child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
LAREDO, Texas – A 45-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced for sexual exploitation of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Felipe Hernandez-Mata pleaded guilty March 3.
U.S. District Judge John Kazen has sentenced Hernandez-Mata to serve 240 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court also heard additional information from the victim’s relative who described how the family trusted Hernandez-Mata and were shocked by what he did, commenting on how the trauma has deeply affected the child. In handing down the prison term, the court noted Hernandez-Mata effectively destroyed the minor victim’s life by exploiting her when he offered her money in exchange for child sexual abuse material. Hernandez-Mata was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution and will serve 10 years of supervised release following 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. Hernandez-Mata will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“The American people have little patience for those that produce child sexual abuse material, particularly for those abusers who are illegally in the country,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas is committed to a secure southern border, which will keep people like Hernandez-Mata out of our country and away from our children.”
Hernandez-Mata admitted to asking a minor to take sexual images and videos of herself in exchange for money. He also admitted to sending the minor a photo of his genitalia.
The investigation began when a relative reported suspicious communications indicating Hernandez-Mata had directed the minor to send him nude photos.
Forensic analysis of the victim’s cell phone revealed Hernandez-Mata received, at his own direction, approximately 25 images and two videos containing child sexual abuse material. There were also images from Hernandez-Mata of various amounts of money.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine A. Cortez prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An illegal alien has been sentenced for producing child pornography involving a minor victim, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Juan Martin Sanchez-Suarez, 24, a citizen of Mexico, to 360 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. This conviction will require Sanchez-Suarez to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). As part of his sentence, Sanchez-Suarez was ordered to pay a $3,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Act. In November, Sanchez-Suarez pleaded guilty to production of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, Sanchez-Suarez filmed himself engaging in a sex act with a 12-year-old female child. Sanchez-Suarez created the video without the child’s knowledge. He later sent the video to the child. Sanchez-Suarez was aware of the child’s age and told her that as long as neither of them told anyone, they would not get in trouble.
The Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Lipscomb Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
If you believe someone is the victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact the Know2Protect tip line at 1-833-591-KNOW. All information received via the tipline will be reviewed by appropriate personnel and referred to HSI field offices for potential investigation. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
ICE takes very seriously its obligation to enforce our nation’s immigration and customs laws, and employs practices that are intended to accomplish this in a fair, efficient, and professional manner. If you have information, you may call our public tip line at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (866-347-2423). For further information related to ICE, please visit our website at www.ice.gov.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit
www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Benjamin Vasquez-Hernandez, a/k/a Benjamin Vasquez, a/k/a Benjamin Santiago Vasquez, age 53, a Honduran national unlawfully present in Muskogee, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two 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 Indictment alleged that on July 31, 2025, Vasquez-Hernandez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on September 13, 2019.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. 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.
Vasquez-Hernandez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.
ISIS Supporter Pleads Guilty to Material Support of TerrorismRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan, 23, pleaded guilty today to one count of Attempting to Provide Material Support and Resources to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
“There is no margin for error when it comes to terrorism,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Hassan flew the ISIS flag, venerated attacks on the homeland, and wanted to kill Americans. We are not taking chances. We will not let Minnesota become a safe haven for terrorists.”
According to court documents, the FBI received a tip of an online social media user publicly supporting Al Shabab, and later ISIS, in multiple posts. Both Al Shabab and ISIS have been designated by the Secretary of State as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Further investigation showed that the posts were made by Hassan’s social media accounts. Hassan’s social media posts included, among other things, propaganda videos calling for jihad, or holy war, in Somalia, the overthrow of the Somali government and establishment of an Islamic caliphate, and logos of the black ISIS flag. Hassan highlighted and praised ISIS and ISIS-inspired terrorist attacks, both globally and in the United States, including the January 1, 2025 New Orleans attacker who killed 14 individuals. The day after the attack, Hassan referred to this murderer as “the legend that killed Americans.”
In December 2024, Hassan twice attempted to travel one-way from Minnesota to Somalia, via Ethiopia, with the intent to join and fight on behalf of ISIS. FBI agents conducted surveillance of Hassan on both attempts. On the first attempt, Hassan was denied boarding by the airline, because he did not have proper travel documents. After purchasing additional travel documents, including a visa, Hassan again attempted to travel to Somalia to join ISIS on the same one-way itinerary. Customs and Border Protection agents in Chicago interviewed and conducted a secondary inspection of Hassan and his belongings before his international flight to Ethiopia. Inside Hassan’s only carry-on bag, agents found Hassan’s birth certificate, naturalization certificate, and high school diploma.
An inspection of Hassan’s cell phones revealed multiple social media posts supporting ISIS and jihad, direct messages with an ISIS media wing, as well as text exchanges with an apparent ISIS recruiter, whom Hassan referred to as “uncle” and “commander,” discussing Hassan’s travel to Somalia and referencing the “battlefield.” Agents also located two downloaded .pdf documents regarding sniper skills and sniper trading within a social media messaging app channel displaying the ISIS flag as a logo.
During the interview, Hassan admitted that he supports ISIS, regularly views and posts ISIS propaganda on social media, and professed his belief in establishing an Islamic caliphate.
In February 2025, Hassan posted two videos of himself while driving his car. One video briefly displayed an unfolded buck-style knife on Hassan’s lap and the other video showed Hassan holding a homemade black ISIS flag while driving.
At the time of his arrest by FBI agents in late February 2025, the FBI seized two cellphones and the folding buck-style knife, noted above, on Hassan’s person, and the homemade black ISIS flag in Hassan’s vehicle. During a warrant-authorized search of Hassan’s cellphones, the FBI discovered, among other things, various .pdf files, some in Arabic, consisting of instruction manuals on making explosive C-4, explosive urea nitrate, explosive hexamine, explosive HMTD, and ammunition. The search also revealed a messaging app exchange from December 21, 2024 wherein Hassan stated, “I will become ISIS straight away.” Additionally, the cellphones revealed numerous internet searches about ISIS and ISIS activities between December 2024 and February 2025, including such terms as: “Somalia weapons,” “gun ranges,” “isis areas,” “urea fertilizer,” and “isis supporter America.”
“Today’s guilty plea reflects many hours of hard work by agents and analysts from the FBI,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. “Keeping Minnesota safe from those who support Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations like ISIS and Al Shabab is a top priority of the FBI. ISIS and Al Shabab represent a clear threat to all Americans. We will identify and investigate anyone foolish enough to provide support to these terrorists.”
Hassan pleaded guilty this morning to Attempting to Provide Material Support and Resources to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization before District Judge Donovan W. Frank in U.S. District Court. The defendant’s sentencing hearing will be held at a later date. The defendant has been detained throughout this case and remains detained pending his sentencing.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Customs and Border Protection, and the New York Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar is prosecuting the case.
Final two members of deadly human smuggling ring sent to federal prisonRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Two Starr County residents have been sentenced for conspiring to smuggle illegal aliens from the Rio Grande Valley to other parts of the United States which resulted in multiple deaths, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Julia Isairis Torres, 39, and Erasmo Garcia, 24, Roma, pleaded guilty Sept. 27, 2023, and Oct. 3, 2023, respectively.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now imposed a 48-month-term of imprisonment for Torres, while Garcia received 32 months. Both must also serve two years of supervised release following their sentences. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Olvera noted the severity of human smuggling and admonished both that should they ever return to criminal activity, they could be facing extensive time in federal prison.
On March 24, 2019, law enforcement attempted to stop a Nissan Xterra in Duval County. The vehicle failed to stop, crossed into oncoming traffic and eventually overturned, killing four illegal aliens and seriously injuring six others.
The victims were from the countries Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Ecuador. One victim was a minor.
“Human smuggling is a dangerous and deadly business. Here, the reckless actions by these smugglers claimed four lives and endangered law-abiding citizens traveling on our roads,” Ganjei said. “If you’re thinking of employing an alien smuggler, think again. They will gladly risk your life—or sacrifice it—to make a few bucks.”
As part of their pleas, Torres and Garcia admitted to conspiring to transport illegal aliens using vehicles. Garcia admitted acting as a scout, while Torres admitted to recruiting others to serve as scouts during the smuggling attempt.
Garcia will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Torres was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol, Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, Police Departments in Port Mansfield and South Padre Island, Texas Rangers, Texas Game Wardens, Sheriff’s offices in Kenedy, Duval and Willacy Counties and the Willacy County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jose E. Arreola Jr. and Jose Esquivel Jr. prosecuted the case.
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing and Attempting to Rob Banks and Credit UnionsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Dorian Trevor Sykes, 42, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to four counts of bank and credit union robbery and an attempted bank robbery, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Reuben C. Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, between March 6 and 12, 2025, Sykes robbed two credit unions and one bank of over $20,000 and attempted to rob one bank. In the last two incidents, Sykes used a high-end luxury car – rented at over $1,000 per day – which he also used to lead police on a high-speed chase.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 17, 2026. A conviction for bank and credit union robbery or attempted bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
This case was investigated by the FBI Macomb County Gang and Violent Crime Task Force, with assistance from Sterling Heights Police Department, Livonia Police Department, Redford Township Police Department, and Lathrup Village Police Department. This case was prosecuted by the Violent and Major Crimes Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Corpus Christi man sentenced for sexual exploitation of a childRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 20-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been ordered to prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Angel Valdez pleaded guilty April 28.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now sentenced Valdez to 72 months in federal prison. In handing down the prison term, the court noted the severity of the offense and Valdez’s past criminal conduct. Valdez was further ordered to serve 10 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Valdez will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
The investigation began in December 2023 when Valdez left a comment on a social media page supporting the work of an individual sentenced to prison in Australia for animal cruelty. Australian law enforcement subsequently began undercover conversations with Valdez, in which he spoke about his interest in animal cruelty and CSAM.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant June 28, 2024, which resulted in the discovery of a laptop containing CSAM. Valdez also admitted he had participated in distributing CSAM.
Valdez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of authorities in Australia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Columbus man sentenced to life in prison for leading narcotics, sex trafficking & financial fraud conspiraciesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in federal court here today to life in prison for leading drug, sex trafficking and financial fraud conspiracies and then attempting to obstruct justice and tamper with witnesses. The defendant caused an overdose death, coerced addicts into prostitution, and used threats, violence, and manipulation of drug dependencies to ensure individuals carried out his criminal schemes.
Ricco Lamonte Maye, 43, was found guilty on all counts in November 2024 following a three-week jury trial.
“Ricco Maye used unrelenting violence as a tool to maintain control of the people he needed to carry out his many criminal schemes and finance his criminal lifestyle. His actions caused lives to be lost and numerous women to endure physical and emotional pain,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “The devastating repercussions of his actions in this case, the many years of violence that are documented in his criminal history, and his continuing disregard for the harm he has caused all warrant the life sentence he received today.”
Court documents and trial testimony detail that Maye used individuals to buy and sell drugs, sell women for sex, and fraudulently apply online for COVID-19 relief funds. Proceeds from all the crimes went to the defendant.
Beginning in at least 2018, Maye’s drug trafficking organization primarily distributed narcotics to addicts in street-level quantities. He regularly purchased narcotics from supply sources both inside and outside of Ohio and used addicts to help sell the drugs in Columbus. In addition to cash, Maye would accept stolen goods, gift cards, Social Security numbers, and other items as payment for the drugs.
Maye initially gave drugs to women for free and later manipulated their addiction by requiring them to earn drug money through prostitution. Maye provided the means for the women to engage in prostitution – frequently obtaining hotel rooms, having the women driven to the hotels, providing cell phones, and directing Internet prostitution ads. Maye collected the prostitution proceeds, enforced specific rules on the women, and punished the women through physical violence.
Maye also provided fentanyl that resulted in an overdose death. In November 2018, Maye communicated with the victim in the hours before his death. The victim had been obtaining cocaine from Maye off and on for years and sought to obtain cocaine from Maye again on the night of his death. Maye was out of town but instructed his co-conspirators to complete the drug sale to the victim. The co-conspirator gave the victim a fatal dose of fentanyl from Maye’s stash instead of the cocaine the victim sought.
Trial testimony detailed that Maye used violence against victims as part of overseeing his drug trafficking organization, including “stomping victims out,” smacking them, punching them, breaking their bones and knocking out their teeth.
In a financial conspiracy, Maye and other defendants filed for and received more than $30,000 in fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Maye kept all or a portion of the others’ benefits.
Maye was originally charged by indictment in November 2020. Approximately one year later, the grand jury returned a 13-count third superseding indictment that charged Maye and 10 of his-coconspirators. After his initial arrest, while Maye remained in custody, he attempted to obstruct the ongoing investigation into his sex trafficking and other criminal activities and conspired to tamper with witnesses. Maye’s obstruction of justice included his directing the threatened murder of a potential government witness.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; John Smerglia, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Adam Lawson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other officials with the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which was formed under Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, announced the guilty verdicts. Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill and Assistant United States Attorney Kevin W. Kelley represented the United States in this case.
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Clinic owner arrested in multimillion-dollar fraud scheme involving non-existent psychotherapy servicesRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
HOUSTON – A 47-year-old Houston resident has been taken into custody for his alleged role in a $4 million Medicare fraud and identity theft scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Dempsey Spears made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Bennett.
A federal grand jury in Houston returned a nine-count indictment Sept. 23, which was unsealed upon his arrest. The indictment alleges that from 2016 to 2024, Spears submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for psychotherapy services that were never provided.
According to court documents, Spears owned and operated two mental health clinics – Transitional Life Counseling and Consultation in Texas City and Spears Community Services in Mesquite. He allegedly continued billing under the names of seven licensed clinical social workers after they resigned from TLCC. The charges further allege he submitted claims for services purportedly provided to Medicare beneficiaries who were deceased at the time of the billed treatment.
From 2016 to 2023, Spears allegedly billed Medicare approximately $4 million in fraudulent psychotherapy claims tied to the seven former LCSWs and was paid approximately $1.5 million.
If convicted, Spears faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each count of health care fraud. He could also receive an additional two years for aggravated identity theft which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. The charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Olson is prosecuting the case.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
California Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Threatening Federal Judge in Northern District of TexasRead the Press Release
A California woman was sentenced today to the statutory maximum sentence after pleading guilty to transmitting an interstate threat to a United States District Judge based in the Northern District of Texas, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Dolly Patterson admitted in court that on or about April 16, 2023, she knowingly sent a threatening message via an online “Contact Us” form directed at a federal judge in Amarillo. The message, transmitted from California to Texas, read: “Tell that anti-abortion judge he better watch his back . . . for the rest of his life!”
Ms. Patterson acknowledged that she sent the message with the intent that it be perceived as a genuine threat and with knowledge that it would be viewed as such. She further agreed that the communication constituted a true threat to injure another person under federal law.“The safety of our federal judiciary is paramount,” said Acting United States Attorney Nancy Larson. “Threats of violence to our judges are becoming all too common—whether made online or in person. Such threats are illegal and will be prosecuted.”
The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service.
Brazilian National, in U.S. Illegally, Sentenced to 16 Months in Prison for Forcibly Assaulting, Resisting, Opposing, Impeding, Intimidating, and Interfering with Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Enmanuel Fernandes-Calixto, aka Emanuel Fernandes and Emanuel Bartholomew, 21, a Brazilian national illegally in the United States, was sentenced today to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Karen S. Marston, for forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with an officer of the United States while the officer was engaged in the performance of his official duties.
As detailed in court filings, on April 2, 2025, an officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) arrested Fernandes-Calixto for immigration violations. During transport, the defendant attempted to escape, and, while still handcuffed, pushed the officer, then attempted to strike the officer several times. The defendant ultimately escaped during the struggle and hid in a house in Northeast Philadelphia. He was apprehended later that evening, with the assistance of the Philadelphia Police Department SWAT team.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The case was investigated by ICE ERO.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
Adair County Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing 244 FirearmsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Michael Young, Jr., age 43, of Bunch, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by statutory up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Young with knowingly possessing 244 firearms and 40 rounds of ammunition on October 29, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. 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.
Young will remain on bond with conditions of release pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
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Women from Slayton, Minnesota, and Aberdeen, South Dakota, Convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a woman from Slayton, Minnesota, and a woman from Aberdeen, South Dakota, both convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Alexis Mertens, 28, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. The sentencing took place on September 22, 2025.
Brandy Christman, 39, was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. The sentencing took place on September 29, 2025.
Mertens and Christman were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in November 2024. Mertens pleaded guilty on June 24, 2025. Christman pleaded guilty on June 11, 2025.
Christman and Mertens were involved in selling methamphetamine to others within South Dakota between 2023 and December 2024. Christman was arrested after law enforcement found her in possession of 172 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the DEA. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Mertens and Christman were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Veazie Man Pleads Guilty to Enticing Minors and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Veazie man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to two counts of enticing a minor and one count of possessing child pornography.
According to court records, in 2022 and again in 2024, Austin Cocchiaro, 24, used his cell phone to induce a minor to participate in the production of child pornography. He also offered to pay for images using an online payment application. On November 14, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Cocchiaro’s home in Veazie, resulting in the discovery of additional child pornography on two cell phones he owned.
Cocchiaro faces from 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Unlawful Possession of a Glock Pistol Nets Convicted Felon 14-Month Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Davon Sargent, 30, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 14 months in prison in connection with his illegal possession of a pistol, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Sargent pleaded guilty June 18, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 14 month prison sentence, Judge Berman Jackson ordered Sargent to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Sept. 17, 2024, Metropolitan Police officers were on patrol on the 1400 block of H Street when they observed a black Chevrolet Cruise. The vehicle was traveling with its trunk open and failed to stop for a red light.
The officers pulled over the car in a parking lot on the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue NE. Sargent was the sole occupant of the vehicle. An officer approached the driver's side and observed Sargent leaning forward with his right arm between his thighs as if concealing something. Suspecting the Sargent was armed, the officer asked Sargent to step out of the car.
Sargent got out. Then he immediately attempted to push past the officers in an attempt to escape. As Sargent struggled flee, one of the officers felt a hard object at Sargent’s waistband which the officer recognized to be a handgun. Officers subdued Sargent and recovered a black 9mm Glock 26 pistol from under Sargent’s clothing. The weapon was loaded with one round in the chamber and 15 rounds of ammunition in its magazine
Sargent previously had pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license and therefore could not lawfully possess firearm.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.
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U.S. Trustee Program Obtains More Than $392,000 in Penalties and Three-Year Suspension Against National Consumer Bankruptcy FirmRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) recently obtained a judgment against a nationwide consumer bankruptcy law firm imposing more than $392,000 in penalties and a three-year suspension based on the firm’s false and misleading disclosures in more than 200 bankruptcy cases.
On Sept. 17, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan entered summary judgment against Recovery Law Group APC (RLG). The court found that RLG intentionally violated provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and Bankruptcy Rules governing disclosure of attorney compensation and the practices of debt relief agencies. The court credited the USTP’s evidence of 220 cases filed in the district since 2020 in which RLG was responsible for untrue or misleading disclosures about its involvement or its fee-sharing arrangements with the attorneys it contracted with to represent its debtor clients.
Based on the fees RLG collected for 217 of those cases, the court imposed a civil penalty of $392,471. Additionally, the court suspended RLG from soliciting or filing bankruptcy cases in the Eastern District of Michigan for three years.
“Transparency and robust disclosure are essential in bankruptcy,” said Acting Director Ramona D. Elliott of the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees. “Professionals threaten the integrity of the system when they are opaque about their payment arrangements, misrepresent their services, and fail to help their vulnerable clients.”
The USTP’s enforcement action stemmed from a case involving a senior couple who contacted RLG seeking help with responding to collection efforts on a judgment against them. After the couple paid a fee of $1,835 to retain RLG, the firm assigned one of its Michigan-based attorneys, Sheena Majors, to file a chapter 7 bankruptcy petition for the couple. The mandatory form for disclosure of compensation and fee-sharing arrangements did not mention RLG, among other mistakes and misrepresentations.
Because of a litany of failures by RLG and Majors, the couple eventually lost their home and a substantial share of their home equity. RLG’s involvement came to light only when it was revealed by the couple during a hearing — which Majors failed to attend — in an unsuccessful effort to save the home. The couple and the chapter 7 trustee administering their bankruptcy case have a pending lawsuit against RLG, Majors, and two related defendants. The court has already found the defendants liable for malpractice, with damages still to be determined.
The USTP also prevailed in a separate enforcement action against RLG earlier this year. In April, the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia entered an order holding RLG and one of its affiliated attorneys, Thomas Watson, in contempt for providing deficient legal services and violating court orders. The court required the firm to pay $48,000 in sanctions and refund four chapter 7 debtors’ fees; suspended RLG from practicing in that district for two years; and disbarred Watson from practicing in the district.
The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 88 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust.
Two Companies and Three Executives Indicted for Fraudulently Selling Chinese Forklifts to U.S. Government as “Made in America” and Evading TariffsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Denver returned an indictment on August 21, 2025, charging two Denver-area companies and the companies’ top executives for defrauding the federal government on sales of forklifts and conspiring to avoid paying proper tariffs on forklifts imported into the United States.
According to court documents, Endless Sales Inc. (Endless), Octane Forklifts, Inc. (Octane), current executives Brian Firkins and Jeffrey Blasdel, and former executive J.R. Antczak allegedly conspired to import forklifts from China, disguise the Chinese origin of the forklifts, and then sell the forklifts to federal government agencies by fraudulently representing the forklifts as being manufactured in the United States. The indictment also alleges that Endless, Octane, Firkins, Blasdel, and Antczak conspired with an unnamed Chinese national and a Chinese manufacturer to create fake commercial invoices that fraudulently undervalued the cost of forklifts that Endless and Octane imported into the United States, thereby defrauding the government of over $1 million in applicable tariffs, duties, and fees. Firkins, Blasdel, and Antczak are each additionally charged with separate wire fraud charges, and Blasdel is also charged with making false statements to the government.
“Defrauding the United States to profit from goods made in adversarial nations like China undermines our economic and national security,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Justice Department is committed to protecting American taxpayer dollars, defending our national security against those who would undermine it, and holding accountable anyone who pursues illegal profits over our country.”
“Defendants fraudulently hid the origins of the products they sold the government and conspired to avoid paying tariffs,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force and its law enforcement partners will continue to prosecute and hold accountable those who seek to fraudulently obtain taxpayer funds.”
“Today’s indictments are the result of the collaboration among the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who seek to violate America’s trade laws to enrich themselves,” said Acting Inspector General Steve Stebbins of the Department of Defense. “DCIS remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of the DoD contracting process.”
“Federal contractors are expected to be honest in their dealings with the government,” said Deputy Inspector General Robert Erickson of the U.S. General Services Administration Office of Inspector General. “These indictments demonstrate our special agents’ commitment to pursue allegations of procurement fraud and protect the government’s supply chain.”
“My office is committed to protecting taxpayer dollars and the integrity of federal procurement,” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D of DHS OIG. “Octane Forklifts, Endless Sales, and their executives allegedly engaged in a brazen scheme to sell rebranded Chinese made forklifts to FEMA and the Department of Defense , all while falsely certifying their compliance with the Buy America Act. It is especially reprehensible that this alleged fraud involved a FEMA contract using disaster funds. I commend our law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, and DOJ’s Antitrust Division for their steadfast commitment to holding these individuals accountable.”
“This indictment reflects the commitment of the Air Force to uphold the integrity in public contracting and protect taxpayer dollars,” said Director Jason T. Hein, Office of Procurement Fraud Investigations, Office of Special Investigations, USAF. “Procurement fraud undermines trust in government and diverts resources from maintaining our national security and missions they’re meant to serve. We will continue to pursue accountability wherever public funds are at risk.”
“Intentionally violating the Buy America Act to defraud the US Government, isn’t just a legal issue, it is a demonstration of complete disregard for US law and the safety and security of our US military.” said Special Agent in Charge Derek Tilton of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. “The US Army will not tolerate contract fraud and will vigorously pursue all available legal recourse.”
“This indictment demonstrates the VA OIG’s commitment to protecting taxpayer funds and ensuring companies who do business with the government are held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Heddell with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Western Field Office. “The VA OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure the integrity of VA’s programs and services.”
Firkins, Blasdel, Antczak, Endless, and Octane are charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. Firkins, Blasdel, and Antczak are similarly charged with individual counts of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. For the individuals, each count of conviction carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. For the corporations, the maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000. Firkins, Blasdel, Antczak, Endless and Octane are also charged with conspiring to enter goods into the United States by means of false or fraudulent statements. For the individuals, a count of conviction carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. For the corporations, the maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000, or twice the gain derived from the offense, or twice the loss caused by the offense. Finally, Blasdel is charged with making false statements to the government, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Antitrust Division’s Chicago Office is prosecuting the case, which was investigated with the assistance of the United States Army Criminal Investigative Division, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigation, U.S. General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Defense Contract Audit Agency. The Westminster, Colorado, Police Department provided valuable assistance.
In November 2019, the Justice Department created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation can contact the PCSF at the link listed above.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Trinitarios Leader Sentenced to Life in Prison for Teen Murders and Other Brutal CrimesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that CARLOS RAMIREZ, a/k/a “Guerra,” was sentenced today to life in prison for his participation in a racketeering conspiracy and two murders committed as a member of the Sunset Trinitarios, a violent street gang. RAMIREZ was found guilty following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman, who imposed today’s sentence.
“As a member of the Sunset Trinitarios, Carlos Ramirez was an unapologetic killer and responsible for brutal violence that endangered the lives of far more people than the two teenagers whom he murdered in 2013 and 2014,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “After he was arrested and charged for these crimes, he was undeterred and attempted to stab to death the former leader of his own gang in a gruesome and vicious attack while incarcerated. He will never walk the streets of New York again, and this Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bankrupt the cartels, dismantle the gangs, and remove from our streets all those who pursue death and violence as a way of life.”
According to the Indictment, public court filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
From 2010 to 2024, members of the Sunset Trinitarios, a violent drug trafficking organization and street gang founded in Sunset Park in Brooklyn, New York, committed a terrifying number of violent crimes, including multiple murders and attempted murders and numerous gunpoint robberies all across the metropolitan area. RAMIREZ was one of the members of the Sunset Trinitarios during this period, and he rose to multiple positions of leadership within the gang, both out on the street and when he was incarcerated in the custody of state and federal detention facilities in New York City. As a “devil soldier messenger” of the Sunset Trinitarios, which came to celebrate the murder of innocent victims and their purported delivery to the devil, RAMIREZ obtained two identical tattoos memorializing the two murders he committed on behalf of the gang.
On October 23, 2013, RAMIREZ participated in the murder of Michael Beltre, who was seventeen years old. Beltre was shot multiple times on the street in the Bronx after RAMIREZ struck him and held him for another gang member to shoot.
On November 2, 2014, RAMIREZ murdered Jordanny Correa, who was nineteen years old. RAMIREZ shot Correa multiple times at point-blank range inside an apartment in the Bronx.
On February 28, 2023, RAMIREZ attempted to murder a former leader of the Sunset Trinitarios inside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. RAMIREZ committed this attack because he believed that this former leader had previously supplied information to law enforcement. With the help of others, RAMIREZ slashed and stabbed the victim with a knife, causing severe injuries to the victim’s face and the rest of his body in multiple locations.
10 others of RAMIREZ’s co-conspirators and fellow members of the Sunset Trinitarios previously pled guilty and have received sentences that have ranged from multiple years through life in prison.
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Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the New York City Department of Correction.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas John Wright, Brandon D. Harper, and Timothy Ly are in charge of the prosecution.
Three Men Sentenced for Their Roles in Barnet, Vermont Murder-for-HireRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2025, Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss, sentenced three men, Berk Eratay, 38, of Las Vegas, Nevada, Jerry Banks, 37, of Gardener, Montana, and Aron Ethridge, 45, of Henderson, Nevada for their roles in the January 6, 2018 murder of Gregory Davis in Barnet, Vermont.
Serhat Gumrukcu, 42, of Los Angeles, California, the fourth member of the Murder-for-Hire conspiracy, was convicted by a jury on April 18, 2025. Gumrukcu faces a mandatory life sentence. The Court has continued Gumrukcu’s sentencing, over the Government’s objection, until November 24, 2025.
At sentencing, Chief Judge Reiss imposed the following sentences:
• Berk Eratay: 110 months of imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
• Jerry Banks: 200 months of imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
• Aron Ethridge: 140 months of imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Gumrukcu solicited the murder of Gregory Davis due to Davis’s threats of legal action related to Gumrukcu’s role in a failed oil commodities transaction. Gumrukcu’s conviction for wire fraud stemmed from his fraudulent activities in relation to this failed oil deal. Gumrukcu was particularly motivated to silence Davis due to his negotiations of a multi-million-dollar biotech merger involving Gumrukcu’s alleged discovery of a cure for HIV. Gumrukcu relied on his close friend, Berk Eratay, to arrange through a second intermediary, Aron Ethridge, the hiring of a hitman to kill Davis. Ethridge recruited Jerry Banks for the hitman role, who on January 6, 2018, posed as a Deputy U.S. Marshal, and abducted Davis from his Danville, Vermont home. On January 7, 2018, Davis’s deceased body was located in a snowbank a short distance from his home in Barnet, Vermont. Investigators quickly discovered emails and messaging indicating the tension between Gumrukcu and Davis over the failed oil deal, resulting in Gumrukcu being interviewed twice by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Gumrukcu made false statements during each interview. Cellphone location information, purchase records, banking documentation, emails, and messaging discovered during the investigation led to the identification of Gumrukcu, Ethridge, Eratay, and Banks who caused the kidnapping and death of Davis.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Vermont State Police for their collaborative investigation of Gumrukcu, Eratay, Banks, and Ethridge, and the crimes associated with Davis’s murder. Drescher also thanked the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, as well as the numerous law enforcement entities across the country who worked to identify Banks as the hired hitman, Ethridge and Eratay as middlemen, and Gumrukcu as the financier and benefactor of the murder scheme.
At trial, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul J. Van de Graaf and Zachary Stendig represented the government, with support from Karen Arena-Leene and Erin Thompson-Moran. Berk Eratay was represented by Allan Sullivan, Esq. and Mark Oettinger, Esq. Jerry Banks was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth. Aron Ethridge was represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq.
Three Guatemalan Citizens Charged with Conspiracy to Sell Phony United States Identification CardsRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Norma Yanari Ayala (34), Rigoberto Vasquez-Vasquez (42), and Edgidio Vasquez-Mencho (41) were arrested in Grand Rapids on September 30, 2025. All three were indicted by a grand jury with charges alleging that they conspired to transfer false identification documents and actually transferred false documents. Ayala and Vasquez-Mencho are also charged with illegal reentry into the U.S. after having been removed from the country previously.
Defendants:ChargesNorma Yanari Ayala- Conspiracy to Transfer False Identification Documents
- Transfer False Identification Documents
- Alien Reentry
- Conspiracy to Transfer False Identification Documents
- Transfer False Identification Documents
- Conspiracy to Transfer False Identification Documents
- Transfer False Identification Documents
- Alien Reentry
The indictment alleges that from on or before June 2024 through June 2025, the defendants conspired to transfer and sell false permanent resident cards and social security account number cards that appeared to have been issued by or under the authority of the United States knowing that they were unlawfully produced. The cards were sold to persons believed to be present in the United States illegally. The indictment also charges 7 instances of such sales to confidential sources which were observed by HSI agents.
U.S. Attorney VerHey said, “These cases are a priority. Illegal immigrants come to the United States because they know they can get phony work documents allowing them to take U.S. jobs. We know whatever we can do to disrupt the fraudulent document business will help us get control of illegal immigration.”
In addition, the indictment charges Norma Yanari Ayala, who has been removed on 4 occasions, and Edgidio Vasquez-Mencho, who has been removed once, with reentering the United States without authorization.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Daniels is prosecuting it.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Three Arrested on Methamphetamine Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – Three individuals from West Virginia, who allegedly conspired with numerous others to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in the Western District of Virginia, were arrested last week on federal drug charges.
Terry Headen, Charles “Chuck” Williams, and Taylor Headen, all of Welch, West Virginia, were arrested last week on a criminal complaint.
Six of their coconspirators were arrested earlier this year: Stephen Stewart, of Appalachia, Virginia; Eric Mullins, of Appalachia, Virginia; Gerald McCoy, of Coeburn, Virginia; Danny Dearry, of Coeburn, Virginia; Lisa Poole, of Big Stone Gap, Virginia; and Jonathan Lake, of Artemus, Kentucky.
Mullins, McCoy, Poole, and Lake have all pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Mullins further pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl, as well as an additional methamphetamine charge. In July, a federal grand jury in this district indicted Stewart on twelve counts involving methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms, related to this conspiracy.
According to court documents, Stewart, Mullins, McCoy, Poole, Lake, Dearry, and others traveled—or caused others to travel—from the Western District of Virginia to West Virginia to obtain pounds of methamphetamine, supplied by Terry Headen, Chuck Williams, and Taylor Headen, for redistribution in the Western District of Virginia. At times, fentanyl was also supplied for distribution.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, and the West Virginia Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie Macon and Corey Hall are prosecuting the case.
An indictment and criminal complaint are merely an accusation. The defendants who have not pleaded guilty are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Tacoma man sentenced to long prison term for producing images of child sexual abuseRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 29-year-old Tacoma resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 15 years in prison for production of images of child sexual abuse, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Demitri Super pleaded guilty in June 2025. He will serve his federal prison sentence concurrent with a Pierce County Superior Court sentence for sexual abuse of a toddler. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle told him, “What you did was monstrous.”
“This defendant preyed on a young child at the behest of a co-conspirator he met on the internet,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “Mr. Super willingly violated the toddler for a stranger overseas. Congress has established mandatory minimum sentences for such horrific conduct.”
According to records filed in the case, a foreign law enforcement organization contacted the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Computer Crimes Center about a Skype video showing the rape of a toddler. The video had been seized from a male U.K. sex offender who had posed online as a female. HSI quickly worked to identify the person in the video seen molesting the child. Agents interviewed and arrested Super. The victim child was identified, and the parents were notified.
In asking for the 15-year sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “The seriousness of Super’s crime cannot be overstated. He committed vile acts of sexual abuse against a defenseless toddler in his care. That toddler’s parents had every reason to trust Super with their child, and Super breached that trust in the most devastating manner possible.”
Super will be on 15 years of supervised release following his prison term.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Hampton.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Stipulated Court Order Resolves Allegations that Chinese Toy Maker Apitor Technology Co. Violated Children’s Privacy LawRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced today that a federal court has entered a stipulated order resolving a case alleging that China-based toy maker Apitor Technology Co., Ltd. (Apitor) violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and its implementing regulations (COPPA) in connection with its programmable robotic toys.
“The Justice Department will vigorously work to ensure businesses respect parents’ rights to decide when their children’s personal information can be collected and used,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to work with the FTC to stop unlawful intrusions on children’s privacy.”
COPPA prohibits operators of online services from knowingly collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children under the age of 13 (hereinafter, children), unless they provide notice to and obtain consent from those children’s parents. In a civil complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, the government alleges Apitor collected geolocation data from children who used Apitor’s app to control its robotic toys, without notifying parents or obtaining parental consent.
The stipulated order resolving this case enjoins Apitor from collecting or using data from children without making reasonable efforts to directly notify parents and obtaining verifiable parental consent, and it also requires Apitor to delete children’s personal information that was previously collected without parental consent. The order additionally imposes a $500,000 civil penalty, which is suspended due to Apitor’s inability to pay.
This matter is being handled by Trial Attorney David Crockett, Senior Trial Attorney Daniel Crane-Hirsch, and Assistant Director Zachary Dietert from the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Sapna Mehta for the Northern District of California and Shining Hsu and Evan Rose from the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 15 Months Imprisonment for Theft of MailRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – On Sept. 30, 2025, a Springfield, Mo., resident, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough, to a period of imprisonment for 15 months, for his theft of mail matter from residential post office boxes.
Anthony Renell Williams, 45, pleaded guilty to a single count indictment on March 31, 2025, charging him with theft of mail on March 16, 2023. Williams was observed by several Springfield, Mo., residence walking throughout various neighborhoods and stopping at the post office boxes of several residence. Witnesses contacted the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department to report the suspicious behavior. Springfield Police officers responded and were ultimately able to locate Williams and found he had stolen mail on his person. Inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted a further investigation and located security videos from local residences that captured images of Williams stealing mail from the post office boxes of local residences. Williams ultimately confessed to stealing mail, admitting that he had stolen the mail in order to commit fraud, and obtain money that could pay for his drug addiction.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department.
Spanish Man Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the US After a Prior RemovalRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Spanish man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Jose Angel Hidalgo-Torres, 20, to time served (72 days). He pleaded guilty on August 12, 2025.
According to court records, Hidalgo-Torres was found in Calais, Maine shortly after illegally entering the United States on July 18, 2025. He was previously removed from the country in May 2024.
Hidalgo-Torres was turned over to immigration authorities at the conclusion of the proceedings.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on September 29, 2025.
Jericho James Ladeaux, 32, was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Ladeaux was further ordered to forfeit the firearm and ammunition.
Ladeaux was indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on July 17, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on January 9, 2025, when law enforcement found Ladeaux driving what they believed to be a stolen vehicle. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and arrested Ladeaux, at which time they discovered he was carrying a loaded pistol. Ladeaux is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to previous felony convictions.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department, the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Ladeaux was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on September 29, 2025.
James Daniel Lathrop, 31, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Lathrop was indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on July 7, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on December 24, 2024, in Sioux Falls, SD, when law enforcement officers found Lathrop in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Lathrop is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of a previous felony conviction and because he is an unlawful user of controlled substances.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Lathrop was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Shiprock Man Charged in Armed Assault on MinorRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man is facing federal charges after aiming his assault-style rifle at a minor and other witnesses during a fight that left the minor-victim hospitalized.
According to court documents, on September 21, 2025, Azariah Arnold Cleveland, 18, an enrolled member of Navajo Nation, drove himself and several accomplices to the minor’s home to confront the minor. Once Cleveland spotted the minor walking along the road, the occupants of Cleveland’s car got out and assaulted the minor. During this fight, Cleveland got out of his car and pointed his assault-style rifle at the minor, the minor’s parents, and other witnesses, firing seven to eight shots in the air. The minor was later treated at a local hospital for injuries.
Cleveland is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon against a minor, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Trial in this case has not yet been set. If convicted, Cleveland a minimum of 10 years in prison.
Acting 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 Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.