Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
26 September 2025
Lackawanna County Woman Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison on Drug Distribution Resulting in Death ChargesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kaylee Ann Widmer, age 25, of Thornhurst, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on September 23, 2025, to 21 years’ imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and 40 grams and more of fentanyl resulting in death.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, between January 2022 and February 2023, Widmer and her boyfriend, Christopher Potter, and others conspired to distribute controlled substances throughout Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. Widmer supplied fentanyl to her co-conspirator Santino Bellucci, who on December 18, 2022, sold a person fentanyl which caused the individual’s death. At the time of the incident, Widmer was receiving large amounts of fentanyl from individuals residing in the Hazleton, PA area throughout the conspiracy.
Senior Judge Mariani previously sentenced both co-conspirators Santino Bellucci, age 28, of Dickson City, PA, and Christopher Potter, age 30, of Scranton, PA, to 21 years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dunmore Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny Roberts prosecuted the case.
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).
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
# # #
Kansas woman sentenced for murder of U.S. soldier husbandRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. A Kansas woman was sentenced to 293 months in prison for the murder of her husband, a U.S. Army soldier.
On February 14, 2025, a federal jury found Margaret E. Shafe, 31, guilty of murder in the second degree for killing her husband, Greg Shafe, in February 2024 at their home on the Fort Riley military installation. Evidence presented at trial showed that Shafe shot her husband in the face while in the presence of two minor children.
“Margaret Shafe deserves to go to prison. The evidence in this case showed she murdered her husband while the couple’s two young daughters were in the home,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The Court heard brave testimony from Ms. Shafe’s own daughter who witnessed her mother shoot her stepfather in a fury.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division, and Fort Riley Fire and Emergency Services investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Walton and Lindsey Debenham and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Graham prosecuted the case.
###
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center to Ensure Accessibility for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Individuals Under the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada secured an agreement with Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, LLC, to ensure that patients and their companions who are deaf have appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including qualified in-person or video remote interpreting services. The new internal policies as per the agreement will be enforced in all 190 affiliated healthcare facilities across the United States.
“Every individual deserves the right to communicate effectively with their medical team, especially when assisting their child in an emergency room,” said Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “This settlement reflects the United States Attorney’s Office’s commitment to the civil rights of disabled individuals, specifically those who are deaf or hard of hearing to ensure they may participate meaningfully in their own health care without obstacles.”
The settlement agreement resolves a complaint under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by a deaf father who accompanied his eight-year-old daughter during a Sunrise Hospital emergency room visit where the hospital denied him an American Sign Language interpreter in violation of the ADA. Instead, the father was forced to use an unreliable means of communication to attempt to relay and receive information from emergency room staff, including the doctor caring for his daughter. As a result, he did not understand the extent of his daughter’s condition, medication being administered, vital details about the discharge process and treatment plan. Consequently, the father and his daughter suffered unnecessary stress, fear, and confusion.
Under the terms of the agreement, Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, LLC, will provide patients and companions who are deaf appropriate auxiliary aids and services including qualified in-person or video remote interpreting services. They will also train all patient-facing staff and employees on current ADA requirements, periodically submit reports regarding its compliance, and modify all policies and practices consistent with the ADA. Additionally, Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, LLC, will pay $30,000 in monetary damages to the father, as well as $5,000 in civil penalties to the United States.
This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Ednin D. Martinez.
If you or someone you know has experienced possible violations of federal civil rights laws, please make a report at www.civilrights.justice.gov. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed online at http://www.ada.gov/complaint. If you believe you have been discriminated against based on disability, please submit a report www.civilrights.justice.gov.
###
Justice Department Announces Memorandum of Understanding with Nevada to Collaborate on Immigration EnforcementRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice announced a new Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Nevada to fully collaborate on immigration enforcement. This follows the Department publishing a list of sanctuary jurisdictions on August 5th, 2025, in accordance with President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order 14287.
The list initially included Nevada and has now been updated following work between the Department and the State of Nevada – the first removal since the list’s publishing. Following the release of the Memorandum of Understanding, Attorney General Pamela Bondi released the following statement:
“The Department of Justice is committed to eradicating sanctuary policies across America. We applaud Governor Lombardo and Nevada for taking necessary steps to fully comply with the Trump Administration’s immigration policy. This should serve as a reminder to other jurisdictions: come to the table and work with us instead of going to court.”
Read the full MOU here.
Jury Finds District Man Guilty in 2019 Mass Shooting CaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ronnell Offutt, 36, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed (one of which included a minor-victim enhancement) in a rush-hour shooting that took place at a crowded bus stop at the corner of Pennsylvania Ave and Minnesota Ave, Southeast, on February 4, 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Offutt also was found guilty of four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The verdict was returned on September 26, 2025, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Danya A. Dayson scheduled sentencing for December 12, 2025.
“This is yet another case of uncontrolled violence on the streets of DC,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “My office will continue to fight to prosecute and convict those who think vigilante justice is the answer to their personal disputes.”
According to the government’s evidence, on February 4, 2019, at about 4:15 p.m., the defendant was brutally assaulted at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Minnesota Avenues—beaten, with his hair ripped out and his car windows shattered. He argued with some of his assailants, and an off-duty MPD commander saw the tail end of the incident. Offutt refused to make a report and made clear to the MPD commander that he wanted nothing to do with the police. He left, and cell location data indicated he returned home.
Approximately one hour later, that same cell location data showed that Offutt returned to the area of Pennsylvania and Minnesota Avenues. Video footage showed him returning to the very same streetcorner—this time, with a gun. Offutt shot eight times into the rush-hour crowd standing near a bus stop, seeking revenge on those who had assaulted him. In his barrage of gunfire, a 5-year-old girl was shot in the arm, an adult male was shot through the chest, another adult male was shot twice – once in the arm and once in the buttocks, and another adult male was shot in the thigh. Miraculously, no one died. Each of the victims was transported to area hospitals and fully recovered, though each would carry scars for the rest of their lives.
Offutt fled the scene, but the MPD commander had taken his picture and a picture of his license plate an hour earlier. Ballistics evidence showed that a firearm later recovered in Maryland was the firearm used in the shooting, and DNA evidence linked that firearm to Offutt. Additionally, eyewitnesses and video footage made clear to the jury that Offutt was the shooter. One local man who heard the first shots looked out his office window, saw the shooting happen, and took pictures of the shooter—those pictures showed Offutt wearing the same hat and shoes as he had been wearing an hour before, as captured in the photograph taken by the MPD commander.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey Comber and Michael Roberts.
Inmate Convicted of Slashing Federal Corrections Officer in New York City PrisonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today the conviction in Manhattan federal court of MARIO POWELL for assaulting a corrections officer with a deadly and dangerous weapon and for possession of prison contraband. The jury convicted POWELL following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan.
“Mario Powell brutally assaulted a federal corrections officer with a makeshift weapon made of razor blades,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today, a jury of his peers held Powell accountable for this vicious attack. Our Office is proud to stand behind and pursue justice for our law enforcement partners who bravely put their lives on the line every day to protect the people of New York.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and the evidence presented during the trial:
On May 30, 2020, at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, POWELL forcibly assaulted a corrections officer with a deadly and dangerous weapon and, in doing so, lacerated the officer’s neck. In order to commit the attack, POWELL obtained and possessed a weapon made of razor blades.
* * *
POWELL, 34, of the Bronx, New York, was convicted of one count of assault on a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of possession of prison contraband, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. POWELL is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Cronan on November 14, 2025.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas John Wright, Henry L. Ross, and Leslie B. Arffa are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Myrnette Millington and Phineas Santello.
Illegal alien who skipped immigration court charged after attacking officer during arrestRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 28-year-old illegal alien from Honduras has been charged for attacking and injuring an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during her arrest, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Sindi Vanessa Moreno-Flores is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard W. Bennett Sept. 29 at 2 p.m.
On Sept. 23, an ICE officer encountered Moreno-Flores as she was getting into her vehicle and identified himself, according to the complaint. The officer advised her she was under arrest, but Moreno-Flores allegedly started her vehicle, refused to turn it off or exit.
The charges allege the officer removed Moreno-Flores and attempted to secure her in handcuffs, but she resisted and began scratching the officer and swinging her arm in order to strike him. Moreno-Flores allegedly continued to struggle and physically resist, fleeing to a nearby group of bystanders. A family member also became involved in the physical altercation as the officer continued to try to secure Moreno-Flores, according to the charges.
The complaint alleges additional authorities arrived and were able to detain Moreno-Flores.
The ICE officer allegedly sustained deep scratches on his arm and hands.
The investigation revealed an immigration judge had ordered Moreno-Flores removed from the United States in February 2024 after she failed to appear for her immigration hearing, according to the charges.
“Federal law enforcement agents work hard to enforce our country’s democratically-enacted immigration laws,” Ganjei said. “It is unacceptable for illegal aliens to assault these agents as they carry out that important mission. The Southern District of Texas will prosecute those who do so every single time.”
If convicted of assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer, Moreno-Flores faces a possible 20-year federal prison sentence. She is also charged with conniving, conspiring or taking action to hamper or prevent an alien’s departure and could receive up to four years, upon conviction. Both charges also carry possible fines of up to $250,000.
ICE - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Martin is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Illegal Online Drug Market Dismantled and More Than $28 Million in Cryptocurrency ForfeitedRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Matthew Simon Grimm, 51, a citizen of the United Kingdom, was sentenced to nine years in prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to import a controlled substance into the United States, four counts of importation of a controlled substance into the United States, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Dismantling this criminal enterprise required close collaboration between our federal and international law enforcement partners, and I am incredibly proud of the successful prosecution of this offender by my office. This is yet another step toward fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the drug traffickers flooding our communities with poison, and this substantial forfeiture of the criminally obtained proceeds of this drug distribution operation resoundingly confirms that my office will ensure that offenders cannot profit from their crimes.”
From 2015 until November 8, 2022, Grimm ran a website offering federally controlled substances for sale online. Grimm, along with co-conspirators, would receive orders and then ship controlled substances into the United States. The controlled substances varied, but included synthetic cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids, and analogues of methamphetamine. Records from Grimm’s website indicated he had shipped at least 44,000 orders.
The Drug Enforcement Administration in Gainesville, Florida, began investigating Grimm, and ordered multiple controlled substances from his website, which were shipped to Gainesville.
Grimm would receive payment in the form of various cryptocurrencies. As part of his sentence, Grimm was ordered to forfeit cryptocurrency worth more than $28,000,000.
Co-defendant Carrie-Ann Tooley, 54, of Northport, Maine, worked for Grimm and was previously sentenced on April 14, 2025.
“Technology brings more ways for criminals to flood our streets with poison,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “DEA pursues cyber criminals with the same energy as street-level drug distributors. We will not stop until they have been brought to justice.”
“The United States Postal Inspection Service is proud to stand with our domestic and international partners in identifying, disrupting, and dismantling transnational drug tracking organizations,” said Bladismir Rojo, Postal Inspector in Charge, Miami Division. “We will pursue those who use the U.S. Mail to transport and distribute deadly drugs which impact the safety of postal employees and the communities they serve.”
“This defendant and his co-conspirators pushed poison into our communities, profiting off the addiction, violence, and destruction these dangerous substances bring,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “HSI and our partners remain relentless in our mission to dismantle these networks and protect our communities from the devastating impact of controlled substances.”
These sentences were the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the United States Marshals Service, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, the United Kingdom Metropolitan Police, and the Netherlands National Police Corps. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and July 2024 extradition of Grimm from the UK. Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain, Adam Hapner, and Kaitlin Weiss prosecuted the case, along with former Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Elsey and David P. Byron.
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).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Hillsborough County Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Sex Trafficking of A MinorRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Jessie Thomas Taylor (43, Tampa) to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for sex trafficking of a minor. Taylor pleaded guilty on June 6, 2025.
According to court documents, beginning in April 2021, and continuing through December 2022, Taylor created and posted advertisements of the 16-year-old victim on adult escort websites advertising sexual acts with the victim. Taylor coordinated and managed communications and reserved hotel rooms for the minor to engage in commercial sexual activity and received proceeds from the victim’s sex acts.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Fort Lauderdale Man Charged with Child Sexual Abuse Material OffensesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Fort Lauderdale man was arraigned today on a three-count indictment charging him with distribution, production, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Ian Zachary Adams, 29, created multiple anonymous profiles on a social media platform to upload and distribute CSAM depicting children between the ages of two and 16. Investigators also recovered from one of Adams’s electronic devices a screen recording of a video chat in which a 10-year-old child engaged in sexually explicit conduct at his request.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI, Miami Field Office, and Sheriff Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office announced the charges.
FBI Miami, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, and the Broward Sheriff's Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Smith is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-60222.
###
Former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Anthony John Crowley, 52, a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer, pled guilty in federal court today to Possession of Child Pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
“Anthony Crowley’s crimes against children are a disgrace,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “In the last few months, we have seen a rash of law enforcement officers, public officials, and others in positions of trust abusing children. I have zero tolerance for this betrayal. This office will not relent in holding powerful predators to account.”
According to court documents, Crowley, of Minnetonka, Minnesota, knowingly possessed one or more images which contained visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In 2022, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) received a cyber tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC). The tip informed them that someone was using the Kik application to upload child pornography images. The Kik user ID was linked to Crowley’s phone number and email address. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Crowley’s home and seized his electronic devices. On those devices, law enforcement found numerous child pornography images and what are known as “child erotica” stories.
Crowley pled guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Laura M. Provinzino. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for a later date. Crowley remains detained pending his sentencing. At the time of his crimes and of his arrest, Crowley was a U.S. Customers and Border Protection Officer. He is now on indefinite suspension.
“As a Customs and Border Protection Officer, Crowley was in a position of public trust. To betray that trust by possessing child sexual abuse material is an egregious perversion of the honor, integrity, and lawfulness that should exemplify federal agents,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Protecting children is our highest calling. This case, made possible by a courageous public tipster and the excellent work of the FBI, BCA, and Minnetonka PD, should send a clear message to anyone who would abuse or exploit children—no matter your position or power, there is no hiding. You will be found and brought to justice.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for their investigation and hard work on this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca E. Kline is prosecuting the case.
Former NYPD Detective Pleads Guilty in Violent Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced that SAUL ARISMENDY DE LA CRUZ, a/k/a “Nene,” a/k/a “Venom,” pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy to racketeering conspiracy in connection with his participation in a violent theft crew. As alleged, DE LA CRUZ, then a member of the NYPD, accepted bribes for providing crew members with confidential police information about potential victims and ongoing investigations. When he learned that the FBI was planning to arrest members of the crew, he tipped them off, allowing them to flee. DE LA CRUZ is scheduled to be sentenced on January 8, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román.
“The NYPD is the best police department in the world and, sadly, Saul Arismendy De La Cruz turned his back on his colleagues and the people of New York,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The NYPD and the people of New York deserve better, and we will pursue a sentence that matches the seriousness of De La Cruz’s conduct.”
“Saul De La Cruz, a former NYPD detective, provided confidential law enforcement information—including updates in active investigations—to a ring of thieves in exchange for monetary kickbacks,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “His actions violated his oath to protect this city by enabling criminals to continue wreaking havoc on our local residents and ultimately evade arrest. While the vast majority of NYPD officers uphold their sworn dedication to serve, the FBI will continue to hold accountable those who prioritize personal financial enrichment over their duty to others, especially to further the operations of illicit enterprises.”
“The NYPD holds its officers to the highest standards, and it’s an affront to our entire department when someone so blatantly violates them and abuses the public’s trust,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Saul De La Cruz’s actions were not only highly illegal, but they put our officers at great risk and jeopardized our public safety work. We will continue to work with our partners in the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office to root out any misconduct and ensure justice is always served.”
As alleged in the Indictment and Superseding Indictments unsealed in White Plains federal court:[1]
DE LA CRUZ was one of a number of defendants charged for participation in a violent theft crew led by the fugitive DAGOBERTO SOTO-RAMIREZ, a/k/a “Pito,” pictured below.
DAGOBERTO SOTO-RAMIREZ: WANTED BY THE FBI
Between 2017 and 2022, SOTO-RAMIREZ organized a crew that committed residential burglaries and home invasion robberies, repeatedly targeting small business owners. The majority of the targeted victims were Asian American. Armed with guns and other weapons, members of the crew stole money, jewelry, and other property from scores of homes in states across the country. Others took part in the crew’s criminal scheme, which also included the use of false identification, bank fraud, and laundering theft proceeds. In addition, SOTO-RAMIREZ and other members of the conspiracy bribed DE LA CRUZ, first an officer and later a detective of the NYPD, who helped members of the crew escape arrest.
SOTO-RAMIREZ remains a fugitive. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
* * *
DE LA CRUZ, 33, of Queens, New York, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the investigative work of the FBI, the Westchester County Joint Organized Crime Task Force, the New York Public Corruption Task Force, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, the NYPD, the Nassau County Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Fort Lee Police Department. He added that the investigation is ongoing.
The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Josiah Pertz and Jeffrey C. Coffman are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the description of the Indictment and the other charging documents set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Former Law Enforcement Officers Convicted in Connection with Arson and Bank, Wire, and Mail Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury found Philip James Dupree, 41, of Pikesville, Maryland, and Mark Ross Johnson, Jr., 38, of Camp Springs, Maryland, each guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, arson, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank fraud. Dupree, a former Fairmount Heights Police Department officer, and Johnson, a former Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) officer, conspired with others to carry out the scheme.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty verdicts with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, and Chief George Nader, PGPD.
According to the nine-count indictment, which included charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, arson, and bank fraud, the co-conspirators joined forces to commit two separate fraud schemes. The schemes involved filing false police reports and falsifying loss claims to obtain and attempt to obtain funds from an insurance company and three different financial institutions.
As part of the insurance fraud scheme in November 2018, Dupree and Johnson coordinated to burn Johnson’s Ford F450 truck that was experiencing mechanical and electrical problems. Dupree “discovered” the burning vehicle while on duty in Fairmount Heights and filed an impound report containing false statements regarding the recovery of the truck.
Johnson then used the report number in support of his claim filed with the insurance company for a total loss on the truck. He also submitted altered telephone records to his insurer to hide that he had a 16-minute conversation with Dupree just before Dupree “discovered” the truck. A fire investigator, hired by the insurer, testified that the Ford F450 fire was intentionally set, and originated in the passenger compartment of the truck. The insurer, relying in part on the police report and altered telephone records, paid out more than $68,000 to the lien holder on the truck.
Then from May 2019 until June 2019, Dupree, Johnson, and others conspired to defraud three financial institutions. They coordinated the withdrawal of money from their financial accounts through ATMs so they could fraudulently claim their money was stolen. Then the co-conspirators sought reimbursement from their financial institutions.
In executing the scheme, Dupree and Johnson coordinated submitting police reports to PGPD. Through these reports, they falsely claimed their debit cards were stolen and then were used to withdraw funds from various ATMs without permission. One police report, submitted by Dupree to support his claim of a stolen debit card, was a complete fake. The report was never submitted to the Prince George’s County Record Management System. Additionally, the report included the name of a non-existent police officer as the preparer. It also carried over Johnson’s name as the “victim” from the separate report Johnson asked a co-conspirator to generate to submit to his credit union. The co-conspirators submitted fraudulent claims to the victim financial institutions seeking reimbursement for the purportedly unauthorized ATM withdrawals.
Both Dupree and Johnson are facing up to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Additionally, they face at least five years, but up to 20 years, for arson affecting interstate commerce, and up to 30 years for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. Judge Lydia Griggsby scheduled Dupree’s sentencing for Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 10 a.m. Johnson’s sentencing is scheduled for Monday, February 23, at 1:30 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and PGPD for their work in the investigation and praised the Fairmount Heights Police Department for its assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Baldwin and LaShanta Harris who are prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Former JBLM soldier, convicted previously of child sexual abuse in military court, sentenced today to 25 years in prison for sexual abuse of four other minorsRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A former soldier, previously stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 25 years in prison for the sexual abuse of four young children who had been left in his care. Jonathan Anthony Gentry, 36, molested six children between January 2010 and February 2014. In August of 2013, he was arrested and prosecuted in military court for sexually molesting two 13-year-olds. He was sentenced to two years in military prison. It was only years later that four other children, also left in his care, disclosed horrific sexual abuse.
At the sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said, “This is the most serious kind of conduct that comes before this court… The victims were helpless children. You were the monster that was living with them. You scarred these victims for the rest of their lives.”
“This defendant used threats of terrible harm to silence his victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. “These children showed great courage stepping forward to report sexual abuse that happened when they were as young as 3-years-old. The children report being strangled or forced to drink alcohol so that Gentry could molest them. Such conduct must be punished by significant prison time.”
According to records filed in the case, in April 2020, two children disclosed the sexual abuse that happened during the time Gentry lived on JBLM. One child was 10 or 11 years old at the time of the sexual abuse, the other was between 5 and 9-years-old. In both cases Gentry threatened to harm the children’s families if they did not submit to the abuse or told anyone about the abuse. The third victim was between 3 and 5 years old at the time of the abuse and disclosed the abuse to a trusted adult in April 2024. Finally, a fourth victim, who was on a sleepover at the home when sexual abuse occurred in June 2013, disclosed the abuse in March 2023.
On December 4, 2024, a grand jury indicted Gentry for five counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, one count of abusive sexual contact with a minor and one count of sexual abuse of a minor. On July 2, 2025, Gentry pleaded guilty to three counts of abusive sexual contact with a minor and one count of sexual abuse of a minor.
In asking for a 30-year prison sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “Gentry repeatedly raped and molested vulnerable children in his care. The seriousness of offenses like Gentry’s is measured both by the resulting trauma for these survivors and by its contribution to a national child sexual abuse epidemic. For decades, researchers have documented the staggering prevalence of child sexual abuse in America and the lifelong damage that such abuse inflicts on victims—from heightened suicide risk to increased prevalence of drug and alcohol use and myriad other mental health disorders.”
Speaking in court, three of the victims described the terrible impact Gentry had on their lives: “my innocence was taken, my childhood was taken,” one said. “No amount of time he serves can compare to the loss of our childhood and the years that were stolen from us,” another told the court.
Chief Juge Estudillo told them, “No words I can say will ever alleviate the pain and suffering you have gone through.” He ordered that Gentry serve 20 years of supervised release following the prison term.
“It is heartbreaking that these children suffered this abuse at such a young age, and by someone who should have protected them,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “I commend them for their steadfast resolve in speaking up to ensure accountability and attempt to protect other children from potential abuse. Mr. Gentry, as a former servicemember, had a responsibility to defend the vulnerable, not exploit them. While no sentence can undo what happened to the victims, I hope this lengthy sentence sends a message to other would-be offenders that the FBI and our partners will investigate and prosecute child predators.”
The case was investigated by the FBI.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon and Kristine Foerster.
Former Financial Advisor sentenced to 32 months in prison for stealing more than $500,000 from client’s trust accountRead the Press Release
Seattle – A former Seattle-area Financial Advisor was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 32 months in prison for wire fraud, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Michael P. Raineri, 63, stole $531,411 from a client’s trust account over about six years. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez noted that Raineri took advantage of someone who trusted him as a financial expert. The majority of Americans look to financial advisors as expert in their field, similar how people go to doctors. These people trust these experts with their life, the judge said.
According to records filed in the case, in 2013 the victim inherited about $2 million held in a revocable trust. When he received the inheritance, the victim also had a team of people to help manage the money and Raineri was one of them. The victim told the advisors he did not want to take any risks with the money but instead wanted to have it for his retirement.
Over the next ten years, Raineri ingratiated himself with the victim and stayed as an advisor to the victim’s trust even when Raineri switched financial firms. He used various false justifications to convince the victim to provide him with blank checks, with a power of attorney, and with a key to his apartment. These tools were all used so that Raineri could defraud the client. Between 2016 and 2020, Raineri used twelve blank checks to steal $397,000 from the victims account, passing it through another client’s account before depositing it in his own bank account. Later he moved some $115,226 from the victim’s account directly to his own. He even paid the lease on his luxury car from the victim’s account.
In 2022, the victim became concerned about the balances in his account and an audit revealed the theft.
Raineri was indicted in November 2024. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud in June 2025.
In asking for a 41-month prison sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Sanaa Nagi wrote to the court that Raineri didn’t just steal money, he violated the victim’s trust. The victim was left with less than a quarter of his inheritance. “He had to begin working full time to have enough money to live. Now, instead of travelling and enjoying what would be his retirement years, (the victim) works at least 40 hours a week… making approximately $24 an hour. A recent wrist injury and his advanced age make his work difficult at times. He has to live more frugally than ever before.”
Judge Martinez ordered full restitution of $531,411. Raineri must complete three years of supervised release following sentencing.
The case was investigated by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sanaa Nagi.
Former Department of Justice Prosecutor and Dallas Defense Attorney Charged with an Unauthorized Disposal of Government RecordsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS –Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today the filing of a bill of information in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division, charging former federal prosecutor CARLOS A. LOPEZ (“LOPEZ”), age 48, and Dallas-based criminal defense attorney BARRETT R. HOWELL (“HOWELL”), age 50, with charges related to their deletion of text messages that they had been ordered to produce by a United States District Judge. LOPEZ was charged with the unauthorized disposal of government records valued at less than $1,000, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641. HOWELL was charged with aiding and abetting the unauthorized disposal of government records valued at less than $1,000, a violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 641 and 2. Because the records are valued at less than $1,000, these are misdemeanor offenses.
According to the bill of information, in September 2021, a grand jury for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas indicted three individuals for health care fraud. LOPEZ, a Department of Justice Trial Attorney at the time, was the lead prosecutor in this federal prosecution. HOWELL was representing a client under investigation who was not indicted in this case. During the course of HOWELL’s representation of his client, two defendants accused HOWELL of violating a joint defense agreement by providing privileged joint defense information to LOPEZ. These two defendants filed a motion to compel discovery from HOWELL and LOPEZ. The district court granted the discovery request for production of all communications, including text messages, between HOWELL and LOPEZ.
The bill of information alleges that, in April 2023, LOPEZ disposed of records belonging to the United States by deleting text messages between himself and HOWELL from his government-issued cell phone, and HOWELL subsequently aided and abetted LOPEZ’s offense by deleting text messages with LOPEZ from his own cell phone.
If convicted, HOWELL and LOPEZ each face a maximum term of imprisonment of one year, a fine not to exceed $100,000, and a term of supervised release not to exceed one year.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas recused itself from this matter, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana was appointed by the Attorney General to act as special prosecutors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General, Dallas Office, which handled this investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew R. Payne of the Financial Crimes Unit and Megan R. Roberts of the Appellate Unit handled this prosecution.
Foreign National Facing Federal Charges Following Alleged Firearms Theft in Park City, UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –A foreign national, living in the United States illegally, was charged by felony information after he allegedly broke into the Park City Gun Club, stole firearms, and fled from police in a vehicle before crashing at a park and taken into custody.
Abraham Hernandez-Duron, 40, a foreign national who has been living in Taylorsville, Utah, was charged by complaint on August 26, 2025.
According to court documents, on August 24, 2025, at approximately 5:30 a.m. a “glass break” alarm was reported at the Park City Gun Club in Park City, Utah, a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL). Hernandez-Duron allegedly utilized a hammer to break into the FFL. Law enforcement quickly arrived on scene and multiple shots were fired from inside the firearms business. Shortly after, Hernandez-Duron exited the building, got into a vehicle, and fled. Police safely pursued and eventually, Hernandez-Duron crashed the vehicle at Trailside Bike Park. Hernandez-Duron was initially non-compliant with law enforcement commands, which led to a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) callout. Hernandez-Duron was eventually taken into custody. Five firearms were located in the vehicle Hernandez-Duron was driving, all of which were taken from the firearms shop.
Hernandez-Duron is charged with theft of firearms from a licensed dealer. His initial appearance on the felony information was September 24, 2025, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant United States Attorney Victoria K. McFarland of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
A felony information is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Five Indicted on Drug Conspiracy and Drug-Related ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Anthony Wayne Schoggins, age 40, of McAlester, Oklahoma, Gabrielle Ralene Dawn Brown, age 30, of McAlester, Oklahoma, John Douglas Renkes, age 38, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Charlie Dawn Edwards, age 45, of McAlester, Oklahoma, and Gerardo Cisneros Jr., age 49, of McAlester, Oklahoma, were each indicted for Drug Conspiracy, punishable by not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to a $10,000,000 fine.
In addition to the Drug Conspiracy charges, three defendants face additional charges: Schoggins and Brown are charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine, punishable by not less than 5 years imprisonment and up to a $5,000,000 fine; and Edwards is charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and up to a $1,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleges that beginning in or about March 2025 and continuing until on or about the date of the indictment, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendants willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together, and with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United States, namely the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
The Indictment further alleges that on or about June 1, 2025, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Schoggins and Brown knowingly and intentionally possessed 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, both Schedule II controlled substances, with intent to distribute.
Finally, the Indictment alleges that on or about June 9, 2025, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Edwards knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration-McAlester Resident Office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the McAlester Police Department, and the District 18 Drug Task Force.
A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. All defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
Five Admit Aiding Overseas Scammers Who Targeted Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Five people have admitted participating in a scheme that stole millions of dollars from elderly victims in ten states via a tech support scam.
Dariona Lambert, 23, Zhamoniq Stevens, 24, Chintankumar Parekh, 52, Mehulkumar Darji, 42, and Sital Singh, 43, have all pleaded guilty in the last month to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Darji did so Friday morning.
The conspiracy originated overseas, with scammers who contacted elderly victims via telephone calls and electronic messages, falsely claiming that the victims’ savings and retirement accounts had been compromised. They told their victims to transfer funds to the conspirators to keep their accounts secure, often via the purchase of gold bars or coins. The overseas conspirators would then send couriers to pick up the gold. Lambert and Stevens admitted being couriers. They were managed by Darji, Parekj and Singh, who admitted being the “handlers” who collected the gold and paid the couriers in cash.
The government believes that the overseas scammers netted $9.3 million from victims.
Scammers told one of the victims, an 82-year-old St. Louis woman, that they were a computer software support team and that her financial accounts had been compromised. They told her she needed to pay money to prevent her funds from being stolen, and transfer money into newly opened accounts before wiring money overseas. They also told her to buy about $250,000 worth of gold bars and sent Lambert to pick up the gold, the plea agreements say. On May 1, 2024, Lambert flew from Gainesville, Florida to St. Louis. Parekh rented a car and drove Lambert to a parking lot near the victim’s home, where Lambert switched to an Uber. Lambert was intercepted by law enforcement agents when she arrived at the victim’s home. After Parekh was alerted by Lambert that she had been apprehended, he fled to Pittsburgh.
Parekh admitted also working as a handler in gold bar pickups from victims in Yuma and Scottsdale in Arizona; Placentia and La Jolla in California; Largo, Florida; Chapel Hill, N.C.; and Pittsburgh, Penn.. Singh worked a handler in gold bar pickups from victims in Collierville, Tenn.; Universal City, Texas; and Greendale, Wisc.. Darji worked as a handler in gold bar pickups from Scottsdale, Largo and La Jolla, receiving three separate FedEx packages containing gold bars obtained from the Largo victim, it says. Lambert worked as a courier in Scottsdale; Placentia; La Jolla; Largo; Universal City; Hanover, Mass.; and Erie, Penn.. Stevens worked as a courier in gold bar pickups from victims in Yuma; La Jolla; Collierville; Largo; Greendale; Oxnard, Calif.; Long Island, N.Y.; and Cincinnati, Ohio.
Parekh and Darji are in the United States unlawfully. Parekh overstayed his work visa and Darji was removed from the country in 2014.
Lambert, Stevens and Parekh are scheduled to be sentenced in November, and Singh on December 3. Darji’s sentencing is set for December 22.
The wire fraud conspiracy charge carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both prison and a fine.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations in Tampa, Florida. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll is prosecuting the case.
If someone you know is a victim of a cyber scam, report it to the FBI. You can file the complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or use 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Federal Grand Jury Charges Three Women with Following ICE Agent Home from Work and Livestreaming His Home Address on InstagramRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury has returned a two-count indictment charging three women – two from Southern California and one from Colorado – with following a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent home, livestreaming their pursuit and then posting the victim’s home address on Instagram, the Justice Department announced today.
The grand jury on Tuesday and unsealed today charged following defendants with one count of conspiracy and one count of publicly disclosing the personal information of a federal agent:
- Cynthia Raygoza, 37, of Riverside;
- Ashleigh Brown, 38, of Aurora, Colorado; and
- Sandra Carmona Samane, 25, of Panaroma City.
Brown and Samane have been arrested on federal criminal complaints. Brown, who also is charged in a separate case with assault on a federal officer, is in federal custody without bond. Samane is free on $5,000 bond. Their arraignments are scheduled for September 29 and October 9, respectively. Law enforcement is continuing its search for Raygoza.
“Our brave federal agents put their lives on the line every day to keep our nation safe,” said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The conduct of these defendants are deeply offensive to law enforcement officers and their families. If you threaten, dox, or harm in any manner one of our agents or employees, you will face prosecution and prison time.”
According to the indictment, on August 28, 2025, the defendants followed the victim – an ICE agent – from the Civic Center in downtown Los Angeles to his personal residence. The defendants livestreamed on their Instagram accounts their pursuit of the victim and provided directions as they followed the victim home, encouraging their viewers to share the livestream. Their Instagram accounts used to livestream the event were “ice_out_of_la,” “defendmesoamericanculture,” and “corn_maiden_design.”
Upon arriving at the victim’s personal residence, the defendants shouted to bystanders while livestreaming on Instagram that their “neighbor is ICE,” “la migra lives here,” and “ICE lives on your street and you should know.”
The defendants publicly disclosed on Instagram the victim’s home address and told viewers, “Come on down.”
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Thi Hoang Ho and Neil P. Thakor of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
FCC Allenwood Inmates Indicted on Assault, Conspiracy and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that multiple inmates of the Federal Correctional Center Allenwood, Allenwood, Pennsylvania, were indicted yesterday on assault, conspiracy and weapons charges.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on June 2, 2023, at FCC Allenwood, Darwin Abudeye-Perez, Alex Ferrufino, Miguel Lopez, Ronald Montano-Ramirez, Miguel Abrego, Cristian Rios-Jarquin, Juan Villalobos, David Nolasco-Soriano, Guadalupe Sanchez-Cruz, Erick Aguilar-Motino, Jose Garcia-Bonilla, Jose Garcia, Jose Torres-Garcia, Henry Guittierez-Andrade, William Espinoza, and Walter Ejcalon-Xalcut conspired to assault a group of other inmates with dangerous weapons, including locks and other heavy objects attached to strings, belts and socks. In addition to a conspiracy charge, these inmates face individual counts of assault. The indictment also charges Jose Garcia, William Espinoz, Guadalupe Sanchez-Crus, Erick Aguilar-Motino and Darwin Abudeye-Perez of possessing prohibited objects (weapons) inside a prison facility.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur is prosecuting the case.
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).
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
# # #
Everett, Washington, man pleads guilty to three federal felonies stemming from pipe bomb that destroyed car at apartment complexRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 54-year-old Everett, Washington man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three federal felonies in connection with a pipe bomb explosion that destroyed a neighbor’s car, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Steven Goldstine was originally charged in Snohomish County for the suspected hate crime. Today he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a destructive device on December 31, 2024; unlawful possession of ammunition on March 17, 2025; and unlawful possession of a firearm on September 4, 2020. Sentencing is scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge John H. Chun on December 15, 2025.
According to records filed in the case, on December 31, 2024, Everett Police responded to reports of an explosion in a car parked at an apartment complex. The victims told police they suspected Goldstine due to prior conflicts they had had with him. The day after the explosion they received a voice message using racial slurs and referencing the explosion in the vehicle. Further analysis of the records led investigators to believe it was Goldstine.
Using video footage from the apartment complex and other cameras in the area investigators determined the bomber’s clothing and direction of travel. When they executed a search warrant at Goldstine’s home law enforcement found a jacket and shoes that appeared to match those seen in the video. Law enforcement also seized more than 700 rounds of ammunition. Goldstine is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions for burglary, arson, and possession of stolen property. Goldstine pleaded guilty to that felony today.
In reviewing Goldstine’s history, law enforcement determined that on September 17, 2020, law enforcement searched Goldstine’s residence following a report that while out in his car he had pointed a gun at protestors. The action was captured on video. In the search of Goldstine’s home in 2020, the firearm was seized by law enforcement. Goldstine pleaded guilty today to that illegal firearms possession.
Unlawful possession of a destructive device and unlawful possession of a firearm, as charged in this case, are both punishable by up to ten years in prison. Unlawful possession of ammunition is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The actual sentence will be determined by Judge Chun after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by the Everett Police Department, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Manca for the Western District of Washington and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Eleven Illegal Aliens Charged for Falsely Claiming to be United States Citizens and Document FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Between September 10 and 22, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the United States Marshals Service (USMS) arrested 11 illegal aliens charged by criminal complaint for Possession of Identification Document to Defraud the United States, Possession of Identification Document Produced Without Lawful Authority, and False Attestation for Employment Eligibility Verification, all felony offenses.
Each illegal alien who was charged possessed and used a counterfeit state identification card or driver’s license, as well as a counterfeit Social Security card, to obtain employment at a business in Arizona. The illegal aliens also falsely attested on Form I-9 to being United States citizens or to being otherwise authorized to work in the United States, when in fact none of them were United States citizens or authorized to work in the United States.
These cases are 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).
HSI, District of Arizona, Phoenix Field Office, is conducting the investigation in these cases. The USMS in the District of Arizona and the USMS and HSI in the Western District of Tennessee assisted in the arrest of individuals involved in these cases. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBERS: 25-01879MJ, 25-01881MJ, 25-01882MJ, 25-01883MJ, 25-01884MJ, 25-01885MJ, 25-01886MJ, 25-01887MJ, 25-01888MJ, 25-05419MJ, 25- 08483MJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-155_Illegal Alien Document Fraud
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Egyptian National Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Egyptian man pleaded guilty to federal firearms offenses for threatening a victim with a gun at a Las Cruces gas station.
According to court documents, on the morning of May 12, 2025, Moustafa Mahmoud Abdelnabi Salem, a citizen and national of Egypt, threatened an individual at a gas station by pulling a handgun, chambering a round, and pointing it at the victim. After the incident, the victim flagged down an officer from the Las Cruces Police Department and reported the assault.
When the officer questioned Salem, who was still at the location, he alleged that the victim had assaulted him with a large knife and denied pointing a handgun at the victim. Salem refused to allow the officer to retrieve the handgun from his vehicle, leading the officer to believe that there was an issue with the firearm.
Upon further investigation, the officer determined that Salem was an alien illegally or unlawfully present in the United States after overstaying his visitor visa. The incident was captured by CCTV footage from the gas station in which Salem appears to be the aggressor.
Salem pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession a firearm and ammunition. At sentencing, Salem faces up to 15 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Salem will be subject to deportation as an aggravated felon.
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 Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations El Paso. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Tonkin is prosecuting the case.
View the Plea Agreement (Salem).pdfDistrict of Arizona Charges 181 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from September 20, 2025, through September 26, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 181 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 82 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 80 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 18 cases against 19 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Ignacio Villalobos-Lopez: On September 22, Ignacio Villalobos-Lopez, a citizen of Mexico who was illegally present in the United States after previously being removed, was contacted by law enforcement while transporting four illegal aliens. Law enforcement learned that Villalobos-Lopez had previously transported illegal aliens and that he expected to be paid $500.00 per person that he transported. Villalobos-Lopez was charged by criminal complaint for Illegal Entry and Transportation of an Illegal Alien. [Case Number: 25-MJ-9410]
United States v. Marco Villareal-Aguilar: On September 25, Marco Villareal-Aguilar, a citizen of Mexico who was illegally present in the United States, was charged with Bringing in an Illegal Alien for Profit. As alleged in the complaint, Border Patrol camera operators observed a group of approximately 10 subjects walking near the border on the Tohono O'odham Nation. Agents responded to the area and apprehended nine subjects dressed in camouflage who had carpet booties covering their shoes. All nine subjects were determined to be Mexican citizens, illegally present in the United States. Villareal-Aguilar was identified by members of the group as the foot guide who led them across the border and coordinated their movement with scouts using a cellphone and radio. [Case Number: 25-MJ-14135]
United States v. Nathan Vega: On September 25, Nathan Vega was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. As alleged in the complaint, Border Patrol agents observed Vega driving in a suspicious pattern on the Tohono O'odham Nation near the international border, making multiple U-turns and a brief stop. When agents tried to stop Vega to conduct an immigration inspection, he sped away, leading agents on a more than 30-mile car chase and reaching speeds of 115 miles per hour. Eventually, Vega stopped his vehicle and individuals in camouflage clothing fled from the vehicle. Five of those individuals were apprehended and determined to be Mexican citizens illegally present in the United States. [Case Number: 25-MJ-14134]
These cases are 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).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-156_September 26 Immigration Enforcement
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Dominican Republic National Detained on Federal Drug and Immigration ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI –Acting United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that on September 24, 2025, Carlos Alexis Olivares-Taveras, 34, of the Dominican Republic, was ordered detained pending trial, or until the defense seeks a reopening of his detention hearing, following his arrest on federal drug and immigration offenses.
According to court documents, on September 22, 2025, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and partner law enforcement agencies conducting an immigration enforcement operation in St. Thomas stopped a vehicle driven by the defendant. During the stop, agents observed a white powdery substance in the driver’s side door panel.
A search of the vehicle revealed eleven baggies containing a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine and approximately $4,000 in U.S. currency. During an interview, the defendant admitted that the cocaine and money belonged to him. He also admitted that he had entered the United States unlawfully by boat from Tortola to St. John in February 2025 without presenting himself at a lawful port of entry.
Olivares-Taveras is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and with illegal entry into the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1325(a)(1). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment on the drug charge.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant United States Attorney Cherrisse R. Amaro is prosecuting the case.
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.Columbia County resident sentenced to 7 years in federal prison for possessing images and videos of child sexual exploitationRead the Press Release
Defendant possessed more than 50,000 digital files containing child porn
AUGUSTA, GA: On September 25, 2025, a Columbia County resident was sentenced to federal prison for possessing child pornography.
Perry Jason Ward, 27, of Evans, Georgia, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for possessing images of sexual exploitation of children, said Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Ward to register as a sex offender, pay $96,000 in restitution, pay $200 in special assessments, and serve15 years of supervised release upon completion of the prison term.
“Protecting our children means stopping the creation and distribution of any materials that sexually exploits them,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Thanks to the work of our law enforcement partners, Defendant Ward is being held responsible for his reprehensible actions.”
As described in court documents and at sentencing, Defendant Ward used the internet to obtain 45,792 images and 4,609 videos containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The CSAM in his possession included images of infants, toddlers, and pre-pubescent children, some of which were subjected to bondage and other horrific acts of abuse.
The CSAM was discovered after the Columbia County Sherriff’s Office received multiple CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and using that information, obtained and executed a search warrant on Ward’s residence in October of 2023. Ward faces additional charges for other conduct in Columbia County Superior Court.
“Crimes that exploit children are among the most disturbing cases we investigate,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “This sentence reflects our commitment to pursuing those who traffic in child sexual abuse material and ensuring they are held accountable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect children and remove predators from our communities.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason W. Blanchard.
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
Child Predator in Utah Sentenced to 30 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Carlos Arturo Aparicio Hernandez, aka Raiza Daniela Yasira Aparicio Hernandez, 40, of Taylorsville, Utah, was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment after he pretended to be a minor female and communicated with a child victim on Facebook. The defendant convinced the victim to send sexually explicit photos and then extorted additional sexually explicit images and videos from the victim.
In addition to his term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge David Barlow, sentenced Aparicio Hernandez to a lifetime term of supervised release.
According to court documents and admissions made at Aparicio Hernandez’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, Aparicio Hernandez engaged in sexual conduct with a minor that he met on Facebook while pretending to be a minor female. Specifically, beginning on April 29, 2022, Aparicio Hernandez used his iPhone and iPad while acting as a minor female to communicate with an actual 14-year-old on Facebook. Over months of communications, Aparicio Hernandez convinced the teen to send him explicit photos and videos, which he later extorted for additional explicit images and videos from the victim. He also arranged on two occasions to meet the 14-year-old and engaged in illegal sexual activity, of which he produced images of the illegal sexual encounters and stored them on his electronic devices. Aparicio Hernandez also had sexually explicit photographs of other minors on his devices.
“Aparicio Hernandez is a danger to the children in our communities and elsewhere,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah. “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims-especially child victims, who are the most vulnerable among us. His 30-year sentence is a stern reminder that we will track down, arrest and prosecute child predators.”
“Protecting our community’s most vulnerable is our highest priority,” said West Valley City Police Chief Colleen Jacobs. “This sentence sends a clear message: anyone who uses social media to prey on children will be found, stopped, and held accountable.”
“This predator’s actions were deliberate, manipulative, and devastating,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI will continue to stand with our law enforcement partners to protect children, safeguard our communities, and ensure predators face the strongest consequences possible.”
The case was investigated jointly by the West Valley City Police Department and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Carol A. Dain of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Chicago Man Convicted of Running Fentanyl Distribution Operation in Northern PanhandleRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Chicago, Illinois man was convicted of multiple drug charges for leading a drug distribution organization that transported fentanyl from Chicago, Illinois, to Weirton, West Virginia.
Gerald Henry, also known as “Unc,” age 41, was found guilty of two counts involving the distribution of fentanyl and cocaine. The testimony at trial established that Henry transported large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine to Hancock County, West Virginia for sale and distribution. Investigators seized more than 400 grams of fentanyl from a search of Henry’s Weirton residence.
Henry faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison for each of the charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jasmine MCullough, 41, of Chicago, Illinois; Stephen Price, 40, of Chicago, Illinois; Daniel Pail Truax, 47, of Weirton, West Virginia; Paula Jean Truax, 44, of Weirton, West Virginia; and William Dean Tredway, 35, of Colliers, West Virginia have each previously entered guilty pleas for their roles in the drug operation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton Reid and Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Investigative agencies include the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office; the Brooke County Sheriff’s Office; the Weirton Police Department; the West Virginia State Police; the Jefferson County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Office; the Steubenville, Ohio, Police Department; and the Wheeling Police Department.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Brothers Sentenced to Federal Prison in Connection with Used Car Odometer SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Chief Judge George L. Russell, III, sentenced Kamal Khalid, 44, of Pasadena, Maryland, to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after he pled guilty to conspiracy and securities fraud stemming from his role in an odometer rollback scheme. Judge Russell previously sentenced Khalid’s younger brother and co-conspirator, Fnu Shahrukh, 31, of Severna Park, Maryland, to 18 months of incarceration for his role in the scheme. Additionally, Judge Russell ordered both defendants to pay approximately $1.2 million in restitution to their victims.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Administrator Jonathan Morrison, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Khalid and his brother preyed on unsuspecting people simply looking to buy a reliable used car. But instead, these victims were deceived into purchasing vehicles that were well past their prime, so now the perpetrators must face the consequence of their criminal actions,” Hayes said. “We, along with our law-enforcement partners, are committed to protecting consumers from those who target others to deceive them out of their hard-earned money.”
“Odometer fraud is a serious crime that that not only costs consumers billions of dollars every year, but also makes our roads more dangerous. In this case, the co-conspirators lowered the average vehicle’s mileage by 124,000, resulting in consumers grossly overpaying for used vehicles near or past their expected lifespans,” Morrison said. “Buyers were purchasing vehicles without knowing that critical components like brakes, belts, and fluids were long past their service dates. Used car buyers deserve to know the true history of their vehicles before purchase, and we encourage everyone to learn how to identify odometer fraud and protect themselves before signing on the dotted line.”
On April 7, 2025, Shahrukh pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. Then on May 28, Khalid pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and one count of securities fraud. As part of their plea agreements, both Shahrukh and Khalid admitted that between 2016 and 2019, they engaged in a scheme to sell used vehicles with false, low-mileage readings entered on the vehicles’ odometers and titles to unwitting consumers.
The defendants also admitted that they purchased high-mileage vehicles from auto auctions. They then altered the vehicles’ odometers to reflect false, lower mileage readings, and obtained motor-vehicle titles reflecting those false, lower mileages. Shahrukh and Khalid then used the fraudulent title documentation and falsified odometer readings to sell the vehicles both through auto auctions and directly to consumers.
On average, the co-conspirators artificially lowered the vehicles’ mileages by 124,000 miles. The co-conspirators deceived purchasers into believing the vehicles had lower mileages, which enabled them to sell the vehicles at inflated prices. As a result of the scheme, consumers paid more for the vehicles than they likely would have if they knew the true high mileage.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended NHTSA for its work in investigating this case and the Maryland Department of Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicles Administration for its assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Phelps, District of Maryland, and Senior Litigation Counsel David Sullivan and Trial Attorney Manu J. Sebastian, Justice Department, Consumer Protection Branch, who prosecuted the case.
Individuals with information relating to odometer tampering should call NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. More information on odometer fraud, including prevention tips, is available on NHTSA’s website.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Brockton Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Illegal Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A self-admitted gang member from Brockton, who was previously convicted of killing a 17-year-old outside a Roxbury high school, was sentenced today for drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Andre McNeil, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to seven years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. In April 2025, McNeil pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. McNeil was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024.
On Feb. 2, 2024, searches were executed on McNeil’s vehicle and several associated residences. As a result, approximately 31 grams of cocaine, three handguns, two high-capacity magazines, five other magazines, approximately 101 rounds of 9mm ammunition and approximately $17,406 dollars, along with numerous cellular devices were seized. Numerous items used in drug trafficking, including scales, a money counter, baggies and a drug ledger were also found at the search locations.
McNeil is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2014 manslaughter conviction in Suffolk Superior Court for shooting and killing a 17-year-old boy outside a Roxbury high school, for which he was sentenced to more than 12 years in state prison.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Brockton, Foxboro and Taunton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Bradford County Man Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Richard Burke, age 76, of Milan, Pennsylvania, plead guilty on September 24, 2025, before Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann to a criminal information charging him with wire fraud.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, from April 2005 until March 7, 2022, Burke withdrew $350,634.23 of his deceased mother’s Social Security Retirement, Survivors and Disability (RSDI) benefits and Veterans Affairs death pension benefit payments from her bank account. Burke’s mother died in 2005, and no other individual was entitled to the benefits designated to her. Burke used his deceased mother’s bank card to make regular cash withdrawals over the years following her benefits deposits, never notifying the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) nor the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that she died.
This case was investigated by the SSA and VA, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense is 20 years and a fine. A sentence for this offense may also include a period of supervised release following imprisonment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Burke’s sentencing is not yet scheduled.
# # #
Assaults on federal agents and 55 aliens locked in a produce trailer among 505 cases recently filed in SDTX’s continuing border security effortsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Between Sept. 19-25, a total of 511 individuals have been charged in immigration and related matters as part of ongoing enforcement actions along the South Texas border, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Among those are 180 people charged with illegally reentering the country. The majority have prior felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, sexual offenses, prior immigration crimes and more. A total of 304 people are charged with illegal entry, while 16 others are alleged to have engaged in human smuggling. Other relevant cases include five individuals charged with other immigration-related matters, illegal fishing and assaults of officers.
Two of those are Mexican nationals Juan Carmen Padron Mendez and Juan Carlos Padron Barron for allegedly strangling a Border Patrol agent while en route to a Houston-area detention facility. Court documents allege Mendez wrapped his arm around the agent’s neck as Barron grabbed their belongings and fled on foot before authorities apprehended both men. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in federal prison.
Another assault of on officer allegedly occurred Sept. 23. The criminal complaint alleges an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer encountered Sindi Moreno-Flores and attempted to place her under arrest. She allegedly resisted and began scratching him and swinging her arm in order to strike him. The charges allege she was eventually placed into custody following a continued struggle that included a family member. The officer allegedly sustained deep scratches on his arm and hands.
“The Southern District of Texas has zero tolerance for those who assault law enforcement,” said Ganjei. “Let it be known: if you lay a hand on an officer, deputy, or federal agent, SDTX will do whatever it can to put you in federal prison for as long as the law will allow. You’ve been warned.”
Also charged this week are Brandon Lajohn Hargrove, Houston, and Jose Luis Castellanos-Hercules, an illegal alien from Honduras. They allegedly transported 55 illegal aliens in a hidden compartment in a produce trailer near San Ygnacio. According to the complaint, multiple heavy pallets blocked the access door and prevented them from being able to leave on their own. Once authorities discovered them, the aliens had to crawl through a small door to get out from behind the false wall. If convicted, Hargrove and Castellanos-Hercules could receive up to 10 years in federal prison. Several of the illegal aliens in the truck are also facing charges of illegal entry or reentry.
Others facing new criminal charges are four men discovered in the Rio Grande Valley. The complaints allege they attempted to unlawfully reenter the country within six months of their most recent removals. Mexican nationals Vicente Trejo-Rodriguez, David Flores-Garcia and Romeo Enrique Perez-Santacruz were previously removed March 14, Aug. 15 and Sept. 10, respectively, while Honduran national Enil Omar Guillen-Santos was removed May 10, according to the charges. Each allegedly has prior felony convictions, including identity theft, drug manufacturing and distribution, tampering with government records or possessing counterfeit permits.
Authorities also found two other Mexican nationals who had been previously removed in the McAllen area, according to the criminal complaints. Charges allege Leonardo Chavez-Sifuentes and Leobardo Perez-Fernandez have both been sentenced previously for illegal reentry crimes.
All six men face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.
In addition to the new cases, Erik Villegas Cusi, a resident of Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico, admitted he conspired with others in Mexico to smuggle fentanyl and cocaine during a family trip. Authorities discovered the drugs hidden in an aftermarket compartment in the undercarriage of his vehicle as he crossed the Internation Bridge No. 2 with his wife and minor son. He faces up to life in prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
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.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A convicted felon with a lengthy criminal past was sentenced to serve nearly two decades in prison after he was found guilty at trial of illegally possessing a firearm while outside a Dollar General store in Valdosta.
Donald Patrick Parr, 69, of Ocilla, Georgia, and formerly of Valdosta, Georgia, and Jennings, Florida, was sentenced as a federal armed career criminal to serve 235 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on Sept. 25. Parr was found guilty at trial of one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on May 13. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The penalties are steep for armed career criminals caught illegally possessing firearms in the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “I want to thank the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and ATF for helping us hold repeat offenders accountable for their continued disregard of the law.”
“Our partnership with local agencies like the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office is vital in tackling gun violence and ensuring that those with a history of criminal behavior are held accountable for their actions,” said ATF Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robert Davis.
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, a Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a call concerning a man—later identified as Parr—sitting inside a car at a Dollar General parking lot for over an hour and periodically falling asleep. Authorities discovered Parr was wanted for drug charges in Palo Pinto County, Texas. Law enforcement found a little over a gram of methamphetamine, a bag of marijuana and a .22 caliber revolver in Parr’s vehicle. Parr has multiple prior felony convictions for possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute, making terroristic threats, aggravated fleeing and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Daniels and Sonja Profit are prosecuting the case for the Government.Allentown Man Charged with Drug Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Urena-Capellan, age 40, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on a drug trafficking offense.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment charges Urena-Capellan with attempted possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl in Franklin County, on July 30, 2025.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Ford is prosecuting the case.
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).
The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense is life imprisonment, a fine, and a period of supervised release following imprisonment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
# # #
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Financial Fraud
Cassandra Lee Corbin, 36, with no permanent address, was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for theft of government funds. According to court documents, the defendant, as the custodian of her two minor children, received Survivor Insurance Benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) upon the death of her husband. However, from November 2020 until May 2023 the children were no longer in her care and custody, and she knowingly failed to report to the SSA that she no longer had custody of the children and was not entitled to receive the benefits on their behalf. The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General investigated the crime. Corbin was indicted on May 12 and pleaded guilty on June 27. Chief U.S. District Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Sept. 25 in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00096
Violent Crime
Cole Posey, 35, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced to 50 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to court documents, on May 1, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Wind River Police Department advised the FBI that an assault had occurred at a residence in Ethete. When agents arrived, the victim was bleeding and had to be transported to the emergency room for a displaced nasal fracture caused by Posey hitting the victim in the face. The victim also had other injuries such as bruises and scratches that resulted from Posey. The Bureau of Indian Affairs Wind River Police Department and the FBI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Posey was indicted on May 21 and pleaded guilty on July 1. Chief U.S. District Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Sept. 23 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00087
Gonnie Chad Luis Angatomope Mendez aka Luis Mendez, 44, with no permanent residence, was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for threatening a witness or victim with physical force. According to court documents, the victim disclosed in an interview with an FBI Child and Adolescent Forensic interviewer that Mendez would abuse the victim’s mother and then turn the abuse on the victim. The physical abuse on the victim happened when the victim tried to get the other children in the house to safety. Mendez threatened to kill the victim or kill the victim’s mother if the victim told anyone about Mendez’s assaults. The defendant provided a factual basis in which he admitted using physical force and the threat of physical force against the victim to hinder, delay and prevent the victim’s communication with law enforcement. The FBI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 22 in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00120Drug Trafficking
Carlos Salazar, 50, with no permanent address, was sentenced to 92 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) began investigating multiple people in December 2024 on suspicion of distributing methamphetamine. Throughout the investigation, agents learned that Salazar was a distributor in Wyoming and was buying his drugs from a source in Colorado. On Jan. 9, as Salazar and three others were returning from Colorado, the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle Salazar was driving in Converse County. Salazar fled and a pursuit ensued which ended with WHP using spike strips to stop the vehicle. Agents learned that methamphetamine had been tossed out of the window during the pursuit and was recovered by DCI. Wyoming DCI, Department of Homeland Security, and WHP investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie R. Morrison prosecuted the case. Salazar was arrested on complaint Feb. 7 and pleaded guilty to an Information on May 12. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 24 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00075
Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Elmer Danillo Martinez Quinteros, 33, of Santa Barbara, Honduras, was sentenced to time served, approximately four months of imprisonment, and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on July 6, 2020, the defendant was arrested in Laramie County for driving while under the influence of alcohol. ICE determined that he was previously deported and did not apply for permission to reenter the United States legally. He was apprehended in Texas on May 20, 2025. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 25 in Cheyenne. Case No. 20-CR-00119
Public Land Violation
Andres Sanchez Yobal, 64, of Bozeman, Montana, pled guilty to operating a motor vehicle with a breath alcohol concentration greater than .08, and operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license in Yellowstone National Park. He was then sentenced to a 60-day term of incarceration with credit for 19 days previously served and was ordered to serve the remaining 41-day term of incarceration immediately. The defendant was also placed on five years of unsupervised probation under various terms and conditions including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during the probationary period. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 19 in Mammoth.
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Operation Take Back America
Operation Take Back America is 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).
Victim Witness Program
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime
25 September 2025
Wolf Point man pleads guilty to assault charges on the Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Wolf Point man accused of stabbing an individual on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to charges yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Lawrence George Fast Horse, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of domestic assault by habitual offender. Fast Horse faces 5 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing has been set for January 29, 2025. Fast Horse was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on August 2, 2024, Lawrence George Fast Horse stabbed Jane Doe in Poplar. Law enforcement officers responded to the scene and observed a stab wound on Jane Doe’s upper back. An officer searched Fast Horse at the scene and located a knife with brass knuckles attached to it in his right-side shorts pocket.
A witness provided a verbal and written statement to law enforcement. The witness advised that Fast Horse and Jane Doe were arguing, and Fast Horse pushed Jane Doe from behind. The witness saw Fast Horse attempt to conceal a blade behind his back. Fast Horse was arrested and subsequently transported to the Fort Peck Adult Correctional Facility. Jane Doe was taken to Poplar Community Hospital where she was treated for three stab wounds.
Fast Horse has been convicted of at least 5 prior domestic assaults between 2008 and 2020.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation.
XXX
Wausau Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Cocaine Trafficking and Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Johntay L. Johnson, 40, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 8 years in federal prison for maintaining a drug-involved premises, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and distributing cocaine. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Johnson pleaded guilty to these charges on July 1, 2025.
In December 2023, investigators with the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force identified Johnson as a cocaine trafficker operating out of Wausau, Wisconsin. Between January and July 2024, a confidential informant purchased two ounces of cocaine from Johnson on seven occasions, with six of the controlled buys occurring at Johnson’s home in Wausau.
On September 10, 2024, while executing a search warrant at Johnson’s residence in Wausau, officers located three firearms, cocaine, and marijuana in Johnson’s bedroom. A fourth firearm was recovered in a second bedroom. Officers also discovered over $13,000 in cash, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia in the residence. Two of the firearms seized had previously been reported stolen.
At the time of the search warrant, Johnson was arrested on an outstanding warrant in an unrelated state case. He was charged in state court for the guns and drugs found in his home and released on a cash bond two days later. Two weeks later, and while out on bond, Johnson sold an ounce of cocaine to a confidential informant and then did so again in late November 2024.
At sentencing, Judge Conley noted that Johnson’s cocaine trafficking was aggravated by multiple factors, including his possession of multiple firearms, his quick return to drug dealing after being arrested in the middle of this investigation, and his lengthy criminal record that includes five prior convictions for cocaine trafficking.
The charges against Johnson were the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of agents from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force and the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force is comprised of federal agents from ATF and task force officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
Federal criminal cases involving drugs and guns are 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).
Washington County Man Pleads Guilty to Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Thomas P. Allen, Sr., age 44, of Granville, New York, pled guilty on Monday to transportation of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
Allen admitted that from about February 2016 through November 2018, and in December 2019, he used the internet to upload images of child pornography to his Google Drive account. Additionally, he received images of child pornography on his cellular phone.
Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Thomas P. Allen’s deliberate and calculated use of the internet to transport and possess child pornography is a violation of the law and the innocence of children. My office will not allow anyone who engages in such sickening conduct to evade justice. This case should serve as a warning to all who would exploit children: we will pursue you relentlessly, and we will ensure you face the full force of the law.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “This plea ensures Mr. Allen will spend time in federal prison for his despicable actions. The FBI will continue to aggressively seek out and investigate those who prey on our most vulnerable, especially predators who possess child pornography.”
Sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2026, before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. Allen faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Allen also will have to pay restitution to victims, forfeit property he used to commit the offense, and will be required to register as a sex offender. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Vickey is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the 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, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Virginia Beach man sentenced to 25 years in prison after “sextorting” two minors and an adultRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Justin Whichard, 24, extorted two minor victims by chatting online with them, fostering a romantic and sexual dynamic, and threatening to reveal their identities to their families unless they produced CSAM for him. Whichard then used that CSAM to attempt to extort an adult by pretending to be the minors, sending images of the minors to the adult, and threatening to reveal the adult’s identity and engagement with minors unless he transferred money to Whichard.
While investigating Whichard for ordering a machinegun conversion device online, law enforcement searched Whichard’s residence on July 26, 2023. Whichard possessed 131 images and 15 videos of CSAM, including infants and toddlers. Whichard’s phone also contained 106 images of animated child exploitive material, as well as a script that specifically requested the production of CSAM.
While on bond on state charges, Whichard fled for several months across numerous states. Law enforcement apprehended Whichard in Tennessee in March 2024. Whichard pled guilty on Nov. 5, 2024.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton D. LaForge prosecuted the case.
Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Christopher Heck, Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
The Virginia Beach Police Department and the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office provided invaluable assistance in the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-76.
Undocumented Immigrant Admits Targeting Retailers Nationwide with Sleight-of-Hand FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A Romanian national who has repeatedly entered the United States illegally on Thursday admitted costing big box stores across the country at least $161,000 with a sleight-of-hand fraud.
Adrian Stoica, 46, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to three counts of wire fraud and one count of illegal entry into the United States. He admitted conducting at least 170 transactions at stores in 20 states between November 2021 and March 2025.
After cashiers scanned merchandise, prepaid gift cards, and electronic money transfers for Stoica, he counted out cash into piles to trick cashiers into believing that he would be paying the full price. He collected the piles and then slipped bills from the bottom of the stack into his pocket, short-changing the stores by hundreds of dollars or more in each transaction. Stoica would then move on to a store in a different area.
Stoica’s plea agreement mentions three transactions in Missouri. On Feb. 17, 2023, he shortchanged the cashier of a Chesterfield store by approximately $860. On Sept. 7, 2023, his scheme cost a store in O’Fallon, Missouri about $690. The next day, he cost a Fenton store about $660.
Stoica is scheduled to be sentenced on January 27. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. The illegal entry charge carries a prison term of up to two years and the same fine. Stoica will also be ordered to repay the money and will be deported.
Stoica illegally entered the country in 2016 via Arizona, around October 2018 via Texas and sometime before November 2021 via an unknown location. He was ordered removed from the country in May of 2018 and deported in February of 2020. Stoica has used the names Boeri Kvec, Borri Kvec, Boeri Stoica and Adrian Anghel, his plea agreement says.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations handled the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf is prosecuting the case.
Two plead guilty in large-scale interstate email scam schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A Houston man and woman have pleaded guilty to their respective roles in an identity theft and business email compromise scam (BEC), announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
From 2021 to 2022, Bolaji Okunnu, 31, operated an unlicensed money transmitting business that received and transmitted funds from the BEC scheme.
As part of his plea, Okunnu acknowledged he moved money through bank accounts that he and others controlled. The funds originated from fraudsters involved in a BEC wire fraud scheme involving at least four victims. Okunnu admitted receiving the funds and then, for a fee, transmitting the fraud proceeds to others.
The scheme also included the theft of stolen checks from various companies.
Amber Bush, 30, created bank accounts to funnel money from stolen checks to Destini Godfrey, who is charged in the BEC wire fraud scheme.
As part of her plea, Bush admitted to using the name and personal identifying information of a real person without their knowledge or consent to open a bank account at JP Morgan Chase bank. After receiving deposits into that account which originated from a stolen check, Bush acknowledged she then issued four checks totaling $165,000 to Godfrey.
More than 45 people in multiple states, including Okunnu and eight others in the Southern District of Texas, have been charged in separate BEC schemes that affected numerous victims.
U.S. District Judge George Hanks will impose sentencing Dec. 8. At that time, Okunnu faces up to five years in federal prison, while Bush faces a mandatory prison term of two years. Both could also be ordered to pay a $250,000 maximum possible fine.
They were permitted to remain on bond pending those hearings.
Godfrey, 31, Houston, is considered a fugitive and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000. He is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
The FBI-Bryan Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation with valuable assistance from the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and the Edison Police Department in New Jersey and other law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.
Two of Three New Bedford, Massachusetts Men Charged for February 2024 Saco Shooting Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: Two New Bedford, Massachusetts men pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to a three-count superseding indictment that included charges for conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, perpetrating a drive-by shooting, and using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Joshua Estrada (aka “Mac”), 20, and Yancarlos Abrante (aka “Glizzy”), 22, pleaded guilty to the superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury on March 19, 2025.
According to court records, on February 9, 2024, Estrada and Abrante fired at least five rounds from a 9mm handgun into another vehicle in a drug trade dispute. Shortly after they fired on their drug rivals and fled the scene, they drove their vehicle against traffic and through a red light, crashing into another passenger vehicle and a school bus. Video footage captured by another driver who witnessed the accident showed them exiting their vehicle and fleeing the scene on foot. Court records reflect that Estrada, Abrante and others had been trafficking cocaine in and around Saco and Biddeford since at least January 2024.
A third defendant, Jason Johnson-Rivera (aka “Ouda”), 20, is expected to go to trial later this year.
“Today’s guilty pleas by Joshua Estrada and Yancarlos Abrante are the result of a tireless and cooperative investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Craig M. Wolff. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its partners are united in bringing to justice those who distribute drugs and commit acts of violence in this state.”
“These two violent, dangerous men committed a brazen, drive-by shooting in Saco in broad daylight following a dispute over the cocaine they were trafficking,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Their unabashed criminal behavior put innocent lives at risk, all so they could maintain their hold on their drug territory and keep the cash rolling in. This case underscores how the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force and our law enforcement partners are working together to target and dismantle the violent drug gangs wreaking so much havoc in our communities, just to make money and a name for themselves on the street.”
Estrada and Abrante face a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years with a maximum of life, a fine of up to $10 million, and not less than five years of supervised release. Both defendants 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 Saco Police Department, FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force, U.S. Border Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the New Bedford (Mass.) Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
###
Two Mexican men plead guilty to illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that two Mexican nationals pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to re-entry of a removed alien. Ariel Benjamin Gregorio Santiago, 36, pleaded guilty and was then sentenced to serve four months in prison. Zeferino Marceliano Leon, 35, pleaded guilty, was sentenced to time served, and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the case, stated that on July 24, 2025, Border Patrol agents encountered Ariel Benjamin Gregorio Santiago and Zeferino Marceliano Leon. When questioned by agents, the two men confirmed that that they are citizens of Mexico, and not a national of the United States. Further investigation determined that Gregorio Santiago was previously removed from the United States in 2011 and twice in 2019, and Marceliano Leon was previously removed in 2011.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The pleas and sentencings are the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge David Banks.
# # # #
Two Detroiters Charged with Stealing over $12 Million in Separate Federal Student Aid Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
DETROIT - Two defendants have been charged via criminal complaints for their roles in separate frauds related to Federal Student Aid, announced United States Attorney Jerome Gorgon.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge John Woolley, U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General (DOE-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Megan Howell, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG).
The first complaint charges Brandon Robinson, 41, of Detroit with wire fraud related to false Federal Student Aid (FSA) claims submitted in the names of other individuals. Robinson was arrested earlier today and appeared in federal court this afternoon on the charges.
According to the complaint, Robinson is responsible for leading a years-long scheme to obtain fraudulent Federal Student Aid benefits involving so-called “straw students” who were enrolled for the primary purpose of receiving FSA. Specifically, the complaint alleges that between January 2015 and February 2024, Robinson submitted fraudulent FSA claims for more than 1200 individuals, involving over 100 schools in 24 states. As a result of the scheme, it is alleged that Robinson fraudulently caused more than $16M in FSA benefits to be awarded, with more than $10M disbursed. Additionally, the complaint alleges that Robinson also filed over 100 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims between April 2020 and March 2023, causing the disbursement of over $1M in UI benefits.
The second complaint charges Michelle Hill, 48, of Detroit with wire fraud, in connection with a separate FSA scheme. Hill was arrested yesterday morning and made an initial appearance in federal court yesterday afternoon.
According to the complaint, between July 2015 and July 2025, Hill devised and executed a scheme to obtain fraudulent FSA benefits involving more than 80 individuals, predominantly enrolled at Wayne County Community College. The complaint alleges that many of these individuals were enrolled in the same or similar degree programs and were taking the same or similar online courses. It is also alleged that Hill herself often completed the coursework on the students’ behalf, to make it appear that the students were progressing toward degrees and prolonging their eligibility for FSA benefits. As a result of the scheme, it is alleged that Hill fraudulently caused more than $3M in FSA benefits to be awarded, with more than $2.5M disbursed.
A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Trial cannot be held on felony charges in a complaint. When the investigations are completed, determinations will be made whether to seek felony indictments.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John K. Neal and Ryan A. Particka. The Robinson investigation is being conducted jointly by agents from the Department of Education Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the FBI Detroit – Macomb County Resident Agency. The Hill investigation is being conducted by agents from Department of Education Office of the Inspector General.
Trinitarios Gang Members Extradited from Honduras to Face Rico Charges Related to Four MurdersRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Honduran nationals have been extradited to the United States to face racketeering charges. Each defendant – both of whom are alleged members of the Trinitarios – is charged with participating in two murders. They are alleged to have been in the United States illegally at the time of the murders and fled to Honduras to avoid federal charges.
Elvis Trujillo, 27, and Yeferson Vallecillo Cambar, 23, were arrested in December 2024 in Honduras at the request of the United States and extradited to the United States yesterday. Trujillo and Cambar will appear in federal court in Boston at 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. today. Trujillo and Cambar were each indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of RICO Conspiracy.
Trujillo and Cambar are alleged to be members of the Trinitarios criminal enterprise, which is a transnational criminal organization with a large presence in Massachusetts communities. In February 2025, federal charges were unsealed against more than two dozen Trinitarios members as part of a multijurisdictional takedown. Those charges included specific allegations that the Trinitarios were responsible for over 10 murders taking place over the last decade. Trujillo is charged with allegedly participating in two of those murders. Cambar is charged with allegedly participating in two additional murders
According to the charging documents, the Trinitarios are a hierarchical criminal organization, with positions that are known to exist at the state and local chapter level, whose members adhere to a code of conduct. Enmanuel Paula-Cabral, a/k/a, “Nelfew,” a/k/a “Gordo,” “Manny,” allegedly served as the State Supreme of the Trinitarios for Massachusetts, responsible for the entirety of the gang’s criminal activities, coordination with other state leaders and communication with leadership of the Trinitarios in the Dominican Republic.
Trujillo is charged with participating in the murder of Juan Espinal in March 2017, and the murder of Mindy Tran in November 2017. The murder of Espinal is alleged in court documents to have been committed by Trujillo and another Trinitario member on the orders of Trinitario leadership. Trujillo and the other Trinitario member are alleged to have ambushed Espinal and fired at him as he walked past, then chased him down and fired more rounds killing him in the street. The murder of Mindy Tran is alleged in court documents to have been committed by Trujillo and another individual during an attempted robbery of Tran during a marijuana sale. Trujillo is alleged to have fired the shot that killed Tran.
According to court documents, Trujillo was in the United States illegally and is believed to have consented to removal to Honduras following his conviction in a separate shooting incident in order to avoid charges for his role in the murder of Tran.Cambar is charged with participating in the murders of Jandriel Heredia and Abraham Diaz in September 2023. According to the charging documents, the Trinitarios wrongly believed rival gang members were in attendance at a graduation party and conducted a drive-by shooting that killed Heredia and Diaz and wounded five other surviving victims. The Trinitarios targeted the party to retaliate for the recent death of a Trinitario gang member. Cambar is alleged to have assisted in procuring the vehicle used in the double murder and assisting in the concealment and destruction of evidence after the fact.
Cambar is believed to have fled to Honduras to avoid charges for his role in the September 2023 shooting. Cambar was present in the United States during this time without legal status and without inspection at a port of entry.
The charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (also known as “racketeering conspiracy” or “RICO conspiracy”) provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Kevin Neal, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy; and Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and the Andover, Boston, Peabody, Salem, and Manchester NH Police Departments. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs coordinated with authorities in Honduras to secure the extradition of Trujillo and Cambar. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three Miami Men Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses in Connection with Narcotics Distribution Operation from Local StorefrontsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Three Miami men have been charged with federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses in connection with the distribution of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and other controlled substances.
The nine-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury charges Antwan Bailey, 45; Eddie Gene Worthy Jr., 52; and Willie Weatherspoon, 52, all of Miami, with conspiracy to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. Worthy is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and Bailey is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to allegations in the court record, including a previously filed criminal complaint, Weatherspoon, Bailey, and Worthy conducted drug trafficking activities through a restaurant and neighboring businesses located in a Miami retail plaza. These establishments served as distribution points, with the shared parking lot used to facilitate quick meetings and deliveries.
The indictment charges Weatherspoon, Bailey, and Worthy with distribution of more than 400 grams of fentanyl, 30 grams of heroin, and marijuana.
If convicted, Weatherspoon, Bailey, and Worthy face up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami, Field Office announced the charges.
FBI Miami is investigating the case. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and City of Miami Police Department provided invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena Smukler for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Jennifer Burns and Jingh Chang of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20375.
###
Thirteen Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Nationwide Scheme to Defraud Staffing CompaniesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Crispian Atkins (51, Valrico, FL), Henry Bell (61, Tampa, FL), Grace Almonte (44, Miami, FL), Christopher Williamson (39, Daytona Beach, FL), Willie Beard (68, Tampa, FL), Franklin Revels (54, Tampa, FL), Valeria Walker (57, Monroe, GA), Tremayne Eddings (47, Miami, FL), Katrina Osborne (52, Tampa, FL), Natasha Martin (49, Pinellas Park, FL), Cameron Atkins (42, St. Louis, MO), Derrick Stephenson (38, Tampa, FL), and Virgil Thomas (45, Houston, TX) with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Crispian Atkins was also charged with aggravated identity theft. He faces up to 284 years in federal prison for his cumulative offenses. The remaining defendants each face a maximum of 40 years’ imprisonment. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit $2,462,992.81, which is alleged to represent proceeds obtained from the offense.
According to the indictment, between May 2021 and March 2024, Crispian Atkins and his co-defendants defrauded eight victim-companies, located throughout the United States, that provide employment and payroll services, as well as financial funding. Atkins falsely represented to the victim-companies that he had business contracts with other companies to perform IT-related work, and that he needed the victim-companies’ services to fulfill those contracts. The victim companies agreed to provide financial funding or hire Atkins and his co-defendants as “temporary employees” to complete the purported work. Atkins submitted fraudulent timesheets to the victim-companies that reflected work performed by the “temporary employees,” and the victim-companies paid Atkins and his associates, via wire transfers, according to those timesheets. Atkins and his co-defendants then transferred the fraudulently obtained proceeds to other accounts, withdrew proceeds in cash to conceal their source, and shared in the fraudulently obtained proceeds.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Las Vegas Division, Reno Resident Agency and Tampa Division, with assistance from the Norwood Police Department (MA) and Polk County Sheriff’s Office (FL). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
The Department of Justice Creates New Civil Division Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation BranchRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice has announced the creation of a new office within the Civil Division — the Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch — dedicated to safeguarding public health and safety through proactive enforcement and high-impact affirmative litigation.
“By consolidating the Civil Division’s affirmative litigation work into a highly specialized branch, the Department will strengthen its ability to hold powerful actors accountable, protect public health and safety, and enforce critical national policies,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This restructuring reflects the Department’s commitment to aggressively protecting consumers and advancing the interests of the United States.”
The new Branch will consist of two sections. The Enforcement Section will draw on the Department’s extensive experience bringing landmark cases under statutes such as the Controlled Substances Act, Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Consumer Product Safety Act, Federal Trade Commission Act, Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act, to protect consumers — whether it be from unfair and deceptive trade practices of the largest technology companies in the world, defective consumer goods imported from China, or false and misleading claims about drugs and dietary supplements manufactured by pharmaceutical companies. The Affirmative Litigation Section will represent the United States by filing lawsuits against states, municipalities, and private entities that interfere with or obstruct federal policies, ensuring nationwide compliance with the U.S. Constitution and federal law.
The new Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch will strengthen the Civil Division’s ability to advance the Department’s enforcement priorities, including protecting women and children from pharmaceutical companies, health care providers, and medical associations profiting off of false and misleading claims related to so-called gender transition, and ending sanctuary jurisdiction laws, policies, and practices that impede federal immigration enforcement and make Americans less safe in their communities.
Syracuse Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Quintron Dixon, age 22, of Syracuse, pled guilty today to distribution of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.
Dixon admitted that on September 13, 2023, he sold approximately 52 grams of pure methamphetamine to a customer in Syracuse. On July 24, 2025, during an arrest, Syracuse police officers found in Dixon’s pocket a plastic bag, which Dixon admitted as part of his plea contained approximately 84 grams of methamphetamine that he intended to distribute to others.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Methamphetamine is a particularly dangerous and addictive drug, and those who peddle this deadly poison are a scourge on our communities. Together with our law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is dedicated to rooting out drug traffickers and putting them behind bars, where they belong.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller stated: “This guilty plea reflects the strength of ongoing collaboration with ATF NY Syracuse Field Office, Syracuse PD Intel Unit and the US Attorney’s Office NDNY. Those who think they can disregard laws and push dangerous drugs into our communities – fueling addiction and death – will be held accountable. ATF NY remains committed to protecting our neighborhoods and ensuring the safety of those we serve.”
Sentencing is scheduled for February 11, 2026, before Senior United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. Dixon faces a prison term on each count of at least 5 years and up to 40 years, a fine of up to $5 million, and a supervised release term of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
ATF is investigating the case with assistance from the Syracuse Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt McCrobie is prosecuting the case.