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24 September 2025
Romanian National Pleads Guilty in ATM Skimming SchemeRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Daniel Balan, 46, of Bacau, Romania, pleaded guilty in federal court to five counts of bank fraud, five counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of possessing 15 or more access devices, in connection with an ATM “skimming” scheme. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This offender exploited numerous innocent victims for his own financial gain, but thanks to the outstanding investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners he will enjoy an extended stay behind bars. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes to vindicate the victims exploited by these offenses and hold the fraudsters accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Court documents reflect that beginning on January 28, 2025, the defendant placed “skimming” devices and cameras on multiple ATMs in the Tallahassee, Florida area. The devices and cameras were used to capture customer account and access device information. Then, between February 8 and 9, 2025, the defendant used the stolen information to fraudulently obtain $56,340 in customer funds. At the time of arrest, law enforcement found 28 gift cards in the defendant’s pocket that had been encoded with stolen account information and labeled with a corresponding PIN.
Balan faces up to thirty years’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release on each bank fraud count, up to ten years’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release on the possession of 15 or more access devices count, and a consecutive two years’ imprisonment and one-year of supervised release on each aggravated identity theft count when he is sentenced.
The case involved a joint investigation by the U.S. Customers and Immigration Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin M. Keen and Eric W. Welch.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2025, at 2:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark Walker.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit theU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Poplar man sentenced to more than 4 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minorRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Poplar man who sexually abused a minor was sentenced today to 54 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Jonathan Robert Walking Eagle, 23, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to two counts of sexual abuse of a minor.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on January 24 and 25, 2023, Walking Eagle, then 20 years old, sexually abused a 14-year-old girl on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, in both Poplar and Wolf Point.
The first incident occurred on January 24, 2023, in Poplar. The victim went with Walking Eagle to his mother’s house, and they unprotected sex. The second incident occurred the next day, in Wolf Point. A friend of Walking Eagle’s picked up Walking Eagle and the victim and drove them to Wolf Point, where the victim used marijuana and vaped. She became lightheaded and Walking Eagle removed her clothes and sexually assaulted her.
A SANE exam was completed on the victim and saliva samples were obtained from Walking Eagle. There was very strong support that his DNA was present in the samples obtained from the victim during her exam.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Fort Peck Tribal Police, and Wolf Point Police Department, with assistance from the Williston Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to More Than Five and a Half Years in Prison for Possession of Multiple Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 70 months of imprisonment for violating federal firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Morisee Williams, 41, of the Knoxville neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
According to information presented to the Court, in May 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Williams’ residence and recovered four firearms (two of which were stolen), approximately seven ammunition magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a firearm mount and rifle grip. As a previously convicted felon, Williams is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine C. Jordan and Kelly M. Locher prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Williams.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Pensacola Man Charged with Federal Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Tre’Veonce Ezekiel Sanders, 19, of Pensacola, was indicted by a federal grand jury this week charging him with possession of a machinegun, possession of an unregistered firearm, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Sanders appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho on September 23, 2025, in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for November 3, 2025, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
If convicted, Sanders faces up to ten years’ imprisonment for each of the firearms offenses and up to five years’ imprisonment for the drug crime.
The case was joint investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (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.
Pensacola Felon Charged with Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Marcel Kamill Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, was indicted by a federal grand jury this week on charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Mickles appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho on September 23, 2025, in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for November 3, 2025, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
If convicted, Mickles faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the drug trafficking crime and up to 15 years for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a consecutive five-year term with a maximum of life imprisonment.
The case was a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (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.
Owner of Local Restaurant Pleads Guilty to Laundering Covid FundsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Bryan Ochoa Diaz, 32, a resident of Tigard, Oregon, pleaded guilty today to money laundering related to proceeds of a government loan issued to his family-owned restaurant.
According to court documents, Ochoa Diaz, acting on behalf of Casa Colima Vancouver, Inc., applied for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan of $350,000. The loan was part of a Covid era relief program offered by the federal government. The terms of the loan required that funds be used solely as working capital for the company to alleviate economic injury caused by the disaster and that none of the funds would be used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.
On August 16, 2021, the SBA transferred $350,000 into Casa Colima’s bank account. The next day, Ochoa Diaz misappropriated some of the funds by transferring $100,000 into his parents’ personal bank account. Later that same day, Ochoa Diaz wired the $100,000 to a mortgage company to apply to a mortgage his parents had on their home.
Ochoa Diaz is a reserve officer with the U.S. Coast Guard. He was charged by information with one count of money laundering. He made his initial appearance on September 5, 2025, and waived indictment by a grand jury. He pleaded guilty to that charge today and paid $350,000 in full restitution to the SBA.
Ochoa Diaz faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced on December 15, 2025, before a U.S. District Court Judge.
This case was investigated by the SBA, Office of Inspector General, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service. It is being prosecuted by Chris Cardani and Meredith Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Omaha Man Sentenced to More Than 8 Years for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Micah J. Cornell, 27, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 17, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for one count of transportation of child pornography. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Cornell to 97 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Cornell’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Cornell was additionally ordered to pay $6,000 which will contribute to funds established for victims of these types of cases.
The investigation of this case began with a CyberTip received in November 2023. The CyberTip included one child pornography file which was uploaded to an online platform. A search warrant was executed on that account which revealed approximately 150 child pornography videos, including videos of prepubescent children with ages varying from infant to twelve years of age.
After further investigation, a search warrant was executed at Cornell’s residence on June 5, 2024. During the execution of the search warrant, investigators seized Cornell’s devices and Cornell was interviewed. Cornell admitted he was the owner of the subject email address and account. Upon a review of Cornell’s cellphone, 77 image files and 33 videos containing child pornography were located by law enforcement on that device.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s 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.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
Olathe Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing 41 Firearms and Transporting Child Pornography into the United StatesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Olathe, Ks., man pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to stealing 41 firearms from a gun store in Raytown, Mo., and for transporting child pornography on his cell phone into the United States from Mexico.
Frank Guereca, 23, pleaded guilty today to one count of stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee and one count of transportation of child pornography.
On June 16, 2023, Guereca and two others backed a stolen U-Haul truck into the store of a federally licensed firearms dealer, located in Raytown, Mo., creating a hole in the front of the business. Thereafter Guereca and the others entered through the hole and took 41 firearms from the business. One of the stolen pistols was recovered in Tracy, Ca., on Nov. 14, 2023. A second stolen pistol was recovered in Chihuahua, Mexico, on Dec. 19, 2023. A third stolen pistol was recovered in Juarez, Mexico, on Feb. 6, 2024.
Guereca was arrested on April 25, 2024, as he attempted to cross back into the United States from Mexico. Guereca had in his possession a Samsung Galaxy cell phone, which was seized by law enforcement. Subsequent review of the contents of the phone pursuant to a federal search warrant revealed at least approximately 250 images and 70 videos depicting child pornography, which Guereca transported into the United States from Mexico.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection records, Guereca had previously crossed the border approximately 20 times since the burglary and theft on June 16, 2023.
Under federal statutes, Guereca is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in prison without parole for the firearm theft, and up to 20 years in prison without parole for the transportation of child pornography. The maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Raytown, Mo., Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Oklahoma Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murdering Checotah WomanRead the Press Release
David Deval Martin, 40, of McIntosh County, Oklahoma, was sentenced — for a second time — to life in prison for the vicious 2013 murder of a Checotah woman.
“The defendant in this case brutally murdered his victim in cold blood,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. “By retrying the case and securing a life sentence for the Defendant, the Department of Justice has demonstrated our commitment to seeking justice for the victims of violent crime in Indian Country.”
“The defendant’s heinous crime was deserving of the life sentence imposed by the Court,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “I am grateful for the thorough work of investigators and the skilled presentation of the evidence by colleagues from the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. Their collective efforts were vital in securing justice for the victim’s family.”
“Thanks to the work of the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS), the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and FBI Oklahoma City, this depraved and merciless killer has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in federal prison,” said Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “Today’s sentencing underscores the FBI’s dedication to working with our partners and achieving justice for victims of violent crimes in Indian Country.”
In 2016, Martin was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole after a state jury trial held in the District Court of McIntosh County, Oklahoma. On appeal, the Supreme Court of the United States required the Department of Justice to indict and prosecute Martin in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. A federal jury found Martin guilty on one count of murder in Indian Country in October 2024.
According to court documents, on Nov. 7, 2013, Martin viciously beat and stabbed the victim — whom he had previously dated — causing over 109 separate injuries to her head and neck. The medical examiner estimated that it would have taken Martin “20 to 30 [minutes] or longer” to inflict these wounds, and that the victim was alive, and likely conscious, for much of her own murder. Just hours before Martin killed the victim, he was seen threatening her at a local convenience store by pointing his fingers at her head in the shape of a gun.
At the scene of the crime, investigators recovered Martin’s DNA mixed with the victim’s own blood from the front door of the home, and Martin’s fingerprint on the handle of a metal rod used to beat the victim. Martin’s DNA was also recovered from the steering wheel of the victim’s abandoned car.
This case was investigated by the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Martin will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Trial Attorneys Jared A. Hernandez and Brian W. Lynch from the Department of VCRS represented the United States. This case represents the last indictment that has been a part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section McGirt project, in which the Criminal Division partnered with the Eastern District of Oklahoma to prosecute murder cases in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murdering Checotah WomanRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE , OKLAHOMA – David Deval Martin, age 40, of McIntosh County, Oklahoma, was sentenced - for a second time - to life in prison for the vicious 2013 murder of a Checotah woman.
In 2016, Martin was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole after a state jury trial held in the District Court of McIntosh County, Oklahoma. That conviction was vacated after the Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, because Martin is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe, and the crime occurred within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation reservation. Martin was subsequently charged in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and a federal jury found Martin guilty on one count of Murder in Indian Country in October 2024.
According to court documents, on Nov. 7, 2013, Martin viciously beat and stabbed the victim - whom he had previously dated - causing over 109 separate injuries to her head and neck. The medical examiner estimated that it would have taken Martin “20 to 30 [minutes] or longer” to inflict these wounds, and that the victim was alive, and likely conscious, for much of her own murder. Just hours before Martin killed the victim, he was seen threatening her at a local convenience store by pointing his fingers at her head in the shape of a gun.
At the scene of the crime, investigators recovered Martin’s DNA mixed with the victim’s own blood from the front door of the home, and Martin’s fingerprint on the handle of a metal rod used to beat the victim. Martin’s DNA was also recovered from the steering wheel of the victim’s abandoned car.
This case was investigated by the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“The defendant in this case brutally murdered his victim in cold blood,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti. “By retrying the case and securing a life sentence for the Defendant, the Department of Justice has demonstrated our commitment to seeking justice for the victims of violent crime in Indian Country.”
“The defendant’s heinous crime was deserving of the life sentence imposed by the Court,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “I am grateful for the thorough work of investigators and the skilled presentation of the evidence by colleagues from the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. Their collective efforts were vital in securing justice for the victim’s family.”
“Thanks to the work of the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS), the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and FBI Oklahoma City, this depraved and merciless killer has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in federal prison,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “Today’s sentencing underscores the FBI’s dedication to working with our partners and achieving justice for victims of violent crimes in Indian Country.”
“The OSBI appreciates the great work conducted by our law enforcement partners throughout this investigation,” said Hunter McKee, Public Information Manager with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. “Obtaining justice for the victim and their family is crucial for all agencies involved. We are thankful for everyone’s dedication and commitment.”
Martin will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Trial Attorneys Jared A. Hernandez and Brian W. Lynch from the Department of VCRS represented the United States. This case represents the last indictment that has been a part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section McGirt project, in which the Criminal Division partnered with the Eastern District of Oklahoma to prosecute murder cases in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma.
Nigerian National Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Romance Scam and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Nigerian national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his involvement in the theft of more than $2 million from at least six romance scam victims by transferring their money to cryptocurrency accounts that he controlled.
Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, 35, of Abuja, Nigeria, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. Nwadavid was also ordered to pay $2,724,810.41 in restitution. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In June 2025, Nwadavid pleaded guilty to mail fraud, aiding and abetting money laundering and money laundering. Nwadavid was arrested in April 2025 after arriving on a flight from the United Kingdom to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. In January 2024, a federal grand jury in Boston indicted Nwadavid on charges of mail fraud and money laundering.
“Romance scams” recruit victims through advertisements for online relationships on dating or social media websites. Individuals perpetuating romance scams create fictitious profiles and then use them to gain victims’ trust through a purported romantic relationship. Perpetrators then direct their victims to send money or to conduct financial transactions involving other victims’ money under false pretenses, such as an urgent need for money to secure a multi-million-dollar inheritance or to pay for an unexpected hospitalization.
Between in or about 2016 and September 2019, Nwadavid participated in romance scams that tricked victims into sending money abroad. A victim from Massachusetts was tricked into receiving funds from victims around the United States and then passed the funds to Nwadavid through a series of cryptocurrency transactions. Nwadavid repeatedly accessed accounts in the victim’s name from overseas, to transfer the victims’ funds to accounts he controlled at LocalBitcoins, an online cryptocurrency platform.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth B. Kosto and Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Niagara Falls man arrested, charged with attempting to disable a CSX railroad switch that could cause a derailmentRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Charles Wilson, 66, of Niagara Falls, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with attempting to disable a CSX railroad switch in a manner that could cause a derailment or damage railroad equipment. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on June 22, 2025, Amtrak personnel reported to CSX employees that a pad lock was replaced on a railroad switch at the CSX Transportation Niagara Rail Yard on 29th Street in Niagara Falls, NY. CSX trains that use the Niagara Rail Yard carry items including chlorine, sulfuric acid, and bleach.
A railroad switch enables trains to be guided from one track to another. The Amtrak switch pad lock was stolen and replaced with an orange Maintenance of Way (MOW) pad lock, a large pad lock with one universal key. Because the pad lock was replaced with an MOW lock, the railway switch could not be changed in a timely manner. As a result, an Amtrak passenger train was delayed.
On June 23, 2025, surveillance cameras were installed in the area by CSX personnel. A subsequent review of surveillance footage identified Wilson as an individual entering the CSX Niagara Rail Yard on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and appearing to remove a pad lock and replace it with a MOW pad lock. CSX personnel had to remove the unauthorized MOW pad lock and return the switch back to its original position. Wilson’s actions created an interruption and a safety concern to train operations that could have led to a derailment of train cars that contain hazardous material. On July 1, 2025, Wilson drove an ATV from the direction of his home to the CSX Niagara Rail Yard and is seen on surveillance moving a mechanical hand switch into a new position, which could have caused a train derailment. The derailment of a train carrying chlorine, bleach and sulfuric acid could have potentially catastrophic consequences. In the following days, on July 2 and 6, 2025, Wilson is again seen trespassing on CSX property. According to the complaint, he’s been under investigation by the CSX Police Department for various issues since 2013 and was arrested in 2014 and 2016 for criminal trespass and criminal tampering. The 2016 charges resulted in an order of protection barring Wilson from being on CSX property.
Wilson made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was held pending a detention hearing.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the CSX Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean Douris, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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New Jersey Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Khayan Garner, 57, of Woodbridge, New Jersey, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 87 months in prison in connection with distributing videos depicting prepubescent boys engaged in sexually explicit conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Garner, aka “Khy,” pleaded guilty on April 23, 2025, to one count of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, Judge Rudolph Contreras ordered Garner to serve 10 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Garner was acting as an administrator of an online public group dedicated to trading child sexual abuse material (CSAM). On June 26, 2024, Garner sent a private message from his account that included a Mega Link containing a folder labeled “CP,” which contained several videos depicting prepubescent boys engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The recipient was an undercover FBI employee.
On October 3, 2024, New Jersey law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Garner’s residence. Officers searched Garner’s mobile phone pursuant to the New Jersey warrant. The phone contained, among other things, child pornography and selfies of Garner.
The FBI Washington Field Office and MPD’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. Substantial assistance was provided by the Woodbridge Police Department in New Jersey, the New Jersey State Police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Shinskie and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Courtney for the District of Columbia.
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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Missouri Woman Sentenced in Scheme to Fraudulently Foreclose on GracelandRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Lisa Jeannie Findley, 54, of Kimberling City, Missouri, was sentenced to serve 57 months in federal prison related to her unsuccessful scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family of millions of dollars and steal the family’s ownership interest in Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former home located in Memphis, Tennessee. Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to the indictment returned by a federal grand jury in September 2024, Findley orchestrated a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland, falsely claiming that Elvis Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, had pledged the historic landmark as collateral for a loan that she failed to repay before her death. Findley pled guilty in February 2025 to a charge of mail fraud arising from this scheme.
In addition to the prison term, Senior United States District Court Judge, John T. Fowlkes, Jr., also ordered Findley to serve a three-year period of supervision following her release from custody.
“Fame and money are magnets for criminals who look to capitalize on another person’s celebrity status. In this case, Ms. Findley took advantage of the very public and tragic occurrences in the Presley family as an opportunity to prey on the name and financial status of the heirs to the Graceland estate; attempting to steal what rightfully belongs to the Presley family for her personal gain. Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners put an end to her scheme, protecting the Presley family from continued harm and stress. Today’s sentencing marks the culmination of our relentless investigative work in this case and is another example of our commitment in bringing criminals to justice for their illegal activity,” said Eric Shen, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group.
“Orchestrating a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland is a crime against both the Presley family and the public,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Nashville Field Office. “This sentence serves as a reminder that the FBI is committed to vigorously pursue cases against individuals, in the United States and abroad, who would steal an identity and use fraud to benefit themselves personally. It is thanks to the dedication of the FBI and our partners that justice was served.”
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the FBI – Memphis Field Office. Assistant Chief Cory E. Jacobs and Trial Attorneys Christopher Fenton and Aaron Henricks of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. Andre III for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
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Michigan City Man Sentenced to 54 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Neil Lachmund, 46 years old, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of children, production of child pornography, and production and transportation of obscene material for sale or distribution, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Lachmund was sentenced to 54 years in prison followed by life on supervised release. A restitution hearing will be held on a later date to determine the amount of restitution owed to the victims of the offenses.
According to documents in the case, Lachmund produced images and videos of child sexual abuse material. His crimes were committed over a ten-year period, during part of which he was employed as a law-enforcement officer. He then distributed those images and videos to other people using the Internet. Forensic analysis of his electronic devices revealed that he possessed tens of thousands of additional images and videos.
“Neil Lachmund once swore an oath to protect the vulnerable in his community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “By repeatedly preying on those least able to protect themselves, he betrayed the principles to which he swore in the most vile and loathsome manner imaginable. While this sentence cannot undo the harm caused to Lachmund’s victim(s), it puts an end to his depredations. It also serves to warn any other would-be sexual predators: should they decide to commit their crimes in northern Indiana, they will be hunted down and brought to a swift and severe justice by the exceptional team of law enforcement professionals who operate in this District every day.”
“The sexual exploitation of children is among the most reprehensible crimes we investigate. This defendant once swore to uphold the law but, instead, he chose to exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Ericks. “This sentence reflects the serious harm inflicted on the victims and sends a clear message: those who engage in such horrific crimes will be held accountable. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to diligently identify and investigate those individuals and pursue justice for survivors.”
"Homeland Security Investigations is unwavering in its mission to protect children from those who seek to exploit and harm them, regardless of the predator's position or profession. The fact that this individual was a former law enforcement officer entrusted to uphold the law makes these crimes even more appalling. This case underscores the importance of our partnerships with state and local agencies to ensure that no one is above the law and that those who prey on the most vulnerable members of our society are brought to justice,” said Homeland Security Investigations Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Scarpino.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes against Children Unit (ICAC). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T Jones.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Mexican woman pleads guilty to, sentenced for illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Ancelma Contreras Pano, 40, a citizen and national of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to re-entry of a removed alien. She was sentenced to serve two months in prison and will then be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who handled the case, stated that Contreras Pano is an alien without any legal status in the United States. In June 2015, she was physically removed from the United States. On July 31, 2025, Contreras Pano was found in Erie County, NY, by Border Patrol Agents and did not have any documents allowing her to be legally present in the United States.
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 plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge David Banks.
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Mexican national admits to smuggling drugs with family in vehicleRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 49-year-old resident of Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico, has admitted to conspiring to import four kilograms of fentanyl and two kilograms of cocaine from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
On Feb. 14, Erik Villegas Cusi approached the International Bridge No. 2 in a sedan with his wife and minor son as passengers. An x-ray of his vehicle revealed anomalies in the center of the car, prompting further inspection. Authorities drilled into the undercarriage and discovered an aftermarket compartment containing six bundles with 4.02 kilograms of fentanyl and 2.05 kilograms of cocaine.
Cusi initially denied knowledge of the drugs and claimed a mechanic in Mexico may have been responsible. In the presence of law enforcement, he contacted the mechanic who confirmed he had only performed brake work.
Further investigation revealed significant underbody modifications to create the hidden compartment. The muffler and catalytic converter had been removed, reshaped and rewelded before installation. There were also cuts beneath the center console and additional insulation used to seal the compartment after the drugs were placed there.
As part of his plea, Cusi admitted he had conspired with others in Mexico to smuggle the drugs into the United States during the family trip. According to documents filed with the court, Cusi knew he was transporting the drugs from Mexico into the United States at Laredo and was then supposed to deliver the drug-laden vehicle to other people in the United States.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Villegas-Cusi faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine.
Cusi has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, its Laredo Evidence Collection Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration Southwest Regional Laboratory. Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Mexican man pleads guilty for the third time to illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Oscar Figueroa Rosario, 41, a citizen and national of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to re-entry of removed alien subsequent to a felony conviction, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the case, stated that Figueroa Rosario was physically removed from the United States in August 2007. He was found in the United States again in September 2007 and was physically removed on September 20, 2007. Figueroa Rosario was subsequently found in the United States again and physically removed in November 2007, two times in January 2009, and in June 2011. On August 1, 2025, Figueroa Rosario was encountered at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry when the vehicle he was in made a wrong turn towards Canada. He was not in possession of any legal documents allowing him to be present in the United States.
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 plea is the result of an investigation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.
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Mexican man arrested for illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Alejandro Vazquez-Landin, 40, a citizen and national of Mexico, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with re-entry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who handled the case, stated that according to the complaint, on September 10, 2025, while conducting surveillance of a pickup truck with out-of-state plates parked at a hotel in Amherst, NY, law enforcement observed four male subjects, all wearing construction attire, enter the vehicle. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop. Vazquez Landin, a passenger in the vehicle, opened his door and began running towards a nearby parking lot. After a short foot chase, he was apprehended. Vazquez Landin did not possess any valid immigration documents that would allow him to be in the United States. An immigration record check determined that he is a native and citizen of Mexico, who was physically removed from the United States in June 2008 and September of 2012.
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 complaint is the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge David Banks.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Massachusetts Couple Convicted of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester, Mass. husband and wife were convicted on Sept. 22, 2025, of sex trafficking following a six-day jury trial.
Kiersten Soto, 32, and Moises Soto, 33, were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion- both counts relating to the interfamilial trafficking of a younger relative. Kiersten Soto was also convicted of one count of traveling or using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activities. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Dec. 19, 2025. The defendants were arrested and indicted in December 2022.
Evidence presented at trial proved that from February through May 2022, the Sotos used force, fraud and coercion to traffic the victim for commercial sex in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island. A website was used to advertise the victim to sex buyers all over New England. Kiersten Soto regularly threatened the victim with violence, abandonment and involuntary commitment to a facility. Moises Soto used extreme physical violence including – beatings, assaults with wooden dowel rods and choking if he victim failed to make enough money. Videos from the defendants’ cell phones show the defendants cornering the victim in their home, threatening her, berating her, calling her a snitch, all while the victim suffered through agonizing drug withdrawals.“Kiersten and Moises Soto built their so-called livelihood off of brutality and control. The Sotos compounded their cruelty by recording the abuse – immortalizing the victim’s trauma for their own depraved purposes,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Today’s convictions send the unmistakable message that this office will relentlessly pursue those who traffic in human suffering, and we will not stop until they are exposed, prosecuted, and brought to justice.”
“HSI has no tolerance for those who exploit and traffic vulnerable individuals,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “With these two traffickers brought to justice, a victim is now free from exploitation and on the path to healing. HSI is grateful for the partnership and support of our local and state partners from the Marlborough Police Department, the Worcester Police Department, and the Massachusetts State Police.”
The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and mandatory restitution to the victim. The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and mandatory restitution to the victim. The charge of traveling or using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activities, specifically prostitution, provides for a sentence oof up to five years in prison, a maximum of three 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.
U.S. Attorney Foley and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Marlborough and Worcester Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Hassink and Torey B. Cummings of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Mason man pleads guilty to transporting explosive materials to local parkRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – James River Phillips, 21, of Mason, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to illegally transporting explosive materials.
Phillips was arrested in April 2025 by the FBI Cincinnati Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) after agents executed search warrants in Mason, Oxford and Liberty Township.
According to court documents, on Sept. 22, 2024, Phillips transported components of an improvised explosive device (IED) to a large soccer complex in Lebanon, Ohio. Phillips planned to detonate the IED but was stopped when a Lebanon police officer instructed him to leave the complex because it was closed. The officer discovered the live IED and it was seized by the Butler County Bomb Squad. Subsequent testing revealed that the IED contained Nickel Hydrazine Nitrate (NHN) and Erythritol Tetranitrate (ETN).
Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati and officials with the Lebanon Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Mason Police Department, Oxford Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Dayton Police Department and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter is representing the United States in this case.
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Man Who Sold Drugs, Shot at Undercover St. Louis Police Officer Sentenced to 15+ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Wednesday sentenced a man who shot at an undercover St. Louis Police officer who was investigating drug sales to 15 years and five months in prison.
Anthony Stallworth sold 28 capsules containing fentanyl to an undercover St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officer on Oct. 10, 2019. Five days later, the officer contacted Stallworth to buy more fentanyl. Stallworth set a meeting location, then directed the officer to another spot. Stallworth arrived at the second location and had the officer follow his Mercedes SUV. Stallworth then suddenly stopped his SUV, stuck a gun out of the SUV’s window and fired two shots in the direction of the officer’s vehicle, which was stopped at a stop sign. Stallworth fled, speeding and driving erratically so that officers were unable to follow.
In the summer of 2023, St. Louis police were conducting surveillance in the 4700 block of Wilcox Avenue in St. Louis and spotted Stallworth engaging in drug transactions. They conducted a court-approved search of an apartment there and found Stallworth with 450 grams of methamphetamine, 86 grams of fentanyl, $2,862 in cash, a 10mm pistol and drug paraphernalia.
“Stallworth armed himself with firearms and even opened fire on undercover officers, showing a blatant disregard for human life,” said Special Agent in Charge Bernard “Butch” Hansen, of the Kansas City Field Division. “Combined with the large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine he was trafficking, his actions put our entire community at risk. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for the violence he chose and for flooding our streets with deadly drugs and guns. ATF will continue working with our partners to protect families and neighborhoods from offenders who endanger public safety.”
Stallworth, 26, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in June to one count each of possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The discharge of a firearm charge carried a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison for Stallworth, consecutive to all other charges, and the meth possession charges carry a mandatory minimum term of five years.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Man Arrested and Charged with Attempting to Provide Al-Qaida with WeaponsRead the Press Release
A criminal complaint was unsealed today after a Tulsa, Oklahoma, man appeared before a federal judge for attempting to provide 3-D printed weapons to an individual he believed was receiving them on behalf of al-Qaida.
Andrew Scott Hastings, 25, is charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations and illegal possession or transfer of a machinegun.
In June 2024, the FBI learned that Hastings was on a social media app discussing committing acts of violence against U.S. civilians in furtherance of global jihad. Court records indicate that Hastings was enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard (Guard) and worked as an aircraft powertrain repairer, and held a national security clearance. While employed with the Guard, Hastings traveled outside of the United States and failed to report his travel, as required.
Allegedly, Hastings told others within the social media group that they needed to develop cyberspace skills and to start physical training. During months of discussions, Hastings offered to provide anyone interested more than 500 pages of notes, as well as Army manuals related to tactics and the manufacture of weapons. Hastings claimed that he had previously been detained and interrogated by law enforcement and explained how to avoid law enforcement. Hastings further alleged that he made a firearm, was interested in creating a nuclear weapon, and discussed the advantages of using tunnels to protect armed militants, consistent with news reports about Hamas’s use of tunnels in Gaza.
Hastings began communicating with an undercover agent who claimed to have contacts with al-Qaida. They discussed 3-D printed firearms, machinegun conversion devices known as “switches,” and drones. Hastings eventually provided the undercover agent with a link to a website where he was offering 3-D printed switches for sale. Court documents show that Hastings was seen on surveillance footage twice arriving at a postal facility to ship boxes that contained more than 100 3-D printed switches, two 3-D printed lower receivers for a handgun, one handgun slide, and various handgun parts to be supplied to al-Qaida for use in terrorist attacks.
During the pendency of this investigation, on June 6, 2025, Hastings agreed to voluntarily discharge from the Guard.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, U.S. Attorney Clinton J. Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma, and Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division made the announcement.
The FBI Oklahoma City – Tulsa Resident Agency Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Army Counterintelligence Command, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tulsa Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel, Matthew P. Cyran, and Christopher J. Nassar for the Northern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case with support from Trial Attorney Elisa Poteat of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Madison Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Possessing Firearm and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jeramie J. Mason, 40, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, and possessing with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and cocaine. The prison term will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. A jury convicted Mason of these crimes after a three-day trial in federal court in Madison on April 21, 2025.
On November 3, 2023, Madison Police detectives searched Mason’s bedroom for evidence of a fight that had occurred at Warner Beach Park two weeks before. In the bedroom closet, police found a loaded firearm inside of a backpack and a plastic jar containing 4320 counterfeit prescription pills that contained fentanyl, 277 grams of cocaine, and more than 240 counterfeit ecstasy pills containing methamphetamine. Later, an analyst from the Wisconsin State Crime Lab found Mason’s DNA on the firearm and drug packaging. At the time of the offense, Mason was on supervision for possessing heroin intended for distribution. Mason is prohibited from legally possessing firearms under federal law based on that and other felony convictions.
At sentencing, Judge Conley noted that Mason’s offenses were an “alarming escalation” of his criminal conduct. Considering Mason’s history of violent crimes, Judge Conley found it especially concerning that a firearm was found near the large quantity of drugs.
The charges against Mason were the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, Maple Bluff Police Department, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William M. Levins and Aaron Wegner prosecuted this case.
Federal cases involving drugs and firearms are part of 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, 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).
Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Teodoro Rodriguez-Alvarez , 34, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This criminal alien has brazenly and repeatedly violated our laws while illegally present in our country. I deeply appreciate the work of our local law enforcement partners and Homeland Security Investigations to stop his flagrant criminal behavior. My office remains committed to fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the criminal aliens who violate our federal laws by prosecuting those offenders to the fullest extent.”
On July 15, 2025, a Gulf Breeze Police Department officer responded to the Pensacola Bay Bridge in reference to a pickup truck stopped in the emergency lane. The officer arrived at the scene and identified the sole vehicle occupant as Teodoro Rodriguez-Alvarez by his Mexican passport. After speaking with the defendant, law enforcement arrested him for multiple driving offenses. A vehicle inventory was conducted before the truck was towed. During the inventory, a pistol was found in a bag near the driver’s seat. The defendant is a citizen of Mexico and was illegally in the United States.
Mr. Rodriguez-Alvarez faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release.
The case involved an investigation by the Gulf Breeze Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.
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 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.
Long Island Teacher Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Michael Fazio, a teacher at a middle and high school on Long Island, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury. When sentenced, Fazio faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), announced the guilty plea.
“Fazio possessed unthinkable graphic images of child sexual abuse, all while employed in a position of trust as a middle and high school music teacher,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Prosecuting those who victimize children by feeding the market for child pornography will always be a top priority of our Office and our law enforcement partners.”
As set forth in court filings and statements, Fazio, a music teacher at the W.T. Clarke Middle and High School in East Meadow, possessed hundreds of images of child pornography in his Dropbox account and cellphone. During the execution of a search warrant at his residence in April 2025, Fazio admitted that he uploaded three images of child pornography to his Dropbox account in October 2024. A search of one of the defendant’s cellphones revealed more than 700 additional images of child pornography. Another cellphone belonging to the defendant contained a “Hidden Pictures” folder, which he used to store adult pornographic images as well as images and videos of some of Fazio’s students that he surreptitiously recorded during music instruction.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Bradley T. King is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
MICHAEL FAZIO
Age: 40
Bellmore, Long IslandE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-206 (NJC)
Long Island Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl that Killed a Retired Police OfficerRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Ryan Mueller was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 22 years in prison for the distribution of fentanyl causing the death of another. The Court also ordered Mueller to forfeit $49,394 and two firearms. Mueller pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl that caused the death of another in December 2024.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Frank A Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division announced the sentence.
“Mueller operated a massive and deadly fentanyl scheme. He built vending-machine-sized pill presses, possessed kilos of fentanyl and millions of fake and deadly pharmaceutical pills, and sold the fentanyl that led to the tragic loss of life of a retired police officer,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Although no punishment can make up for a life lost, today’s sentence sends the message that our Office and our law enforcement partners will never stop working to stop unscrupulous drug dealers who distribute poison.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Nassau County Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, New York for their work on the case.
“Ryan Mueller’s decision to make and distribute fentanyl laced counterpart pills resulted in the death of an unsuspecting user who thought he was taking a legitimate pharmaceutical pill. This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers that counterfeit pills have on our communities,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Tarentino. “In February of 2025, the DEA and law enforcement partners seized approximately 3.4 million counterfeit pills from Mueller, making it one of the largest pill seizures in the New York Division’s history. Many of the pills seized and tested in our laboratory contained lethal doses of fentanyl. This wasn’t just a normal investigation; it was a life-saving operation. The DEA and our law enforcement partners will continue to target those poisoning our communities and hold them accountable. While today’s sentencing is a small victory, the harm it has caused this family will be long lasting.”
As set forth in the indictment and other court filings, over the last several years, Mueller conspired with others to sell several controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and oxycodone. In December 2022, a retired police officer died of a drug-related overdose at his residence on Long Island. The investigation showed that the fentanyl that killed the victim, which was in a pressed pill made to appear to be oxycodone, was supplied by Mueller.
Law enforcement officers recovered several kilos of fentanyl from Mueller’s residence. Law enforcement also recovered multiple pill press parts from a storage facility controlled by the defendant, including powder dryers, blenders, and grinders. Images of the pill presses that Mueller possessed are below:
In addition, in a February 2025 seizure of additional product distributed by Mueller, the DEA recovered approximately 3.4 million fake pharmaceutical pills, including fake oxycodone that contained fentanyl, fake Xanax pills, over 300,000 Quaalude pills and another approximately 600 grams of fentanyl in brick form. This was the largest seizure of fake pills that the DEA New York Division has ever processed, and exceeded the entire New York Division’s totals from all of last year. Pictures of some of the illegal drugs recovered can be seen below:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Justice, in 2024, approximately 80,391 people died from drug overdoses, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. The increase in overdose deaths has been driven in large part by fentanyl, a drug that has been described as 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. In 2024, about 48,422 people died from a drug overdose involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, a figure that was more than 25,000 fewer than the 76,282 synthetic opioid overdose deaths that occurred in 2023. Between 2023 and 2024, overall drug overdose deaths declined approximately 27%, from around 108,000 such deaths in 2023. Deaths involving opioids fell from around 83,140 in 2023 to 54,743 in 2024.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Adam R. Toporovsky is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Janelle Robinson.
The Defendant:
RYAN MUELLER
Age: 33
Lynbrook, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-134
Laurel County Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A London man, Edward Albert Ernsting, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom to 76 months in prison, for possession with intent to distribute fluorofentanyl and heroin, as well as a mixture containing methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, on April 9, 2024, Ernsting was found passed out in his vehicle at a gas station, where law enforcement recovered approximately 16 grams of a mixture containing fluorofentanyl, fentanyl, and heroin, and 14 grams of methamphetamine, as well as digital scales, baggies, and $504 in cash from Ernsting’s body and vehicle. Ernsting admitted significant heroin and fentanyl trafficking activity for a year or more before his arrest.
Under federal law, Ernsting must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Chief Rusty Hedrick, Corbin Police Department; and Sheriff William ‘Bill’ Elliotte, Whitley County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF, Corbin Police Department, and Whitley County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Lake Oswego Resident Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— A Lake Oswego, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today to trafficking cocaine and laundering the proceeds through a business bank account to buy cryptocurrency.
Michael Wayne Frost, 47, pleaded guilty to distributing more than 50 kilograms of cocaine and laundering the money from selling the cocaine.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers engaged in multiple controlled purchases of cocaine from Frost. On July 2, 2024, a federal search warrant was served on Frost’s residence in Lake Oswego. Agents seized a kilogram of cocaine and about $20,000 in cash from the residence. Frost admitted to selling between 10-12 kilograms of cocaine per week. Agents later applied for additional warrants and seized approximately $509,000 in cash and cryptocurrency tied to the cocaine sales. Frost deposited some of the cash into a business bank account he controlled and then transferred funds to Robinhood, a platform he used to invest in cryptocurrency, in an effort to launder the drug proceeds.
On August 21, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a seven-count indictment charging Frost with distributing cocaine and money laundering.
Frost pleaded guilty today to one count of cocaine distribution and one count of money laundering. He also agreed to forfeit all of the seized cryptocurrency and cash.
Frost faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a 10 million dollar fine, and five years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on January 7, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Unit at the United States Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Kemp Strickland and Christopher Cardani, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
Kansas City Man Sentenced for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Kansas City men have now been sentenced in federal court for bank robbery.
Rathell Quavon Ross, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 77 months. Ross’s co-defendant Gerrad D. Rivera-Willis was sentenced previously on April 22, 2025, to 72 months in prison for bank robbery.
According to court documents, Rivera-Willis and Ross parked a vehicle near a bank in Kansas City, Mo., entered the bank and threatened its employees and demanded money. The two defendants left the bank with $2,033 and left in the same vehicle in which they arrived. Law enforcement officers were able to identify the vehicle, which had also been used in a previous bank robbery at a different bank. The vehicle was subsequently located at which point Ross and Rivera-Willis both fled on foot. Ross was found hiding under a tarp nearby in possession of the vehicle’s keys. Officers also tracked the path of Rivera-Willis’s flight from the vehicle with a K-9 and recovered the stolen $2,033 in currency from under a cinder block near where Rivera-Willis was arrested. Rivera-Willis admitted to taking part in the previous bank robbery and was ordered to pay $8,542 in restitution.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean T. Foley. It was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
KC Area Man Sentenced to Two and a Half Years for Possessing Machine GunsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing and transferring three machine gun conversion devices.
Demetrius Harris, also known as “Meech,” 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to two and a half years in federal prison without parole for illegally possessing and transferring machine guns – an Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15, multi-caliber firearm containing an AR-type machine gun conversion device, and two AR-type machine gun conversion devices.
On Jan. 24, 2024, Harris sold an AR-style firearm containing an auto sear, two additional auto sears, and ammunition to an undercover agent for $1,060.
Machine gun conversion devices, also known as “switches” or “auto sears,” are used to convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns that fire multiple shots automatically through a single pull of the trigger, enabling more rapid and often less accurate gunfire. Whether or not they are attached to a firearm, these devices constitute machine guns under federal law. It is therefore illegal to possess, sell, or use machine gun conversion devices.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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.
Justice Department Seeks to Revoke Citizenship of Immigration and Identity FraudsterRead the Press Release
On Sept. 24, the Department of Justice filed a civil denaturalization complaint against Gurdev Singh Sohal, also known as Dev Singh, also known as Boota Singh Sundu, who obtained his U.S. citizenship in 2005 despite having been ordered deported in 1994. Instead of leaving the country based on his 1994 deportation and exclusion order under the name Dev Singh, Sohal used a different identity, with a new name, date of birth, and date of entry into the United States, to naturalize. He did not disclose his prior immigration history under the Dev Singh identity in any of his immigration applications or proceedings when he naturalized under the Gurdev Sohal identity. Expert analysis in February 2020 confirmed that the fingerprints submitted under both identities came from the same individual. The analysis was only made possible after DHS digitized the paper fingerprint submission documents from older immigration files.
“If you lie to the government or hide your identity so that you can naturalize, this Administration will find you and strip you of your fraudulently acquired U.S. citizenship.” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
The complaint alleges that Sohal illegally procured his U.S. citizenship because he was never lawfully admitted for permanent residence and because the lies he told throughout his naturalization process rendered him unable to show the requisite good moral character to naturalize. A third count charges Sohal with procuring his naturalization by concealment or willful misrepresentation of his prior identity and immigration proceedings.
This is the ninth denaturalization action that the Department has filed since Jan. 20.
This case was investigated as part of the Historic Fingerprint Enrollment project, an ongoing national initiative between the Justice Department and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
This case is being prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, General Litigation and Appeals Section, Affirmative Litigation Unit, with assistance from USCIS and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
Justice Department Seeks to Revoke Citizenship of Immigration and Identity FraudsterRead the Press Release
On Sept. 24, the Department of Justice filed a civil denaturalization complaint against Gurdev Singh Sohal, also known as Dev Singh, also known as Boota Singh Sundu, who obtained his U.S. citizenship in 2005 despite having been ordered deported in 1994. Instead of leaving the country based on his 1994 deportation and exclusion order under the name Dev Singh, Sohal used a different identity, with a new name, date of birth, and date of entry into the United States, to naturalize. He did not disclose his prior immigration history under the Dev Singh identity in any of his immigration applications or proceedings when he naturalized under the Gurdev Sohal identity. Expert analysis in February 2020 confirmed that the fingerprints submitted under both identities came from the same individual. The analysis was only made possible after DHS digitized the paper fingerprint submission documents from older immigration files.
“If you lie to the government or hide your identity so that you can naturalize, this Administration will find you and strip you of your fraudulently acquired U.S. citizenship.” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
The complaint alleges that Sohal illegally procured his U.S. citizenship because he was never lawfully admitted for permanent residence and because the lies he told throughout his naturalization process rendered him unable to show the requisite good moral character to naturalize. A third count charges Sohal with procuring his naturalization by concealment or willful misrepresentation of his prior identity and immigration proceedings.
This is the ninth denaturalization action that the Department has filed since Jan. 20.
This case was investigated as part of the Historic Fingerprint Enrollment project, an ongoing national initiative between the Justice Department and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
This case is being prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, General Litigation and Appeals Section, Affirmative Litigation Unit, with assistance from USCIS and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
Justice Department Files Denaturalization Complaint Against Child Sex Offender Who Fraudulently Obtained U.S. CitizenshipRead the Press Release
On Sept. 24, the Department of Justice filed a civil complaint to revoke the citizenship of Hector Daneri Regalado, who, after naturalizing in 2010, was convicted of Taking Indecent Liberties with a Child within the timeframe in which he was required to establish good moral character to naturalize.
“The allegations in this complaint demonstrate the value the United States places upon both the integrity of its naturalization process and, more importantly, ensuring that criminals – especially child predators – do not game a system designed to prevent such individuals from obtaining the privilege of U.S. citizenship,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
Pursuant to North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25 (1970), Regalado pled guilty in 2012 to two counts of Taking Indecent Liberties with a Child, in violation of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14–202.1. According to the prosecution’s proffer, over the course of approximately two years, Regalado regularly sexually abused his victim from the time she was twelve until she was fourteen. The conduct to which he pled occurred in 2007, during the pre-naturalization period during which Defendant was required to demonstrate good moral character.
This is the tenth denaturalization action that the Department has filed since Jan. 20.
This case was investigated as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing national initiative between the Justice Department and ICE. This case is being prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, General Litigation and Appeals Section, Affirmative Litigation Unit, with assistance from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations, ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Judge convicts Great Falls man of wire fraud and money laundering for fraudulent use of COVID fundsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Great Falls man with prior felony convictions who lied about his income and his criminal history to obtain COVID funds was found guilty by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Following a one-day bench trial, Raymond Marcellous Blair, 45, was found guilty of one count of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. Blair faces up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud charge and up to ten years in prison on each money laundering count, as well as a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
Chief Judge Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for January 28, 2026. Blair was released on conditions pending sentencing.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Blair applied for COVID relief in the form of an Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration (SBA) in August 2020. Blair claimed in the loan application that his business has gross revenues of $249,000, which was false. He also falsely claimed he not been convicted of a felony or placed on probation within the last five years. In truth, Blair was convicted of aggravated assault in 2011 and of failing to register as a violent offender in 2017 and was on probation in 2020 when he applied for the EIDL loan.
Relying on Blair’s representations, the SBA approved his EIDL loan application and wired $99,900 into his bank account on September 1, 2020. Blair twice transferred more than $10,000 out of that account and spent the majority of the loan proceeds on personal expenses.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Hargrove prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General.
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Indian man pleads guilty to, sentenced for document fraudRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Swapnil Ramesh Tejale, 34, a citizen of India, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. He was sentenced to time served and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who handled the case, stated that Ramesh Tejale is an alien without any legal status in the United States. On July 10, 2025, he was encountered by United States Border Patrol Agents and had in his possession a counterfeit United States Permanent Resident Card, which alleged his legal status in the U.S. The Permanent Resident Card contained Ramesh Tejale’s biographical information and photograph, however, it lacked security measures, had blurry water marks, low quality background imaging, and improper font. Ramesh Tejale admitted to the agents that the document was not legitimate. Immigration record checks determined that he was never granted a lawful Permanent Residence Card.
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 plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Border Patrol Niagara Falls Station, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Brady Waikal.
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Illegal Firearm Possession Lands Convicted Felon in Federal Prison for More Than a DecadeRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – DORIEON MYKEL BATES, 29, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 138 months in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on January 30, 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) responded to a home after a 911 caller claimed to have heard gunfire. The caller further reported that after the gunshots, a stranger, later identified as Bates, knocked on their door, said he had been involved in a shooting, and claimed someone stole his vehicle. Responding OCPD officers spoke with Bates and took him to a local hospital to be evaluated. Hours later, Bates was returned to the scene, and officers learned his car had never been stolen. The car was recovered nearby, and officers observed bullet holes in the back passenger side of the vehicle, along with a loaded firearm near the driver’s seat. On May 7, 2025, a federal Grand Jury charged Bates with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Bates pleaded guilty on February 4, 2025, and admitted he possessed a firearm despite his previous felony convictions.
Public record further reflects that Bates has multiple previous felony convictions in Oklahoma County, including:
- robbery with a firearm and unauthorized use of a credit card in case number CF-2014-5996;
- domestic abuse by strangulation, domestic abuse (assault and battery) resulting in great bodily injury, maiming, and attempting to prevent a state’s witness from testifying in case number CF-2018-32; and
- assault and battery upon a police or other law officer in case number CF-2018-2242.
At the sentencing hearing on September 23, 2025, Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Bates to serve 138 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge DeGiusti noted Bates’s extensive criminal history tied to his history of drug abuse.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nichols, Jr., prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Identical Twins Sentenced to 15 Years for Role in Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Quincey Oneil Jackson and Quinton Oneil Jackson, both 41, of Columbia, were each sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more.
Evidence presented to the court showed that beginning in 2020 through July 2024, the brothers engaged in a large-scale drug trafficking operation to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. On April 12, 2024, agents executed a search warrant at the home that the Jackson brothers shared and seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, marijuana, and a firearm.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced both brothers to 188 months' imprisonment each to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Columbia Police Department, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Major is prosecuting the case.
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Houston man faces federal charges for violent carjackingsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 22-year-old Houston man is set to make his initial appearance in federal court in connection with two carjackings, one of which resulted in the victim being shot, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jose Antonio Infante was in custody on related charges and expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard W. Bennett at 10 a.m.
The five-count indictment, returned Sept. 16, alleges Infante used a firearm to carjack one victim June 8. Approximately a week later, he allegedly used a firearm to carjack a second victim. During that crime, the charges allege he discharged the weapon and struck the victim, causing serious bodily injury.
If convicted, Infante faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the first carjacking and up to 25 years for the second. If convicted of the related firearms charges, he could also receive another seven and 10 years, respectively, which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. He also faces a maximum of 15 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges all carry possible fines of up to $250,000.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin R. Martin is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Honduran man arrested for illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Miguel Angel Vasquez-Amaya, 46, a citizen and national of Honduras, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with re-entry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who handled the case, stated that according to the complaint, on August 31, 2025, Vasquez-Amaya was a passenger in a vehicle that was encountered by Customs and Border Protection at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. The vehicle was referred for secondary inspection. An immigration records check revealed that Vasquez-Amaya was physically removed from the United States in November 2002.
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 complaint is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Honduran National Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Honduran national unlawfully residing in Waltham, Mass. was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Samuel Cruz Alvarado, 63, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to time served (three and a half months). The defendant is now subject to deportation proceedings. In August 2025, Cruz Alvarado pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Cruz Alvarado was arrested on May 5, 2025 and indicted by a federal grand in June 2025.
Cruz Alvarado was previously deported from the United States two times, the last time on Nov. 26, 2012. Sometime after his November 2012 removal, Cruz Alvarado illegally reentered the United States without permission.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
High-Ranking Members of Sinaloa Cartel Charged with Material Support of a Foreign Terrorist Organization and NarcoterrorismRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – In a superseding indictment unsealed today, high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel are facing federal charges for their alleged involvement in trafficking hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine into southern Illinois and laundering the proceeds to Mexico.
“The Sinaloa Cartel relies on drug trafficking to finance its terrorism against the American people while spreading poison in our communities,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s indictment is a significant blow against this terrorist organization’s infrastructure as we carry out President Trump’s mission of dismantling and destroying the cartels.”
“The Sinaloa Cartel is a vicious international criminal organization that spreads terror through intimidation, torture, and murder. The entire enterprise is financed through a drug distribution network that includes southern Illinois,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Today’s superseding indictment targets some of the highest level of Sinaloa leadership demonstrating our commitment to use every possible tool to crush this cartel, dismantling its operations, and protecting our community from its narcoterrorism.”
“Today’s announcement in the Southern District of Illinois is monumental in our fight to eliminate the Sinaloa Cartel,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “The extraordinary work of the St. Louis Field Division and their partners resulted in the seizure of nearly 800 pounds of fentanyl and exposed a money laundering network that pushed millions in cartel profits through U.S. banks. This is not a street-corner operation— it is a cartel pipeline that has flooded the Midwest with significant amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. We continue the fight, using all the resources of the United States government, to destroy the Sinaloa Cartel.”
The indictment alleges that the Sinaloa Cartel is a Mexican-based transnational drug trafficking organization that uses premeditated violence to control territory and undermine governmental authority. The Cartel sustains its enterprise by trafficking narcotics into the United States and funneling the profits back into Mexico.
Over approximately one week, the Drug Enforcement Administration, in conjunction with law enforcement partners, arrested 15 of the charged defendants in a nationwide operation involving Sinaloa Cartel associates. These indictments and arrests are the result of a years-long operation involving the removal of more than 400 kilograms of fentanyl, nearly 80 kilograms of methamphetamine and 50 kilograms of cocaine from communities in and around southern Illinois.
President Donald Trump designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on February 19, 2025, through a State Department action authorized by Executive Order 14157, signed on January 20, 2025. The designation, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, included the Sinaloa Cartel among eight criminal organizations classified as FTOs and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1189) and Executive Order 13224.
Narcoterrorism is a federal crime that provides enhanced penalties to punish drug trafficking that supports terrorist organizations. The crime of providing material support applies when a person provides resources to an organization knowing that it has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment alleging that 26 defendants participated in a Sinaloa Cartel sourced drug distribution pipeline originating in Mexico that included the Southern District of Illinois, including the following:
Name
Age
Residence
Charge(s)
Prospero Coronel-Sanchez,
a.k.a. “Pro”
40Mexican nationalNarcoterrorism; Providing material support to foreign terrorist organization;
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Money laundering conspiracy
Jose Luis Angulo-Soto, a.k.a “Jose Luis Angulo-Cazares” or “El Mi Nino” Mexican nationalNarcoterrorism;
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Money laundering conspiracy
German Angel Alatorre-Monge24South Gate, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineLeobardo Alcaraz-Ibarra51Phoenix, AZConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineMiguel Angel Aramburo, Jr.34Paramount, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineManuel Buenrostro38Cudahy, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineOscar Bryan Castro34Pasadena, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Money laundering conspiracyCarlos Diaz, Jr.34Pasadena, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Money laundering conspiracyAlejandro Flores30Cudahy, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineArmando Gallardo46Chula Vista, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineKaren L. Gandarillas-Carreno36Sun Valley, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Money laundering conspiracyRoberto J. Gonzalez, Jr.39Bell, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineSabrina Danielle Herrera35South Gate, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineMauro Armando Luna-Renteria39Lynwood, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineLucia Viridiana Montano40Rio Rico, AZConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineDavid Alonso Pereda33Costa Mesa, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineMemo Perez, a.k.a. “Demecia Perez”50Los Angeles, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineJaqueline Desiree Piikkila-Vigueras49Tucson, AZConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Money laundering conspiracyMiguel Rios31Cudahy, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineRichard Ruiz, Jr.27Paramount, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineEvan Sanchez31Victorville, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineJulio Villa-Morales36Tucson, AZConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineJose Espino-Zavala44Mexican nationalConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineMartin Ismael Zuniga-Lopez32Los Angeles, CAConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineEarl Frank56O’Fallon, ILConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Money laundering conspiracy (2 counts); Distribution of controlled substances: methamphetamineMichael Pennel56Oklahoma City, OKConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Money laundering conspiracyAccording to court documents, the charged conduct occurred between January 2020 and July 2025. The conspiracy is accused of distributing more than 50 or more grams of methamphetamine, 400 or more grams of fentanyl, and five kilograms or more of cocaine.
“Fentanyl is destroying lives and devastating communities across the country. Every pill, every powder, every shipment, every sale of this drug has the potential to take a life,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale, United States Postal Inspection Service. “Postal inspectors remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to stop the flow of this deadly drug in our mailstream and hold criminals who profit from poisoning our neighborhoods accountable.”
“We will not tolerate drug cartels smuggling their poison into our American communities,” said DEA St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis. “The DEA, in collaboration with our local and foreign partners, works relentlessly to identify and arrest anyone engaging in the manufacturing, distribution, and sales of any illicit drugs making their way into and across this nation.”
“Drug traffickers will stop at nothing to continue profiting from the spread of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs throughout our communities. They go to great extremes to cover any links to their illegal acts,” said Special Agent in Charge William Steenson of IRS Criminal Investigation’s St. Louis Field Office. “IRS-CI’s special agents are experts at tracing the funding sources of illegal activity and connecting the criminals involved. We’re committed to protecting our communities by investigating anyone involved in these types of illicit activities and working with our federal law enforcement partners to bring them to justice.”
“The U.S. Marshals Service, Southern District of Illinois congratulates the DEA, Fairview Heights, Illinois Resident Office, and its investigators on their superseding indictment,” said United States Marshal, David C. Davis. “This indictment illustrates the reach of the DEA in combating the distribution of kilogram quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine within the Southern District of Illinois through the Sinaloa Cartel. The USMS, S/IL, are proud to partner with the DEA, Fairview Heights, with all the arrests and fugitive investigations generated by this 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.
DEA St. Louis, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. HSI’s Parole and Law Enforcement Programs Unit provided critical support.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karelia Rajagopal, Laura Reppert, and Thomas Leggans for the Southern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case.
In March 2023, the original indictment charged Earl Frank and ten others with various federal offenses related to the drug trafficking conspiracy:
Name
Age
Residence
Charge(s)
Plea
Earl Frank56O’Fallon, ILConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Distribution of controlled substance: methamphetamine; Money laundering conspiracyNot guiltyMichael Pennel56Oklahoma City, OKConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Money launderingNot guiltyChontell Reynolds42East St. Louis, ILConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Distribution of controlled substance: methamphetamineGuilty; Awaiting sentencingJeffery Neely54St. Louis, MOConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineGuilty; Awaiting sentencingDereck Turnage49Bowling Green, MOConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineGuilty; Sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonmentDavid Allen Day55Ironton, MOConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineGuilty; Sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonmentDwayne Kimmins52St. Louis, MOConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineGuilty; Sentenced to 9 years’ imprisonmentCharles R. Evans35O’Fallon, MOConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineGuilty; Awaiting sentencingShannon Guyton46Clarkton, MOConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Transportation in aid of racketeering enterpriseGuilty; Sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonmentKimberly Hoskins38O’Fallon, ILConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Money launderingGuilty; Awaiting sentencingAundre Vaughn54East St. Louis, ILConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; Distribution of controlled substances: fentanylGuilty; Awaiting sentencingAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
High-Ranking Members of Sinaloa Cartel Charged with Material Support of a Foreign Terrorist Organization and NarcoterrorismRead the Press Release
In a superseding indictment unsealed today, high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel are facing federal charges for their alleged involvement in trafficking hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine into southern Illinois and laundering the proceeds to Mexico.
“The Sinaloa Cartel relies on drug trafficking to finance its terrorism against the American people while spreading poison in our communities,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s indictment is a significant blow against this terrorist organization’s infrastructure as we carry out President Trump’s mission of dismantling and destroying the cartels.”
“The Sinaloa Cartel is a vicious international criminal organization that spreads terror through intimidation, torture, and murder. The entire enterprise is financed through a drug distribution network that includes southern Illinois,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft for the Southern District of Illinois. “Today’s superseding indictment targets some of the highest level of Sinaloa leadership demonstrating our commitment to use every possible tool to crush this cartel, dismantling its operations, and protecting our community from its narcoterrorism.”
“Today’s announcement in the Southern District of Illinois is monumental in our fight to eliminate the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Administrator Terrance Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “The extraordinary work of the St. Louis Field Division and their partners resulted in the seizure of more than 800 pounds of fentanyl and exposed a money laundering network that pushed millions in cartel profits through U.S. banks. This is not a street-corner operation — it is a cartel pipeline that has flooded the Midwest with significant amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. We continue the fight, using all the resources of the United States government, to destroy the Sinaloa Cartel.”
The indictment alleges that the Sinaloa Cartel is a Mexican-based transnational drug trafficking organization that uses premeditated violence to control territory and undermine governmental authority. The Cartel sustains its enterprise by trafficking narcotics into the United States and funneling the profits back into Mexico.
Over approximately one week, the DEA, in conjunction with law enforcement partners, arrested 15 of the charged defendants in a nationwide operation involving Sinaloa Cartel associates. These indictments and arrests are the result of a years-long operation involving the removal of more than 400 kilograms of fentanyl, nearly 80 kilograms of methamphetamine and 50 kilograms of cocaine from communities in and around Southern Illinois.
President Donald J. Trump designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The designation included the Sinaloa Cartel among eight criminal organizations classified as FTOs and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1189) and Executive Order 13224.
Narcoterrorism is a federal crime that provides enhanced penalties to punish drug trafficking that supports terrorist organizations. The crime of providing material support applies when a person provides resources to an organization knowing that it has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment alleging that 26 defendants participated in a Sinaloa Cartel sourced drug distribution pipeline originating in Mexico that included the Southern District of Illinois, including the following:
NameAgeResidenceCharge(s)Prospero Coronel-Sanchez,
also known as “Pro”
40Mexican nationalNarcoterrorism; providing material support to foreign terrorist organization;
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; money laundering conspiracy
Jose Luis Angulo-Soto, also known as “Jose Luis Angulo-Cazares” or “El Mi Nino” Mexican nationalNarcoterrorism;
conspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; money laundering conspiracy
German Angel Alatorre-Monge24South Gate, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineLeobardo Alcaraz-Ibarra51PhoenixConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineMiguel Angel Aramburo, Jr.34Paramount, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineManuel Buenrostro38Cudahy, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineOscar Bryan Castro34Pasadena, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; money laundering conspiracyCarlos Diaz, Jr.34PasadenaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; money laundering conspiracyAlejandro Flores30Cudahy, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineArmando Gallardo46Chula Vista, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineKaren L. Gandarillas-Carreno36Sun Valley, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; money laundering conspiracyRoberto J. Gonzalez, Jr.39Bell, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineSabrina Danielle Herrera35South Gate, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineMauro Armando Luna-Renteria39Lynwood, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineLucia Viridiana Montano40Rio Rico, ArizonaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineDavid Alonso Pereda33Costa Mesa, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineMemo Perez, also known as “Demecia Perez”50Los AngelesConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineJaqueline Desiree Piikkila-Vigueras49Tucson, ArizonaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; money laundering conspiracyMiguel Rios31Cudahy, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineRichard Ruiz, Jr.27Paramount, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineEvan Sanchez31Victorville, CaliforniaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineJulio Villa-Morales36TucsonConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineJose Espino-Zavala44Mexican nationalConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineMartin Ismael Zuniga-Lopez32Los AngelesConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineEarl Frank56O’Fallon, IllinoisConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; money laundering conspiracy (2 counts); distribution of controlled substances: methamphetamineMichael Pennel56Oklahoma City, OklahomaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; money laundering conspiracyAccording to court documents, the charged conduct occurred between January 2020 and July 2025. The conspiracy is accused of distributing more than 50 or more grams of methamphetamine, 400 or more grams of fentanyl, and five kilograms or more of cocaine.
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.
DEA St. Louis, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. HSI’s Parole and Law Enforcement Programs Unit provided critical support.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karelia Rajagopal, Laura Reppert, and Thomas Leggans for the Southern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case.
In March 2023, the original indictment charged Earl Frank and 10 others with various federal offenses related to the drug trafficking conspiracy:
NameAgeResidenceCharge(s)PleaEarl Frank56O’Fallon, IllinoisConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; distribution of controlled substance: methamphetamine; money laundering conspiracyNot guiltyMichael Pennel56Oklahoma City, OklahomaConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; money launderingNot guiltyChontell Reynolds42East St. Louis, IllinoisConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; distribution of controlled substance: methamphetamineGuilty; awaiting sentencingJeffery Neely54St. LouisConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineGuilty; awaiting sentencingDereck Turnage49Bowling Green, MissouriConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineGuilty; sentenced to 235 months in prisonDavid Allen Day55Ironton, MissouriConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineGuilty; Sentenced to 20 years in prisonDwayne Kimmins52St. LouisConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineGuilty; Sentenced to nine years in prisonCharles R. Evans35O’Fallon, MissouriConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaineGuilty; Awaiting sentencingShannon Guyton46Clarkton, MissouriConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; transportation in aid of racketeering enterpriseGuilty; sentenced to eight years in prisonKimberly Hoskins38O’Fallon, IllinoisConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; money launderingGuilty; Awaiting sentencingAundre Vaughn54East St. Louis, IllinoisConspiracy to distribute controlled substances: methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine; distribution of controlled substances: fentanylGuilty; Awaiting sentencingAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Guatemalan man pleads guilty to, arrested for illegal re-entryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Edin Julian Hernandez Mejia, 23, a citizen and national of Guatemala, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to re-entry of a removed alien. He was sentenced to serve three months in prison. Hernandez Mejia will then be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the case, stated that Hernandez Mejia is an alien without any legal status in the United States. In February and March 2024, he was physically removed from the United States. On August 5, 2025, Hernandez Mejia was found in Erie County, NY, by United States Border Patrol and did not have any documents allowing him to be legally present in the United States.
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 plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge David Banks.
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Guatemalan National Sentenced for Unlawful Reentry by a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Guatemalan national was sentenced on September 11, 2025 to 11 months of incarceration for unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed from the country. The defendant will be transferred to ICE custody following his release.
According to court documents, Mateo Ramos-Perez, 32, was found by law enforcement officials to be unlawfully present in the country on or about June 25, 2025 in Scott County after having previously been convicted in federal court of misuse of a social security number and removed from the United States on November 8, 2012 and December 4, 2019.
Ramos-Perez was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 15, 2025 and pleaded guilty on September 11, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon and Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana; and Brian Acuna, Acting Field Office Director of ICE/ERO in New Orleans, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security investigations as 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).
Grand Jury for the District of NebraskaRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned nine unsealed Indictments charging 10 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Dylan Piche, age 24, of Grand Island, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Piche with receipt and distribution of child pornography beginning on or between November 10, 2023, and June 10, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Piche with possession of child pornography on or between July 29, 2024, and July 30, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Thomas Leone Henry, age 37, of Williams, Arizona, is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl on or about May 30, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Jennifer Suing, age 48, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or between February 10, 2025, and March 2, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 25 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, not less than a 10-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Lloyd A. Nelson Jr., age 70, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with theft of government funds between on or about March 15, 2022, and September 16, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Mallory M. Chartraw, age 40, of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Maria K. Siemsen, age 41, of Lincoln, Nebraska, are charged in a five-count Indictment. Count I charges Chartraw and Siemsen with conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl beginning on or about February 1, 2022, and continuing to on or about April 8, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Chartraw and Siemsen with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl between or about April 7, 2025, and continuing to on or about April 8, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Siemsen with distribution of fentanyl on or about March 14, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges Siemsen with distribution of fentanyl on or about March 27, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count V charges Siemsen with distribution of fentanyl on or about April 1, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Charles Aldrich, age 18, of Macy, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Aldrich with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm on or about August 25, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Aldrich with use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence on or about August 25, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Travis M. Knipp, age 29, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with escape from custody on or about August 16, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment
Salih M. Samin Totakhil, age 37, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with international parental kidnapping between on or about March 19, 2022, to June 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 3 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment
Carlos Hernandez Moreno, age 21, of Kearney, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Hernandez Moreno with bank burglary from on or about August 16, 2025, continuing through on or about August 17, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Hernandez Moreno with damage of protected computer from on or about August 16, 2025, continuing through on or about August 17, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments on September 17, 2025. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Beloit Man Charged with Child Pornography Offenses
Michael Shu, 25, Beloit, Wisconsin, is charged with producing and receiving child pornography. The indictment alleges that on two occasions in March 2025, Shu persuaded a minor to produce child pornography. The indictment also alleges that on four occasions in March 2025, Defendant received child pornography from the same minor through Discord.
If convicted of producing child pornography, Shu faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison. If convicted of receiving child pornography, he faces a minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The charges against Shu are the result of an investigation conducted the FBI, the Beloit Police Department, and the Newport, New Hampshire, Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the case.
Monroe County Woman Charged with Bank Embezzlement
Sandra Campfield, 67, Kendall, Wisconsin, is charged with embezzlement by a bank employee. The indictment alleges that between September 2012 and December 2024, Campfield worked at a bank in Elroy, Wisconsin, embezzled money from the certificate of deposit accounts of some of the bank’s account holders, then used the money for personal expenses.
If convicted, Campfield faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
The charge against her is the result of an investigation conducted by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Juneau County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the case.
Janesville Man Charged with Straw Purchasing Three Handguns
Dashun Wheeler, Jr., 22, Janesville, Wisconsin, is charged with three counts of making a false statement on required paperwork while purchasing firearms. The indictment alleges that on August 28, 2024, September 23, 2024, and October 8, 2024, Wheeler, Jr. purchased handguns and falsely stated on the ATF Form 4473 that he was the actual buyer of the firearms, when he was in fact buying them for others.
If convicted, Wheeler, Jr. faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Janesville and Beloit Police Departments, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF and state and local task force officers throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephen is handling the case.
Janesville Man Charged with Transporting a Minor for Sex
Adam Gurney, 29, Janesville, Wisconsin, is charged with transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The indictment alleges that between August 11 and 12, 2025, Gurney transported a minor, age 16 or older, from North Carolina to Wisconsin with the intent to engage in sexual intercourse.
If convicted, Gurney faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the City of Janesville Police Department; the Clay County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office; and the Cherokee, North Carolina Police Department with assistance from the Rock County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the case.
Reedsburg Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearms and Ammunition
David A. Davis, 53, Reedsburg, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon. The indictment alleges that on June 5, 2025, Davis possessed a loaded Hi-Point 9mm handgun, a loaded DPMS AR15 rifle, a loaded Unbranded AR15, and 9mm and .223 caliber ammunition.
If convicted, Davis faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Reedsburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
Beloit Man Charged with Drug and Gun Crimes
Gabriel Lebron Mejia, aka “Fernando,” 26, Beloit, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing and possessing drugs intended for distribution, maintaining a premises for drug distribution, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that from January 2025 to August 2025, Lebron Mejia distributed fentanyl, heroin, and/or cocaine five times, with some of the charges involving 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The indictment further alleges that on or about August 28, 2025, Lebron Mejia possessed fentanyl and cocaine intended for distribution and possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment finally alleges that he maintained a premises for drug distribution.
If convicted of the charges involving distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl, Lebron Mejia faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. The remaining drug distribution charges and the maintaining a drug involved premises charge each carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison. The charge involving possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison consecutive to any other sentence, and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, Rock County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Beloit Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Ayala is handling the case.
Madison Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearm
Curtis Perryman, 39, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm as a felon. The indictment alleges that Perryman possessed a 9mm handgun on July 21, 2025.
If convicted, Perryman faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
** The gun and drug cases in the press release 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).
Founder and CEO of Non-Profit for Re-Entry Support Services Indicted on Drug Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The founder and CEO of Adapt & Evolve LLC, a Boston-based non-profit organization that purports to provide community re-entry support services, has been arrested and charged for allegedly distributing cocaine base (crack cocaine). According to court filings, the defendant has an extensive track-record of drug trafficking and other criminal conduct – including engaging in sex trafficking activity as well as a prior federal conviction for drug trafficking.
Javan Tooley, 36, of Dorchester and Brockton, Mass., was indicted on Sept. 18, 2025 by a federal grand jury for distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base. Tooley was arrested on Sept. 23, 2025 and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for Sept. 26, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.
In 2010, Tooley was convicted in U.S. District Court in Boston of distribution of cocaine, following a hand-to-hand sale of crack cocaine to undercover law enforcement. He was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for the conviction. According to court filings, following his release from federal prison in or around 2015, Tooley violated of the terms of supervised release on at least five separate occasions. As a result, Tooley was sentenced to serve approximately 22additional months of incarceration.
Additionally, according to court filings, Tooley allegedly targeted and recruited women, many of whom suffered from substance abuse disorders, to engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit and to distribute controlled substances for him. It is alleged that Tooley targeted his victims with acts of violence and provided victims with access to drugs. It is also alleged that Tooley created a climate of fear among the victims by claiming that he had connections to law enforcement and other powerful and influential officials through his non-profit. Tooley also allegedly coordinated drug transactions using the non-profit’s phone.It is alleged that on Sept. 10 2025, Tooley distributed 100 grams of crack cocaine near Fields Corner in Dorchester, just a short distance away from Tooley’s non-profit Adapt & Evolve. Tooley is alleged to have distributed the drugs in his car, while a young child – approximately six or seven years old – was in the back seat.
Following the transaction, Tooley allegedly contacted a cooperating witness again stating that he had additional crack cocaine to sell and arranged to meet again on Sept. 23, 2025, at an area near the Roxbury District Court. Tooley was taken into custody upon his arrival and allegedly found in possession of approximately 160 grams of crack cocaine.
Because of Tooley’s prior federal drug trafficking conviction, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least eight years of supervised release and a fine of $8 million. 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Arlington Police Chief Juliann Flaherty made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Fogerty of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Pohl of the Narcotics &Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
us_v._javan_tooley_-_detention_affidavit.pdf
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Fort Defiance Man Arrested After Sending Thousands of Harassing Messages OnlineRead the Press Release
HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Fort Defiance, Virginia man, who created more than 1,000 usernames on the web-based gaming and chat platform Medal to harass a victim he met online, was arrested today on federal cyberstalking charges.
Nicholas Andrew McMillion, 25, was arrested today at his home in Fort Defiance, Virginia and charged via federal criminal complaint with cyberstalking. McMillion made his initial court appearance today in U.S. District Court in Charlottesville and is being held pending a detention hearing.
According to court documents, between October 2024 and June 2025, McMillion used various online platforms, including Discord and Medal, to create online gaming and social media accounts for the express purpose of stalking and harassing a victim (“Victim 1”) from Canada. Records show that McMillion created at least 1,000 Medal accounts and used many of them to contact and harass Victim 1, despite Victim 1’s repeated attempts to block contact with him and being blocked by Medal customer support.
McMillion’s account names, through which he contacted Victim 1, conveyed death threats, sexually explicit acts, and threats of arriving at Victim 1’s physical location in Canada. McMillion’s harassing conduct caused a reasonable fear of death and bodily harm to Victim 1.
Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Sally J. Sullivan is prosecuting the case for the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Former gym owner sentenced to more than 27 years in federal prison for producing and possessing images and videos of child sexual exploitationRead the Press Release
Defendant made videos of minors using tanning bed
STATESBORO, GA: On September 18, 2025, the former owner of a Toombs County fitness and tanning business was sentenced to federal prison for the sexual exploitation of teenagers ranging from 13 to 17 years old.
Walter Joey Drew, 43, of Kite, Ga., was sentenced to 327 months in federal prison for sexual exploitation, said Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randall Hall also ordered Drew to register as a sex offender, pay a $1,500 fine, pay $800 in special assessments, and serve 20 years of supervised release upon completion of the prison term.
“Drew used his behind-the-scenes access to surreptitiously capture sexually exploitive images and videos of minor children innocently using his gym and visiting his home,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Thanks to the work of our law enforcement partners, Defendant Drew is being held responsible for his reprehensible actions.”
As described in court documents and at sentencing, the Defendant used his smartphone to produce images and videos of minor children. This included recording a 13-year-old girl identified in the indictment as Minor Victim 5, while drying off nude with a towel in a bathroom of his home in Toombs County, Georgia. He then captured a screenshot from the video depicting the victim’s breasts and genitals and uploaded it to his Apple iCloud account. Minor Victim 5 was a friend of the Defendant’s teenage children.
The Defendant also recorded a video of Minor Victim 5 in various stages of undress in a private tanning-bed room at the now-closed Legacy Performance Center in Lyons, Georgia, where Drew was an owner. He saved multiple sexually exploitive screen captures from the video and uploaded them to his iCloud account.
The Defendant was accused of recording at least 6 other teenage children in the federal case and faces related state charges in Toombs County. He also faces additional charges for separate conduct at a previous residence in White County, Georgia.
“This case is a disturbing reminder of the lengths predators will go to exploit children,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The GBI remains steadfast in our commitment to protect the most vulnerable and to work alongside our local, state, and federal partners to ensure that those who commit these crimes are held fully accountable.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) 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/.